'DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM

UNDERSTANDING THE MAKANDIWA SAGA

PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI   

I have been following with keen interest the debate over Pastor Emmanuel Makandiwa’s appendage of his signature to the anti–sanctions petition, the latest in a chain of events that started with his decision to part ways with the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) and launch the United Families International (UFI).

Prophet Makandiwa and wife, Ruth

While we may never be privy to some of the finer details of what really occurred behind the scenes, it is the recent attacks on the person of Makandiwa and his ministry – mainly by people (both Christians and heathens) who at  obviously not fully conversant with matters of the spirit – that cannot go unchallenged.

I think for a start, it is important to understand that God deals with people as individuals, and you can never be fully conversant with another person’s relationship with God, save for its outward reflections. Makandiwa’s decision to sign the anti-sanctions petition on March 2 this year, for instance, has become a controversial talking point in the public space. Personally, I don’t suppose that a spiritual leader of Makandiwa’s stature would just do something like that, fully aware of its consequences, without having consulted God. Unless someone can convince me that his decision was ultra vires God’s instruction, I will say there is nothing wrong with what he did.

The Bible, however, makes it clear that we all have to submit to the authority in our nation, regardless of the regime in place or our personal, usually carnal, feelings and opinions about it. If you study the life of Jesus, you’ll discover that despite the brutality of the Roman Empire’s iron regime on the Jews, Jesus never defied that authority. Almost all his confrontations were with his own people, primarily the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Scribes. In response to whether or not the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar {MARK 2:13-17}, Jesus’ response was that as much as you give God his dues, do also to the civil authority. In the same vein, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome:

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. 
For there is no power but of God: 
the powers that be are ordained of God. 
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, 
resisteth the ordinance of God: 
and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation”

ROM 13:1-2, KJV 

So, why should we condemn Makandiwa for abiding by a straightforward biblical instruction? The Bible, in 1 TIM 2:1, calls on all Christians to intercede for their leaders so that peace may prevail in the nation and further shows that it is God who sets and puts down leaders in PSALM 75:7 and DAN 2:21. As we pray for these leaders, the Spirit of God will move and organise and re-arrange the political establishment so that it eventually re-aligns with His plan and purpose.

Makandiwa may be regarded as a ‘public figure’ therefore subject to the court of public opinion, but that scrutiny needs to be only through the lenses of the Bible – from whence his ‘public’ office derives its authority – rather than carnal emotions and intellectual ‘reasonings’. It is also important to note that God’s wisdom is foolishness to men as highlighted in I COR 1:25, implying that while his decision may have seemed foolish to some people, God might not necessarily look at it in that way.

Makandiwa and Angel arrive at the HICC

Let’s just say maybe you think whatever Makandiwa did – or is doing – is wrong, how would criticizing him help? Why don’t you pray for him if you are really genuine in your concerns? The worst thing you can do against yourself is to criticize someone called of God. You can read about what happened to Miriam and Aaron after they criticized Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman in NUM 2: 1-15. Then in God says:

“Touch not mine anointed, 
and do my prophets no harm”

 I CHRON 16:22

This is not a physical act. You can touch someone by your words! David understood the implication of such an act after King Saul, who had been after his own life, was killed. He asked the murderer:

“How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth 
thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

II SAM 1:14, KJV

David knew by revelation that despite Saul’s weaknesses and failings and his murderous intents towards him, he was still anointed and people had to respect that anointing, even if they didn’t like the man!

In his book, LOVE: THE WAY TO VICTORY (1994), Kenneth Erwin Hagin (the influential Pentecostal preacher who is often regarded as the father of the Word of Faith movement) relates an incident in his past when he, together with other gospel ministers, was ministering in a particular area. Then one of the ministers made a serious blunder, which they all condemned. Later on in prayer, Hagin said God confronted him concerning the incident. I quote the passage verbatim:

“Who art thou that condemneth another man’s servant?” I knew it was the Lord. I said, “Lord, I didn’t condemn Your servant.” I knew immediately who the Lord was referring to. He was talking about that minister who’d gotten into trouble. The Lord answered me again by saying, “Who art thou that condemneth another man’s servant?” I repeated, “Lord, I never condemned Your servant.” Then the third time the Lord said, “Who art thou that condemneth another man’s servant?” I said the third time, “Lord, I didn’t condemn Your servant.” The Lord said, “Didn’t you say. . . ,” and then the Lord quoted what I had said about this minister……I said, “Lord, I was just quoting the district superintendent.” The Lord said to me, “When you repeated it, that was tantamount to your saying it. Who art thou that condemneth another man’s servant?” When the Lord said that, He just sort of knocked the props out from under me. So then I said, “I thought that minister was wrong. I mean, didn’t he do wrong?”

The Lord never told me whether he’d done wrong or not. But He asked me a question: “Whose servant is he, Mine or yours?” I said, “If he is anyone’s servant, Lord, he’s Yours. He sure isn’t mine.” The Lord said, “Well, if he is My servant, then I’m able to make him stand.” And, you know, the Lord did just that. The Lord made the man stand, and that fellow went on to become the most outstanding minister in that part of the state. He was very well respected, even though he’d missed it that one time in his past. (Pp144-146).

Prophet Makandiwa

I have had opportunity to attend a UFI service and I also have a collection of teachings by Makandiwa. I have always told people to listen to someone before they condemn or criticize him. The most disconcerting thing about most the anti-Makandiwa maniacs is that most of them have never attended any of his services or listened to his message. Their criticism is based on hearsay. Over and over again, he emphasizes that all this is not about Makandiwa, because Makandiwa does not perform miracles and neither does he have any people. He always makes it a point to stress that this is about the One Who sent him.

 I think the important thing for all those who have scores to settle with Makandiwa is to be concerned more about their own relationship and walk with God or better still - for those that are yet to be born again - to worry about their own salvation. Every man and woman, that includes you, will give an account of their own life at the judgment seat of the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s not going to ask you about Makandiwa. He’s going to ask you about you. Perhaps Makandiwa will say he took the gospel to the ends of the earth, led many to Christ, helped restore broken lives and prayed for others to receive healing. And what are you going to say about yourself? That you warned people about Makandiwa because you thought he was a false prophet? Think about it.