The spiritual tourist

OPEN HEAVENS APOSTLE Sarah Nyathi
IN recent times it has been interesting to note some behavioural changes in the 21st Century Zimbabwean Christian. While these behavioural trends have existed in the past they seem to have been amplified in the last couple of years. If this behaviour persists unchecked Christians are likely, if they have not already, to bring disrepute to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These behavioural trends have made the Body of Christ appear disorderly and confused yet the scriptures admonish us to do everything decently and in order 1 Corinthians14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order”. Our God is a God of order and expects those who represent Him on earth to be orderly too.

It is my contention that these behavioural changes have been amplified by the transformation taking place in the Body of Christ. This fairly new phase has seen the proliferation of Apostles, Prophets and Pastors of every hue. The increase in the number of spiritual leaders has given rise to the number of churches too. On a Sunday morning, or any time of the week for that matter, believers are faced with a smorgasbord of churches to choose from ranging from the staid mainline churches to the flamboyant “grass eating variety” south of the border or the “water for prosperity sort” to the west of us.

Priests, Prophets, Apostles, Pastors come in all shapes and sizes from those donning traditional priestly garb to shiny suits, dazzling ties and patent leather male stilettos. Concerning modern day theology, you can choose to listen to the droning monotone of the priest, the yelling, and in some instances the almost inaudible preaching of the modern Pentecostal or the gibberish that is dished out regularly under trees or on top of hills in our western and eastern suburbs.

Congregants may elect to attend church faithfully every Sunday or they may belong to the virtual church in the comfort of their lounges, flicking through Christian television channels. Members of the virtual church can enjoy membership of any number of churches and enjoy the prophetic/deliverance ministry found on any channel they so choose.

It is in the light of these developments that a new breed of Christian has been spawned. I will refer loosely to this Christian as the “Spiritual Tourist”. I listened with interest as a renowned and respected Christian leader lamented the increased numbers of “spiritual tourists” that he was encountering through the course of ministry.

I noticed that this servant of God had indeed made a very valid observation and so I kept my antennas up as I too started looking out for the “Spiritual Tourist”. I was amazed at the number of spiritual tourists that I encountered through the daily course of life. The “spiritual tourist” behaves much like an ordinary tourist that travels from one country to another, enjoying the highlights and the finer things that the host nation has to offer.

“Spiritual tourists” don’t want to commit to any church in particular. They move from one church to another, conference or prophetic seminar enjoying the choicest ministry offered there. The choice of church at any point in time has everything to do with how powerful the pastor or prophet is and what can be gained by them on a personal level.

Their spiritual diet consists of moving from one exciting, newly established ministry boasting the coolest prophet or leader in town. They also cruise across conferences and may even cross borders, paying a premium in terms of air and hotel fares to sample the latest prophetic/deliverance ministry that guarantees breakthroughs, healing from diseases, curses, hexes and promising success. Because the spiritual tourist is self-absorbed their Christian experience has little to do with the Lordship of Jesus Christ and intimacy with God. The experience revolves around their personal enjoyment, enrichment and pleasure with little concern with ministry to God. 2 Timothy 4:3-5, ‘For the time is coming when (people) will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching (for something pleasing and gratifying), they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, and will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and fictions. As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.’ (Amp)

I have also met many “spiritual groupies”. Spiritual groupies are much like regular groupies that follow their favourite bands or artistes all over the country. Groupies will make great sacrifices, sparing no expense, enduring much personal inconvenience as long as they can attend a concert where there favourite artist will be performing. Groupies rush backstage just to get a glimpse of their hero. Some may even stalk the artist at their hotel. Spiritual groupies behave much the same as spiritual tourists.

The essential difference between the spiritual groupie and the spiritual tourist is that the spiritual groupie is wiser and is therefore committed to a local church. They will declare loudly their allegiance to the local church yet their true affections are for their favourite prophet/televangelist of the moment. They are known to selfishly demand personal attention from their local church pastors should they be sick, bereaved or need any other pastoral care. These high maintenance parishioners are critical and may be vocal should they feel unfairly treated. However, these spiritual groupies really do not prioritise their local church activities nor are they loyal to their local church pastors. Should any exciting spiritual event take place in town concurrently with any activity in their own home church they will rush there and forego their own local church commitments. This can be especially frustrating if they hold positions of responsibility in the church.

Spiritual groupies give large offerings to their superstar prophets/pastors with hopes of reaping large harvests. They hardly ever pay their tithes or give R5.00 in offerings to their local church. Spiritual groupies should note that the scriptures say in Malachi 3:10 that it is tithes given to the store house (which is the local church) that will open the windows of heaven causing God to pour out a blessing that cannot be contained. Large, random offerings given to dubious ministries will not produce the same results.

A large number of spiritual groupies end up losing much of their resources in hare-brain offering schemes given lavishly to travelling charlatans who demand offerings in exchange for blessings as they breeze in and out of town. 1 Cor 4:14-15 I do not write this to shame you, but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children. After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the gospel). (Amp)
I was pleasantly surprised as I noted another group of believers who demonstrated behaviour very similar to street kids. Sadly, some children may find themselves on the street through circumstances beyond their control, while others choose this lifestyle. Conversely Christians who behave like spiritual street kids do so of their own volition.

Street kids are children who have rejected regular family conventions. While other children are enduring a disciplined lifestyle, being educated, learning family values and preparing to be useful members in society street kids choose an alternative lifestyle. Street kids, as a general rule reject discipline and any form of structure in their lives. They prefer to live on the street, sleeping on pavements and under bridges, eating out of litter bins and not submitting to anything or anybody. Spiritual street kids refuse to observe the conventions of the church family. They believe they are led by the “spirit only” and do only what they want. It is important for all believers to find a spiritual home where they will commit, be responsible and accountable to somebody in leadership. While spiritual street kids may claim to be committed to a local church they reject rebuke, correction or discipline in the church. Should some form of rebuke or discipline be meted out to them they move out of that particular church unceremoniously to do their own bidding. As a general rule, spiritual street kids have a problem with submission and take issue with authority at the slightest provocation.

This is also a problem that is prevalent amongst the young crop of emerging church leaders in the nation. They will not acknowledge local spiritual fathers or mentors to whom they may be accountable to. They opt to have spiritual fathers from distant lands who may not necessarily provide essential, unbiased mentoring and spiritual fathering on regular basis. Distance spiritual fathers are only exposed to the mentored occasionally and may only relate to mentored on his best behaviour during the spiritual fathers’ occasional visit. Mentoring and spiritual fathering by a resident spiritual father is essential in the development of a young upcoming leader.

For the sake of continuity in the Body of Christ and to ensure that this generation leaves a lasting Godly legacy, all spiritual leaders young or old, great or small should ensure that there is spiritual order and submission in their lives, churches and those whom they associate with. Failure to do so may lead to personal spiritual shipwreck. As a result we have leaders and congregants who are like tumble weed that is blown wherever the winds wills and they do not develop spiritual roots or a connection to the spiritual family which is necessary for their nurture and sustenance.

Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together (as believers), as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” (Amp) Hebrews 12:7-8, “You must submit to and endure (correction) for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not (thus) train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all (of God’s children) share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons (at all).” (Amp)

The church is referred to as a spiritual family, and our spiritual leaders are our spiritual fathers. Members of the congregation are considered sons in the spirit. In this light God expects a special order, submission and discipline to prevail in the Body of Christ. Possessing a wandering spirit, moving from pillar to post, refusing to submit to the spiritual family results in one becoming an unruly member of the spiritual community. This unruly behaviour manifests itself as spiritual tourists, spiritual groupies or spiritual street kids. Psalm 68: 6, ‘God setteth the solitary in families; He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.’ (KJV)
l Next week we will look at the causes and effects of this spiritual malady and how it can be remedied.