Outrage over 'racist' sermon at Rivers Church

28 June 2016 - 10:28 By TMG Digital

Outrage continued to simmer on social media on Tuesday over a weekend sermon by the head pastor at Rivers Church which many observers interpreted as suggesting that black people were lazy. Pastor Andre Olivier’s sermon in Sandton on Sunday angered black congregants who took to social media and Talk Radio 702 to voice their disapproval.The church has grown from a congregation of about 70 to thousands who attend services in Sandton‚ Johannesburg and Durban.A caller‚ Nkanyesa‚ told 702 that the pastor said during his sermon that he did not understand why people wanted white South Africans to leave the country‚ because they contributed so much. White people had money‚ he allegedly said‚ because they worked for it. She said while he did not directly say black people were lazy‚ the undertone of the sermon was offensive.Olivier later responded by saying that his comments‚ during a sermon about abandonment‚ were taken out of context.Listen to the pastor defend his comments:  #Riverschurch was still a hot topic of debate on Twitter on Tuesday‚ with some lambasting the pastor and others speaking out in his defence.Hardly a week ago, a pic of a black lil gal isolated from her white 'counterracialgroup' hit the social media. Now, this? #riverschurch — IngomsoFilms.Com (@DumDiesel) June 28, 2016async Thulani the Activist weighed in with:#NoToRacism: Black people never set foot at this church - #RiversChurch. #BlacksUnited amandla awethu!!!!!!!! — Thulani the Activist (@tndaba) June 28, 2016async Rodney Moodley said that people were judging without knowing the person they were directing their anger at.Amazed at how people judge without knowing the person they're judging and draw conclusions about a topic without context #riverschurch — Rodney Moodley (@rodzmoodley) June 28, 2016async And Natanya Fugard-Gous ‏said:I love my church #RiversChurch and & my leaders @AndreGOlivier & @wilmaeolivier!Their heart for all people is huge! #dontjudgewhatudontknow — Natanya Fugard-Gous (@Nats_Fugard) June 28, 2016async The church describes itself on its website as a “dynamic church that offers both inspirational and practical biblical teaching with motivation for people of all ages‚ races and walks of life. We are a Christ-centred church that preaches the truth about Jesus in a fresh‚ illustrative and creative way.”Olivier’s last tweet‚ posted as the backlash was underway‚ said:I am in good company. Only 1 of Jesus disciples knew who he really was and 11 never spoke up. — Andre Olivier (@AndreGOlivier) June 27, 2016 async..

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