Politicians possess the power to guide a nation toward prosperity or decline. Yet some exploit the public’s trust while journalists shield their activities from scrutiny. Leaders often manipulate negative press to serve their interests—which explains why authoritarian regimes typically seek to control media outlets. This places journalists in a position where they can either impede national progress or facilitate growth. Religious institutions similarly shape public consciousness, sometimes limiting independent thought in the process.
News possesses remarkable power—it can elevate communities or devastate them. A genuinely free press that informs citizens and inspires constructive change strengthens society immeasurably. This seems like the essence of the gospel, meant to spread good news that inspires positivity and goodwill among the public.
Goodness originates with God, and the gospel—literally “good news”—exists to disseminate this goodness throughout the world. However, certain individuals distort biblical messages, pretending to spread the gospel while actively undermining it. Similarly, journalists pursuing sensationalism for personal advancement may enrich themselves at society’s expense.
Carrying a Bible or dressing impeccably proves nothing about one’s relationship with God. Speaking in tongues or performing miracles carries equal ambiguity—such acts may emerge from authentic believers, yet even God’s adversaries can perform them. Jesus provided guidance for distinguishing between them:
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:12-15, NIV).
For those seeking truth within Christianity, these words encompass everything essential. This enforces setting aside all else—to simply live according to Jesus’ teachings. Verse 15 identifies God’s adversaries unmistakably: “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” No witch-hunting required. No need to speculate about who stands condemned or vindicated.
The path toward life remains narrow, discovered by remarkably few. Understanding requires distinguishing right from wrong. If so few locate this path, then careful reflection and honest self-examination become essential—not pointing fingers at others, but concentrating on truth rather than falsehood.
Most choose the wide gate because they prefer receiving over giving. Receiving demands nothing; giving requires everything. The golden rule states simply: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). Acting for others differs fundamentally from acting for oneself—and this principle alone fulfills the Law and the Prophets.
Everyone has a mix of good and evil in them. “Goodness” shows when someone’s actions help others, while “evil” appears when they benefit at someone else’s expense. Simply put, those who achieve success by exploiting others are causing harm and can be considered wrongdoers. Oddly enough, society often praises these individuals, especially when they show off their wealth. As a result, evil is often mistaken for good, and good for evil.
The Profit Motive and Its Consequences
I have come to recognize that certain individuals in our society appear to flourish by generating chaos rather than cultivating order. Violence consistently attracts more attention than peace—particularly when violence proves profitable. Businesses universally operate on identical principles: generating revenue. While their ethical standards may invite scrutiny, profit remains the ultimate objective.
Consider media organizations. Why do headlines emphasize violence over constructive developments? Market forces drive this dynamic. To survive, businesses follow trends shaped by consumer preferences. And most people pursue the image of success—luxury vehicles, exclusive neighborhoods, status symbols.
Media outlets understand that sensational, negative narratives outsell uplifting content dramatically. Consequently, scandal and violence dominate front pages. Ultimately, turmoil sells more newspapers than hope ever could. The authentic path to survival involves helping others, while selfishness generates misery for humanity and ultimately damages the selfish individual as well.
Sensational headlines featuring prominent politicians capture attention and move publications, while positive stories—regardless of their truth—receive minimal attention. Numerous, otherwise respectable, citizens avoid public office specifically to escape becoming media targets. What drives these so-called upright individuals from public service? The desire to protect their reputations suggests a trend towards negativity.
As long as they avoid negative coverage, they consider themselves secure—even when participating in questionable but profitable arrangements—believing themselves untouchable provided media outlets remain silent. This dynamic fuels demand for unfavorable news over favorable coverage, since audiences show greater interest in political scandals, and media organizations generate higher revenues from negative stories than positive ones.
As negativity dominates, such behavior proliferates, making wrongdoing appear more commonplace than virtuous conduct. Business becomes viewed purely as profit generation, with success mistakenly associated with living “better than” others. People chase appearances, while genuine effort matters only insofar as it serves this distorted conception.
Religious Exploitation
Some church leaders—disguised as humble servants—apparently frame their accomplishments as evidence of divine favor. They frequently emphasize scriptural passages concerning tithing: contributing one-tenth of income to the church. Many congregation members tithe faithfully, drawn by promises of blessing.
When individuals fall short of consistent tithing, discomfort follows. Meanwhile, pastors remain comfortable as long as other regular tithers attract additional giving. Within this environment, success means maintaining prosperity beyond most community members’ reach. Ordinary people still lack access to financial wellbeing, while false preachers selectively quote Jesus’s words to advance personal agendas—conveniently omitting passages demanding deeper examination.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Within such arrangements, a small minority accumulates wealth while the majority struggles with poverty—particularly evident in mega-churches. This occurs despite the majority’s combined tithes benefiting the few. Wealth deficiency is frequently attributed to inconsistent giving.
Distorting Scripture represents merely another tactic for exploiting unsuspecting individuals for personal advantage. Meanwhile, a minority amasses extraordinary riches, which many regular members interpret as divine favor toward a select group. Taking a closer look at Jesus’ true meaning—while keeping all of Scripture in context—is definitely worth serious thought.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:12-15, NIV).
Treating others as you wish to be treated bears no relation to displaying wealth—cruising in luxury vehicles while others walk. Nowhere does Scripture indicate Jesus pursued possessions for personal comfort before assisting others. His legacy rests on service and sacrifice, demonstrating an entirely different understanding of authentic “success.”
“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple'” (Luke 14:25-27, NIV).
Jesus attracted multitudes through the assistance and service He provided the public, yet He never sought to win them through deception. No record exists of Him exploiting people or promising blessings in exchange for tithes. His message centered on God’s Kingdom, and He never commanded tithing.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:23-24, NIV).
The law’s most significant matters are justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Understanding justice begins with recognizing that all humans bear God’s image—no person inherently superior or inferior to another. This explains Jesus’ teaching: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, NIV).
Mercy follows justice. Ignoring these principles strips individuals of dignity in their interactions with others. A religious person demanding tithes under pretense of serving God fundamentally misses the point. An authentic pastor understands that mercy takes priority—ensuring others’ needs and wellbeing precede personal enrichment.
Faithfulness emerges from genuine understanding of justice and mercy. Those living by these three principles reflect God’s mind, valuing spirit above rigid rule-keeping. Such perspective aligns individuals with God, making opposition to Him impossible.
By examining Jesus’ example, God’s adversaries become recognizable. This demands redefining “success”—not as living more comfortably than others, but as improving others’ lives through kindness and generosity. Authentic success lies in elevating others, not in self-centered ambition.
The question of entering Heaven shouldn’t remain guesswork; it depends on one’s mindset. Comfortable living feels pleasant, but valuing comfort derived from helping others through righteous action matters more profoundly—this represents the humanity Jesus came to demonstrate. It requires shifting from typical human behavior patterns.
Conclusion: Identifying God’s Adversaries
News organizations frequently emphasize negativity, profiting from human suffering because disseminating unfavorable information generates more revenue than sharing positive developments. The gospel concerns good news—God’s approaching Kingdom—which should benefit humanity, not the news industry.
Rather than spreading fear by misrepresenting God’s Kingdom as bringing additional suffering, attention should focus on sharing positive news. Dwelling on negativity normalizes the world’s broken condition when it should not. The gospel appears less attractive to a humanity that prefers profiting from an uninformed public.
Why would an experienced journalist desire environmental improvement when negative publicity increases profits? Why would a funeral director hope for lower mortality rates when the casket business prospers? Why would an arms manufacturer wish for wars to end when ammunition sales generate such returns? Why would a false gospel preacher desire authentic gospel flourishing, when benefitting from an uninformed public?
In essence, God’s adversaries are those who view human suffering as normal and work to maintain this status quo. This destructive mindset infiltrates other life areas, driven by profit hunger. Getting rich while so many people around the world live in extreme poverty is wrong. Even if it’s called success, holding onto wealth goes against the heart of the gospel message.
Now is the time to share good news of peace, not spread bad news of chaos.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
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