Ed’s Note: Prophecy

I will not say an interesting prophecy came to pass. Rather, an interesting prophecy took a surprising turn in the course of this month when a woman delivered a bouncy baby boy. Nothing wrong in delivering a healthy baby, you might say, but it becomes messy when it goes against a given prophecy that the unborn one would be a girl. Of course, it may not take away the joy of motherhood, but the little pinkies bought by its proud parents serve as a reminder of what may have gone wrong with the prophecy, delivered by one prophetess. Hey, I’m not here to judge, but like many, I, too have questions.
They say; “when the prophet of God speaks, the wise listen.” I am wondering; should prophets miss? Aren’t they meant to be spot on? With the advent of churches, dubbed fellowships, people are seeking God in every situation, even the sex determination of unborn babies. Such overzealousness must not awe us with travesty outcomes. Should, we still listen— or at least— to every prophet or prophetess? The overly dependency on pastors, men, women of God and prophecies has left many to the mercies of ‘pastors’ and jumping from church to church. Churches, too, are feeding on this appetite to establish at any peril with or without the calling of their overseers.
It is an interesting spell of church booming at a time other countries across Western Europe are being ‘abandoned’ by worshippers. If reports in The Wall Street Journal recently are anything to go by, then we just might have a big problem on our hands. The report says the once booming industry of churches has dwindled with the lack of patronage; a development it says threatens the unification of disparate societies. According to the publication, the US has avoided a similar wave of church closings for now because American Christians remain more religiously observant than Europeans. Religious researchers, however, claim that declining numbers of American churchgoers suggest the country could face same problems in coming years.
I believe the building of churches, synagogues and cathedrals was once trendy in Europe and other parts of the world, all in honour of serving God. With time, those building have become superfluous. Unlike Africa, the trends have become rampant by breakaway groups to form their own congregations with the authentication of building congregating arenas at the promise of prosperity, spiritual victories and dominion. Africa’s experience might be another passing phase whose wave should settle with time. The doctrine of prophecies, deliverance and charisma is attracting church goers in a world ravaged by witchcraft, poverty, uncertainties, bareness and sicknesses. Everybody wants a spiritual solution having witnessed others delivered from various bondages via satellite, cable and live audiences. Is still begs the question whether pastors— called of otherwise— should rush to from own churches and splash the country with new churches at almost every corner? Whatever happened to the unification of among other things, working together for a same course? Again, should prophecies be splashed carelessly?
Our Muslims counterparts do not, in my observation, easily breakaway to form churches haphazardly. That is why unlike Christianity, they continue to grow, according to the journal.
While some of the abandoned churches in Europe have been turned into bars, skating halls and circus training school, what will become of our own building years later when times evolve outside religion? It is food for thought because trust me, this phase will pass.
Make-up obsession
Dear Editor,
Some women overdo their make-up and cosmetic application as you rightly observed. Some are obsessed with it and overly depend on it. Most men prefer natural looks as opposed to too much ‘painting’. Mildness, too, is tolerable. I wonder how men would look with the kind of make-up worn by women. Some resemble clowns!
Mike from Blantyre via email