The other night I watched a documentary on a pyramid investment scheme that wormed its way into some South African churches fleecing hundreds of people out of tons of money. It was pretty depressing stuff.

For those of you who don’t know, a pyramid scheme is akin to a game of pass the parcel with everyone passing money up the food chain till eventually the recruitment of new members to the scheme becomes unsustainable upon which everything collapses and the people last to join loose out.

Despite pyramid schemes being illegal in South Africa, the pastors involved in this horrific business bleated on about how they were unaware of the legality of the “investment proposition” and how they acted in good faith with integrity blah blah blah. As expected they were especially coy when it came to how much they personally benefited from the scheme, but for sure we’re talking millions. Old-fashioned greed doesn’t discriminate.

The journalist had some undercover footage of one pastor promoting the scheme to his congregation with all the enthusiasm and conviction of John the Baptist. The schtick was of the – God has been using this company to change the lives of hundreds of people across the country and your life can be changed too – variety. Later when the journalist confronted the pastor, one lady in the congregation started behaving with all the grace of a 5 year old throwing a tantrum - she was a veritable screaming banshee. Another congregant physically manhandled the cameraman. It was like watching a bad mafia movie. I was cringing on the couch.

I know we should never underestimate the collective stupidity of human beings, but what amazes me was that in all the churches involved, no alarm bells were ringing anywhere and hundreds of smart, intelligent people were bamboozled by this. Going to church is not an excuse to leave your brain in the parking lot.

How it was that these pastors felt the pulpit was the correct place to promote a “business venture” promising the most ridiculous returns is totally beyond me. I’m equally shocked that not one elder, lay preacher, home group leader, steward or regular member just stood-up and said hang on a minute. I guess this is how cult leaders and other religious nut cases get away with some pretty crazy stuff.

Whenever I see Christians on TV these days, they always seem to be the real loon jobs with zero skills in articulating the case for Christianity. It’s just embarrassing. Thank God for churches like HTB, thank God for pastors like Nicky Gumble, thank God for churchwardens like Ken Costa. At least when they’re on national TV they don’t spew forth ridiculousness.