When the Anointed Touch Themselves

Have you heard of Jimmy Swaggart?I must confess I didn't know of him until a few days ago, and I went to read up and watch videos, and boy, did he make an interesting read. I believe all these flamboyant, spirikoko 'men of God' would probably pale in comparison to Jimmy, yet he slipped.What I found intriguing was not that he was caught with prostitutes, rather the role played by a fellow pastor, Marvin Gorman, whom he, Jimmy, had shamed in the 1986 when the story of Marvin's infidelity came to fore. According to reports, Jimmy was quite vocal in condemning other preachers who were caught up infidelity themselves, never knowing his own day was gonna come.

Marvin then retaliated by having his people trail Jimmy to the hotel where he met with the prostitutes and took pictures. He allegedly held the videos and pictures for about a year and tried to blackmail Jimmy with them in order to have him, Marvin, reinstated as a Minister in the church. However, after much denial, Jimmy admitted and confessed to his family, the church and God, in that order and openly. See the length Marvin went to nail Jimmy, nt because he loved the church, but to have the power, or something to hold over Jimmy for his own gains.

Coming home to the issue of Apostle Suleiman and the stripper, Stephanie; she said she went to report the matter another Pastor in Warri, whom after seeing the videos and pictures, instead of contacting the Apostle for discussions or clarification, connived with the girl blackmail and extort some money from a fellow ordained and anointed man of God. In this case, he wanted money and something to hold over the Apostle. Interesting.

If you're an Igbo man/woman or someone who enjoys Igbo gospel music, you'd know of Prince Gozie Okeke, one of the big gospel artistes in the Igbo land. A video has been released by a Pastor Chibundu Ejimogu on Youtube, detailing some allegations against Gozie, ranging from voodoo and fetish practices, to homosexuality and plot to murder some people. This video is supposed to be a song, lasting over 40 minutes, but all the Pastor did was to talk, criticise, expose all the evils Gozie Okeke allegedly did. We're yet to determine what he stands to gain from all this.

Now, we are all familiar with the 'touch not my anointed' phrase, and that is what they use to emotionally blackmail some of us from pointing out the ills they're doing in the church. Trust me, the politics played in the church is dirtier, messier, and more petty than PDP vs APC, but they always quote the above verse in the Bible to shut people up, but never me though.

What then happens when the men of God touch themselves by scheming, plotting, and exposing one another all for their own selfish gains? Who calls them to order? Who ensures that issues like this do not continue to embarrass the household of faith? What is the Christian Association of Nigeria actually doing? I think they should be made to understand that their actions make a mockery of the Christian Faith. 

I won't even bother going into the debate about who is guilty and who is not. They're all human and are bound to slip. Also, the devil targets people like these and scheme to bring them down by all means. The trick is, when you fall, dust yourself up humbly and move on, but when pride enters into a man, like it did with Jimmy Swaggart the second time he was caught with a prostitute and he told the church that God told him to tell the church that it was not their business, then know that the end is near. 

While they tell us not to touch them, they should take care not to touch one another and give us something to talk about. Shouldn't they emulate the kind of Pastoral work Jesus Christ did while on earth anyway? Lemme leave it at this because if I continue, I might not stop, and some people will say I'm exposing the church (side eyes).

Thank God It's Friday!! Fridays are for what?.....Hehehehehehe...

Have a lovely weekend, my good people. 

Peace...