“Gamaliel’s Hypothesis”: The Times and Limits of Fake Ministries (in Africa)

#CC Published in the Satelite Magazine, Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, 2024 edition

Introduction

While the problem of the rise of fake ministries and prayer houses with obscene practices has remained a problem for several years in Africa, there is a new concern which seems more dangerous in the practice of religion in Africa. This concern is the excessive focus on criticism. Most Christians have given in to the discussion of which ministry is more supreme than the other, which one is authentic and which one is not.

With this, the religious trend is automatically redirected such that people no longer focus on gaining what they should from the place of worship. They are rather on the lookout for loopholes and to comment on how one church is authentic or inauthentic. The result of this is that people cling to their specific religious leader in a cultic way and refuse to see anything good outside that circle.

From another perspective, people no longer see any good in ministries due to the excessive concentration on criticism. Although no one can definitively say which ministry is authentic and which is not, it should not be the case that allegations are brought up against every ministry that arises. It has almost become a step-by-step process with the erection of a ministry. If it eventually draws attention through good works and miracles done there, there arises almost instantly a conspiracy theory countering the supposed good work.

With this mentality, there is no substantial progress in the practice of the faith because people deprive themselves of spiritual benefits due to excessive focus on appearing better than another group of worshippers. This partly explains the situation in Africa where there are many churches and ministries developing daily but problems continue to persist and even grow worse. The question arises: What then is the solution to the rise of fake ministries?

Fake Ministry

In this discussion, a fake ministry is to be understood as one which is operating under the power of some source other than God or which does not regard God but only intends to deceitfully extort the people while making them believe they are receiving healing and solutions to their problems. Fake ministries work outside the accepted standards of religious practice and can be regarded as distortions to the faith. The presence of fake ministries has affected the faith of the people and the religious focus is gradually tilting away from that of salvation to miracles, material gains, prosperity etc.

Gamaliel’s Hypothesis

Gamaliel was a teacher of the law who intervened at the time when the apostles were being persecuted and about to be killed. He cautioned the people to refrain from killing the apostles by recounting how several men had risen in Israel and gathered followers and how their followers eventually dispersed after their deaths. He concluded by saying “…keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them – in that case you may even be found fighting against God.” (cf Acts 5:38-39)

Gamaliel’s words remain relevant today in the assessment of ministries and prayer houses. Criticism should not be the primary focus because eventually whatever ministry that is fake will automatically collapse on its own with time because it is not possible to sustain such organizations formed out of the desire for material gain or vainglory. As noted from the scripture, if it is of human origin, it will eventually die a natural death.

Miracles and the Rise of Fake Ministries

One of the most controversial aspects of rising ministries in Africa is that of miracles. Since this is what many people who troop to these ministries are after, every ministry is making effort to be in the same line of performing miracles. This has led to a bastardization of the concept of miracles due to the dramatic displays of several ministers in the bid to prove a point.

Miracles are surely a wonderful tool of evangelization and are not negative but when it becomes the primary focus of a ministry, then something is out of place. It is in the quest to fashion miracles that most ministries go out of their way to do several things that should not be. Some pay people to act in certain ways that suggest to the onlookers that a miracle has been performed. Some others seek to attain these miracles using dubious means that betray the same faith they purport to preach.

As Christians, it is important to understand that not every illness will be cured with a miracle and the goodness of God is not dependent on whether or whether not He performs miracles. Likewise, as a minister, it is not out of place to constantly remind the people that it is God who performs miracles and He is not bound to perform miracles just because the minister demands it. The place of miracles should be respected and they should not become the main focus because once that happens, then there is a digression from the task of building the faith and attainment of salvation.

The Role of Discernment in the Determination of the “Fake Ministries”

Discernment plays an important role in helping the faithful to know which ministries are authentic and which are fake. Of course, there is the need to weigh the activities of the ministry and the life of the minister to make sure that all are in conformity with reason and standard religious ethics. This is only possible if people are able to lay aside the emotionalism that goes with attaching oneself to a particular ministry.

Most people allow themselves to be blinded by emotions and thus, they no longer see anything wrong in whatever is done in the name of prayer and the performance of miracles.  There is also an uncanny desire and hunger for immediate effect of prayer which leads the faithful to follow anyone purporting to show such results. Since the problems are real and somewhat perennial, there are countless people out there looking for solutions, any solution even.

This is dangerous because it makes the people vulnerable to the activities of fake ministries that do nothing but play with the psychology and emotions of the people. In the end, the problems remain and the people are no better. Thus, it is important to discern properly what constitutes the aim of one’s worship and the essence of the relationship with God. If it is based only on a beneficial scheme, that is, what one will gain from worshipping God, then it is faulty and will continue to be tilted towards the wrong direction.

Conclusion

The question we all should reflect on is “why fake what can be real?” If there is such a thing as genuine miracles and there are people who are able to be true instruments of God in the channelling of miracles to the faithful, then why do people take the mediocre route of faking what can be real? This shows debasement and surely whatever is fake has limits and will eventually expire but the real will endure. Ministers and the faithful should focus on getting into a closer relationship with God and in such a relationship, pure acts of worship will flow and miracles will be recorded.

People should quit chasing influence and power because this leads to going towards whoever is promising some miracle or another. The focus should be on building up a better life as a Christian and knowing God more intimately as mentioned above. This will strengthen faith and understanding amongst Christians and consequently, there will be no time to waste criticizing supposed fake ministries. Gamaliel’s hypothesis is a reminder to all Christians that, with the passage of time, the fake ministries will eventually be exposed and phase out. As such, there is no need to waste time discussing them.