Zimbabwe heads of Christian denominations pander to Mugabe

So-called Heads of Christian Denominations off the Mark
 
We, the Zimbabwe Christian Prophetic Voice, are a group of Christians from different denominations who feel called by God to speak, for his Church, to the nation of Zimbabwe at this time. Among us are ministers, evangelists, elders and lay men and women who, for most of their lives, have been studying, teaching, preaching and practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their churches and communities.
 
At this time we believe that God has called us together to preach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole nation of Zimbabwe, without fear, as the prophets of old did in times of trouble.
 
It was reported in the press that President Robert Mugabe, who is holidaying in the Far East, sent a message to his suffering people at home to hold a period of national prayer as the severest of droughts looms and the country teeters on the brink of political and socio-economic disaster.
 
In quick response to the president's call, a group of clerics, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) called a press conference. Their spokesperson, well-known businessman Shingi Munyeza said, "Following discussions with the Acting President, Phelekezela Mphoko, who had said he had authority from the President, we have agreed to call the nation and all Christian denominations to prayer from the 9th of January to the 17th.
 
"It was a spiritual request and as the prophetic voice of God we must respond responsibly. We, as the body of Christ, have chosen to respond to this request with responsibility as required of us rather than be irresponsible or reckless," Mr Munyeza said.
 
Asked whether the "poisoned political environment" was not to blame for God's anger, Mr Munyeza chose to be diplomatic and said, "The Church has sinned against God and state actors have not acted in the manner God would have expected, so we need to walk away from sin."   
                                                                 
We would like to make it clear to the people of Zimbabwe that these so-called Heads of Christian Denominations are way off the mark. First of all, what spiritual authority does President Mugabe have to call the nation to prayer? How can a loving God use the leader of a corrupt, oppressive and inhumane secular state, which rules through fear, to call God's people to prayer?
 
As far as we understand the Scriptures there is a great divide between the state, which is the Kingdom of this world and the Church, which is the Kingdom of God. In their relationship, which should be complementary, the Church is definitely not subservient to the state. When Caesar overstepped his bounds, the early Christians made their Scriptural position very clear, "We must obey God rather than men."
 
There is nothing prophetic about Mr Munyeza's words when he diplomatically accuses the Church of sin but the government of just "not acting in the manner God would have expected." Pandering to the whims of a decadent government is not prophecy at all. True prophesy is when the Church admonishes the state and calls upon it to do justice.
 
The real prophet is today saying to the Heads of Christian Denominations, "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked", Psalm 82: 2-4.  
   
Mr Munyeza said Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko had authority from the President to call the nation to prayer. Who is Phelekezela Mphoko? Is he not the vice president who could not find a house "suitable for a man in his position" in Zimbabwe, including a US$3 million Ballantyne Park mansion? Instead he chose to live in a five-star hotel for a whole year at the cost of US$250 million paid for by starving Zimbabweans, 90% of whom are jobless.
 
The ZHOCD is not alone in welcoming the President's call to prayer. The Herald of the 11th of January reported that Family of God Church founder, Andrew Wutawunashe, had said the church felt challenged by government's call to pray for the rains. He said Zanu PF had shown that it is a God- fearing party by documenting in its political manifesto its belief in Christ.
 
The Christian Prophetic Voice is calling upon all faithful followers of Jesus Christ to ignore the tricks of Satan, who has infiltrated the Church, and to seek God's guidance in "discerning the spirits".
Politicians know that churches represent a large constituency. They know that what Karl Marx said was true - that "religion is the opiate of the people". They are, therefore, eager to use churches to quieten the now restless masses not being paid their salaries and sick of being misgoverned.
 
As far as we can see, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, in this week of prayer, is merely going along with a wicked and lawless political leadership in response to drought. There is no call for real repentance. There is no sorrow, grief or righteous anger at the injustice and lawlessness in the nation. We want rain and blessings from God while we carry on with our evil ways. It is what the German theologian and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, called the "cheap grace gospel" – and God sees through the hypocrisy of such a false gospel.
 
Praying for rain without deep repentance and the nation turning from its evil ways is a sick joke – and Satan is the one who is laughing. Zimbabwe's problems can never be solved by praying for miracles or re-organizing, redefining or improving upon an unjust and corrupt system but by praying and working towards replacing it with a God-ordained system leading to a just and God-fearing society.