Almost every other Pentecostal church leader produces an end-of-year prophecy. Sometimes, the prophecies contradict one another, causing one to wonder how the same God can say contradictory things to different pastors and prophets.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) represents the largest body of Pentecostal Christians in Nigeria; so, it is apt to use Pastor Adeboye’s prophecy for 2015. This is accessible from his Facebook page but can also be found here.
At this juncture, it is pertinent to ask – have any of these pastors and prophets ever said anything of consequence for this nation in the last 10-15 years that end-of-year prophecies have been trending? Let's consider Pastor Adeboye's phopecies for 2015 as expressed on his website.
PROPHECY FOR THE YEAR 2015 BY PASTOR ADEBOYE OF RCCG
Individual: For those who fasted for 100 days last year
1. The Lord says the harvest for the 100 days fast will be given this year.
2. Daddy says this year will be full of testimonies; those who have none before will have this year.
3. Daddy says some of you will swim in the river of abundance this year.
4. Daddy says there will be miraculous completion of projects.
5. Daddy says there will be fulfillment of dreams.
6. Daddy says there will be miraculous restoration.
7. Daddy says the song of many will be - The Lord has been good to me.
International
1. Scientific and medical breakthrough will be many, particularly in the areas of lack of sleep, dreams and brain disorder.
2. Daddy says Ebola will die out.
3. Daddy says all over the world insurgencies will be considerately weakened.
4. He asked us to pray against massive calamities.
5. He asked us to pray against massive earthquakes, strong hurricanes and typhoons.
For RCCG
1. This year all you need is to charge off your batteries by fasting for 40 days only. Those of you who want to fast continuously 20 days and 20 nights will cover the 40 days. If you miss one day, you have to cover it with two days.
Nigeria
By the end of the year - you will say all is well that ends well.
The fasting begins January 2nd 2015.
Notice how the prophecy:
a). Is non-specific with respect to who, what, when, where and how
b). Says nothing about what really matters to Nigerians i.e. national security, Boko Haram, corruption and the elections which come up in February
c). Says nothing about the whereabouts of the abducted Chibok girls
d). Implies that earthquake, typhoons and hurricane can be averted by prayers and fasting Incredible, coming from a former university Mathematics lecturer!
Nigerians pray and supplicate more than any other people I know. Either God does not care about what is important to them or these pastors just make these prophecies up. I am sure that most of you would agree that anyone, including a smart child, could come up with the prophecy above. Yet, these are the words that millions of Nigerians stay up all night to listen to and live their lives by.
To me, a prediction (or prophecy) should not only be time and place-specific but it must be consequential. For instance, it is not enough to say there would be an earthquake; we should know its estimated magnitude, where and when it is going to occur. These will determine whether or not we evacuate people to safety, an action that saves lives. I have reviewed Pastor Adeboye’s prophecies from 2012 till date; he has not said anything consequential in that period.
Before I end, let me remind Nigerians that it was Pastor Adeboye who claimed he drove from Ore to Lagos on an empty fuel tank. And I have encountered many a Nigerian intellectual who believes this story. They are not even willing to consider other possibilities such as:
1. The fuel level could have been on reserve, and the car could have had a large fuel reserve
2. The fuel gauge could have been faulty
3. The pastor could have been hallucinating or having a déjà vu experience
4. He could have been out-rightly telling lies
5. He could have been driving a top fuel-efficiency car. After all, he can afford the best out there, can't he?
And what sort of God grants such frivolous requests but watches on as millions of children die from malaria every year?!
Whilst most Nigerians may not even see anything wrong with this claim, the real problem is that these pastors have succeeded in corrupting our way of thinking and help to develop a culture where our people cannot distinguish fantasies or magical thinking from reality. Heck, even our universities have become both breeding and dumping grounds for such ideologies. Unfortunately, the world clock does not stop for us; for whilst we are engaged in magical thinking, our competitors are landing robots on comets. How are we ever going to be able to compete for the same resources as them? We should know that manna does not drop from heaven. But I am sure most Nigerians will disagree!
Like I said in my last article for Sahara reporters (bit.ly/1sZJ20V), this brand of religiosity is holding back the progress of Africans. You can be spiritual without believing and acting on these kinds of stories and prophecies. If these pastors are not going to divulge the celestial secret codes for scientific and technological innovations, or tell us something else of consequence that can move our nation forward, then why are we reliant on their proclamations and making them wealthy with our scarce resources?
It is time to begin introspection and self-examination. We are a society of very gullible and superstitious people brought up to obey, and to never question elders or those in authority. We are not critical thinkers. We scorn scepticism. Perhaps, that is why we are where we are.
I am persuaded that, now, more than ever before, is the time to start thinking and asking questions! That is how the nations which now explore outer space got to where they are. Not by wishful thinking and/or superstitions!
Ijabla Raymond is a medical doctor of Nigerian heritage, who writes in from the UK. Email: Ijabla.Raymond@facebook.com
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