For some reason, one of the first things you are likely to see when you turn on your television in Ghana is a pastor advertising his church. It normally starts with him telling people how great God is and how, through him, God answers prayers. And then it quickly switches to how powerful he himself is. You can guess the rest that follows.
All the times I see these people on TV, I just wish I could read people’s minds for a bit to know what exactly goes into people’s heads. Someone told me it’s actually more chaotic than I think, and it’s not something she wishes for me. And then, that statement reminded me of a movie that I watched where the woman could read people’s minds. Was it chaotic? Very. So do I still want it? Maybe in moderation or just with these people I see on TV.
So today, I randomly saw this "prophet" on television. As usual, he was advertising his church and talking about a mega program about to happen. I wasn’t really paying attention in the beginning, and at some point, I even got up to grab a glass of water. But right before I could leave the living room, something he said caught my attention.
“HIV, hepatitis B, cancer and all those diseases are diseases I can cure. I can erase them all.” He obviously didn’t say the exact same thing, but that’s what he meant. He then went ahead to talk about the consultation fee. And listen, the consultation fee isn’t something just the average Ghanaian can even afford.
In the beginning I just laughed it off because to me, nobody would probably believe him. But I remember very well how some time ago, people actually testified in one church that they were cured of HIV. And you know what happened later? News came out later where the pastors of the church were confessing that everything was fake.
I remember how that news broke the internet and made me start seeing these business people for who they truly are. There was another time a congregation, one by one, sued the leader of a church for taking their money for “something I don’t even remember.”
First of all, I believe in God and strongly believe in miracles. Miracles of all forms. But my only problem with these people is how they say “they will heal you of your disease”. No acknowledgment, no reverence to God. No honor to the one who truly performs impeccable healing.
It made me sad when I thought of the people who were going to go because of how desperate they are. And others, just sheer ignorance. I don’t even know how, but I just wish the government would regulate how these people appear on our screens. Is it possible? Because a lot of people are turning into prey at this point.
Images are mine
