TB Joshua: A False Prophet In The Synagogue?

by SOC Okenwa

Prophet Temitope B. Joshua is an evangelical enigma! Yes he is a charismatic phenomenon in Nigeria. The Head of the Synagogue Church of all Nations situated in Ikotun-Egbe, a Lagos suburb in Nigeria is stewing in controversy, in contradiction. But in spite of the controversy trailing the Prophet his prophecy sometimes stood the test of time manifesting certain contradiction. In the spiritual realm those ‘gifted’ with the power of the tongue and mastery of the Bible command followership. And Nigeria cannot be an exception.

When Prophet Joshua started his ministry years back not a few raised eyebrows over his physical (bearded) outlook and ‘unorthodox’ methods and tactics. He looked dreadful with his piercing gaze and Moses-like beards. A national newsmagazine even did an exposé about the man in the Synagogue detailing how he performed ‘miracles’ and delivered people of various malaise. It was reported that he used even some diabolically-poisoned spit, breeze-blowing, aligator pepper and other substances mundane to cast out demons and subdue demonic attacks!

Prophet Joshua has good relations with highly-placed foreigners. His foreign friends include Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses from Zululand in South Africa, former Zambian President Chiluba, ex-President Lissouba of Congo-Brazzaville, President Omar Bongo of Gabon (could the prophet be behind the political longevity of the Gabonese ‘King’?) and many others from all corners of the planet. Most of these leaders and prominent figures visited Prophet Joshua for spiritual healings and solutions to different ailments or problems.

Some people have conveniently accused the Prophet of sexual perversion (if not ‘rape’) but he has never been arrested nor charged officially for any of such devious conducts. And others accused him of spiritual diabolism yet we have not heard about the Prophet patronising the devil or soliciting for dark powers from dark corners. If that is the case then let someone prove it beyond any reasonable doubt.

One of the most vocal critics of Prohet Joshua is Rev. Chris Okotie (of ABC, 123 melody fame) who flamboyantly pastors a new-generation Church in Lagos. For him TB Joshua is a chalartan whose secretive and mystical ways must be denounced and condemned. And to one Joseph Thompson, a Nigerian in the evangelical field: “T.B. Joshua is dangerous to the body of Christ, both in Nigeria and globally”. Some of these pastors posited that Joshua mixes Christianity with occult practices; although he prays in the name of Jesus, many of his methods are “unorthodox”.

But the religious exploits of the Prophet beamed to a world audience via his Emmanuel satellite T.V do much positively to project a ‘clean’ church winning souls for Christ thereby painting a different picture. Whether his Ministry and mission is doctrinally correct or not is left for the higher powers to decide. Little mortals like Okotie reacting out of jealousy or uncharitable impulse can therefore not necessarily claim serving a different master or professing a different faith from the one professed by TB Joshua.

The Ghanaian President and the prophecy of his electoral victory went a long way to re-inforcing certain belief in the prophecy of TB Joshua. Prof. John Atta-Mills, few days after his inauguration as the Ghanaian President went to the Synagogue to give testimony and pay homage to Joshua who rightly predicted his presidential victory. Prof Atta-Mills told the world that Prophet Joshua had predicted that his election would be by three successive ballotting as no definite winner would emerge in the first and second. And that the winner, that is him, would only be announced in January and not in December normally!

Or did he ‘jazz-up’ the Ghanaian President to come over to the Synagogue to confess the realisation of a prophesy delivered in absolute confidence, spending a day or two within? Why are more and more Nigerians flocking to the Synagogue for prayers, deliverance and miracles? Can everybody be possibly hoodwinked or hypnotised all the time? Does Prophet Joshua possess such awesome spiritual power to achieve such feat maintaining same over the years?

Even the Federal Government deemed it right recently to award Prophet TB Joshua with a national honour in recognition of the global evangelical dimension his Synagogue Church has attained lately. Or do you honour nationally a rapist, a murderer or a fake prophet? The truth is that the Nigerian government after much consideration decided to give honour to whom it is due.

But come to think of it generally is it not a thing of regret that the same Nigeria that produced Cardinal Francis Arinze and Bishop Adeboye is the same nation that has also produced a so-called ‘man of God’ in prison like Reverend King, Emeka Ezeugo? The same country that is home to a Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, internet whizzkid Philip Emeagwali and ‘Things Fall Apart’ hero, Chinua Achebe is also home to ‘graduates’ that graduated only on paper having passed examinations fraudulently? Is it not the same Nigeria that gave us great patriotic politicians like the late Awo, Zik and Tafawa Balewa that is now giving us scoundrels and looters as leaders? Khalifa, IBB, OBJ?

It cannot be surprising therefore that a country, blessed by providence with huge natural and human resources, reputed as home for the worst breed of crooks should also be a haven for fraudulent pastors, imams and reverends. The truth is that the moral malaise permeating every facet of our national life has afflicted the temple of God sadly. The fear of God is no longer the beginning of wisdom but competing with God or Jesus Christ for the performance of miracles and signs and wonders, that is, the ungodly version that sees prosperity as the end in itself, has become the order of the day!

Is TB Joshua a fake prophet in the Synagogue? Or put in another way, do we have a modern false Prophet exploiting the gullibility of Nigerians for his own prosperous end? Or put differently still: is a modern Satan on the prowl in Lagos? Many Nigerian men of God think so but I think recent happenings around the Synagogue had tended to prove otherwise. The international profile of Prophet TB Joshua is obviously on the rise; it is looking sky-bound!

While not judging him or condemning him outrightly (since the ultimate judgement and condemnation belong to God and Him alone) Prophet TB Joshua, I hold, deserves some respect. Even if it is said that a prophet does not enjoy respect or recognition at home this Prophet that has achieved great things ought to be extended certain degree of respect deserving of his status.

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13 comments

Bola May 16, 2009 - 3:36 am

Nigerians in America, as you discuss this man, why don’t you do something about it and VISIT him! anyone on this blog ever gone there? Please, I’ve heard so much this and that about him, if anyone is going, please let me know I would like to go along – and finally find out the truth for myself instead of sitting here, hearing this and that and being tempted to come to a hasty conclusion – like so many of us have! what a pity what an interesting man of God! i pray we all find out the truth for ourselves and begin to speak more of God and His work than our silly bantering and jealosies back and forth. okotie, adeboye, ayo all talk about joshua but joshua only talks about Jesus Christ. whom can we believe??

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Sidney May 2, 2009 - 9:59 pm

I think this passtime about attacking TB Joshua in order to be relivant as a called man of God is nolonger catching on. the man should be left alone. governmnet honoured him for charity work then what? Do your own let governmnet and the people see. let us stop this joke and let the pentocostals put their house in order. our memebrs go to bed hungry while we are flying jets about not bold enough now to challenge government anymore.

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Fikru April 30, 2009 - 11:42 am

He is delivering people from bondage in the name of Jesus. He is really annointed man of God.

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emi barango April 25, 2009 - 12:25 am

jesus said, when i;m gone greater things signs and wonders greater than mine will happen in my name, if u dont believe in the miracles and deliverance, believed in the good charity work the man is doing, u modern pharisees and sadusees take care of our mission on this earth so that people will praise God on your behalf.

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charles April 22, 2009 - 11:31 am

I have watched this man for some time now and although I have never been chanced to be behind the scenes to witness the day-to-day happenings within the Synagogue, I truly believe in what I have seen on TV and from my biblical knowledge. My relatives have been there and what this man revealed to them and healed them of has stood the test of time. This man has the true Spirit from the ONLY GOD. He wouldn’t last this long and become such an international icon if it were otherwise. The truth is that this man glorifies GOD in every way possible and always strives to do only what is good to society. His appeal is for everyone to do same! Please give him a break and get your bit of salvation through this man who has NEVER pretended to do anything by himself but by the spirit of JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH. TB Joshua is out for the good of mankind and that has been demonstrated in all possible ways, for those who watch Emmanuel TV. My fear is many people might lose the chance of being delivered, and getting contact with the Christ through this man because of their lack of belief. This is simply a question of faith. Please get your deliverance and follow the ways of GOD through this man. Thank you Jesus for constantly revealing You are alive through humans.

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mikeroy April 21, 2009 - 7:23 pm

TB Joshua has a devine calling.

People,please do not condemn him.

This is a man who goes about doing good.

Bless him.

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nii martey bartey March 30, 2009 - 11:00 am

i am not that into all this church thing cos i have my doubts and confusions about them all, i believe there is a suprime God who is above all else and he cant be seen, unless He wants you to see him. come lets give the Man of God some respect, its only the envious who will say such about a Man of God. Pls leave the man alone.

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t.money March 28, 2009 - 11:32 am

this is very baddddddddddd

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gideon February 24, 2009 - 4:38 pm

well let no man judge because GOD the most high sees every action on earth lets keep off jealosy and see above our minds

thats a prophet of GOD so dont talk or you raise the anger of th lord against you.

if you want to be like him them follow the words of the scriptures (mark16:17) it says if you believe you will cast out demans in my name and speak in strange tongues.

jesus christ said “if you believe you will do more than i (jesus) have done” if you have ears hear if you have eyes see but i tell you the end time is near

repent from you sins

and may the almighty GOd be with you all

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Igbanibo V.Agborubere February 19, 2009 - 10:14 pm

Excellent work.He is a real man of GOD.Let critic leave him alone

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Mr. Vang February 19, 2009 - 4:51 am

I think that TB Joshua is a true man of God. A man is known by his characters, doctrine, and action in the power of God. God confirms only to a man or a woman whom God chosed to use. If anyone who cannot do what TB Joshua do has no authority to criticize him. If anyone criticize him, it is due to jealousy for not having the honor that God has bestowed upon TB Joshua. The real test of someone’s doctrince is whether that man of God is pointing people to Christ or self or other foreign gods. If Christ is the focus and Christ is being glorified, then the doctrine is sound. According to character judging, we know that God will not listen to a man who is evil or unholy in character. God listens to a righteous person. Only God knows the heart.

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Kevin D. James February 17, 2009 - 8:15 pm

I am an American pastor from Los Angeles, California. In 2002, I had the pleasure of visiting the Synagogue Church for a period of two weeks. The team of pastors I was with carefully scutinized the doctrine and alleged 'miracles and healings' happening there. T.B. Joshua is not a fake. The works of Christ happening there are genuine and real. If you haven't been there and gone behind the scenes, you're not qualified to comment.

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Obi Wan Kenobi February 7, 2009 - 3:50 pm

A beautiful job for a dubious prophet and dubious mission. This is a good PR job for a doubtful purpose. Please give us science and technological advancement and not the worship of doubtful personalities.

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