Did Jesus wear designer robes?

(This is the second in the series of articles in the Lausanne Global Conversation series, in preparation for the Third Lausanne Congress to be held at Capetown in 2010.)

The growth of non-Western Christianity across Africa is largely due to the New Pentecostal Churches. Upwardly-mobile youth are drawn to their dynamic worship styles and pursuit of wealth and success. The prosperity gospel has found fertile soil as it resonates with tribal religion. Prosperity promoters raise serious theological concerns. The gospel of Jesus Christ neither glorifies poverty nor prosperity.

For thousands of believers in Ghana, "Jericho Hour" is the place to be on a Thursday morning. Founded in 1998, this prayer - meeting - where "giant solutions await your giant problems" - is hosted by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams in the Prayer Cathedral on Accra's Spintex Road. Three thousand make their way there to pray for breakthroughs in business, for international travel, for a suitable spouse, and, when experiencing setbacks, for vengeance on those spiritually responsible.

It is part of a wider movement founded by Duncan-Williams in 1979. His African mentor was the late Benson Idahosa of Nigeria, who conferred upon himself the titles of "Professor" and "Archbishop." Duncan-Williams's personal transition from "Pastor" through unauthenticated "Rev. Dr." to "Bishop" and now "Archbishop" is no less intriguing.

Duncan-Williams's 26-year marriage ended in divorce in 2005 after much-publicized efforts at reconciliation mediated by the American pastor T. D. Jakes. In 2008 he married a wealthy African-American diplomat turned entrepreneur, and lives in Accra in a home which is widely described as palatial. Such lavish displays of wealth are usually the domain of politicians, who are believed to achieve their material success by stealing from the public purse. Rumor about the sources of the couple's wealth is probably inevitable.

The marks of faith

The New Pentecostal Churches (NPCs) of Africa emphasize prosperity. In this new type of Christianity, success and wealth are the only genuine marks of faith. Preachers quote 3 John 2: "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." Abraham, rich in cattle, sheep, and gold (Genesis 13:2), is commonly cited, with special emphasis on his willingness to pay tithes to Melchizedek. Since the Apostle Paul himself tells us that "the blessing of Abraham" has come to the Gentiles (Galatians 3:14), why shouldn't Christians walk in similar wealth and influence, they ask?

The ritualized exchange of tithes and blessings is very similar to the traditional orientation of religious sacrifices. Amounts demanded can be very specific. In a high-energy revival meeting at Ghana's Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry, an evangelist recently asked everyone to give US$240 for "God is going to provide a 24-hour miracle in the lives of those with the ability to pay." Apparently the rate was ten dollars per hour. I left the service wondering how the pastor felt God viewed those without that sort of money.

Little to offer the poor