Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua has taught that a genuine Christian can fall sick with the dreaded coronavirus disease yet still be a “friend of God”.
In a question and answer session on his official Facebook Page, which has over four million followers, the cleric addressed the contentious subject in the wake of news that COVID-19 had claimed the lives of several pastors.
“Christians, do not make the mistake of thinking that you are ‘out of touch’,” Joshua stated, adding that God could use any circumstance “to preserve us and to strengthen our desire and determination for Him”.
The cleric divulged that COVID-19 can be regarded “just like any other affliction”, stressing that believers should not be misled by their situation to doubt.
“That should be the reason to look deeper, pray the more and dream of other ways you might have ignored,” he counseled.
“Do not measure your Christian life by your situation… As a Christian, what you see as COVID-19 or affliction—God may sometimes allow it as a trial,” Joshua continued in the session that was subsequently uploaded to Emmanuel TV’s popular YouTube channel.
He added that believers often “run from the very things that will bring strength to our lives,” explaining that the afflictions of a Christian were meant for their “spiritual benefit” and served as a “test” of maturity.
He concluded by calling on believers to never misjudge or condemn themselves in such challenging circumstances.
“What we see as a disadvantage in our lives can be turned into an advantage. God is still saying something,” he stated in the Facebook post.
Joshua’s assertion stands in conflict to recent statements by some of his fellow prominent Nigerian Pastors on the subject.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye of Redeemed Christian Church of God elicited controversy when he assured members of his church of immunity to the virus.
“I want to assure you that so far you are in the secret place of the Most High, no virus can come near your dwelling,” he declared in a video message posted to his official Twitter account on March 16th 2020.
In Bishop David Oyedepo’s recent sermon on April 19th 2020 titled, ‘Understanding Our Heritage of Dominion Over Sickness and Diseases’, the fiery Winners Chapel cleric declared, “Not one member of your household will be affected by any virus including coronavirus!”
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy is also known for propagating similar messages. “I refuse to be sick because it’s not in my nature,” he declared in a sermon recently posted to YouTube.
“The man that could get sick is dead; the ‘me’ that’s alive today has the supernatural life of God that makes me invincible and impregnable to sickness, disease and infirmity,” Oyakhilome affirmed.
In an earlier post on Facebook, TB Joshua had personalised the question to reveal he also has fallen sick but it never stopped him from his God-given “assignments”.
“My outward part, the shell, sometimes falls ill but once it is time for an assignment, I am relieved,” he said, citing 2 Corinthians 5:1 for reference.
This man is a good businessman he always has a heap of fooooools willing to offer him money and buy his product!!
Of course he can get sick. It would be dangerous and naive to think Christians are immune to diseases. Christians are not superhumans, they only have superhuman connection.
All power and glory belongs to God, because He is the only one with the ultimate plan. The Mastermind. As the man of God says, it is good for us to draw near to God in hard times and put our trust in him. Affliction is there to humble us and show us that we are not imperishable. But like David, we can also say:”many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17
Didn’t this conman claim that this deadly virus will disappear by 27th March?
Sad to believe that a good number of people are so gullible of this businessman.
Things of God are supernatural and what Men of God have said is just that and it’s not right to comment of things that are supernatural coz only a supernatural mind can understand them!!!
God’s people will always find a way to praise him in harmony,faith and truth without a fear.
At a time of global uncertainty such as this, caused by the devastating impact of the COVID-19, Zambia is the only country in the whole world where they think coronavirus has disappeared , the latest video showing hundreds of Zambian women taking off face masks while dancing and celebrating the opening of churches is shocking, the video just shows the ignorance of the majority of Zambians on this matter.
You people who have time to believe these con men should continue. What is so difficulty to read the word of God which is so clear about every thing yesterday, today and tomorrow? Please read the Bible and you will be safe from these vultures who prey on your money. The word says we are in the world and yet not of the world. Meaning as long as we are in the world, we as believers shall suffer all what the people of the world suffer from..diseases, cashless, hunger etc. Believers are not supernatural beings while in this world until the time they shall be glorified. So COVID-19 shall infect you together with those useless papas of yours. Stay home please.
The 2 most difficult persons to reason with are a PF cadre and a follower of a prophet
Why do people listen to this morally bankrupt Charlatan kansi??
This bogey man could not,
* Forsee his compound collapsing & killing many in the process.
* Properly predict the U.S election, as he said “a Woman will win the Election”.
* Declared Covid -19 will end & be history before the start of April. We are now heading into May & Covid tapu -tapu!
THIS NIGERIAN CROOK T.B JOSHUA IS SIMPLY PRACTICING RELIGIOUS 419 SCAMS ON GULLIBLE DOPEY POOR PEOPLE, MOST WHO DON’T HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO SURVIVE DAY TO DAY, BUT WILLING TO PART WITH THEIR HARD EARNED CASH & HAPPILY HAND IT OVER TO THIS “KADUNA PLAYBOY”
I hate to share gory news but for crying out loud the only WAY to go to heaven (or hell) is by DYING!!!! Guys, Christians! If you do not want to be close to either of those stay safe, wash your hands, and observe social distancing WHILE PRAYING!!!!! This might mean staying away from your houses of worship for a bit. There – is that too much to ask!? Tempt fate at your own peril.
What happened to Christians believe “ No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 54? Here is a secret. It is BS stop wasting your time on Religion. Science is our only hope to save us with a vaccine not Jesus or whoever is your dirty choice. Now is the time for you to engage and learn Science.
Anybody who believes whatever comes out of the mouth of this false prophet deserves to be conned. Let the foolish follow the foolish.
It shocks me that people believe what comes out of the mouth of fraudster TB Joshua. This man lies and gullibe people believe him. People should wake up. And calling them daddy should also stop, they are not your daddy’s.
For once i agree with this tarino guy, indeed this business man has alot of blindfolded followers over 4million nowander is afro is ever black just to make sure he cons u thinkin is a true prophet.
Yeah, sounds like some rocket science.
Christians. This man is far from God’s chosen. A prophet with shady prophesies. Stay home safe and clean your hands. Wash with soap and use sanitizers.
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 1 Cor 1:18. Learn to listen and keep the comments to yourself because you are also blind.
Understood, but it doesn’t make this guy not phoney. He is no prophet but a devil worshipper
In a normal country this Joshua was already arrested for years.