Last week after I preached on the topic “Know that I am God”, two female students came to me for clarification about what I said. They wanted to know if they should never testify about God’s provision or healing or success.
My thesis was that if all we know of our God is how he provides and heals and makes us successful, then our God is too small. The central message of Jesus is he came to seek and save sinners.
Popular preaching and fashionable faith has shelved testimonies about sin and God’s forgiveness. Preaching about wealth and healing and success builds numbers in church.
Someone in the business of public speaking sent to recruit me to serve in his oratorical occupation. Another sent me a message encouraging me to found a church promising to join it because he loved my preaching. Needless to say, I turned both down.
It is no secret that oratory has replaced substance in modern day preaching in many pulpits. Pastors work their congregations to  euphoric tempo.
And sure enough, they never lack congregations even when they promise air. Paul said to Timothy, “people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”(2 Tim 4: 3-4). This is what he addressed also in Romans 16.17-27.
The teachers he talks about are a replica of present-day preachers. Their teaching created schisms in the Church. Whereas godly instruction should bring peace and unity in the church, they sowed divisions. Winning a following becomes the ultimate in preaching.
Paul says “… such persons … serve … their own appetites.” They preach for gain; ministry is a business venture. They are peddlers of the gospel.
I am reminded of one we confronted about leading a congregation astray. His reply was audacious. “How else will I eat?” he asked us! I travelled with him for a Christian conference abroad where he registered himself as ‘Dr.’ though he is not a holder of the title!
“By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naïve.” Many years ago Paul Little wrote two books on the subject of knowing what you believe and why you believe.
It is never a virtue to be ignorant about what to believe or why you believe it. The uninformed fall prey to good oration. Finally Paul insinuates that they are on Satan’s payroll; “they do not serve our Lord Christ.” Put differently, the spirit that inspires false teaching is diabolical. The word of falsehood is the word of “the father of lies”.
Therefore watch not to be ensnared by them. Do not be a simpleton in your faith. Babies are born to grow; even so Christians are saved to grow to maturity in their faith. It is a fallacy that Christians in universities are educated in everything else but their faith. How about you?
Secondly, Christians are safe only when their faith is vindicated by their lifestyle; when they follow what is good and flee evil. Paul calls us to be wise to what is good and innocent to what is evil.
You must not be a Christian in verbal testimony only; a lifestyle of good works secures a Christian’s life.
Lastly, keep your hope burning. The bottom line for us is our final victory. “God … will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
Christians are a prepaid parcel; our salvation is fully prepaid; and our destiny is assured. What these teachers promise is not salvation. Jesus is. Amen.

Dr. John Senyonyi is the UCU vice chancellor