Soon, Churches In Nigeria Will Die A Natural Death

Look around you. What do you see? Churches, Churches, Churches! They are everywhere - in markets, halls, auditoriums, cathedrals. Different sizes - big, small, great. Several denominations scattered all across the country. Everyday, new churches spring up and the founders somehow, mange to get members into them. Millions of Nigerians are members of at least one church.

Religion is the hope of the common man. So who then is the common man? The common man is the man that lacks basic amenities and infrastructure. He is in search of food, shelter and clothing. He is less educated, ignorant and easily accessible. The common man in a bid to survive is easily exploited. He suffers for lack of amenities and hopes on God for humanly solvable problems.

Now, when you look into most churches in Nigeria today, you'll discover that most of them hinge on prosperity as well as healing/deliverance. Nigerians are poor and that's because of the series of bad governments she's had over the years. God didn't cause that. Sicknesses are everywhere in the country as a result of lack of proper health amenities. Did God cause that? No! But you see, the ignorance, illiteracy and needs of the common man blinds him to this reality and thus, pins him in the pit of gullibility and exploitation by money-seeking pastors.

However, considering the impending development of the country, many churches risk natural death. Development transforms the common man into a rational man. When development comes, basic amenities become accessible and infrastructure becomes readily available. Man is no longer in search of food, clothing or shelter. He now has enough wealth to cater to his needs and is relatively satisfied with life. With these, the gullibility, ignorance and literacy that characterize the common man is no more.

What this ordinarily means is that when a woman is sick with malaria, rather than rush to the church for help, she simply takes some drugs and recovers. Men won't need to undergo lengthy fasts and prayers to get good jobs. Youths won't have to pray voluminous prayers to gain admission into tertiary institutions. Children won't grow with polio and families won't have to borrow.

When this happens, the average Nigerian pastor is put out of business. He no longer can preach his prosperity sermons cos the people are already prosperous. Healing can no longer be over-emphasized as there are well equipped health facilities that cater to the health-needs of the people. Pastors will no longer be able to convince people to seek God as many will as a matter of fact feel comfortable without acknowledging Him; therefore, forcing many churches out of business. Little wonder religion hardly thrives in the western world.

So what can I say pastor? Enjoy the offer while stock lasts!

(C)2016 CHIDUBEM N.J