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going to the extent of calling me names or even threatening me with unspecified action.
I have no doubt since the article appeared in The Herald some couple of weeks ago most people have aired their views on the issue concerning healing sessions by Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa.
However, it is in response to the readers’ demands that I go into history and pull out a case that I hope makes sense to some people.
It is the well-documented story of Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, also called The Mad Messiah.
The true story was made into a film based on the book by Charles A. Krause, entitled Guyana Massacre: The Eyewitness Account, the film was originally shown on television on April 15, 1980.
According to Wikipedia: “The television mini series about the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones, and their 1978 mass suicide at Jonestown.
In the beginning of the film, Jim Jones is seen helping minorities and working against racism.
Later, after a move to San Francisco and increased power and attention, Jones becomes focused on his belief in nuclear holocaust, and moves hundreds of his followers to Guyana.
“While Jones always spoke of the social gospel’s virtues, before the late 1960s Jones chose to conceal that his gospel was actually communism.
“By the late 1960s, Jones began at least partially revealing in Temple sermons his ‘Apostolic Socialism’ concept. Specifically, ‘those who remained drugged with the opiate of religion had to be brought to enlightenment – socialism.’ Jones often mixed those concepts, such as preaching that ‘If you’re born in capitalist America, racist America, fascist America, then you’re born in sin. But if you’re born in socialism, you’re not born in sin.’
“By the early 1970s, Jones began deriding traditional Christianity as “fly away religion,” rejecting the Bible as being white men’s justification to subordinate women and subjugate people of colour and stating that it spoke of a “Sky God” who was no God at all. Jones authored a booklet titled “The Letter Killeth,” criticising the King James Bible. Jones also began preaching that he was the reincarnation of Jesus of Nazareth, Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha, Vladimir Lenin, and Father Divine. In the documentary Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, former Temple member Hue Fortson, Jr. quoted Jones as saying, ‘What you need to believe in is what you can see . . . If you see me as your friend, I’ll be your friend. As you see me as your father, I’ll be your father, for those of you that don’t have a father . . . If you see me as your saviour, I’ll be your saviour. If you see me as your God, I’ll be your God’.”
Those who want the story in full can google it and read the information about Jim Jones.
However, the reason for this is I think there is need to close the debate and move on since we all have different opinions on the matter. I respected all the views that came through and below are some of the readers’ responses.
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I like your piece about Makandiwa iyi ndiyo inonzi misleading the nation. We need another piece like that thanks. – Envision always – have always. – Dr F T Chiteka.
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How come all those in favour of Makandiwa are emotional and hurl obscenities at you for airing your views? Maybe you should remind them that the Holy Bible says all Christians should watch their mouths because even Jesus was insulted, assaulted and criticised but he remained calm. Also, what exactly is going on nema-towels that were given to “believers”? To me that sounds diabolic. Rosary ndeyekunamata, ma-towels ndeekupukuta chaunoda. Aren’t they conditional as well? Also, the bible says, a man or woman of God should seek God’s glory not his fame? You should write more about Makandiwa, he seems suspicious. – Dig deeper. TG.
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Brother Jonathan (named after a humble son of Solomon who refused to hate a colleague for showing greater potential than himself) I love you and so does Jesus Christ. Jesus does not destroy those who fight him, he simply allows them to go down till they seek him for redemption, like Saul.
A journalist probes and provokes debate by people with relevant information, on topical issues. He does not add his own input, especially when he does not have the relevant information.
Flighting Prophet Makandiwa’s crusades on public media is the church’s (UFI) attempt to reach out to those Sauls who may not make it to their sermons. Any church can also pay ZBCTV and flight their own (others who can afford are doing so on DStv).
It’s outside international best practices for a journalist to label this as a ‘scandal’ as you did (Herald 7 June), especially when you seem to aim at influencing public opinion against the crusade. No human being can do you harm, but if Prophet Makandiwa is sent by God you may find yourself answerable to the same God not only for your own comments but for those whom you are turning against God.
I pray that the God of Abraham shows himself on either of you (Jonathan and Makandiwa) before this Christmas 2011, so that the 15 million souls in Zimbabwe see whom to listen to, in Jesus’ name. Fear not he’s a loving God just remember how Saul became Paul maitiro ake ndiwawa. Yes I believe God is using him. Don’t worry he was at AFM, because all those at AFM where also somewhere else before. God moves his people, and he also, moves from people to people, as he pleases (read 1 Samuel 15 vs 28).
Do not sound like the 50 000 or so who come to Prophet Makandiwa in Harare alone are all fools and uninformed people. Some have far better profiles than your own, from every angle. God has sent many others besides Makandiwa, only they should reach out to many, so that each of the 15 million can discern the one sent with his salvation. But be warned, because the evil one plants his own to “still, kill and destroy” Different messengers for different people. – Wisdom.
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