Stop giving platforms to doom prophets

Senior Communicator for the Movement for Change, Philip Longdon, has criticized the growing trend of some prophets making public declarations about tragedies involving prominent individuals, describing the practice as “very unchristian” and harmful to the nation.

“The way all manner of persons describing themselves as prophets or men of God in quotes make these types of prophecies… it’s getting worse,” he said on TV3’s New Day programme on Monday, August 11.

“Some of these people… take delight in prophesying the most unfortunate [events] or taking credit for having had the power to prophesy certain unfortunate incidents.” He added

He noted that such conduct is absent among recognised religious bodies, saying, “They are not coming from the Pentecostal Council. They are not coming from the Christian Council… they are coming from their own wherever they are coming from.”

Mr. Longdon argued that the media and the public also share blame for amplifying such figures. “We are the ones who give them platforms… we should call them out,” he said.

Referencing recent complaints by prophets about difficulty in reaching state officials, he urged them to use the government’s newly announced WhatsApp and email channels for relaying security-related prophecies.

“Anybody who seriously has a message will find a way of delivering that message… we must hold you to it,” he stressed.

He also distinguished between prophecies meant as personal guidance and those publicly predicting death or disaster.

“For somebody to just get up and say I have seen a vision that this man is going to die… we must call them out,” he said, warning that such declarations can cause unnecessary fear and panic.

Mr. Longdon concluded that genuine men of God should privately approach the person concerned to avert tragedy rather than seek public credit. “You should not sit back and wait and when it happens say, ‘oh yes, I prophesied that.’ No… a person like that is no man of God.” He stated

By Joyce Kpeglo