Local pastors decry rampant gospel of blackmail
Local pastors from various churches expressed concern over the weekend, lamenting the widespread dissemination of a distorted gospel.
They accused some church leaders of prioritising the gospel of prosperity for personal profit rather than focusing on saving souls.
During an interview with The Midweek Sun at the pastoral graduation at Inchrist Bible Institute University in Lusaka, Zambia, Batswana pastors criticised the current state of the gospel.
They warned against falling prey to pastors who view the church as a means to accumulate wealth, emphasising that the gospel being preached lacks salvation.
Malvin Ndlovu, a local pastor in Francistown, expressed worry at foreign pastors prophesying peace only when money is involved, turning everything into a conflict when followers fail to pay offerings. He criticised the exorbitant
charges, stating that it misrepresents the true purpose of Christianity.
Ndlovu contended that some churches are deceiving congregants, introducing a different concept of God.
An Elder, Dube Madumo echoed these concerns, emphasising that pastoring has become a profession detached from salvation. He urged Batswana to be wary of false prophets, attributing the issue to an obsession with money.
Pastor Badire Keatlholetswe from Kanye suggested that church pastors should be paid directly by the church, not through offerings. He expressed concern at the influence of fake prophets on those who no longer want to work, particularly targeting vulnerable groups like women.
Keatlholetswe also criticised pastors living beyond their means and foreign pastors profiting without contributing to the local community. He mourned the dwindling followers of local pastors preaching the true gospel, overshadowed by manipulative foreign preachers.
Pastor Samuel Lebogang from Molepolole proposed proper regulation of church funds by committees to address issues within churches. He highlighted the manipulation of people's desire for miracles by some pastors and emphasised the importance of Biblical literacy.
At the graduation ceremony, 217 pastors from various denominations were ordained, including Catholic and Pentecostal.
Malebogo Rathedi, Fand Chancellor of Inchrist Bible Institute University, expressed the institution's commitment to shaping dedicated ministers of the gospel with integrity.
Rathedi described the college as a community devoted to truth and Biblical values, offering pastor training from certificate to PhD levels in theological disciplines. The Inchrist International Bible College aims to equip pastors with essential skills, emphasising its dedication to upholding integrity and exemplary character.