419 scams are a type of fraud and one of the most common types of confidence trick.
The scam typically involves promising the victim a significant share of a large sum of money, which the fraudster requires a small up-front payment to obtain. If a victim makes the payment, the fraudster either invents a series of further fees for the victim to pay, or simply disappears with the upfront payment already made (Wikipedia).
If you have an email address, I will be surprised if you have never received an email from somebody who claims to have millions of dollars they want to share with you. That is what a 419 scam is. It originated in Nigeria, although these scams are now found in many countries around the world. They are given this title because 419 is the number of a section in the Nigerian Criminal Law which outlaws this practice, making it possible for the Nigerian government to prosecute and imprison anyone found practicing it.
What is the difference between Christianity as practiced by millions of Nigerians today, and as championed by thousands of pastors, and say, the 419 syndrome that Nigerians were well known and stereotyped for? Hint – both involve the conning of innocent, and many times, greedy people, by flamboyant actors who promise something that doesnt exist to their hapless clientele. Is Christianity the new 419 (scam), attracting the fastest talkers and the most greedy, like 419 did in the late 1980s and early 1990s? So writes Tope Fasua in an opinion piece that appeared in the Daily Trust, a Nigerian newspaper.
Although Tope Fasua is Nigerian, and was writing about Nigeria, this is true about a particular brand of Christianity being practiced in the US, Europe, and many African countries, including South Africa. As I write this, many South Africans are still waiting for the return of the remains of their loved ones who died in a building collapse in Nigeria. Whilst many go to Nigeria to seek healing, many go there to seek blessings so that they can become wealthy.
Conned in broad daylight
This is not about Nigeria, nor a modern-day phenomenon. The apostles warned the early church of the false teachers who would be after money 2000 years ago. Not everybody looking for wealth and healing is going to Nigeria. Many are flocking to mega churches in their own cities in South Africa, where the pastors are promising them heaven on earth. Many Christians are being conned in broad daylight, whether it is for healing or for wealth. It is all due to innocence, ignorance of what the Bible says, and simple greed. Ironically, greed is the very thing that Christians are warned about, if only they would read their Bibles.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Idolatry is worship of another god. It is not Christianity at all! It is greed that caused Judas Iscariot to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, which the Pharisees and religious leaders promised him. Like Judas Iscariot, many false pastors are selling Jesus for the same price today.
The apostle Peter was there when Judas sold Jesus. He knew the power of greed. If only Christians would read their Bibles and hear his advice, they would spare themselves a lot of their money and even their lives. This is what Peter says:
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies…Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Unsuspecting
Peter is emphatic and clear. There will be false teachers among you. How will we know them? Peter helps us. He says they have depraved conduct. As a pastor, I read with sadness the news headlines about a pastor making his congregants eat grass and drink petrol in Pretoria, South Africa. Another pastor in Kenya, told his female congregants not to wear underwear when they came to church because Christ cant enter their lives if they are wearing underwear. Yet another pastor in Uganda used an electric shocker to zap his congregants to receive the Holy Spirit. The unsuspecting congregants thought they were receiving the Holy Spirit when they felt electric shocks go through their bodies. The pastor was arrested. What kind of depravity is that!?
Peter continues in the verse quoted above, that many will follow them. Megachurch does not necessarily mean better church. In some cases, it could mean bad church for you. If and when you go to a megachurch where there are thousands of congregants, raise your Christian and Biblical antennae. If they pick up any of the things Peter is warning us about, run away as quickly as you can. In verse three above, Peter says these false teachers will exploit you, exactly like the 419 scammers do.
Paul was also concerned about false teachers. He told Timothy: Keep reminding Gods people of these things (2 Timothy 2:14). These false teachers, according to Paul, say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:18). There are many of these false teachers today who are telling ignorant Christians that the resurrection has already happened, meaning that you cannot be sick or poor. Let me tell you dear readers, anybody who tells you that you cannot be sick, and if you are sick God has no choice but to heal you, is telling you nonsense.
Only when Jesus returns
Paul warns us against such false pastors. In the process, they destroy the faith of some, says Paul in verse 18 quoted above. Often these false pastors tell people that if they are sick, or cannot be healed, or they are poor, it means their faith is weak, or simply that they have no faith. They will tell you that to get more faith you must give more money to the church, or rather to them. I repeat: that is nonsense! It is only when Jesus returns, and the dead are raised, that there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears, and no more death. Another so-called Prophet in South Africa used to preach like this. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he told his congregants that he will be healed. He also told them that if he died, he will rise again.
As it turned out, he died. The congregation waited for him to rise again. He didnt. Eventually the family buried him. He is still dead and buried. He has left many disillusioned Christians who could not see through his heretical teachings. Prophet fails to rise from the dead, reported the Star Newspaper on 28 December 2013.
Dont let anybody question or destroy your faith. Paul continues in 2 Timothy 2:11-13: Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
There are many pastors who have one agenda: to become rich from the church. They know what people want to hear. They tell them what their itchy ears want to hear. Dont be one of the victims of these scammers. Sadly, I have met many colleagues who have been victims of these scams, and they are disillusioned with the Christian faith. Take the warnings of Jesus, Paul, John and Jude seriously.
Jesus warned: At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people…for false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time (Matthew 24:10-11, 24-25).
Jesus says false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Not only will they deceive many people, they will also perform great signs and wonders to deceive unsuspecting Christians. When Jesus returns, such false teachers will say to him Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! (Matthew 7:22-23). Jesus said, See I have told you ahead of time.
Dont be a biblical statistic.
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