Inward Renewal

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Health and Wealth gospel?  Maybe not.  Either way it has made it’s way from the West to the heart of Africa.  It’s message is as deadly as any false prophet ever was.  It completely empties the work, death and resurrection of Christ.  Those are peripheral items compared to gaining prosperity, healing and deliverance.  The “pastors” of these churches are often misguided swindlers trying to rob an already destitute people of whatever material possession they have.  In addition, they are leading people astray and having them put their hope in something other than God.  Those who follow such teachings will undoubtedly become disappointed and angry with God for not giving them their every wish and many will turn cynically away from the church.

It makes me mad when I come across a sign like the one posted below.  My jaw drops as I read “pray your way to salvation…” And I wonder just how many people think they are Christians doing all the right things, following the prescription their church has outlined for them, but have never truly encountered Christ, the suffering one, who bore our sins upon the cross.  All of Action Zambia’s ministries combat the health and wealth gospel at some level.  We pray that God would use us to speak simply and clearly about Jesus Christ.