Rev. Dr. Rexkennedy Saltlove is the founder of the Saltlove Apostolic Mandate (SAM) International and President /Executive Director, Citizens Rights and Empowerment Advocacy Initiative – CREMA INITIATIVE. In this interview with CHINYERE ABIAZIEM, he talks about his views on some happenings in the church and the nation

About two months ago, a pastor reportedly suspended collection of offerings in his ministry as part of identifying with the challenges faced by members due to the current inflation in prices of food, household commodities, goods and services. What is your take on this?

I do not believe being sentimental about certain issue is biblically sound, especially where the things of God are involved. Giving is part of the strongest hallmark and pillar of Christianity. John 3:16 says ‘God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ This scripture alone carries a heavy message. Love will always drive giving or giving is driven by love. Giving is risk taking.

God gave His only son with something in mind. Jesus encouraged giving in Luke 6 verse 38, ‘Give and it shall be given back unto you. Good measure, press down and shaken together shall men bring unto you your bosom. Aside from encouraging giving, Jesus watched as people were giving offerings and he saw a widow give two mites. The gospel is not preached sentimentally to gain respectability among men or to look good before people. No man can be more understanding than Jesus, yet he allowed the widow to drop her all. The Bible said, it was all she had. Jesus, the most compassionate being that ever lived, did not get emotional to think how the widow will cope after giving her all, with no husband to fall back to for succor or support, and then tell her not to give or take back her offering like the Pastor you referenced. Instead, he commended her spirit and virtue for that very act. Meanwhile, whatever is the Pastor’s motive, it is between him and God and not biblical standard as scripturally recommended for prospering his people. Recently Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin faced criticism over announcing the sales of items including miracle soap, mustard seeds, shirt and perfume.

How do you see such practice among church leaders? The criticism is justified, because it insults the sensibility of biblically sound Christians in the body of Christ and makes this scripture so loud, 2 Peter 2:3: ‘In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.’ Giving in Christianity is encouraged and must be voluntary. The Bible has the basic minimum standards for giving in Christianity and that minimum standard is what the Bible left for us in, 2 Corinthians 9:7:’Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’ To tie giving to merchandising of things and materials is really abhorring, nauseating and unscriptural.

Some Christians tend to be gullible despite the exposures of sharp practices of some preachers. Why is this so?

Gullibility is a product of ignorance and desperation for immediate miracles by those involved. God is a God of times and seasons. The ignorance of this is borne out of not personally studying the scriptures to know God’s will and pattern in dealing with His people and ways of operation as enunciated in the Holy Scripture. The poverty state of the gullible – spiritual or otherwise – that calls for desperation to get miracles is what fake ministers of the gospel understand, capitalise on it and use it to psychologically manipulate their followers, most who will not listen to sound biblical counsels.

Some have called for regulation of churches to curb some anomalies. Is this possible or how can it be achieved?

Outside registration of churches based on government regulations for registering incorporated trustees, based on their vision, mission, aims and objectives as outlined in their constitution, for churches that want it registered or have registered, no government or body has any rights whatever to try regulate churches as long as that church is not violating the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The church is a body of free citizens under the constitution, who in exercising their fundamental rights of freedom of association, chose where and when they want to be, how they want to fellowship there, why they chose there and must not be regulated or constrained under any guise. Otherwise, that will amount to deliberate target of the church or any religious body and as such citizens may read meanings into it as infringement on their freedom guaranteed by the constitution and react negatively.

You were a member of the Executive Committee of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Lagos, what is your assessment of the Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG) performance and sustainability?

I will start by first saying, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is a great arm of the Pentecostal family in Christianity viz-a-viz Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). PFN is a body I joined in 1996. It was an honour to be asked to pioneer Ojodu Branch as its Chairman under the then State Chairman, Bishop Lawrence Osagie and the State Secretary, Rev. Ola Samuel. From Ojudu Branch, we gave birth to Ikeja Branch until we became a province overseeing other chapters across some LGAs, where I served as Province Secretary. Until I resigned/ stepped down, PFN was a big family and as a family, there will definitely be sibling rivalry of various sorts.

However, most of these rivalries are caused majorly by baby ministers, despite being adults who say they have God’s call. But, it is not the call that gives them relevance, but fighting for positions in the body and politicking among brethren which is against the spirit of oneness in the body. The primary duty of Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG) is to help in creating Awareness about Christian responsibilities in politics and governance in the body, for those who shy away from politics and call it a dirty game and not interested in participating in it. My assessment of the Director viz-a-viz the Directorate of Politics and Governance so far, is that it has not lived up to its duty in creating the needed level of awareness that can really galvanise Pentecostal Christians to see that participating in politics is not just a civic responsibility, but another way of fulfilling our divine assignment in service to humanity and being the salt and the light of the world, is by godly and value driven policies with human face to impact society.

Some Christian leaders are alleged to be quiet over the current situation in Nigeria because they have been bought over. How do you see this?

As a servant of God and leader in the body of Christ, it will be very unfair of me and irresponsible to make definitive statements on allegations that are not substantiated about leaders being bought over. Whoever has proof of any top man of God, who has been bought over, should produce the evidence and from there we can talk.

They should supply what transpired; what was involved, where, when and how to validate their allegations. My resignation as Ikeja Central Province Secretary of PFN was due to the state’s leadership’s opposition to my hard stance concerning Buhari’s APC Administration. I condemned virtually everything and who never got one thing right in governance. His own party has come to eventually admit that he left the nation broke and print media once said it left behind N77 trillion debts, 22 per cent inflation. My reason for resignation was to ensure it does not seem as if I am sowing seed of rebellion in the body with my defiance to listen to their advice, not because of any being compromised. I will give benefits of doubts on their not being induced.

However, their silence is fallout of shame and embarrassment, trying to protect their reputation. This is because, after joining the opposition class to harass Jonathan and PDP out of office due to ‘bad government and governance’, as they claimed, the government they supported and brought into power performed dismally low, that the worst of Jonathan’s PDP administration, was far better than the best of Buhari and his APC government, they are ashamed to admit it.

They are not ready to raise their voices this time, because they got it wrong and do not want to create an image and picture of unreliable ‘men of God’, so they do not lose their followership for being inconsistent. Lastly, let’s assume or believe some have been truly compromised too; it is not something intelligent, discerning and biblically sound minds should be surprised about. There will always be a Judas in any gathering or setting, who will betray the general good of others for personal interest either through financial inducement or political appointments inducement, directly or indirectly.