Instant Miracles A New Kind Of Genocide
The insidious rise to fame of many youthful prophets on the strength of performing outlandish miracles in modern times has birthed some kind of genocide whose effect is silently being felt by the thousands affected while it continues to be business as usual for everyone else.
Clerics across the world have come to the fiendish realization that a surefire way to international religious acclaim is the decree of healings-instant miracles to be specific. Human nature, psychology concurs, wants instant rewards. The virtue of patience has been outpaced by the pernicious influence arising from instant rewards.
Most disquieting, however, is the nature of diseases that these preachers claim to heal; chronic and fatal conditions like diabetes mellitus, blood pressure, arthritis and, yes, HIV. These conditions are lethal in that they require continuous assessment and consistent adherence to medication.
Some are actually degenerative diseases which can worsen in a few weeks in the absence of medication. To the modern preacher, however, this is secondary to the prospect of marching towards world fame and recording massive crowds as they instruct people to get off medications.
I continue to receive a flurry of e-mails from people who have lost loved ones to claims of instant healing. We are witnessing a subtle kind of genocide fronted by these daring preachers.
Recently, there was the touching story of musician Saul Musaka also known as Soul Jah Love who suffers from a malignant foot ulcer induced by diabetes. Musaka was purportedly healed by controversial PHD church leader Walter Magaya a few weeks ago.
The musician appeared at Magaya’s church sitting in a wheel chair with a heavily swollen left leg and a bandaged right leg. Above him, an aide held a placard stating that his right leg was due for amputation as the infection could continue spreading. He also highlighted what he termed were spiritual attacks he was experiencing. Later in the footage, Magaya, prays for the musician and declares that he had been healed helping him to his feet. His wheelchair was also lifted up in the typical show of a miraculous victory. However, barely a month after the ‘healing’ we hear that the musician failed to last the distance while performing on stage in the UK and had to be hospitalized. Apparently, the disease has recurred. The question is: what happened to the healing?
The case of Musaka is not isolated; we have seen top ranking officials succumbing to disease even after the healing pronouncements. In 2007, former Malawi President Bingu-wa-Mutharika’s wife, Ethel Mutharika made numerous trips to Nigeria where the godfather of prophets TB Joshua repeatedly claimed she had been healed of cancer but painfully her condition deteriorated finally succumbing to the ailment.
It will also be remembered that the same Walter Magaya claimed to have restored the sanity of a mentally deranged man in Rusape last year. Reportedly, one of the men is showing signs of relapse. In the same vein, congregants who received the so-called miracle money at one time where shocked when the notes turned into leaves. In recent times some recipients of miracle money have been hurled before the courts after withdrawing mistakenly deposited large sums from their bank accounts. And in what probably takes the cup, a baby, professedly, born after a three-day pregnancy as claimed by another crowd-drawing preacher Emmanuel Makandiwa died under unclear circumstances a few months after birth.
Now there are some few truths that should be grasped insofar as healings are concerned. It cannot be debated that the Bible is laden with healings, instant healings too. Jesus Christ would, on numerous occasions, heal the blind and the infirm. Many were witnesses to these healings as captured in the Holy book. Jesus would instruct all those he healed not to revert to their old sinful ways typically saying, “Go and sin no more.”
This innocent and positive admonition by Jesus Christ has become a manipulated tool to cover for miracle malfunctions by today’s prophets who cast blame to the healed when they fall into a relapse. Oftentimes, we are told that the victim went back to his old ways that’s why the disease returned with vengeance.
The faith healers won’t accept responsibility but instead absolve themselves by casting blame on the victims. In the case of Jesus Christ, none whatsoever of those he healed went back into remission. Much as he urged people not to engage in past behaviours, none of the people he healed relapsed. From the mad man who stayed in the tombs (Legion) to the numerous deaf and dumb that he healed none went back into remission. It is therefore imprudent and cunning for supposed faith healers today to try and hide behind a thin finger drawing on the same.
What we are witnessing currently is typical of the magic kingdom where the transformation is temporary and short-lived. Magical acts are temporary and for amusement; they cannot be sustained over a period of time.
The authenticity of healings today has not been investigated, giving rise to many preposterous claims. Most of the supposed prophets are nothing more than stuntmen clad in suits holding the Bible. It is not so much about performing a miracle but about the source of the power as well. The Bible account records a number of underworld forces that performed healings. One Simon was a sorcerer yet the book of Acts records that, “All Israel marveled at his miracles and called him the great power of God.” Healings are common from all sides but the difference with God’s healings is the aspect of sustainability. Faltering healings are from the other side.
All said on this topic, it should be reiterated that these miracle stunt men are creating a genocide while we watch. Healings are the preserve of God in accordance with his will. These prophets have no mandate to order people to stop taking medication.