Chris Oyakhilome, a popular African preacher with questionablecredentials, is sparking international concern.When I arrived in eastern Europe·a few days ago I learned thatRomanian Christians have quite a spiritual battle on their hands.Believers here struggled for years under communism. But nowthat they are free, they face an equally sinister struggle againstcults, New Age teachings and-worst of all-charlatans whoclaim to be powerful Christian prophets.One of the most controversial figures in Romania today is ChrisOyakhilome, a Nigerian broadcaster and faith healer who lives inSouth Africa. Although this smooth-talking preacher has neverbeen to Romania, his influence has grown through his TV programsand books. Meanwhile, some gullible Romanian church leadershave visited his ministry base in Johannesburg and then returnedto impart his miracle power to their congregations.But Oyakhilome´s "power" is questionable-and it is spreadingnot only in eastern Europe but in many other parts of the world,including the United States.You may have never heard of Oyakhilome, but don´t be surprisedif his programs soon appear on a Christian television station nearyou. The founder of a movement called Christ Embassy, whichbegan in Lagos, Nigeria, Oyakhilome already has 16 churchesin the U.S., mostly attracting African immigrants in cities suchas Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. He has 39churches in the United Kingdom (where many Nigerians live) and18 in Canada, and his daily devotional books called Rhapsodyof Realities are supposedly available in 70 languages.Why is he so controversial? Consider a few facts:Nigerian Christians have long complained that Christ Embassy isa cult-mainly because members reportedly are forced to givemoney in offerings and are pressured to marry only within theirchurch. Oyakhilome was accused of engineering a money launderingscheme in Nigeria in 2010, and questions swirl around his financesbecause of his glamorous lifestyle.Theologians and cult-monitoring groups have documented theirconcerns about Oyakhilome´s "New Creation" doctrine-a formof gnosticism that says after a person becomes a Christian, anysin they commit is only in the body and will not affect the spirit.Oyakhilome mixes this doctrine with a hybrid version of theAmerican prosperity gospel, claiming that God wants all peopleto be rich.Oyakhilome´s reputation as a faith healer was tarnished badly in2008 in Johannesburg when a man told a Soweto newspaper thatChrist Embassy offered him more than $1,200 (U.S.) to sit in awheelchair and pretend to be crippled until Oyakhilome prayedfor him. The man went to the media instead of taking the money,sparking concerns that healings were being faked to impressgrowing crowds.Perhaps most disturbing is Oyakhilome´s connection with T.B.Joshua, a Nigerian occult healer who leads a mysterious groupcalled The Synagogue, Church of All Nations. Joshua, who claimshis mother carried him in her womb for 15 months because hewas a special prophet, mixes Pentecostal fervor with paganspirituality. After coming under Joshua´s influence a few yearsago, Oyakhilome began copying some of his bizarre mannerisms.When I came to Romania last week I was surprised to learn howmany Christians here had come under Oyakhilome´s influence.But as I did further research I found that Oyakhilome´s popularityis growing far beyond eastern Europe. Thanks to YouTube,Internet TV channels and a public that is often biblically illiterate,Christians today are as vulnerable as ever to religious impostorsand deceptive con-artists.Jude, the brother of Jesus, warned us 2,000 years ago about suchfalse prophets. "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed ...ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousnessand deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Jude 4, NASB).Paul also warned that people will demand false teachers to fulfilltheir lusts, and that those teachers will "turn away their ears fromthe truth" (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Those ancient words are painfully relevant today.Some Romanian church leaders have sounded an alarm. One ofthem, Ioan Peia, released a public warning in 2011 listing variousfalse doctrines promoted by Oyakhilome. Peia urged Romanianchurch leaders to "repent and ask God´s forgiveness, and ask theforgiveness of our brothers, because we allowed a part of theseteachings to be spread among us and through us."I feel I must sound an alarm as well. As much as I want to seehealing miracles restored to the church today, I´m not willing tofling open the door to deception. The devil can fake miracles, andif we don´t apply discernment in this vulnerable hour, impostorswill sneak into the church and unleash their doctrines-withdeadly results. Please don´t be duped by counterfeits.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
_________________JAMES F JARJOU
I saw this same message in another forom in reply below is what i wrote:Personally I belief this Chris oyakhilome is of Christ , I personally Know friends in our country who are part of that organization who are being deliver from the power of darkness through the instrumentality of that organization. That might not be a perfect proof of one genuineness , but what I speak I speak with my walk with the Lord. Having said that I do not agree with all of his teachings. I know he preaches prosperity, I am not against prosperity by walking with the leading of the holy spirit , in fact the reason why must of us in Africa keep begging aids from western Christians is because most of us do not know how to trust the Lord for the supply of our needs in stead keep relying on the arm of the flesh . If we do not know how to received our needs from the Lord we will become slaves of men. The Lord himself teach me prosperity because in Him I have found something more reliable than bank account. Recently I was talking with my brother about a friends of ours in a certain denomination , we where so sympathetic knowing how he have become a bondage to the system , and he cannot even raise a family though getting older , a word came within me if this brother knew what it mean to walk with the holy spirit he will never be in bondage to men or systems He do not have to rely on men . It does not mean because once is safe every things is possess. The holy spirit will guide us in things related to Life , His wisdom is needed in all things , yet we must learn to walk in the spirit.. But I also belief there are excess in the way the prosperity teaching is presented , the worst part is when men are told to wish anything and they will get it , that is a walk in the flesh. I know there is a place of degree, but it must be what the Father witness within. Actually what I love about this man is his teachings on Intimacy and devotions are edifying to me. Actually stated listening his message some months ago , I heard about him years ago but was not interested about him because I taught all that he had was miracles and prosperity teachings.About the hear says and rumors the Lord have personally warned me on rushing into conclusion by just heresay. Will not touch. To those who believe he is false personally I do not condemn any one , we are save by believing in Jesus not in believing or dis believing Chris oyakhilome.
The idea that a man can glorify his own name and enrich himself at the name of Jesus is of course offensive and of itself is false. No such calling exists. If it were to please God and I had the chance to see for myself or witness the falsehood and the wickedness of such a man I would rebuke him publically and ask the Lord to make a judgement unto death. Its time believers stopped making excuses for these charlatans. Regardless that they may have once believed if they cross the line and begin to lord it over the flock they should be prepared to accept a judgement from another saint with the cry "your life or mine! Let God judge".
Greg,As I read the article I thought to myself "sadly it probably wont take long for someone to defend this guy even on the SI forum..."...and then I read the very first comment post.Krispy
Armkelly wrote:The idea that a man can glorify his own name and enrich himself at the name of Jesus is of course offensive and of itself is false Did you know this man? How is he glorifying his name? who told you he us is using the name of Jesus to enrich Himself? Is it the Lord or your own opinion or others? Krisppykritty wrote:As I read the article I thought to myself "sadly it probably wont take long for someone to defend this guy even on the SI forum..."...and then I read the very first comment post. Why should it be a suuprise when the defender as you claim believe as witness by the Lord that he is a member of the body of Christ ?Someone believe he is false and express his view another believe he is genuine should you be surprise that he express his view ? of courseyou should not be as you stated.
Guys is the very reason that when you put down the Western Church and hold up churches in other parts of the world as example, I shake my head in disbelief. I work in Nigeria and spend around 6 months of the year there. In Nigeria I do see the gospel being preached there but unfortunately it is the prosperity gospel..
_________________Colin Murray
Did you know this man? How is he glorifying his name? who told you he us is using the name of Jesus to enrich Himself? Is it the Lord or your own opinion or others? (Bakary)
murrcolr agree with you must of what is preached is the prosperity thing. In fact I agree with you doctrinal wise Christianity in the west in my opinion is far far far better. Yet I also believe if you do not know what it mean for example to live in extreme hunger and need you may not see the need of people to know how to surreder to the holy spirit dealings even in issue of material life.you might not understand what is going unless you are part of those who seek food to eat and have nothing to eat and have to drink water and sleep.As long as we African do not learn how to trust Christ as our all sufficiency in all things we will ever remain slaves and beggars even to you western Christian in the west. If one submit to Christ he must become your lord in all things this mean he should lead you in the right business, job, etc to earn you living. But in some cases it is preach as " come to christ and all will walk well" without emphasis on relationship to be guided on the way to go.That the excess
armkelly: you are emphasizing money issue , the problem is never what you possess externally but what you possess internally , Gods way are divers He may allow some of His children to be extremely rich just to proof one of his chracter while for others he just takes care of there basic need and that all and this is also to proof another of his character which is the power to give the grace of endurance in all things. Look the scripture and will prove this.I know that this is one of the organization who prints and give out book for free in our country.You Maybe to know about it and i learn they do that in other countries. I know it does not prove genuiness though