𝟏𝟎 𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 - 𝐘𝐞𝐦𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐌𝐃

 𝟏𝟎 𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆

𝐘𝐞𝐦𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐌𝐃

One of the greatest tragedies of Christianity in Africa is that many people have changed their religion without changing their worldview.

They left the shrine but carried the shrine’s mentality into the church.

They abandoned the herbalist but found a new spiritual intermediary in the pastor.

They stopped consulting babalawos but began consulting prophets for virtually every decision.

They rejected incantations but now believe that repeating certain declarations will automatically change their circumstances.

They changed the vocabulary, but the operating system remained the same.

Traditional fears have been baptised in Christian language. And many people cannot tell the difference between genuine Christian faith and the magical thinking they inherited from their environment.

Let me explain how popular Nigerian Pastors and their members practice witchcraft even without knowing it.

𝟏. 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐒 

For some people, the herbalist was the person to consult when life became difficult.

Today, that role has simply been transferred to the pastor.

Before they make a decision, they need to consult the man of God. Before they travel, they need a prophetic word. Before they marry, they need spiritual confirmation. Before they start a business, they need a special prayer.

They cannot make an ordinary decision without seeking supernatural approval from a religious intermediary.

The problem is not seeking counsel from a pastor. Wise counsel is valuable.

The problem is becoming so dependent on a spiritual leader that you lose confidence in your own ability to think, investigate, make decisions and take responsibility.

If you have changed your spiritual consultant but have not developed the capacity to think for yourself, you have changed the intermediary, not the mentality. The mindset is still buried in syncretism. 

Christian discipleship should produce mature people, not permanent dependants.

𝟐. 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒.

In traditional magic thinking, certain words are believed to produce particular outcomes when spoken in the right way.

Now, some Christians approach declarations in exactly the same way.

They repeat, “I shall not die!” They shout, “My enemies must die!” They declare, “I am the head and not the tail!” They proclaim, “This year, I must become a millionaire!”

There is nothing inherently wrong with speaking words of faith, affirming biblical truths or praying confidently.

The problem begins when words are treated as magical mechanisms that guarantee outcomes regardless of reality, responsibility, principles or circumstances.

You cannot declare yourself a competent surgeon without studying medicine.

You cannot declare your business profitable while running it incompetently.

You cannot declare an examination passed without preparing for it.

A declaration is not a substitute for a decision. A confession is not a substitute for competence. And shouting a desired outcome does not automatically produce it.

Faith should shape how we think and act. It should not become an excuse to avoid the work required to achieve worthwhile goals.

𝟑. 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐈𝐋

Some people once wore charms for protection, carried objects for good fortune or kept particular items because they believed those objects possessed supernatural power.

Now, some Christians cannot travel without anointing oil.

They sprinkle it in their homes, apply it to their cars, carry it to interviews and use it before business transactions.

Worse, popular Nigerian Pastors encourage the behaviour.

Some even treat particular bottles of oil as though they possess a special ability to guarantee protection, wealth, success or victory.

Some have bottles of oil from different prophets/Bishops.

But what exactly has changed if the object has simply changed?

The Bible contains accounts of anointing with oil. However, that does not mean oil should be treated as a magical substance that mechanically controls circumstances.

The issue is not the use of oil as a religious symbol. It is attributing automatic supernatural power to an object and becoming dependent on it.

If you believe a bottle of oil from a ‘man of God’ is the reason you are safe, prosperous or protected, have you placed your confidence in God, or in the object you are holding?

Christian faith must not become a collection of religious objects to manipulate life’s uncertainties.

𝟒. 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒.

This is one of the most troubling developments in some expressions of African Christianity.

People are told to sow a seed to secure a job, obtain a spouse, conceive a child, escape poverty or receive a financial breakthrough.

Give a particular amount, and expect a particular result.

The larger the sacrifice, the greater the anticipated miracle.

In some settings, the message becomes disturbingly transactional: give money to God through the ministry, and God will reward you with a specific outcome.

You are believing God for a job; sow a seed

You are believing God for a child; sow a seed

You are believing God for marriage; sow a seed

You are believing God for visa; sow a seed

But where did the idea come from that God’s blessings can be purchased through a financial transaction?

Is God running a Supermarket?

Giving is a legitimate Christian practice. Generosity, sacrifice and supporting the work of ministry have biblical foundations.

But the moment giving is presented as a mechanism for compelling God to produce a desired outcome, we have crossed into dangerous territory.

God is not a spiritual vending machine. An offering is not a bribe. And a church altar is not a marketplace where miracles are sold to the highest bidder.

‘"Mark it down. God does not save us because of what we've done. Only a puny god could be bought with tithes. Only an egotistical god would be impressed with our pain. Only a temperamental god could be satisfied by sacrifices. Only a heartless god would sell salvation to the highest bidders. And only a great God does for his children what they can't do for themselves."  - Max Lucado

Christian giving should flow from generosity, gratitude and conviction; not fear, manipulation or the promise of guaranteed returns.

𝟓. 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒.

A person experiences a setback, and someone declares that a spiritual force is responsible.

A marriage encounters difficulties, and the explanation is a marital curse.

A business fails, and the explanation is an ancestral power.

A child struggles academically, and somebody suggests a spiritual attack.

A family experiences repeated misfortune, and suddenly everyone must undergo deliverance.

The possibility of spiritual concerns is taken as sufficient reason to overlook other explanations.

Have we investigated the financial problems in the marriage?

Have we examined the business model?

Have we considered the child’s learning needs?

Have we investigated the medical, psychological, social or environmental factors that might explain the problem?

Have you considered the family may have a genetic problem?

Or have we simply assigned a spiritual cause to a situation we do not understand?

Prayer and pastoral support can be valuable. But they should not prevent people from seeking appropriate medical care, professional advice or practical solutions.

Sometimes, what you call a curse is a problem you have not investigated. Sometimes, what you call an attack is a situation you have not learned how to manage.

Not every problem requires deliverance. Some require diagnosis, knowledge, planning, treatment, discipline and change.

𝟔. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐎.

In some Christian communities, the pastor is expected to know everything.

He must reveal the future, identify hidden enemies, explain every misfortune, predict every outcome and provide supernatural answers to ordinary questions.

People consult him before making decisions that they could reasonably make through reflection, evidence, counsel and careful judgement.

The pastor becomes more than a teacher or shepherd. He becomes an oracle whose pronouncements are rarely questioned.

And when he speaks, critical thinking is suspended.

If he says a person is your enemy, you believe him.

If he says your business will prosper, you believe him.

If he says you must undertake a particular spiritual exercise, you comply.

But who examines the claims of the person making these pronouncements?

Who asks for evidence?

Who tests the prophecy?

Who holds the religious leader accountable when the prediction fails or the advice causes harm?

The New Testament itself instructs believers to test claims of spiritual authority (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).

A pastor is not God. A prophetic claim is not beyond examination. And spiritual authority should never be used to abolish a person’s capacity for independent thought.

The purpose of Christian leadership should be to equip people to grow in wisdom and maturity, not make them permanently dependent on the leader.

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝…

‘𝐘𝐞𝐦𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐌𝐃

𝐍𝐨𝐯., 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

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