The Church Industry

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 "I don’t go to church. I just give them money.”

Church and capitalism, side by side. That is how the west was won.

I remember my uncle’s declaration like it was yesterday. Yes, he could afford the donation because he was a successful businessman, but I couldn’t understand how he could say a terrible thing like that.

I was a schoolgirl then and we were subjects of the Queen of England. We sang God Save the Queen and worshiped her spiritual person, Jesus Christ. I’m older and wiser now but I still find it to believe that church is an industry. Anybody can become a pastor.

Traditional religious sects like Anglican, Catholic and Lutheran are there for the money, so are storefront and online churches. Money is the root of all evil. That’s why religious heads fight from time to time and part company.

There many court cases in Canada, U.S., South Africa and Nigeria about breaking away from the parent church to form your own. Indeed, in some cases the pastor and his wife have a fallout.  She forms her own church after the divorce.

So, next time you find yourself unemployed or unemployable, start a church. All you need is an old Bible from Goodwill and a good voice, to shout the message that Jesus died for sinners like you. Also tell your congregation why millionaires and billionaires don’t go to church.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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