Interesting article I read in today's Vanguard,

Adeboye, Akingbola and the ‘Private Jet’ Revisited
Is Christianity a lifestyle of a life? All the vibrancy that has come to be associated with modern Pentecostal Christianity, particularly in the third world as led by Nigeria has not come without its own philosophies. One of the most original of those must be the one which has the religion as being a lifestyle rather than a mere declaration. At some point, it all made sense. If a person would be referred to as a Christian, it figures he must behave like one. In those days, it was easy enough to identify what the lifestyle of a Christian is. These days, it’s not that easy. The profile of a Christian then was of a quiet easy going chap who went about with a Bible in his pocket or handbag, looking morose and dressing appropriately. He went to church six days a week and bore with admirable longsuffering as more worldly characters made jest of him. He dressed decently and minded his language, at the expense of self.

Not now. The Christian’s lifestyle now is more colourful, more expressive. Some of the funniest and most popular jokes on the Nigerian comedy scene are Christian jokes. There is the “Why did the chicken cross the road?” joke, there is the one about a Christian that went to Heaven and got bored with all the slow music, preferring hell and its naked girls. And then there is that classic AY one about single ladies taking the dance floor in the club on Saturday night and the church aisle on Sunday morning with the same clothes and the same dance steps!

The Pentecostals have moved out of the world, but created an identical one for themselves within their church, acquiring thousands of acres of land, building incredible edifices for the Lord and themselves costing millions of dollars. A prominent Pentecostal pastor ended up on the Elite list, while winning the Vanguard/Silverbird television poll for Greatest Living Legend. Everything was MGM, until the Private Jet saga, which threatened his empire, with bad-belle people wondering too loud what a man of God might need a jet for.

Now, that threat is back. Now that Erastus Akingbola, a corporate man of God who is now being slammed left right and centre begs the question are these pastors doing with all these things material? His association with the head of the Redeemed Kingdom vis a vis the Private Jet is being questioned again. Those complaining should desist from doing so. You know what they all say: “Touch not my anointed…”

morenikeonsaturday@yahoo.com

SOURCE: The Vanguard – Sat 16th January 2010

What amused me were that Vanguard were the ones who gave him living legend, and now they are criticising him, But she made some very valid points.