Two weeks ago, I was preaching in Kigali, Rwanda 🇷🇼. I preached in the country’s biggest English speaking congregation. It’s called Christian Life Assembly (CLA) church. The church is located in the city and attracts many wealthy individuals and expatriates. The church also attracts many politicians. I had done preachings on Friday and Saturday because of the Father’s Day weekend and on Sunday I was set to speak to more than 6000 people. The Sunday I preached happened to be a week after some new government officials had been appointed by the President. I was informed by one of the congregants that the new Government appointees were in service, along with several other politicians who regularly attend the church.
This is where some Kenyan pastors need to borrow a leaf from Rwanda. I clearly say “some churches” because I know not all churches in our country have bowed down to Baal. But we know that there are many loud clergy members who have compromised the gospel and they receive money from Statehouse. So let me tell you how CLA Kigali went. I loved the church service because Jesus was honoured and no politician was given any attention. No politician was recognised. It is like they were not even there. No announcement was made about the recent appointments. They were not asked to stand up. They were not asked to come to the front to be prayed for. They were not asked to speak to the people. They were not to give a testimony. They had no special chairs. They had no special parking spots. They had no special welcome team. They had no special toilets. If they wanted to use the washroom, they used the one everyone used. They had no security guards. They had no special privilege. They attended the service. They sat wherever they found an empty seat. They listened to the announcements. They never touched the pulpit. They listened to my sermon, took notes and kept quiet.
In fact, one of the Government appointees who was an active member of the men’s ministry was even instructed to help serve me at some point during that weekend. The pastor of the church did not prime me to go easy in my message because the big shots were around. I preached the message of the gospel clearly. I rebuked sin and I called for repentance and it was not awkward. In fact even if the President attended church that day, he would enter, sit down, listen and leave. Here is the sermon I preached that Sunday in Kigali, Rwanda 🇷🇼 (https://www.youtube.com/live/tXtxIFe2ha4?feature=shared)
We know how that would go in Kenya in some churches. I would be asked to send my sermon in advance for it to be reviewed. And the review would not be for doctrinal purposes but for political ones. In Kenya, a few benches would be cleared for the politicians. The program would be edited to allow them to greet the people. They would give a “gift” to the pastor. They would give an offering of stolen money to a church building project. If the preacher of the day would be known to be a fiery preacher of the gospel, he would be asked to sit down and allow another politically correct “man of God” to speak. God calls such churches evil. See this:
James 2:1-4 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?” (NLT)
The reason this happens in Kenya is because the idols of money and power have infiltrated the church. Jesus is not reigning as King. And we should call it out. You don’t have to be a pastor to call it out. You just need to be a Christian. I am an itinerant preacher. I have no theological degree. I haven’t been to Bible school. I haven’t been ordained. I have not pastored a congregation before. But I identify well with Christ and his cause. I get to preach because I run a parachurch ministry called The Relationship Centre Ltd. We help people break free from sexual addictions and we run a premarital class. But I want to encourage true Kenyan Christians that there is a remnant. In my eight years in full time ministry I have met good men and women- many solid, ordained pastors with theological degrees, who do great work pastoring churches who do not align with the corruption of the land. I am saying there is a remnant in the land. Kenya will have a spiritual revival. And I’m sorry to say that revival won’t come in big stadiums 🏟️ with “famous” preachers from outside the country. Revival will start in homes and in our local churches once we keep the pulpit clean. Let church be church. No more politics in our pulpit. No fundraising from politicians on Sundays and Saturdays. No pastors receiving retirement gifts from politicians.
If you know your pastor is like the ministers of Rwanda, why don’t you appreciate them by mentioning them in the comment section below and telling them thank you. If you know any of your pastors have compromised the gospel and are in bed with politicians, name them here as well and write the word REPENT. Ask them to sell that car and sell that house that the politicians bought them. Refuse for the pulpit to be defiled. The church is not NCCK or EAK my friends. The church- the true church- is the body of Christ that lives by His word.
#CleanThePulpit
#PreachTheGospel
#BringTrueRevival
#RejectFinanceBill2024
