Online Reporter
Vusa Martin Dube
THERE is a big difference between prophecy and prediction, but these days many people seem unable to tell the two apart. That confusion has become a gold mine for fake prophets who have discovered that it is easier to read people’s behaviour than to read God’s mind.
If someone told Zimbabweans that petrol prices will rise during the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, politicians will argue or that January will be tough, is that really prophecy? Or is it just a prediction based on pure logical deduction?
The Bible warns believers to test every spirit. 1 John 4:1 says: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” Sadly, many people today would rather test mobile data bundles than test a preacher’s message.
A genuine biblical prophet pointed people towards God, repentance and righteous living. The focus was never on showing off supernatural powers or collecting offerings. Deuteronomy 18:22 teaches that a prophet’s words must prove true. It is a serious calling, not a stage performance.
Ask yourself what is the purpose of most of the so-called-miracles in most churches today. Do they show the power of God, glorify him or heal communities?
Do they glorify the self-proclaimed prophets and make them look capable of replacing God? If you can answer these questions, you know if you are on the right path or not.
Every week, new “Major Ones”, “Papa This,” “General That” and “Prophet Whatever” appear, promising instant marriages, miracle money, visa breakthroughs and promotions.
They study human nature better than many psychologists. They know people are desperate for jobs, children, healing and financial breakthroughs. Instead of offering biblical hope, some offer expensive shortcuts.
It is not prophecy to tell a struggling family they have financial problems. It is observation.
It is not prophecy to say an elderly sick person may need medical attention. It is prediction.
It is certainly not prophecy to throw out 20 vague predictions and celebrate the two that appear to happen.
The Bible even warned about this long ago. Matthew 24:24 says false christs and false prophets would arise and perform great signs to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
So why do people keep falling for it?
Hope can make people vulnerable. When life becomes unbearable, critical thinking often packs its bags. Desperate people want immediate answers, instant miracles and someone to tell them tomorrow will be better. Reading Scripture takes patience. Paying someone to “locate your miracle” sounds much easier.
Then come the carefully staged miracles. The wheelchair user suddenly walks. Someone receives “miracle money.” A stranger’s phone number is mysteriously revealed.
Some alleged miracles have later been challenged or exposed elsewhere, while others remain matters of faith. Either way, excitement can sometimes drown out questions. Once people stop asking questions, their wallets usually open much faster.
The irony is that the Bible already gave believers the greatest protection against deception. Acts 17:11 praises the Bereans because they examined the Scriptures daily to verify what they were being taught. They did not clap first and investigate later.
Faith does not require switching off your brain. God gave us both faith and wisdom.
Perhaps the greatest miracle today would be believers dusting off their Bibles, reading them for themselves and discovering that salvation was never meant to be sold with a VIP seating ticket or a miracle envelope.
Before you empty your bank account into someone’s collection basket, first open your Bible. It costs nothing to read, but it might save you everything.
