We wouldn’t have had Boko Haram if the church were right – UK cleric

The occasion tagged National Transformational Summit was one-day event designed for politicians, businessmen and educationists.Babtunde who is founder of the World Harvest Christian Centre in the UK told the congregation that Nigerian religious leaders are selfish and they preach simply what the believers would like hear to so as to swell their denominations.The cleric’s sermon […]

The occasion tagged National Transformational Summit was one-day event designed for politicians, businessmen and educationists.
Babtunde who is founder of the World Harvest Christian Centre in the UK told the congregation that Nigerian religious leaders are selfish and they preach simply what the believers would like hear to so as to swell their denominations.
The cleric’s sermon so moved the people that many got up to give testimonies supporting his conclusions.  There was singing of inspiring hymns to the glory of God and making of petitions for restoration of peace in the country.
The cleric lamented that contents of Nigeria’s messages are based on how to make millions of naira, own houses, get wife/husband and be protected from principalities, robbers and enemies. The gospel has become self-centred, he maintained. This, he said is contrary to Jesus’ teaching which is the “gospel of the kingdom”.  Relying on Matthew 25:35-40, he said Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink…”, Babatunde told Christians that the church has a major responsibility to the society.
He said, “It’s not just sitting comfortably in our cathedrals—it’s to dirty our hands. Jesus said we’re to be the salt and light. What that means is that we’re supposed to be the change agent.
“There’re poor people, sick people in our society. There’re destitute. The church needs to begin to take care of these people. We shouldn’t just be waiting for the government. It’s the responsibility of the church.”
The preacher who has lived in England for 23 years explained why he chose to come preach: “I’ve been involved in speaking to government in different spheres of the society.
 And God has been laying it on my heart for many years.
“He said to me, ‘You’re Nigerian. You’ve done a number of things in England. Time has come for you to come back to Nigeria.’ Recently, I begin to have a burden in my heart.
“Evil will continue when righteous men refuse to act. I can’t stay aloof and criticize like some people have done.
I need to come and give my own quota, to educate, to inspire and challenge people particularly the church. We have a major role in transforming our nation.”
He said God’s agenda is the church will not be church except it can change the society.
“There’re a lot of people who’re affluent in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the richest countries. Even with the impact of the gospel today, many people are becoming poorer and my challenge today is the church must do something.
“I’m a product of the missionary school. I went to the Baptist. You look at the Baptist, the Anglican, the Methodist—look at all the great churches that came here.
 They didn’t just have churches, they started schools, hospitals and everybody had access. Muslims had access to these schools.
“Nigerian churches today are more affluent than [churches] of those days. I’m saying to Nigerian churches, where’s our policy on education particularly the Pentecostal and charismatic strength? Where’re the churches that start primary schools, secondary schools and universities for the community. I’m not talking about schools where people can’t afford? I went to the Baptist, it was free. From my primary school to A Level, it was free!
“I’m saying to the Nigerian nation that time has come for us to begin to start schools, hospitals and all those things that can empower people. There’re churches doing it but we’re not doing enough. There’s enough money in this nation to change our country. We shouldn’t be blaming the government.
“The gospel that Jesus preached is the gospel that we need to look at our next door neighbour. Boko Haram and all this stuff, if the church in Nigeria did what it was supposed to do, we wouldn’t have had the problem.
“There’re rogues everywhere. The average Nigerian, 8 o’clock we lock up in our houses. It’s almost a prison yard. Why do you have to do that? If we begin to empower the beggars, we’ll not have to be hiding in houses that are like prison yards,” the apparently troubled preacher expressed.
The World Harvest Christian Centre was formally established on the 14th of January 1995. It is an outward looking fellowship, a ministry that takes the task of fulfilling the World Evangelisation.
It highlights the depth of human depravity and departure from the absolute standards of divine righteousness.