African Plume

“When Experience Becomes Theology” By Akin Ojumu Followers and admirers of Baba Enoch Adeboye, David Oyedepo, and ministers of their theological persuasion often become deeply offended whenever people like me—nonentities with no ecclesiastical clout, no sprawling denominations, and no battalions of adoring followers—dare to question the biblical soundness of their beloved Daddies and Mummies in the Lord. To their devotees, these men are not merely pastors. They are oracles. They occupy a special spiritual caste. They are the fourth person of the Trinity who, supposedly, enjoy privileged access to God unavailable to the hoi polloi, i.e., the ordinary Christians.  Their pronouncements are treated as divine decrees. Their dreams become revelations. Their visions become doctrine. Their encounters become theology. Their celestial excursions become evidence of spiritual rank. After decades of this conditioning, many of their followers can scarcely distinguish between: “The Bible says…” a...

“When the Church Becomes a Marketplace and God Becomes the Product” By Akin Ojumu CHAPTER THREE: THE SEED-SOWING ECONOMY AND THE BUSINESS OF GOD Now concerning money, where shall I begin? Some among you have transformed giving into spiritual gambling. Seed for breakthrough. Seed for marriage. Seed for visa. Seed for conception. Seed for promotion. Seed for deliverance. Seed for uncommon favor. Seed for 24-hour miracle. At this point, the Church sounds less like Jerusalem and more like an agricultural commodities exchange. Everything is a seed.  Except, curiously, the pastor’s private jet. That is a blessing. You tell desperate people: “Your sacrifice will provoke heaven.”  So, the widow empties her account. The unemployed man gives his rent. The struggling mother gives school fees. The sick give money hoping to buy divine attention. And the preacher calls this: “Kingdom principles.” No. It is spiritualized commerce.  The grace of God is not an auction. God’s mercy is not ...

“When the Holy Spirit Becomes Private Property and Ministers Become Spiritual Supermen” By Akin Ojumu ------------------ CHAPTER TWO: “I CARRY POWER”: THE RISE OF THE SPIRITUAL ELITE Now concerning spiritual gifts, Brothers, I would not have you ignorant. Unfortunately, some of your ministers have become extraordinarily imaginative. One says: “I carry healing.”  Another: “I carry fire.”  Another: “I carry deliverance.”  Another: “I carry resurrection power.”  Another: “I carry governmental authority.” Another: “My presence changes atmospheres.” Another: “There are diseases that cannot survive around me.” Marvelous. You carry so much. Perhaps Emirates should start charging excess spiritual baggage. Tell me, O mighty carrier: What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you speak as though the Holy Spirit signed over ownership? The Spirit distributes gifts AS HE WILLS. Not as Apostle wills. Not as Papa wills. Not as Daddy decrees. Not accor...

“When Christ Is Pushed Aside for Papa, Prophet, Apostle, and the Man of God” By Akin Ojumu ------- CHAPTER ONE: WAS DADDY G.O. CRUCIFIED FOR YOU? Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle by the will of God, to the Churches scattered throughout Nigeria.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God for every faithful congregation among you.  For every pastor who opens the Bible and actually explains what it says.  For every believer who follows Christ without needing a wristband, mantle, prophetic code, spiritual father, special seed, mystery oil, conference sticker, or photograph of Papa under the pillow. But concerning many things among you I do not commend you. Not even slightly. For news has reached me that the Church among you has acquired more Daddies than a maternity ward. Daddy G.O. Papa. Apostle. Prophet. Major Prophet. Senior Prophet. General Overseer. Presiding Apostle. Global Apostle. Archbishop. God’s Gen...

“I’m a Christian. I Don ’ t Subscribe to Theological Tribalism” By Akin Ojumu In Part I, I explained why I affirm Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, and Limited Atonement (aka Particular Redemption) of the Reformed Christianity. It’s not because John Calvin said so. You can be sure it’s not because Reformed theologians formed a committee. And it’s most definitely not because some Seventeenth-Century Synod voted and Heaven issued a press release. I affirm them because I am persuaded Scripture teaches them. In this installment of the commentary series, we will review the final two points of the TULIP doctrines. I — IRRESISTIBLE GRACE Few theological labels are misunderstood more spectacularly than this one. Mention Irresistible Grace and some people immediately imagine God dragging terrified sinners into Heaven against their will, kicking, screaming, clawing the floor, pleading, “Please, Lord! Let me go to hell!” That is not the doctrine. Irresistible Grace means that when God effe...