Religious Brainwash?

 

By Ajuma Millicent

It has been 8 years sine John Allan Namu and Mohammed Ali went undercover and exposed self-proclaimed prophet Victor Kanyari for performing fake miracles on TV and swindling his congregation of money.  Years down the line, he is still on TV, ‘performing miracles’ and he has even recently launched a controversial money-making scheme that can be equated to gambling. The pastor claims that he will be giving KES 30,000 to his followers who send him KES 500.

Such theatrics are not uncommon to Kenyans. From pastors claiming that they are exorcising demons, to them claiming that they are healing diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer to healing the physically challenged. Several preachers have amassed large followings from the claims that they can perform such miracles. One such preacher is self-proclaimed mighty prophet of God, Prophet Owuor whose congregants have a specific dress-code and fill arenas from time to time during his crusades.

The crusades sometimes begin with the followers washing the roads with soap and water as a preparation for his arrival. His arrival is marked by a police escort convoy that can almost be equated to a presidential escort. The most recent of his crusades was the one in Bomet, where he claims that he ordered the rains to come. Owuor's supporters could be seen rejoicing and celebrating after pulling off a remarkable miracle in a video posted on Facebook by a believer going by the handle Jesus is Coming. The prophet had allegedly given God the order to send rain on the stadium.  

Prophet Owuor and Pastor Victor Kanyari are just a few of preachers we see on national television. Late last year, Pastor Ezekiel, who serves as a pastor at the New Life Church in Mombasa, had tongues wagging after filling Kasarani stadium, which has a 60, 000 capacity, with his followers. While Pastor Dorcas Rigathi claimed that Kenyans are hungry for God’s word, there is no sure way of telling whether it is true.

I am mostly on the skeptical side like former Nairobi governor, Mike Sonko who said that he will not believe prophet Owuor until he successfully heals nominated MP David Ole Sankok. There is no easy way of proving whether the miracles performed are real or not but the influence that these religious leaders have had on many Kenyans over the years cannot be understated. Sometimes I tend to think that the line between being a reasonable Christian and being religiously brainwashed has become so thin.

Whether we are drawn to the miracles performed by these preachers or we are genuinely yearning for the word of God, it is important to exercise great caution in the way we allow their influence over our lives. As a Christian, I am taught that we are all equal before God. I am also taught that it is important to know God for myself so that I don’t believe anyone who claims to be sent by God.