IT is sad to note that a record number of fake pastors and religious charlatans are making a fast buck by calling every item they want to sell ‘anointed.’
These prophets of doom are targeting desperate congregants especially women with marital problems, telling them they are possessed by “spiritual” husbands and to repel the invisible partners they have to wear anointed items, which are being peddled at exorbitant prices.
As media, we have carried stories of men of God selling any item they call anointed from brooms, underwear, bracelets caps, handkerchiefs, oil or water, stickers and even clothing material they claim are sanctified.
We thus agree with the Jesuits Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) which has backed government’s call to churches to stop selling purported anointing oil and holy water to gullible members.
As JCTR executive director Lenard Chiti has observed, we feel it is very unusual for the so called servants of God to be selling religious items which are supposed to be given for free.
The truth is the water that is purported to be anointed is ordinary mineral water, which now costs between K20 and K30 while anointing oil then fetches K30 to K40.
Why are scrupulous people taking advantage of religious freedom, which Zambia has accorded its citizens?
It is surprising to note that clergymen and women rarely talk about salvation or assistance of people in need since most churches have become a platform to amass wealth.
Gone are the years when the church was refuge for the poor and the needy since what we are witnessing now is using the Gospel for financial gains.
However, this is not to say all is lost since many traditional churches are heavily involved in projects or ministries that benefit ordinary people.
We are calling on the Ministry of Religious Affairs and National Guidance to go a step further by policing ecclesiastical institutions to ensure they are preaching salvation and helping the need since this is what a true church should stand for.
Turning churches into sources of business should be condemned since there is a verse in the Bible were Jesus Christ acting out of character as a peace-loving prophet whipped and kicked people who were using the temple of God for business.
What is happening in religious circles calls for drastic measures even legislation to include a clause like Religious fraud to criminalise stealing from the flock by twisting, bending or misinterpreting the Gospel for financial gain.
Only then are we going to live up to our declaration as a Christian Nation.