The millennial era in South Africa has seen a dramatic shift in the core focus of a pivotal arm of governance in society which is the church. Many argue that the church has since shifted from being a place of refuge and comfort, to a house characterised by self-interest, money, and corruption. Many unfamiliar or taboo practices which cannot be traced back to any biblical or generally acceptable moral standard have taken place within Christian churches, which have since called for the regulation of churches. This received immediate backlash from religious leaders, who regard such regulations as absurd as they contravene section 15 of the Constitution of South Africa which states that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.
(PICTURE: http://onjewumichael.blogspot.co.za)
However, without any regulation, many have suffered severe exploitation by so-called “prophets’ and pastors who have gone as far as allowing their congregants to consume substances such as petrol in order to demonstrate the “power of God”. Such practices have been said to have no biblical reference, and pastors who have been involved in this have had to face the law. Another tier of exploitation that comes with new age religious practices among Christian leaders include accessing prophecy through paying a ransom, were pastors are believed to receive close to R8000 for any prophetic word delivered to a congregant. The regulation of churches has since become an issue to probe as soon as several cases of rape by church leaders were reported.
(PICTURE: http://www.nairaland.com/3464191/shepherd-bushiri-heals-lady-hiv)
In light of the above, the Faithful Steward Movement together with prominent leaders within the Christian religion organised a march by victims of False Prophets scheduled to take place from 10.30am tomorrow, 13 March 2018. Participants will meet in front of the Joburg Theatre and march to the South African Human Rights Commission in Parktown. The notices have #NoManipulation #BushiriMustFall, #FakeProphetsMustFall, and #NoDeception. The purpose is to raise awareness for the victims of false prophets and to also put more pressure on the CRL Rights Commission and government to urgently do something about false prophets because we believe that they are criminals. According to the Faithful Steward Movement “The purpose of this March is hopefully to raise awareness in the fight against false prophets so the government will create a way to deal with it. To share the stories of the victims and see how we can all support them and to challenge the church to get involved and begin to do something about it. Furthermore, this march is aimed at instilling more pressure on the CRL Rights Commission and government to urgently do something about false prophets because we believe that they are criminals.”
The march will take place on the 14th of March 2018 from Johannesburg Theatre Braamfontein.
.. and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:11-14
