Liberian News: “People Will Support Those Who Care, Not Titles”

Monrovia-The Bishop of the Restoration Baptist Ministries Joseph Gardea Johnson asserted that Titles  of  religious  leaders are giving  to them for  glory  and not God.

He asks the giver of such title “Who called you apostle? You gave that title to yourself. Who called you prophet? You gave that title to yourself. Who called a pastor with no church? You gave that title to yourself”.

The critical clergyman of Liberia on his social media page indicated that” all across this nation, we are people who are so title-stuck, especially in the church”.

According to him because of titles by church leaders it is one of the only places where insecure people can come in and take a title to stroke their ego and build their insecurities, especially with the love titles.

“We introduce ourselves with titles. We get mad if somebody doesn’t use our titles” he asserted.

Bishop Johnson further   said it is dangerous to find identity in their titles.

“We must be a serious disciple of Jesus Christ and an honest pastor of his people apart from our titles” he urged pastors and church leaders.

Bishop Johnson challenge pastors to stop having love affairs with titles stressing “we love titles, but look at our country and look at the people we teach and preach to”.

He said those who   they teach and preach to are so undeveloped and poor, asserting “yet we forced money out of them to support our titles”.

He emphasized that the gifts from the church (offerings, tithes, seeds etc.) must be used to support their pastoral care to the people, not their titles.

“The people will support the church and will give more if they feel loved, respected and cared for. People don’t easily give to titles they give when they feel loved” he said.

New Republic Liberia

Alphonso Toweh

Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets  including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and  did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters 
 He holds first  MA with honors in International  Relations and a  candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict  Resolution from the University of Liberia.