#whatgodcannotdoactuallyexist

My critical review of the NSPPD conference and other gatherings like it

Linda Ikeji’s Blog

In February 2024, the NSPPD, a non-denominational prayer fellowship, hosted a huge conference in Accra, Ghana. Approximately 30,000 or more people attended.

In this brief post, I would like to take the conference and some events that ensued there to reflect on gatherings like it, especially their role in crafting new faith systems in West Africa.

To be very clear (as some may miss the obvious), the title of my post is not a declaration of my position on God’s nature and ability. Rather, it is a satirical spin on a slogan (also a hashtag online) of the group referenced.

The original slogan, #whatgodcannotdodoesnotexist, is another way members of this movement claim things for a good life from God. As you will tell from below, I respond with a big “Yes, but…”

Here are my ten thoughts

1. First, we all know It was youthful, energetic, and well-attended, so no need to comment further on how impressive that was.
2. Yet, for all that there could be, gatherings like these, more often than should, center “personal success” by promising and celebrating instant riches (?) through some magical means unexplainable.
3. Note the speeches, songs, prayers, chants, etc. They all revolve around a “personal miracle.” Be it money, marriage, a job, health, visa (yes, that too), etc­– A strand or remnant of the prosperity gospel?? Maybe??
4. While in this context, some of these needs are completely understandable, the means to that end needs to be rethought. I name three…
5. a. It (the means) is almost always transactional: contingent upon one’s unquestionable piety, expressed through how well they prayed or their sacrificial giving ( the phenomena of seed-sowing etc.).
6. b. It (the means) is hyper-individualistic as it exults solo success and applauds the individual’s steps to getting there (never communal). These steps are usually oblique and not made public.
7. c. It (the means) is tied to the “Papa” and his ways: words, prayers, advice, or prophetic direction (I’m aware this means something else in this context), etc. Also, note that it’s never the “mama”. I’m hinting at gender dynamics if you missed it.
8. Now, I wonder if by it being hyper-transactional, individualistic, and dependent (upon a Papa), they aren’t perpetuating elements of the same forces of power that made and continuously make our people poor (in various ways) and oppressed?
9. I wonder if we might consider the possibility that personal prosperity of any kind, especially in this context, is not a direct product of the quality of one’s piety but also other factors that often aren’t ‘religious’ (open interpretation here) at all.
10. I sincerely wonder what gatherings like this could be and do if they centered on collegiality, communal support, advocacy for better systems, anti-corruption, truth-telling, a non-tractional faith relationship with God, etc.

I wonder because, for me, the thing that God perhaps can not do is to honor the desires of selfish-materialistic individuals and institutions, who mask their selfishness with made-up spirituality for public applause.

This is my public journal if you’d like– I have a ton of personal development stuff here but often the heavy stuff are about Christianity at the intersection of social systems, and Contemporary African society.

Im PhDing at Yale Uni.