Scholar discusses research on ‘money’ gospel: Not only poor people,  the rich and educated also follow prophets like Bushiri

Social Anthropology lecture at the prestigious Stellenbosch University in South Africa, Ilana van Wyk, says it not true that it’s only the poor and uneducated that follow prophets such as Bushiri.

Prophet Bushiri of Enlightened Christian Gathering Church: Prosperity gospel not a con, just a different approach to God

The renowned scholar has made his take in an opinion published on the online intellectual debates site The Conversations.

He was responding to Christian commentators who have been calling for urgent government intervention to protect poor people duped by the improbable promises made by what they termed as “scam” churches and “fake prophets”.

Writes Ilana van Wyk: “My research showed that prosperity gospel churches attract people from all walks of life and a variety of educational backgrounds.

“While the majority of congregants, like the majority of South Africans, are typically poor and dependent on social grants, these churches also count significant numbers of professionals, business people and increasingly, politicians, in their ranks.”

She argues that prosperity gospel believers are not captive victims of so-called cult leaders.

“In fact, they move constantly between churches as they search for more and stronger prophets,” she writes.

Ilana van Wyk also that she struggles to convince people that those who subscribe to this gospel are not simply credulous dupes.

“For its followers, prosperity gospel is not a con; rather, just a different approach to their God,” she writes.

Ilana van Wyk is an anthropologist and she has been studying prosperity gospel churches in South Africa for nearly a decade.  She has attended hundreds of daily services, watched scores of televised ones, analysed websites and chat forums and interviewed hundreds of prosperity gospel believers.

She says in prosperity gospel many believers are strengthened in their faith through the persistent testimonies of those who had been “blessed” with jobs, houses, cars and healing in church. These testimonies are delivered from church pulpits and in person, and are endlessly repeated in church publications and on radio, television and the internet.

Unlike theologians who argue about the legitimacy of Biblical interpretations and questions of doctrine, Ilana van Wyk has been interested in the kinds of people who swear undying support for men like Prophet Bushiri.

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Agape
5 years ago

The article truly tells the truth. A good researcher always come up quality information which is not biased.
Good research, good facts.
No research no right to speak.

Good work done.

Agape
5 years ago

Great article indeed that explains the truth.
Good research gives out great facts and truth.
No research no right to speak

Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo
5 years ago

Economic success and physical wellbeing is what most people seek from these prophets. That is why their ceremonies centre more on the two subjects, and less if not at all on salvation. Most testimonies given, which is one way of advertising their services and attracting people are of miracle moneys, economic breakthroughs and people being healed of whatever ailments they had. Another study which was conducted revealed that these latter day prophets mostly have paid actors in their audience to give false testimonies. They are not foolish, like politicians they know what you want to hear and will give it… Read more »

Motshandi
Motshandi
5 years ago

Great read indeed, she argues that prosperity gospel believers are not captive victims of so-called cult leaders, I would like to disagree in this regards and mention that the so-called hardcore Bushiri believers are captured by Chipiliro-The Black Jesus from Malawi and Zambia to come and work for him in South Africa. He offered about 3000 Pretoria congregants an opportunity to buy cars at reduced monthly instalments, he promised to act as a guarantor for their loans,. Note the difference his and his wife’s compatriots, including a few South Africans are fully blessed with new cars, the normal congregants are… Read more »

Gerald Mapanga Phiri
Gerald Mapanga Phiri
5 years ago

You will never understand Prophetic ministries unless you change your old mindset. We are stuck of Roman ways of worship and all of us we are coming there even one who analysis is coming from the same systems. Its hard to come to the sense unless you are part ànd parcel of Prophetic worship. All these people are not stupid they see what you don’t see

Make Malawi Great
Make Malawi Great
5 years ago

If your prophet drives a Maserati, Range Rover, Ferrari, flys in Private Jets, has bodyguards and lives in a 100 Million rands house you might wanna question some things here those are red flags. Jesus didn’t have guards like the Roman empire kings…He didn’t even own a chariot!! “Humble” is the magic word!! not flamboyant!!

Sonof Major
Sonof Major
5 years ago

Read 2 Corinthians 8 v9..Amen

Qinisile
Qinisile
5 years ago

@ make Malawi great 😂😂😂😂😂 first I can say you are just Jealous, secondly you mean that Jesus was poor ??? Change your mind set , stop attacking any creation of God , you need to pray for your salvation that’s it , Jesus loves you .

Gift Tlabo
Gift Tlabo
5 years ago

This is phenomenal.

Ujeni Hiwa
Ujeni Hiwa
5 years ago

I know of some Malawian professionals in their fields who have left their jobs or trades and followed Bushiri .most of these people followed coz they thought thy wud become rich just as Bushiri is a billionaire.i know a few have come back home with nothing in their hands and went back to their jobs but a lot more are stuck in joburg.i hear Bushiri refuses to guve them any job contracts and are given a lump sum of money to share the cash whn he feels like it.most of the top range cars are either registered to Bushiri or… Read more »

Qinisile
Qinisile
5 years ago
Reply to  Ujeni Hiwa

@ ujeni hiwa, you heard , your heard 😂😂😂😂 Jesus love , pray for your salvation

Christopher Nyemba
Christopher Nyemba
5 years ago

Very very true, these prophetic ministries are not a scam but a different approach to God. Those with faith will get testimony. Only the jealous and devils attacks Men of God like Prophet Shepherd Bushiri. This nonsense of attacking men of God must come to an end.

Motshandi
Motshandi
5 years ago

Chipiliro-The Black Jesus, the true men of the Devil, there you have it. There is no different way to GOD, only one way.

Sadie
Sadie
5 years ago

Im in Botswana, I believe in Prophet Shepherd Bushiri. When I see people feeling sorry for me for following him, the feeling is mutual I also feel pity for them. For they never give themselves to listen to his teachings. Just too quick to judge.

Nyasa Dé Malawi
5 years ago
Reply to  Sadie

True

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