I hope everyone saw the ATM machine at the entrace of the church

Church is now a business venture

By Itebeng Gabatshwarwe

- There is no way that a poor person can make you rich, why can’t he start with himself?

- It is through hard work that one gets prosperous.

- In the past we heard of people who were healed through prayer and the word of God free of charge.

“Give and it shall be given back to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over and over, spilling into your lap. The same measure you give is the way God will reward you,” the everyday language in today’s churches.

Of recent there has been rumors, issues and scandals of people crying that they have been robbed of their resources especially money under the pretense of so called pastors and prophets. They come to Botswana, claiming to be messengers of God coming to deliver people from the evils surrounding them. Most of them say that they are able to heal and cure diseases such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, misfortunes and many more. They even go to the extent of saying that they can make you rich.

According to the Department of Labour and Home Affairs, Registrar of Societies, each and every church has to be registered. With its leader, being the pastor, having been registered and coming from a recognized training institution. The public is therefore encouraged to make sure they check with the registrar before identifying themselves with any church. They have to seek the background of that church and its existence and where it is actually coming from.

Despite the information from the Registrar of Societies, Batswana still find themselves being robbed of their money, houses and cars. During their church meetings, their pastors and prophets will encourage them and tell them that God loves a cheerful giver, so they have to give in order to be successful. They are told that being a miser leads to poverty. They normally say, “To open a gate of your blessings is through giving. God loves a cheerful giver, so if you are a miser He will not open the flood gates of heaven. Give and it shall be given back to you. If you give little, you will receive little, if you give much you will receive much. To receive your healing, get back your luck, give to unlock your miracle. Give, God is about to open His gates, why delay?”

With fear and expectations the poor Batswana will dig in their pockets and give, and some in the writing of a cheque, some in pledges and others deposit their money into the said accounts of the churches. Some say they are requested to go and get into big baths to be cleansed of their bad luck. Normally these cleansing are done in pastors' homes. This is where and when sexual abuse takes place. Some claim that one can only be cleansed after having intercourse.

People have to open their eyes and be wise. There is no way that a poor person can make you rich, why can’t he start with himself? A sick looking person, how can he make you well? Every country has sick people why can’t they heal their own first? Charity starts at home. We know that most of these so-called prophets and pastors are foreigners. It is through hard work that one gets prosperous. Trained doctors are there in hospitals for referral if your body is weak. Or if one is not certain or satisfied with the help from the hospital, they can go to our traditional doctors who are registered with Dingaka Association. These people are here for business and not for your well being.

In the past we heard of people who were healed through prayer and the word of God free of charge. Prophets were sent to certain places to go and pray for them, but those were the prophets in the Bible. They are said to have laid hands on people but demanded no pay. When these so called are questioned about their demands for money, they claim to be taking everything from the Bible, which is all a lie. Most of them disappear after realizing that axe is about to go through their heads.
Law and justice always prevail no matter how long you do a thing and enjoy its benefits.

The church is not a place for business. People should bear that in mind. A church is a place of worship and praising God. It is a place of peace, love, faith, and fellowship between people and God. That is why when Jesus Christ went into the temple and found people selling doves, he furiously took a whip, whipped them and threw the money they had made away because they were doing an abomination before God.

Give Caesar what belongs to him and God what belongs to him. Though there are many easier ways to riches, let everything be done accordingly. Business for business, and church for church.