SOCIAL MEDIA SCANDAL STORIES AND RCCG RIVERS YOUTHS PERCEPTION OF PASTORS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This study was on social media scandal stories and RCCG Rivers youths perception of pastors in Rivers state. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain effect of social media scandal stories of pastor on the growth of RCCG in Rivers state, to find out the perspective of RCCG youths on social media scandal stories on pastors in Rivers state and to find out what bodies constituted to supervise churches doing to curb these excesses menace. The total population for the study is 75 youths of RCCG in portharcourt, Rivers state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

 

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

The link between social media and religion has attracted the interest of many scholars in the last decade. Lim and Putnam (2010:914), in their article ‘Religion, social networks, and life satisfaction’, state that social networks offer strong evidence for social and participatory mechanisms shaping religion’s impact on life satisfaction. Although the rise of online social networking appears to represent a new challenge to religious individuals and institutions, Verschoor-Kirss (2012:1) opines that it is wrong to assume that the interaction between religion and technology is always adversarial. Generally, technology can enhance religious practices through the expansion and creation of religious communities.

One of the characteristics of prophetic churches, according to Faimau and Behrens (2016:68), is the use of media and, in particular, social media. The use of media among prophetic churches clearly assists to spread the Gospel to different people. Faimau and Behrens continue to say that prophetic churches have fully embraced the use of media technology to spread the Gospel faster and wider. This includes the use and appropriation of radio, television, the Internet, e-mail, mobile phones and various forms of print media

Honestly, the church must continue to remain the ground and pillar of truth, and anything short of it is not good for us. I believe in Jesus’ parable, when He said: “A certain man went to sow wheat in his field. And when he slept, another person went and sowed tares. When it was discovered that the tares had grown in the midst of the wheat, his farmers told their Master do we go and remove the tares, his answer was that they should leave it to grow together with the wheat until the day of harvest

In todays’ churches, there are a lot of scandal that doesn’t promote the name of Jesus Christ. The stories of men of God engaging in illicit sexual affairs and occult practices. And there seems to be no end to it, as the menace keeps rearing its ugly head in different forms. This is aside other alarming activities as ritual killings and 419, among other unprintable things discovered to be going on in some churches (Rev. Nicholas Okoh, 2019)

Ms Dakolo’s allegations, which date from more than 20 years ago, also went viral on social media, with some saying it had triggered Nigeria’s #MeToo moment. But women in socially conservative Nigeria have so far avoided speaking out, fearing a backlash or stigmatization. Victims of sexual abuse are usually shamed and accused of putting themselves in a position where they are abused, BBC Women’s Affairs reporter in Lagos, Azeezat Olaoluwa, says. Pastor Biodun told his followers on Sunday that Christians face persecution, but God would ensure that they are victorious. His delivered a sermon titled “sudden victories” in a packed church. “As a Christian, you must face opposition. If God, who is holy and faithful has enemies, you are sure going to have,” the news site quotes him as saying

Another common scandal in church is money laundry. Another version of this money-laundering process is duplicated in the churches with pastors as the lynchpin.  When a contrite Judas brought back the thirty pieces of silver he received for betraying Jesus to the Jewish Priesthood, they refused to put the money in the offering-box: “The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.’” (Matthew 27:6).

This was convoluted reasoning at best, showing the “doublethink” of religion.  The priests had no qualms about bringing about the death of innocent Jesus.  But they felt it was inappropriate to put “blood money” in the offering-box.  However, even such hypocritical qualms are no longer evident today.  Today, it does not matter where the money comes from, as long as it is money you can be sure the church will receive it.

Pastor Emmanuel Omale of Hand of God Prophetic Ministry alleged to have laundered funds for ousted Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has threatened to sue the retired Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Probe Panel for the accusation against him. Omale was alleged to have bought a landed property on behalf of Magu worth N573m in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. All these happened in the house. Based on this background the researcher wants to investigate social media scandal stories and RSSG Rivers youth’s perception of pastors in river state

Statement of the problem

Both social and traditional media are agog with disturbing stories of men of God engaging in illicit sexual affairs and occult practices. And there seems to be no end to it, as the menace keeps rearing its ugly head in different forms. This is aside other alarming activities as ritual killings and 419, among other unprintable things discovered to be going on in some churches. Just what is happening in the House of God? What are the bodies constituted to supervise churches doing to curb these excesses?. Based  on this the researcher wants to investigate social media stories and RCCG Rivers youths perception of pastors in Rivers state

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain effect of social media scandal stories of pastor on the growth of RCCG in Rivers state
2. To find out the perspective of RCCG youths on social media scandal stories on pastors in Rivers state
3. To find out what bodies constituted to supervise churches doing to curb these excesses menace

Research question

The following research question were formulated;

1. What is effect of social media scandal stories of pastor on the growth of RCCG in Rivers state?
2. What are the perspective of RCCG youths on social media scandal stories on pastors in Rivers state?
3. What are the action bodies constituted to supervise churches doing to curb these excesses menace?

Research hypotheses

The following research hypotheses were formulated

H0: there is no effect of social media scandal stories of pastor on the growth of RCCG in Rivers state

H1: there is effect of social media scandal stories of pastor on the growth of RCCG in Rivers state

H0: there is no perspective of RCCG youths on social media scandal stories on pastors in Rivers state

H2: there is perspective of RCCG youths on social media scandal stories on pastors in Rivers state

H0: there is no action bodies constituted to supervise churches doing to curb these excesses menace

H3: there is action bodies constituted to supervise churches doing to curb these excesses menace

Significance of the study

The study will be very significant to students, CAN and churches. The study will give a clear insight on the social media scandal stories and the perception of youths on pastors. The study will suggest the way to curb these menace. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic

Scope of the study

The scope of the study covers social media scandal stories and RCCG Rivers Youths perception of Pastors in Rivers state. The study will be limited to Redeem Christian church of God in Portharcourt in Rivers state

limitation of the study

This study was confirmed with some constraint below are some of the factors that delayed the progress and early completion of this work.

1. TIME:This work would have been better that what it is if enough time was given to travel to different part of the country and companies for collection of data.
2. TRANSPORTATION:Due to the high cost of transportation fares caused by bad roads, fuel scarcity, it was not possible to travel to different parts of the country in collection of more data.
3. LACK OF MATERIALS:The unavailability of goods and up to-date textbooks, journals etc libraries and in accessibility of the internet to the common man also hampered the progress of this work.
4. Financial Constraint:As students, there was not enough capital to spend in transportation and fact finding for the research work

Definition of terms

Social media: Social media are interactive technologies and digital channels that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. 

Scandal: A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way.

Perception: Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information or environment. All perception involves signals that go through the nervous system, which in turn result from physical or chemical stimulation of the sensory system.

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