‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.’ Matthew 13:44
Many churches in Africa claim to offer treasure. Financial breakthrough is frequently promised in churches across the continent. To people burdened with deep poverty, a message offering prosperity seems attractive and freeing, but the reality is cruel manipulation. Many end up disillusioned as they are burdened with ever greater demands to pay pastors to provide their ‘breakthrough.’
Jesus Christ offers true treasure: knowing him and enjoying life in his kingdom forever. Johannesburg Bible College (JBC) aims to equip and inspire men and women for Bible teaching ministries, proclaiming a better gospel than the false prosperity version so widely believed here. Our course at JBC starts with a module asking ‘What is the Gospel?’ For many, it is eye-opening to realise that the good news is about Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. Others arrive with some understanding of sin, the cross and the resurrection, but haven’t seen how these truths connect, or how they shape our lives today. We pray that over their year or two years with us, their lives and ministries will be reshaped as they see just how good the gospel message is, and the true value of God’s kingdom.
One student living in Kliptown, an area of informal housing (tin shacks) in Soweto, was increasingly convinced that those around him needed to hear God’s word. He says there are many who preach prosperity in his area but very few who preach the cross of Christ. As he continued through his two years at JBC, he grew in maturity and deeper conviction of the gospel and has now started a church in his area. It is a joy to hear of people turning to Christ and growing in him as they realise the true treasure that is offered in Jesus.
Prosperity preaching is often combined with a self-centred model of leadership where the pastor, or ‘man of God’, is very highly exalted in the church. We long that understanding the gospel would reshape students’ lives and model of ministry as well as the content of their preaching. As JBC staff, we seek to be an example of the truth leading to godliness. Former students often speak of the impact of seeing the college principal serving tea and coffee to students in a culture where the ‘chief’ normally sits back while everyone serves him. Treasuring Christ leads to glad service of others rather than grasping at position and prosperity now.
Pray that both JBC staff and students would grasp ever more deeply the treasure of God’s kingdom, and so joyfully and wholeheartedly follow Christ. Pray for Christ-centred preaching and Christ-shaped leadership to spread throughout Johannesburg, South Africa, and beyond.
By John Miller, serving at Johannesburg Bible College, South Africa