By Paul Dada
The era of total and unquestioned acquiescence on the part of faithful Nigerian Christians to whatever famous men from the pulpit do or say, no matter how scandalous, is apparently over. Some of the bigwigs in the Nigerian pulpit, especially those belonging to the Pentecostal variant of Christianity, have recently attracted more anger, fierce criticism and even mockery from Christians over some of their statements and public provisions now considered unbiblical. illogical and ridiculous.
It is Christians, not atheists, agnostics and other skeptics, who have recently been the most strident voices denouncing publicly misguided pulpit superstars like Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Apostle Johnson Suleman, Apostle Joshua Selman, Dr. Abel Damina, among others.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye:- The 82-year-old cleric is by far the most influential Nigerian Pentecostal cleric. It oversees the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria’s Pentecostal denomination with the largest membership. In 2021, the RCCG would have 9,938,617 members and 51,580 congregations worldwide. In 2023, Adeboye and 11 other Nigerians were included in the list of “100 Most Reputable Africans” published by Reputation Poll International, a global reputation company. In 2019, The African Report named Adeboye the fourth most influential Nigerian.
His denomination, which he took over in 1981 after the death of its founder, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, counts among its members prominent Nigerian politicians, big business owners, noted professionals and other classes of Nigerians.
But the octogenarian was recently lambasted for some of his comments which many people judged to be among the most absurd and terribly uncharitable gaffes on his part. In a video that went viral in January, Adeboye was heard praying for his congregation: “Before this time next year, your colleagues will come to your house to eat. They will come to your house for refreshment. I decree that in your family, you will be the reference person in the name of Jesus.” The anger of many Christians greeted the allegedly cruel prayer which seemed more like a curse by Adeboye on the colleagues and families of his supporters.
The dust had not yet settled on that when another video also showing Adeboye praying badly surfaced. In the second video, the former math teacher prayed that as the sons of the prophet bowed to Elisha, Christians of other faiths would bow to members of his church. The prayer fueled more criticism. Some saw the prayer as a mark of witchcraft while others believed the RCCG leader was afflicted by old age. All the damage control efforts by Adeboye’s sworn lovers have done little, if anything, to sway the minds of those who are now disenchanted with Adeboye’s methods.
Apostle Joshua Selman: Joshua Selman, 43, is the founder of Eternity Network International based in Abuja and popularly known as Koinonia. Selman, nicknamed “Apostle”, is the “rave of the moment” among young Nigerian Christians. Possessed of charisma, elocution, and oratory, Selman presents himself as someone with the divine ability to unravel previously unknown spiritual mysteries. He speaks English impeccably and teaches his doctrines in a way that continues to dazzle his disciples, even as he uses sophistry as a tool.
However, many of its doctrines are considered anathema by Christians who call themselves discerning and insightful.
For example, Selman is known for hitting biblical figures widely held in high esteem by Christians. He once or twice described John the Baptist as someone who died prematurely because he lost focus in his ministry by lashing out at Herod who tore off his head as reward for his ministerial misadventure. During this time, Jesus still spoke highly of John the Baptist. Selman also called Elijah a prophet beloved by Christians, proud and self-centered because he believed he was the only one in Israel still faithful to God.
Selman has also been called out for teaching that Adam was not the first man, contrary to what the Bible teaches.
Selman’s penchant for supposedly ridiculous statements when preaching the prosperity gospel annoys many Christians. Some of his repugnant statements are: “Prosperity played a role in salvation. It took prosperity and influence for salvation to come”; “The Gospel is heavy, it takes wealth as an ark bearer to lift it” and “If you want your name to be mentioned globally, your feet must touch Abeokuta and Lagos…Abeokuta gave birth to Lagos”.
Dr Abel Damina:- When Dr. Abel Damina, the senior pastor of Power City International, publicly declared that he had abandoned the odious prosperity gospel used by pulpit celebrities to manipulate the gullible, many Christians cheered him . But it soon became clear that Damina had become a fierce attacker of orthodox Christian doctrines. Many people have concluded that the man was the founder of another religion due to his love of biblical revisionism.
In Orthodox Christianity, God is presented as a loving Father. It is also seen as a “devouring fire” that judges sinners who refuse to repent. But Damina seems to present God as a doting dad who can’t and won’t hurt a fly.
In Genesis 6:13, God said that He would destroy the earth with a flood. And He did it as stated in Genesis 7:17-24. In Genesis 18, Abraham had a conversation with God about His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. And in the next chapter, God destroys both cities. In Exodus 12:29, God is said to have killed the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. But Damina says that it wasn’t God who did all this and that the Old Testament writers only thought so.
Damina claims that the fire caused by Elijah in the Bible did not come from God but from Satan. He denies the existence of a fiery hell, but posits that there is simply a hell filled with “outer darkness” where unbelievers go. He goes on to say that God does not live in heaven while accusing Moses and the angels of collusion to write the law. This preacher also posits that God did not command Noah to build the ark as stated in the Bible. He considers water baptism as simple swimming.
Although Damina has some followers among Christians, there are those who believe it should be avoided as one would a plague.
Apostle Johnson Suleman:- Recently, many Christians were shocked to hear Omega Fire Ministries General Overseer Johnson Suleman suggest that it was possible that the Apostle Paul in the Bible contradicted Jesus Christ. Although Suleman is known for his love of controversy, many could not hide their disbelief that he could say what sounded like an abomination about Paul, the author of at least 13 books of the Bible and one of the most remarkable champions of the Christian faith in His time.
Suleman had said: “I said something on this altar, I repeat it and I stand by it. I was talking about those who preach grace and say once you’re saved, you’re saved. I already preached all these things until I lost a friend. I lost a friend who was also a grace preacher and found out “what’s going on?” “.
“So I went to pray. And the Lord said to me: ‘You are preaching Paul, you are not preaching to me.’ And you focus on the Corinthians. Who wrote the letter to the Corinthians? Who wrote to the Thessalonians?
“God told me that Paul’s teachings did not come from the mouth of Jesus. They come from the lips of Paul. These are the revelations of Christ that Paul had. But Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were the accounts of what Jesus said and did.
“And he told me that the priority and emphasis should be on the life of Jesus. What Paul said is secondary. Paul actually learned based on what he was told. He was’nt here. I’m going to focus more on what Jesus said than what Paul said. If Jesus said and I look at what Paul said and it’s contrary to what Jesus said. I would not take what Paul said but what Jesus said.”
Citing 2 Peter 3:15-16, Suleman went on to say that Peter, a frontline apostle in the Bible, advised Christians to pay attention to Paul’s letters. He then said, “I would choose what Jesus said over what Paul said any day.”
Using scriptural and historical evidence, PM News on March 7, 2024 verified Suleman’s insinuations and claims and found them to be fallacious.
Dr. Isaiah Macwealth:- It sounded like a sick joke to the ears when people in a music video heard Dr. Isaiah Macwealth of Gospel Churches International say that he had seen God. He said: The Lord has appeared to me. He said you were asking to see my face. And I saw him face to face. I looked at the Lord as long as I could look at his face. And I looked at His face where they said no man could see the face of God. I looked straight in the eyes. And I saw all his beard… And his face wants to appear old yet he is young”
As expected, Macwealth was ridiculed for this alleged blasphemy. His critics wasted no time in citing 1 Timothy 6:15,16 and John 6:46 where the Bible clearly says that no one can see God while he is alive on earth.
