On the issues in the air

Friday.

I have for a long time resisted from commenting on the hottest issue of the moment and that is the controversy surrounding the man of the moment, Major Prophet Shepherd Bushiri. Oh, yeah! Today I am not dragging anything and what has to be said has to be said.

Ever since his emergence into ministry he has been surrounded by bad (and recently good) publicity with others citing him as a false prophet, fraudster, Satanist and any other things people thought of calling him. Of late he has however been seen as a savior; a provider in the time of need after providing maize to those in need and sharing a bit of his miracle money to our underperforming national team (what a misplaced donation. Anyway. I am just being Richie). Rumor has it that he has truckloads of cement coming in to help with the construction of secondary schools. I find that very commendable (when I leave the issue of sustainability aside, that is). To that, I say, all of us should pop champagne to the Major 1.

It is clear that we all come to agree that the prophet is a good and considerate man when it comes to his humanitarian side. The issue is different when it comes to the discussion about his ministry with some calling him names, in line with him being a false prophet (akutitu). Some of them discuss it in their circles, just like all of us do criticize the president when we are chatting with the Tadala Rambikis (a Tadala Rambiki is defined as an overly critical friend) of our circles. Others on the other hand seem not to be keen on keeping it to themselves… if you know what I mean. Again no comment.

When I reflect on this issue, I wonder if it is the later day exponential increase in televangelist that is contributing to these open challenges we have on our men of God. Sometimes I tend to wonder whether it is that the Pentecostal movement is outgrowing itself.

When I think of the moment when it was predominantly the mainstream churches (matchalitchi a boma; achina Katolika, CCAP, SDA ndi anzawo) one could hardly point a finger to a man of God (we used to call the church leaders, priests, bishops and pastors then) and say he is a Satanist or something in that line. Of course there were a couple of people who pointed at others and interpreted scriptures in their own way and called others the antichrist, but it wasn’t that significant. Now we do have people writing pamphlets, singing songs, tweeting and facebooking about false church prophets, pastors and apostles, Boldly, actually. That brings in the question of the relevance of the scripture that says we should not judge. While conservatives say that this bold “exposition” is more or less like judging, liberals have it that exposing a false church leader is not judging but is rather biblical. Akutitu.

Having heard all of this, I tend to wonder as to who is right or wrong. I just hope that our reasoning and opinions of other people’s religious practices will not lead us away from the will of God.

I believe that it is high time that every person who believes in God concentrated on their belief in and relationship with God while propagating the same in a peaceful manner. There might be (and there surely are) who are getting lost because of misleading teachings from their leaders. I always believe that there are some better ways of rescuing people without causing preponderant pandemonium by throwing public slurs at other religious leaders. I mean, what is the conservatives are right in saying that doing so amounts to judging? Even if not, does that do the trick? Those are the questions I am yet to find definite answers to. Meanwhile, I feel like everyone should hold their peace and focus on their lives and their vertical relationship with God.

Again, that was just being me, but I would say again that we need to learn to hold our peace especially if our actions do not have any promising good outcomes.

Ndiye izi zonyozana mmisonkhano, kuimbama nyimbo ndi kumanenana pa bukufesizi; titazisiya zitha kukhala bwino. Ine ndikuona ngati choncho. (Somebody should translate this in the comments).

Controversial? Well. You say it.

NO! Wait! Keep that to yourself too.