Call for open debate on the role of some churches in Sierra Leone

It is becoming increasingly clear that some churches are purely money making institutions, as a Christian myself I see no reason why the leaders of some churches should be compelling their flocks to contribute kindly by force to their churches on a daily basis (offerings, for building of the churches, birthdays of church leaders, luxurious jeeps for utility purpose or crusades).

Such behaviour of these church leaders has led to the extreme poverty in this country, how could a poor man be going to church for almost 4 days per week and donating money without job or daily income, hoping for a businessman (leader of the church) to perform miracle for him to fulfill his dreams.

Because of the high level of poverty, we the people of Sierra Leone do believe in hope more than any other nationals in the world, this hopefulness is what some of these church leaders are using to win over people’s mind and get them to believe that they are true MEN OF GOD. Their targets are easily convinced ones in the society poor people and women.  Both the poor and women will donate to churches (church leaders/businessmen) whatever little they have for as long as it takes for them to realise their dreams.

Some of these FALSE PROPHETS or BUSSINESSMEN do not directly preach the word of God as it is in the bible, instead they go on preaching things that people want to hear “Giving them happy marriages, riches, how they are surrounded by demons that is hindering their progress, Visas to overseas, making them rich or giving them jobs,” they would even go further to win people’s trust by equalling themselves to Jesus Christ to perform stage managed miracles by healing people who were not even sick.

As Sierra Leoneans, we are SHARP enough to question the behaviour of these Pastors (businessmen), the act of requesting people to give special offering by calling the big givers first (one million Leones) and small ones (five thousand Leones), the last is an act of intimidation, discrimination and it is business like. This should not happen in the house of the Lord, because in God’s house it is not about the highest bidder, everybody is equal.

I want to encourage church goers whose leaders tend to behave like businessmen or dictators, to question their behaviour without fear. They always use the MAN OF GOD slogan as a pretext to silence any questionable act, it is sinless to ask Man of God questions about things you do not understand or thought not correct.

The actions of some these businessmen has impacted this nation in a very native way, some of their actions have led to broken marriages, confusion among family members, loss of jobs due to the fact that people have to go to church everyday, extreme poverty and above all fewer church goers because of lack of trust in some of these Pastors or businessmen. I do believe in God, seeing some these false Pastors misleading people in the name of God makes me worried about the future role of some these churches or business outlet in this country.

To correct this ungodly act by businessmen posing as men of God,

a.    Government should come up with a special tax for churches which is similar to the GST model but higher.

b.     Government should put in place a robust control regime that will be controlling the activities of churches on a weekly basis.

c.     There should be open debates about the activities of churches in this country

I hope this article will serve as a starting point for an open debate on the activities of some churches in this country.

Ernest Smith, Freetown

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