Pastor Mervin Naidu of Cornerstone Ministries, based in Silverglen, Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal, has faced criticism following remarks he made regarding Hindu porridge prayers.
Naidu has come under fire following the remarks he made regarding Hindu porridge prayers in a sermon.
A clip of Naidu’s sermon has gone viral on TikTok.
Encouraged his church to attend porridge prayers
In the sermon, the pastor, who converted from Hinduism to Christianity at the age of 16, said not to condemn Hindus, Muslims and the Zulu community.
Naidu encouraged his church to attend porridge prayers.
Porridge prayers, often called Amman Prayers, is a sacred ritual dedicated to Mariamman, the Hindu Goddess of rain, health, and healing.
The prayer involves the offering of sour porridge honoring the tradition of feeding the sick.
“How are you going to save the lost if you do not go for the porridge prayers? The porridge prayers is where you supposed to go,” he said in a clip that went viral.
“People say, ‘pastor they are having fire tramping at the temple and the person is running’. That is where you are supposed to go. You are supposed to be running next to them preaching. ‘No pastor, I will burn my legs,” he continued.
“The Holy Ghost shall come upon you. You will run faster than that fellow. Then meet him on the other side and say ‘come I am here already’. The Holy Spirit has come upon us and He has empowered us. We do not argue. we reveal. We are not called to condemn. I encourage you as a church, do not condemn our fellow Hindus. Do not condemn our Muslim community. Do not condemn our isiZulu community even though they are praying to ancestors – dare you – do not condemn them,” he added.
‘ALL THE DEMONS DIE IMMEDIATELY’
The sermon caused an uproar because after the pastor told his church not to condemn other religions and cultures, he said they should pray before eating so “all the demons die immediately”.
“You are the light. You be the love of Jesus. Understand where they are coming from. Be moved with a heart of compassion. If someone gave me porridge from the porridge prayer and the mixed vegetable curry, I say ‘Lord Jesus thank you for this porridge’. I like it by the way,” he said.
“Lord, you know how much I like sour porridge – Amen. And Lord, this mixed curry I dedicate to you. Bless it. All the demons die immediately. And then I eat it with them. What does that do? It gives me an opportunity. That person’s heart softens seeing a pastor having the porridge,” he continued.
Take a look at the full video here
