Editorial: Peeping under T.B Joshua’s controversial spiritual curtain

 By Ireneaus Chia Chongwain

T.B Joshua, or the “Man of God”, as his followers and admirers reverently call him, remains not only an enigmatic figure, but also one of the most controversial personalities the African Christian Church has known in recent years. His practices have rocked the foundation and presently pose indescribable theological challenges to conventional Christian and, before now, revolutionary Pentecostal churches. The controversy that surrounds him has not diminished, but only contributed to the aura he evidently glories in. T. B Joshua is certainly the modern day version of a Prosperity Theologian rejected even by some of his kind.

While some people say he is sent from heaven, others, even within the native Pentecostal Church in Nigeria, consider him dangerous, an impostor and the devil’s earthly appendix. He seems to have developed a thick skin for insults and even more alarming skills in ever-growing miraculous healings.

Accept it or not, T.B Joshua is indisputably the next new and hard to decipher personality in the modern African Christian Church. His combination of long held and time-tested Christian theological beliefs and near, if not outright occultist African traditional practices, has given him hitherto unseen evangelistic popularity as he continues to draw millions of followers not only from understandably impoverished African backgrounds,  but also from the affluent West  and most recently, even from Asia’s deeply culturally entrenched societies.                                 

 As T.B Joshua’s popularity continues to soar, the approach and heart-rending stories about this self-styled “Man of God,” have pushed many to start questioning the authenticity of his ministry. Is what is revolutionary necessarily acceptable? Many are now asking. It is not wrong saying when T.B Joshua sneezes, many terminally ill patients, husband-searching wives, child-hunting couples, wealth-envious business men and women, real or supposedly devil -possessed people and the forgotten and downtrodden, catch a cool.

His unique selling proposition resides in providing solutions to all human problems. His prophetic eye zooms across the world and detects important events even before news scoopers like the CNN and the BCC do. Prophetic Time over Emmanuel TV has become a never-miss slot as thousands remain clued to their TV sets to watch the “Man of God” and his acolytes confirm a previously announced prophecy and predict yet another. Ah! Who says tele-evangelists are not smart people. 

It is not only the approach, but the simplicity and miraculous manner in which T. B Joshua finds solutions to complex and previously declared desperate cases that beats one’s imagination and sends millions scurrying to the “Man of God.”  True to his characteristic simple and miracle-driven style, “Prophet” T.B Joshua answers his critics and detractors by explaining that his ministry cannot be judged by conventional standards as it comes from above and therefore beyond the understanding of a simplistic, materially-blind and spiritually-limited society- only the “Man of God” does not hesitate flaunting his material wealth as he paces from one end to another in his flamboyant Synagogue Church of All Nations, displaying mouth-wetting suits and light-reflecting hair dos . After all, have other wealth-hunting tele- evangelists before T.B Joshua, when quizzed on the accumulation of wealth, not given the same answer? Their God is a God of abundance, not poverty, therefore it is unpardonable to serve Him and remain poor.

Commenting on the massive adherence to Prosperity Churches in The Lord’s Business, Simon Robinson writes, “In place of the mainstream churches offer of salvation in the next world for good deeds in this one, many newer African churches preach instant deliverance in the form of worldly wealth. It is this message that appeals to the continent’s poor and displaced.”

An assistant Sociology and Anthropology professor at the University of Monrovia, Stephen Jubwe, commenting on the same trend adds, “It is a miracle people are looking for in these churches. They want it right here, not in the next life.” Little wonder thousands, including Catholics, are turning to T. B Joshua for miracles.

Jesus says judge not so that ye shall not be judged, but He still cautions his followers to watch out for false prophets. It is solely on this basis that we are pointing out certain disturbing signals about T.B Joshua’s healing ministry. Though the “Man of God” claims to be healing in Jesus’ name, Jesus is only a secondary personality in his ministry. T.B Joshua is at the centre of it all. He is the “be all and the end all.” Those who either speak against his ministry or hold a view contrary to the “Man of God’s,” are systematically discredited and destroyed in a slot, “Beware of Blasphemers.”  T.B Joshua cannot stand idly by and see his enemies destroy what he has sweated over the years to build. Revenge has no place in true Christian terminology. Jesus did not destroy, but prayed for his critics.

How is T.B Joshua different from the soothsayers in our villages except, perhaps, that he uses Jesus’ name in healing? But do traditional healers not say their talents are God-given and the plants they use from God?  And what of this still-to-be-verified stories of a whole pecuniary, or money industry, at the centre of so called miraculous healings? What of those who have taken ill again after they had been declared healed? What of those who have been paraded naked before thousands just for cheap publicity and to show the “Man of God’s” powers? Where, in God’s name, is the respect for human dignity? After healing many people Jesus declares that their faith has set them free. Is that faith only manifest in T.B Joshua’s presence?

God always answers the prayers of those who reach out to him in faith, even those whose faith is as small as a mustard seed. Reducing God exclusively to a servant at our beck and call is at best limiting and at worst insulting. Even within a purely secular mind frame, suffering is considered a school of life. It is disturbing to know that the quest for money and fame is breeding prophets with frightening eccentricities. Catholics should therefore watch, pray and remain discerning for, as Jesus says, many false prophets shall come in His name. We cannot stop wondering if T.B Joshua’s gimmicks are about righteousness, or is he simply using naïve and undiscerning Christians for popularity and pecuniary gain? Is T.B Joshua a false prophet? Time alone will tell!

Comments

[Temotala]

Those who either speak against his ministry or hold a view contrary to the “Man of God’s,” are systematically discredited and destroyed in a slot, “Beware of Blasphemers.”

Please, this is an erroneous statement. Anyone who has followed TB Joshua's ministry will know that he has never once spoken against his numerous critics. In fact, he regularly exhorts people to pray for thier enemies and do good to those who persecute them. The 'blasphemers' slot is simply so that people can understand the track record of the people currently spouting senseless allegations.

"...only the “Man of God” does not hesitate flaunting his material wealth as he paces from one end to another in his flamboyant Synagogue Church of All Nations, displaying mouth-wetting suits and light-reflecting hair dos . After all, have other wealth-hunting tele- evangelists before T.B Joshua, when quizzed on the accumulation of wealth, not given the same answer? Their God is a God of abundance, not poverty, therefore it is unpardonable to serve Him and remain poor."

I strongly disagree! If there is any tele-evangelist who does not emphasise on money or outwardly display their wealth, it is TB Joshua. Why did you not include in your write up the hundreds of thousands of less privileged he is helping on a daily basis? Have you ever heard TB Joshua ask for money from his viewers and congregants? What does he tell them - give to the less privileged in their own environment! To classify him among the money-mongering evangelists that sadly litter our television stations would be frankly insulting.

"Though the “Man of God” claims to be healing in Jesus’ name, Jesus is only a secondary personality in his ministry. T.B Joshua is at the centre of it all. He is the “be all and the end all."

Are you watching the same Emmanuel TV I am watching? If so, please retract this blasphemous statement. TB Joshua NEVER arrogates the honour to himself. NEVER. He continually emphasises and points people to Jesus Christ in every conceiveable aspect of the ministry. Have you not heard him say almost every Sunday, "All these things are not brought to pass by anything done by me - all boasting is excluded"? Case settled.

I agree with your final assertion that time stands as the ultimate proof of authenticity. But the incredible fruits TB Joshua is showing, and the consistency he has been moving at for the past many years is indicative of the divine calling he has.

After all, light and darkness cannot come from the same source.

[CHINONYE]

i strongly believe that TBJoshua's critics are envious people. They are no more getting customers because TB Joshua has shown them that money is not everything.

While they are not doing miracles is because they depend on monetary aspect of it. All the so called prophets apart from TB Joshua are all money concious.

My prayer to them is that let them stop fooling us. TB Joshua has shown us that we are being used by them. He must surely go to heaven before them.

Let them stop judging him. Let them know that jealous is a sin against God . Is onE OF God's ten commandment.

Thanks,
CHY 4M NIGERIA

[TINASHE MANHANDANYA]

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE QUESTION SOMETHING THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF THAT IT IS FROM GOD.MANY SHALL BE PUNISHED FOR CRITICIZING THE WORK OF GOD.ITS BETTER TO REMAIN QUITE IF YOU ARE NOT SURE OF WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT.T.B JOSHUA IS A MAN OF GOD.WHY SHOULD PEOPLE DEFINE THE WAY GOD OPERATES.ARE PEOPLE SAYING SATAN IS SMARTER THAN GOD?THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT.

[akindojutimi oluwafemi bankoleola johnson]

It is either you are for God or Satan.Prophet.t.b.Joshua reamin a spiritual enigma and a modern day solution to the multifaceted demonic manipulation of this generation..It is the Lord's doing and there's nothing anybody can do abot it.
God bless you all.
amen

[WALTER OBEN AGBOR]

Prophet T B JOSHUA is GOD-sent.Even JESUS suffered same fate from men because they did not know Him.Courage Prophet.

[WALTER OBEN AGBOR]

GOD is with you Prophet.DO NOT STUMBLE.

[Emmanuel]

Well, I can only speak from personal experience. Ever since I started watching Emmanuel TV, my life has changed and I have drawn closer to God. This is my testimony. Share yours on http://tbjoshuatestimonies.wordpress.com/

Let's tell the world our testimonies so they can see the truth about this God sent ministry!