Friday, March 29, 2024

Corruption Rocks Churches

Share

By Tiyese Sakala

THE Christian Council of Zambia (CCZ) has bemoaned the high levels of corruption, which have permeated the Church in Zambia and has called for stringent measures to rid the vice.

CCZ secretary general, Suzanne Matale, who was speaking at the 40th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Bible Society of Zambia at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre, said yesterday it was sad that the Church had not been spared from corrupt tendencies.

Despite 75 per cent of the Zambian population being Christians, corruption levels had continued to rise, which meant that even Christians were actively participating in corrupt activities.

“The levels of corruption in Zambia are very saddening. If more than 75 per cent of the Zambian population is Christian and we are forced to hold more than one Church service in our churches, it means that we have more people going to churches and that even the congregants are involved in these corrupt practices,” she said.

She said even though some quarters of society had argued that corruption was part of life, it was not supposed to be so high since most of the population was Christian and was not supposed to engage in such vices.

She noted that the general levels of moral decay in Zambia had continued to rise and divorce cases, coupled with the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, were high thereby denting the moral picture of Zambia.

Mrs Matale, who wondered where the Christians had gone wrong in their faith, said 60 per cent of court cases today constituted divorce cases.

The levels of Christianity have been compromised as the Church is failing to practise what it preaches.

“We need to see a lot of discipline in the Church if we are to make a difference as a Church. When a Church makes a difference, others follow. We are the moral torchbearers of the nation,” she said.

At the same function, various church leaders that included Home Affairs Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha, prayed for the well-being of President Levy Mwanawasa, the Bible Society of Zambia, and the world at large.

Mrs Matale called on the Church to be bold in all its activities bearing in mind that there were consequences one had to face once they chose to stand for the truth, adding that when a person accepted the command to preach obedience, they were supposed to be wary of the fact that they would be persecuted.
[Times of Zambia]

45 COMMENTS

  1. How many of those so-called Chritian churches follow what the Holy Bible REALLY records?
    “Unless there be a compromise (in the actual truth and God’s commandments), there will never be backsliding.”

  2. I mean how do you expect to have a GOD FEARING nation when those in the forefront(LEADERSHIP) doing wrong things. They even having the guts to hold press conferences to justify their wrong doings…YOU WILL BURN IN HELL!!!

  3. Nothing new here. The church has been corrupt ever since it was established as a tool for ruling the ignorant masses.The church is founded on lies. Do you really believe that Mary had a baby without having sex? What would you say if your daughter came home and told you she was pregnant but she was still a virgin? The Catholic church bcame rich as a result of robbing poor people all over the world. Most of the gold of the Incas and Aztecs ended up in the vaults of the Catholic Church. What do you expect?

  4. One of major problems is when people have these “personal-to-holder” churches such as is the case with Nervous Mumba and Dan Pule! They feel they can do all they like and the pwer gets to them as they is really no one they are unswerable to unlike the old establised churches such as the Cathloics, Anglicans, Baptists, Adventists, Watchtowers etc etc . When there is a governing body of the church and the monies collected do not go to make one (or a few) particular person/s rich, there is LESS room for corruption. But that is not to say there is absolutely no corruption in the old established churches too…

  5. #9 UnTrueZambia, you are so thoughtful; “personal-to-holder” churches you have in this chaotic village, hoo sorry, country of yours, are just preparing 70 % of you to enter hell. In Serbian we call it Pakao. So far you Sambians are leaving in Purgatory…

  6. # 7 and 9 You are very right. From nowhere, So many churches have mushroomed. What do you expect from these to-Ntemba type of churches.
    People like SEX-PULE are busy running after other peoples wives, widows and teenagers. How can corruption not exist ?
    I dont know where we are heading to, yaba !

  7. Most Pastors, especially (pentecostals), in zambia are corrupt they love to receive favours from corrupt and wicked church members if you look inside the churches you will find that the churh boards are full of those members who are well to do you will never find a poor brother serving as a leader, what is the motive.The pastor can know that a rich brother is not living a straight life but because of his financial status he will be retained in the church board. Madam Matale i hope you are not guilty of this vice.

  8. #7 you lack wisdom the church was not founded on lies, people just abuse it, you are blaspheming don’t comment on things you have no knowledge on. wise up!

  9. Which church is corrupt now?tell us Sue withoput beating about the bush…have you ever taken ACC to investigate!if you fail to point out,you might as well be arrested for alarming the nation and defaming the body of Christ..

  10. As we are throwing these stones, lets be mindful that do not have any blem ourselves. Who are we to blem His Church?

    Jesus Christ the Lord is capable and well able to clean up His Church.

    May God be Glorified.

  11. #14
    I am ready to worship anyone who can turn water into wine. I just dont believe it can be done. The true miracle is that so many believe that nonsense.

  12. #7 well said. Most “african christian” use the church as a place for socializing and easy place to get business contacts! Church elders take advantage of vunerable teenagers & women in the name of “brotherhood in christ”, by them fanta & chips and get them pregnant.
    Boy am i glad i aint a brainwashed poor zedian.

  13. I just want to pray for number 7. I hope one day God will arrest him the way He arrested Soul. I strongly believe that one day God will turn #7 into a stronger preacher of the gospel.God bless you number 7

  14. Its true I conquer with #13, there is too much corruption in churches today especially in the pentecostal set ups. Pastors are no longer shephereds they are sheeps now (milking from the congregation) They are puting the name of our Lord Jesus to shame. May the Lord deliver them

  15. RE:CORRUPTION IN CHURCHES

    This is very true. Churches have stopped preaching about salvation they are only preaching about money now.
    In churchs today especially the pentecostal ones, you cannot be a leader in the body if you do not have money. first they want to see how fat your pockets are then you will be a leader, shame.

    They will call people for conference, after the conference they will tell you, you cannot eat the word without paying anything.
    In the fist place why holding conferences on credit then you start troubling people, and the pastor without paying anything.
    Please let us respect the church. Don,t put yr words in Jesus’s mouth, Jesus says Freely I give Freely you rec

  16. Jesus had a passion for people, if only pastors of today could have passion on their people, they cannot be any corruption.
    They are milking too much from the congregation, them they are busy sending their children overseas for education, building houses while the poor people are not even recognised in the church. Asking for money from someone after praying for that person is corruption.

    Us pentecostals now we no longer walk with our heads up, because of what our fathers are doing. Mwelesa mwise bwangu

  17. It’s not only Pentecostal Pastors who are corrupt but in all Churches there are some corrupt leaders but maybe because the pentecostals are in majority. even in UCZ, catholic,presbyterian, Jehovahs witness,etc there are church elders who are found in bars, womanising and corruption.

  18. #24 Tawakwata amano… i bet u only attend church as ritual and are not born again… you are an ass hole..

  19. #21
    Thank you for your kind prayers. Can you please also pray that I will have more money and more sex in my life. Oh, And also that I can be better looking. I have prayed many times for these things but God does not listen to kme. Perhaps he listens to you.

  20. #7
    Fantatisc ,couldn’t have put it better than that.( free thinker)
    #8
    Read on the history of religion thanks….

  21. As chrches you have let down the entire country and the young generation who should have learnt from you.What are you teaching them? Its a shame that it has reached levels of serious concern as to be in the media

  22. thats sad of pipo in front of the church,make the young ones lose faith which aint rit…..why and where are we headed……….guess its every where

  23. Why are you Pentecostals behaving badly like this? You have brought shame to the church.Brothers think twice before you join them

  24. And the advertorial goes……’Pastor So-and-So is responsible for church purse money of Chakuti-Chakuti Ministries International (a personal-to-holder creation of course!).

    A new convert congregant is prompted to ask: ‘ And who overseers Pastor So-and-So’s disbursement of the church purse money?

    ‘Hush’, said an old adent follower, ‘Jesus of course!’

    Sound familiar? Using Jesus’ name for personal gain. It is written, many will short-change his name for personal glory towards end of time.

    In the past, if you failed Form V, you joined the police force. These days, you become a pastor. It’s a question of survival, I suppose. Dare I ask if there are vetting rules? No.

  25. Do my fellow zambia’s know that the gov’t has Known about oil in the northwestern province since the 70’s?,so why are we still speading billions on oil?

  26. 34# Chiluba is not the standard for pentecostal churches but Jesus Christ himself.Check the log in your own church or eye before you condem us .I invite you to any pentecostal church & your life will never be the same ,not only 34# but any one reading this comment, JESUS LOVES YOU , you must be born again.

  27. The whole issue of Ministries operating outside the local church has no biblical basis. Elders in the local church oversee Ministries. Individuals running So called independent Ministries have no one to be accountable to and thus the problem.

  28. You have one guy at the top and that same guy determines doctrine and practice. In the event of wrong doctrine and practice on the part of the so called ‘Ministry leader’ no corrective measure can be carried out by the members of such a ‘church’or grouping.

  29. What ensues is doctrinally starved grouping susceptible to misleadings by leaders. A good example is the Pule saga!

  30. When all is said and done, people, there will be only one who speaks last , whether you believe now or never, one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord….Those of you who are hiding behind intellectualism to justify your being atheists and thus trash the church must take leaf from the devil (your father) himself who also believes that Jesus is Lord. On that day YOU and I will confess Jesus as Lord but whether or not YOU will have eternal life with Him is what I challenge you to take fresh consideration now. Don’t wait till its too late…..Come Lord Jesus!

  31. The Church is being attacked Left right and center not only in Zambia but all over the world.We have seen the greatest pastors in the states divorce and also Zambia is seeing that.
    If you’re truly born again,you can never go through a divorce.
    If you go through one then it cleary says that his grace is not sufficient enough.
    Remember this question?Is there anything too hard for the Lord?
    Unfortunately most Christian men and women are saying say Lord,my wife/husband.
    When Dr Pule gave the press conference to defend himself,my first impressions were”when did the holy spirit depart from this man of God.
    Remember the Bible says do not grieve the spirit.It seems he left a while ago.

  32. #7 be careful the way you drag mary into this repent or you will burn in hell. pray that the holy spirit forgives you.

  33. #7 may God forgive you for commenting on things that you are ingonorant. #7 God is real.The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are saved it is the power of God . Keep quit & repent before it is too late JESUS loves you

  34. I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there is’t, than live my life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.
    No 7 I pray that God will create in you a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within you. Nothing is impossible with God.

    God is real, do not look at what other people are doing look at yourselves and stop judging others. Leave that to God. When the time comes God will not ask the pastors, your mother, husband, sister, brother etc. he will ask you. You will have to give account of how you lived your life and not how those around you lived theres.
    Read Romans 2.

  35. 44 WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG LET US ADMIT IT IS WRONG AND CALL IT BY IT’S NAME. LET US NOT PRETEND ALL IS WELL IN THE CHURCH, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED AND IT IS A SHAME. LET US PUT OUR HOUSE IN ORDER AND TO DO SO WE NEED TO PUT THINGS STRAIGHT AND THIS ENTAILS STOPPING THE EVIL THAT IS GOING ON.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading