29/11/2024
*"THE TRAGEDY OF A TWISTED REVIVAL"*
I see a crowd
I see cash
I see cars
But I do not see Christ
( *Pastor S. G. Elton* )
A group of foreign intercessors visited Nigeria some years ago to assess the internationally acclaimed revival going on in the country. After their exercise, they wrote a short report as follows: βThe Nigerian Church is five miles wide, but one inch deep.β
Undeniably, there was a revival in Nigeria from the β70s and it culminated in a massive conversion of souls and the birth of many 'new generation' churches, most of them evangelical. The orthodox denominations also witnessed a huge expansion. Nationwide, the population of Christians increased.
*Unfortunately, the population increase did not translate into national transformation. As the churches multiplied, darkness rather than light covered Nigeria. All manner of vices assailed the country until bloodshed became a daily occurrence and genocide unfortunately became part of the national identity. Churches were not spared, as scandal upon scandal rocked many churches and their ministers. Churches became known for greed, covetousness, and compromise. To worsen matters, allegations of occult practices, mocked as "charismatic witchcraft," plagued the Church.*
*What polluted the revival that should have transformed the country and launch it into its assignment as a missionary nation? The answer lay in the desire of some preachers to be famous, wealthy, and influential. The consequence of that evil desire was what God lamented to Pastor Elton as the proliferation of crowds, cash, and cars, without Christ.* Of course, any obsession with those items indicates a separation from Christ. While there is nothing wrong with a crowd gathering to worship, or cash and cars in the church, the problem starts when the motive for acquiring them is personal lust rather than the Kingdom of God.