THE GOSPEL INDUSTRY

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV)

Introduction

Ministry motivated by profit is industry. With the advent of the Prosperity Theology, the ministry of the gospel is largely motivated by profit. Profit according to Wiktionary is "the money or other benefit a non-governmental organization or individual receives in exchange for products and services sold at an advertised price." The gospel is the good news concerning Jesus Christ as the saviour of the world. According to the Bible, the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. The gospel is the spiritual solution to every spiritual problem in the universe, hence, everyone needs the gospel since everyone suffers the spiritual problem of sin and its effects. 

Preaching the gospel implies rendering service to God and man, and it is work. Whereas some Christians preach the gospel in fulfilment of their divine calling and purpose with or without pay, others preach it for profit or gain. So, the same service may be rendered for different motivations. Those who are called by the Lord to proclaim the gospel, do so to fulfil their divine calling and purpose with or without pay, but those who aspire to wealth and power through the gospel, preach it for profit or gain, leading to what I call, the gospel industry. 

Industry

Industry concerns production, distribution and exchange of goods and services for money or other benefits. Profit is the main motivator of industry. Without profit, an individual or business organisation is not motivated to continue working. 

Ministry

Ministry refers to work of any kind or service in the tabernacle particularly. Under the New Testament, every believer is a priest and minister of the Lord. A minister of the Lord is not necessarily a preacher. Ministry under the New Testament is not limited to work done inside the tabernacle (temple) but also outside. Any work done in fulfilment of your God-given purpose, whether within or without the temple, is ministry. Again, any work done in the interest of the Lord, whether inside or outside the temple, is sacred. Whatever work you do, whether in or out of the temple, if it is done to the glory of God, it counts for ministry. Therefore, see every honourable work as opportunity to serve men and to glorify God.  

Ministry versus employment

Employment is work you do to earn a living but ministry is work you do in fulfilment of your divine calling and purpose with or without pay. Ministry is not motivated by money or other benefits but by the glory of God. Godliness is living for the glory of God. The glory of God is our profit as ministers of the Lord. 

Industrialisation of the gospel

The gospel has been industrialized by simoniac preachers who appear to be called by the Lord to proclaim the gospel but are not truly called. Those who are called are known by their fruits, likewise those who are not called. The pretentious ones aspire to wealth and power through the gospel, and they use godliness as a means to financial gain, fulfilling their aspiration to wealth and power through preaching. These are they who are motivated by profit to preach the gospel, and are best described as 'simoniac preachers'. 

Forms of industrialisation of the gospel

•Consultation fee

Simoniac preachers charge consultation fee before they attend to people who come to them for spiritual help. The Lord instructed us to not charge a fee for rendering spiritual services to people in his name since he freely gave us the spiritual abilities with which we render spiritual services. 

Mat 10:8; 1Cor 2:12

•Sale of anointed products

The sale of anointed water, anointed oil, anointed handkerchief, anointed towel, anointed hand band, anointed necklace, anointed dress, anointed beverages and anointed foodstuff at exorbitant prices is rampant among simoniac preachers. There is even competition among them over whose anointed products work more effectively. These anointed products purportedly offer spiritual solutions like topping up one's anointing for power demonstration, curing all manner of diseases and influencing all manner of favours among others.

Acts 8:18-19; 1Joh 2:20, 27

•Preaching industry 

Before the advent of the Prosperity Theology, invitation to preach used to be an honour sui generis, however, today, simoniac preachers charge exorbitant fees before accepting invitation to preach, and when they go to preach, they use various schemes and mechanisms to collect money from those who attend the service. 

•Singing industry  

Before the advent of the Prosperity Theology, invitation to sing at a Christian function was an honour in itself, but today, singing ministers charge exorbitant fees before accepting invitation to minister songs at a Christian function. Popular gospel artistes are likely to draw more people to the service which is likely to increase the profit, and so, they charge higher fees. 

•Ushering enterprise

Ushering is a key ministry in the church. Since the simoniac preachers came in and the gospel was commercialized, many ushering enterprises have been created to train people to usher at church functions for profit. The simoniac preachers purchase the services of professional ushers and greeters who often come to slay at the function so as to attract a crowd and to increase the profit. 

Conclusion

Prosperity Gospel proponents often equate Christian faith with financial success and material possessions. The Prosperity Gospellers teach that faith, expressed through positive confession and giving to a spiritual cause draws wealth and health. They overemphasize giving, and suppose that they can use the Holy Spirit to make profit. It will not be unfair to say that the Prosperity Theologians regard godliness as a means to financial gain. This is contrary to the word of God which teaches that godliness with contentment is great gain. Those who aspire to wealth and power through the gospel are motivated by profit to preach the gospel. They are influenced by greed to use various machinations to collect money from unsuspecting believers to enrich themselves, thus making industry out of the ministry of the gospel. Ministry motivated by profit is industry. 

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