Presiding pastor of the New Life Christian Church in Kasarani, Pastor Michael Waweru, believes that prosperity gospel has changed the way men of God live, dress and preach.
“Because they dwell in prosperity gospel, they must have expensive clothes, lavish lifestyles and expensive cars to show that they are prosperous,” explains Pastor Waweru, “They base their preaching on a good life, so they have to lead a good life to show their followers.”
He says most prosperity gospel preachers are not sincere since “The bible says that the same God who called you to work for Him, is the same God who will take care of you. Men of God should actually be the ones who plants seeds, not the congregation.
When a man of God preaches the gospel and changes people’s lives, then the seed he has planted has sprouted, and that is what a call to serve God is all about,” says Pastor Waweru, adding “Pastors should never coerce, bully or solicit for money from the congregants. If you are, indeed, doing God’s work, you don’t need a Range Rover or worldly wealth to prove that God loves you. You need to actually change the society as a testament of how much God loves you.”
Pastor Waweru admonishes prosperity gospel preachers for hawking the gospel, which is wrong. “The gospel was given freely by Jesus, and no one should trade with it. No one should pay to receive blessings. Blessings come from God, so no one should receive money, to pass God’s blessing. Do they wire the money to God?” asks Pastor Waweru.