How can African governments start taxing churches and demand their accountability to a being other than God?

We have a few genuine churches which seek to enrich people and contribute positively to the society. However, many bogus churches are coming up due to the liberal laws and lack regulations that churches receive. A few governments and organisations in Africa have starting to think churches should be held accountable to a being other than God.

The biggest problem with todays Christian faith is the syndrome called “Prophet of God” or “Man of God” churches. Usually led by self-proclaimed “prophets” or “messengers” who are believed without question by millions of blind and devoted followers.

These followers who are mostly poor believe that the “Prophet of God” or “Man of God” has the power to perform a range of miracles from healing the sick, curing HIV & Aids, turning petrol into pineapple juice and even raising the dead.

In South Africa, two churches – Rabboni Ministries and End Times Disciples Ministries – made headlines here when the churches posted images of their leaders feeding followers on snakes and rats, or instructing congregants to drink petrol and eat grass all in the name of proving their faith.

Nigerian evangelist TB Joshua made news following a building collapse at his Synagogue Church of All Nations church in Lagos, which killed 116 people and of those killed, more than 80 were from South Africa, illustrating the international nature of some of the bigger churches.

A report blamed the collapse on shoddy work, saying the structure had not met safety standards but Mr Joshua’s church denied this, instead blaming the collapse on a mysterious plane which had been flying above the double-storey building shortly before it was reduced to rubble.

When approached for comment on the scepticism around their sometimes bizarre practices, the response is often a variation of “we are being targeted” or “the Bible says the man of God will face opposition. Christ himself faced opposition”.

Still in South Africa pastor, who sprays his congregation with the “Doom” insecticide claims it can heal people with cancer and HIV. “Doom is just a name, but when you speak to it to become a healing product, it does. People get healed and delivered through doom,” a post on the church’s Facebook account reads. This actually sounds like an advert for the insecticide or a big joke but it actually happened. Literary a prophet of “Doom”.

These seemingly untouchable men are feared and taken as demigods by their followers who seem to have more faith in them than in God himself. They are actually thieves and not preachers because their famous prosperity Gospel steals from the poor congregation and enriches them.