Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of people operating in the prophetic, and some of them—in particular Prophet Eubert Angel and Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa—have become cannon fodder for the media in Zimbabwe. 

I must hasten to say that perhaps most of the harsh criticism that has been directed towards them has come from fellow Christians.

The purpose of this write–up is not to say whether what Angel and Makandiwa, together with a host of other local prophets including Passion Java, is right or wrong. I will leave God, the creator of all men and the one who weighs the motives of the hearts, be the judge.

These have been called Satanists, juju priests and voodoo magicians among a host of other snide remarks bordering on pure hatred. I find this really unnecessary.

What is without doubt, of course, is that some of their practices are probably new phenomena as they have no known precedence in this country since the advent of the church in Zimbabwe at the turn of the last century. It is sometimes so revolutionary that it sounds unscriptural.

In as much as we may not like these men, let us allow them to be. We are not under any compulsion or legal requirement, to be part and parcel of their churches. God did not authorise us to judge because judgment is his divine prerogative: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:1 -2).

Jesus never said judge only those you think are doing wrong. He further described any who judged as a “hypocrite”.

No one, except God, has a right to judge another. Paul warned us never to pass judgment on another “for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10).

By virtue of His designation as the Creator, and the one who places people into their different callings, God has the exclusive right to pass judgment and does not brook anyone taking upon themselves this exclusive divine right. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant. To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4).

See related reading:

Makandiwa’s lawyers: prophet does not use any traditional methods 

Lawyer stirs controversy about ‘illegal’ healing operations by Makandiwa and Angel