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The founder of Calvary Bible Church, Pastor Olumide Emmanuel sais in his 35 years in the ministry, he has come to realise that people seek prosperity rather than economic empowerment.
As men of God, we should teach people how to become value creators and create wealth by offering value and solving problem and meeting needs. So most of what people call prosperity message and prosperity preaching is just materialism, greed and covetousness, and that’s not what a preacher should do,” he said in this interview.
Motivational speaker and author
I have written over a 100 books. My inspiration, energy come from God. I don’t think any man or woman can achieve anything without God’s support. When it comes to my calling, my purpose, my passion; what I am, I can work 24 hours. So, it’s all about being at the centre of gospel for your life. But like I said, fish do not struggle to swim; birds do no struggle to fly because that’s what they are created to do. So, when you are doing what you are created to do, grace and inspiration will flow.
Are you a ‘prosperity cleric’?
I am an economic empowerment agent. I don’t preach prosperity, I teach people economic empowerment.I teach people on how to become value creators and create wealth by offering value and solving problem and meeting needs. So most of what people call prosperity message and prosperity preaching is just materialism, greed and covetousness, and that’s not what I do.
Spiritual and the temporal world. Which one guides the other?
In the world we live in today, the spiritual controls the natural. The spiritual realm is the realm where events are called before they happen. So, before anything has its occurrence in the natural, it has had its occurrence first in the realm of the spirit. So the realm of the spirit is the root.
The physical realm is the fruit and once you understand the workings of the realm of the spirit, you’ll be able to navigate this in the physical. That’s why I always say to people that you’re either in the secret cult or you’re in the secret place. So, of course, the supernatural is the completion of the spark of the natural.
Preaching abroad.
In 2001, I was on a global tour, which started in Europe. I toured France, Italy, Spain and Norway for minister’s conferences and evangelism. I even ended up opening an office in Verona, Italy, where I had staff. But I soon realised prostitution was a major issue. It first hit me one day while I was preaching in Italy and I made altar calls that who would want to give their lives to Jesus. I had people coming to me, seeking deliverance from HIV/AIDS, that they’re HIV positive, and this one will come, you know, we have, HIV. Then I would counsel, how did you contact it and when I got to know it was through sexual immorality, then I would be told that they cannot stop because they have a contract, that they are under a covenant. It sounded so strange to me? Then I started wondering that how do you say you are a born again Christian and you are a prostitute? I didn’t understand. I couldn’t be judging them, but at the same time, I cannot deny what the Bible says. So, it was a conflict for me. Then the climax was I went to speak at the church, one of the major churches. Then I made an altar call, when you ask people to come and give their life to Jesus. Many well, the church population should be close to a 1,000; a major church, the choir was amazing. And now after my altar call, for those that want to give their lives to Christ should come out. And you know, because of the nature of the message I was preaching about, living, you know, a purpose-driven life, living a life opposing to please God, living holiness and all the stuff. Do you know that the whole choir came out, ministers, church workers! I initially thought that maybe the interpreter didn’t interpret very well. I said, come on; sorry, I mean, if you want to give your life to Jesus. How can you then living as prostitute? And they are in the choir, ministers, church workers! And they claim they’re born-again, speaking in tongues. And at the same time know they have a contract, they have entered a covenant and until they finish paying, they’re to continue in prostitution! You know, I heard many other funny stories I cannot go into now. At that point, I knew that, this place, the people here, they have another level of grace and anointing.
I don’t understand, because I can’t be judging people that they are not saved. At the same time, I cannot claim that people are saved when they are living a life where they are daily sleeping around with different people all in name of contract or whatever. My understanding of God, maybe they know God more than me. This shocking realisation discouraged me with missions in some parts of the world.
Economic hardship and Christianity
The Bible says in the last days, perilous time shall come. Many shall be lovers of themselves, unthankful and unholy. So they are fulfilling scripture now.
However, when you are looking up to a man, you will always end up in shame and disappointment. God is our source. Politicians are not our source. The economy of the nation is not our source. Our job is not our source. Once you see God as your source and you look up to Him and you understand the laws and principles that govern the world and do your part, it’s only a matter of time you will escape the struggles of the world. So, I will just tell people, hang in there. Tough times never last, but tough people do. Just hang in there, and you will earn the testimony. Well, the summary is don’t be a hypocrite. Be a true Christian. Live for God. Because what we are practicing mostly in this part of the world is religion, not Christianity. Religion is more dangerous than the devil. Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship with your Creator. When you practice Christianity as religion, you’re going to be a pawn in the hands of charlatans behind the pulpits. You’re going to be a victim of the religion, myopic, limited, ignorant, interpretation of scriptures of the people you listen to. So be a true Christian and be an example of the change that you want to see because if it’s going to happen, it’s up to you and if you are not part of the solution, you are entirely part of the problem. So, I look forward to people being a part of the leadership conference coming up on the 31st October and the 1st November at the Marriott Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Tithes and tithing
I don’t have any view on tithes and the tithing in the Bible is my view. I’m a Christian. I’m a pastor. The reason why we have diverse opinions with reference to many doctrinal issues in the Bible is because a lot of people bring in their own personal opinion and personal view into the interpretation of scripture. So, I don’t do that. I don’t have personal opinion or personal view in reference to tithing. What the Bible say is what I believe, and that’s what I live by. I believe that everything that we have belongs to God. So, the entire 100% of your income belongs to God, not 10%, not 20, not 30, not 40. 100% of your income belongs to God. People give but only a few people give exactly what God asked them to give. Don’t wait for pastors to say bring this, bring that. Pastors give general instructions. But we should ask God for specific instructions. If you follow general instruction, you will get general blessings. God is the owner of everything that you have if you are truly a child of God. Now, as a child of God, if you now understand that God is your source and everything he has given you belongs to him, whatever He now asks you to give, 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, whatever you can give, you now give. 10% is just like a minimum requirement like an act of what you say. God, thank you for blessing me, I’m bringing this thing as an act of worship, to acknowledge that you are my source and to be able to say have your way.
Anybody that is limiting themselves to 10% is actually preaching contrary to biblical teaching of the Bible. For me my 100% belongs to God.
