The Search for True God

1. Introduction

In recent years, specifically in the 21st century, Prophet TB Joshua is believed in some ways to be one of the greatest charismatic Christian leaders — a claim he asserted, leaving the world in awe. However, towards his demise, two significant events unfolded: a confession from his inner circle about their actions being perceived as non-Christian, and the collapse of a building that frequently hosted foreign dignitaries leaving many dead and wounded.

After his death, the BBC Eye released a documentary on YouTube titled ‘DISCIPLES: The Cult of TB Joshua, Episode 1–3 — BBC Africa Eye documentary.’

In response to these events, this article aims to assist those genuinely seeking God in understanding the way God works and how to seek Him in truth and the spirit (John 4:24) Firstly, it is important to note that a focus on healing and miracles as the central attraction to draw people to God is a typical sign of fake Christianity. In true Christianity, healing and miracles are secondary and sometimes only manifest in specific instances. They should never be the central focus of those called to preach, or those called to Christ, as the focus on all forms of Christianity is redemption.

When individuals are drawn to a church solely based on miracles and healing, something is fundamentally wrong. Any prophet whose actions predominantly focus on these aspects, especially when adding miracles related to wealth and sin, is flawed.

Faith is not a call to be rich, healed, or to conquer the world; it is not associated with such things. However, those who are called, after knowing God, receiving baptism, and remaining fervent to God, may expect blessings in the future. They may be healed when sick, and receive miracles tailored to their specific needs and situations — often just enough for the given circumstance. Their faith allows them to relate to God in various ways and thus some of those ways could be miracles, riches, or some wisdom.

For individuals seeking God with desires for healing and wealth, there is no gospel message catering to these aspirations. What exists is the message of salvation and preparing oneself for judgment — a gradual process involving forgiveness and, using faith, striving to remain faithful to God until the end of times. For humans, the end of time is not the end of the world but the conclusion of their short life on earth.

2. How False Prophets Manipulate

False prophets are highly skilled, as the Bible describes the devil as cunning (Acts 13:10). They employ tactics such as obedience, power, miracles, wealth, and pretentious love, all of which can be easily discerned by those who read their Bible. This is precisely why false prophets attempt to dissuade people from reading the Bible, replacing it with books authored by other false prophets to lead individuals astray. Within their inner circle, they cultivate loyalty and position humility as a central driver of their manipulation.

Upon listening to the documented evidence, one can observe TB Joshua exhibiting each of these cultist tenets. His profound humility often shared through videos depicting him washing the Church for others to witness, and the way he makes those around him feel important are indicative of these manipulative tactics. Through the use of media, self-patronizing glory, and excessive goodness, false prophets divert people from taking the time to critically think and process who they are. This is a form of indoctrination that proves effective in various industries, including criminal enterprises such as drug cartels and low-quality commodities sold in impoverished areas.

Leaders in these circles often present themselves in a fancy, powerful, and elegant manner, instilling a detectable level of fear within proximity. When TB Joshua initially bought tickets for people travelling to his Church, it was a marketing strategy akin to those employed by businesses. Examining their fruits, false prophets invest heavily in advertising and media, often going the extra mile to market themselves to a wider audience, particularly influential and financially strong individuals as part of buying public sympathy, fame, and recognition, it is a political strategy for many in politics.

While they may have a few inner circles of aged individuals at their disposal, false prophets frequently surround themselves with young people susceptible to indoctrination and manipulation. Once these individuals accept and become part of the syndicate, they can go to great lengths after grooming their disciples, remaining covered for years, if not centuries.

It is essential to note that this issue extends beyond black false pastors, as there are numerous instances involving white men and women. What remains fascinating is that despite repeated occurrences, people continue to fall victim to these schemes. Nevertheless, the manipulation eventually unravels, and the truth becomes difficult to conceal.
And to conceal this behaviour, secrecy becomes a very important part of all dealings. Once you are observant and can outline these behaviours, you can decide immediately about the outcome of the man you believe in.

3. Historical Context

I recently perused an online publication titled “The Most Terrifying Cults in History,” and among them, all cult groups have adopted a religious facade, with many using Christianity as their primary instrument. Common elements across these cults include abuse, exploitation of women, and a thirst for power, mirroring allegations against TB Joshua and other notorious cults worldwide, especially in the Americas.
Furthermore, it is evident that these groups exploit one singular factor among the needing: the quest for God. Human beings were made to hunger for God (Psalm 150:6). And due to limited truth surrounding the topic, people are misled and often end up in trouble they find themselves in.
There exists a longstanding historical context wherein individuals instead of seeking God for being God, at least their need for redemption, are driven by their desire for wealth and fame, a phenomenon dating back to biblical times. Cultists, being aware of this need, carve and plan these fake cults and deliver good work when people are lured away. This explains the warnings issued against them by Christ’s apostles (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29; Matthew 7:16–23).

In TB Joshua’s case, the story of his daughter alone provides compelling evidence to discern the truth. How can a believer claim to love God while harbouring hatred towards their daughter (1 John 4:20)? Such a contradiction is deemed impossible.

This trend, reminiscent of occurrences in the 1970s with many known names, persists today due to the limited knowledge shared by Christians on these matters. Consequently, numerous innocent souls continue to fall victim, and the situation shows no signs of improvement. It is crucial to note that these counterfeit cults, often disguised as churches and their pastors, transcend various countries, regions, colours, and nationalities worldwide.

4. The Search for a True God

The search for God is inherently human; however, it is not an exercise to be undertaken with laziness, and we must shed our old selves. If God created this world, then it is reasonable to believe that he is an adept organizer, understanding timing, shape, and systems. Consequently, God has a way of doing the right thing and the right way of doing things.

Firstly, His Son Jesus Christ proclaimed that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6) In line with this, he established a Church (Matthew 16:18), a kingdom to guide us until his return. To enter this Church, a process unfolds: we hear the word of God, are moved, believe, repent, baptize (Acts 2:36–45), and remain in the body to grow and multiply. In this Church, the only compass is the Bible — the New Testament Bible. It narrates stories of different generations and dispensations, and for us today, we are under grace (Romans 6:14–23; Galatians 3). This implies that all that is in the New Testament is for us, while the Old Testament is for past generations. However, we can use it to learn, reflect, and connect the past with the present.

Anyone seeking to know God can simply buy a Bible read it, and start practising its teachings. Through reading and learning, one can pray for God to open their eyes, leading them to Himself. Later, one can undergo baptism and, within their home, initiate a Church with their family. In the early days of the Church, gatherings took place in people’s homes, where two or three could meet and share the word of God.

The challenge today lies in false teachings that insist Christians must attend a building called a Church to worship. Often, these large gatherings fail to fulfil the scripture, lack the spirit, and generate chaos. While I am not suggesting that meeting in large buildings to pray is inherently bad, it is not a requirement. What is compulsory is gathering in a group, whether small or large, to follow the Bible’s instructions: singing, praying, preaching, reasoning on the Bible, collecting, and taking the Lord’s Supper, all exclusively on the first day of the week. Every day, without fail, one should read the Bible, imprint it on their heart, pray, and continue doing so until death. However, due to human desires for fame, power, money, and connections, many have gone astray today. People recognize that with large gatherings, these desires can be fulfilled, but in reality, there is often a lack of true spirit. God states that he is a spirit, and those who worship him must do so in truth and in the spirit (Hebrews 10; Philemon 1–3).

5. The Prophets & Church Leadership

In any Godly Church, both the leader and their immediate helpers are selected or appointed by the congregation, the entire body of the Church. This selection process is not based on human conditions; it is biblically regulated. The Bible is the final arbiter of truth and wrongdoing and must be regarded as such. Any Church where the leader holds supreme authority, including having their name as the face of the Church, with strict command over properties and resources, has already deviated from the right path. True Christian Churches are established as a sacrifice to God, and those involved have no personal gain. The Church appoints individuals who meet the qualifications, and anything contrary to that is fake and represents the work of the devil (1 Timothy 3).

This is where the entire narrative of contemporary prophets must be questioned and thoroughly studied. No human being has the authority to define the leadership and departments of the Church. There is a biblical description that must be followed, and the resources of the Church have a specific, stricter purpose (1 Timothy 5). One of the most respected Apostles of Christ, Brother Paul, was a tent maker. Although he received support from brethren, he did not dictate the use of resources generated by the Churches he helped form. He had no hand in them and encouraged other brethren to elect officials who could run the affairs of a local church (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3).

Regarding the media, those who fall victim, those who aid and abet the false prophets, and the government, we have witnessed instances where people shift blame on this matter. Particularly those who aid and abet the false prophets confess and transfer their sins to the prophets as if they never supported these actions in the first place. Everyone must take full responsibility for their sins, and people need to understand that if you are chosen to lead any entity in the wrong way, you are as guilty as the person who appointed you.

For the media, why investigate any matter after people are dead or have been abused — and the perpetrator is dead? Is it out of fear and has the damage been done for thirty to fifty years, then revelations come? We have to invest in uprooting bad leadership whether in governance or religion — and as such, we can have a better place to live. We must prevent, not cure, and ensure that we are not exposing the wrong for the wrong reasons but every wrong exposed must be for the right reason.

6. Conclusion

After viewing the documentary published by the BBC, I felt compelled to write this article. Firstly, it is crucial to acknowledge that in the confessions of those who worked with TB Joshua, he provided them with enough evidence to have doubted him. The least one can do is leave. Don’t stay. Don’t stay to condone wrongdoing for ten or more years and later claim, “I was manipulated.”

Those who have suffered over the years — women, children, and individuals seeking purpose in life — will struggle to rebuild trust in God after such experiences. True Christians should rise to expose fake doctrines and churches. Consider TB Joshua stating that Jesus’ time was over as if Jesus knew about him when he said, “Some will come in my name and will cast out demons (Matthew 24:5).” His way of life, enslaving five boys, engaging in secretive affairs, claiming generosity, expressing hatred for his daughter, and dubbing himself second in command to God, was sufficient to see him positioning himself as Jesus Christ, who is the fullness of God, with power on earth and in heaven all given to him. Anyone, whether in jest or seriousness, aspiring to be like Jesus or claiming such a status is already committing a serious sin.

The individuals who perished in the collapsed building, the mistreated women, and those who became victims, contributing to the syndicate and manipulation, have provided enough evidence that Christians can use to assist others seeking to come to God (Matthew 11:28–29).

If you are reading this: If you can focus on God and the Bible and pray for God’s knowledge (James 1:5), His hand is open to all. Anything unbiblical is clear and easy to spot. The Bible outlines what it wants us to do, and you don’t need anyone to tell you. You can simply be a Christian independent of mega, charismatic Churches. Christ’s Church was just a Church, with no adverbs or adjectives to qualify it — just a Church.

[1] All scriptures were randomly chosen from https://www.openbible.info/, https://biblehub.com/ and https://www.biblegateway.com/. Specific online reading and reviews were done to clarify some details written.