If there is a group that applies the least reason to religious and spiritual issues its Black African Christians, whether its laziness, ignorance or just sheer desperation for blessings I dont know, congregants have been asked to eat grass, drink pesticides, been slammed on seats, asked to come with underwear, touch their private parts by their clergymen and all these acts and many more seem to be coming from Papa and Mama led Pentecostal churches.

One thing akin among the ardent followers of these private church owners is their misuse of verses to defend the acts of their so called men of God whenever they are condemned as is the case with the post put up by Simon Mwelwa Lane on the dressing of Eubert Angel’s wife.

As usual the ardent followers of papa and mama were quick to use to common verses we hear each time Bushiri, Joshua, Eubert, Mboro, Amaata, Lukau, Adeboye and many other guys are condemned;
– Do not Judge.
– Condemn with love.
– Touch not the Anointed.
– God looks at the heart.

Being a new year and decade, it will be wise to help clarify these bible statements to all papa and mama followers who seem to have heard them merely but have never understood them from a biblical standpoint;

1. Do not judge, Do not condemn all you too will be judged or condemned ( Mathew 7:1-5). Reading all the five verses in this chapter clearly shows that the judging or condemnation being spoken of is the hypocritical one where the one making the judgement does the same things and expects justification. Paul reiterates the same issue in Romans 2:3 “when you judge and yet do the same things do you think you will escape God’s judgement?” In 1Corinthians 5:12, he says “judge those inside the church not outsiders.”

2. Condemn with love.
– It is true the bible says speak the truth in love – Ephesians 4:15, correct and instruct with gentleness – 2 Timothy 2:25 but it also says, “those who sin are to be rebuked publicly so that others may take warning” – 1 Timothy 5:20. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 paul again called some people false apostles and deceitful workmen. Guess he too should have condemned them in love!!

3. Touch not the Anointed.
– Yes, Psalm 105:15 says touch not my anointed do my prophets no harm” but sadly people havent read the context from which this verse is coming from. it is not a warning or a promise rather King David is narrating the journey of the Israelites and was referencing to the case of Abraham and Abimelech, also that of Isaac again with Abimelech in Genesis 20 and 26 Respectively. The other case is of Saul in 1 Samuel 24:6 and the anointing was for his theocratic appointment.
As it is in the new covenant, every believer is anointed 2 Corinthians 1:22 not just papa or mama. Secondly not everyone who stands to preach the word of God is approved, some are false preachers and people should be allowed to call them for what they are as long as there is proof.

Lastly but not the least, God looks at the heart not the outside (dressing and appearance).
– It is true as stated in 1 Samuel 16:7 that God does not see as man sees, he looks not at the outward appearance but the heart, again taken out of context as this was a comparison of state of the heart and physical attrubutes. The Lord Jesus makes mention again that the outward manifestations are evidence of the state of the heart – Mathew 12:34, “From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” Mathew, “All evils come from the heart” – Mathew – 15:18-19
King Solomon adds and says, “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects him” Proverbs 27:19.
So how you dress, talk and act is exactly what you are inside.

It’s just clear that the majority of the people that quote and use these verses don’t read the bible in it’s true context but are rather followers of men’s sentiments without reason. I may not agree with SML’s tone, maybe but he is absolutely in the right and in line with the bible to speak out and condemn what he perceives as wrong and please spare him the wrong verses you are trying to give him to shut him up.

Mbanga, Ilukui Irvine.
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
United States of America.