CHURCH leaders yesterday said controversial Nigerian prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua was not welcome in Zimbabwe.
The churches argued that prophet TB Joshua's teachings were of no help to the country as they were judgmental, partisan and unorthodox.
TB Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Nigeria and was said to be guest speaker during the National Day of Prayer set for May 25, Africa Day.
Speaking during an Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe meeting in Harare yesterday, the pastors and bishops said while they were not afraid of TB Joshua, they were wary of his intentions.
They said that as custodians of the National Day of Prayer in Zimbabwe, they would not welcome him at their event.
EFZ president and spokesperson Dr Goodwill Shana said God should not be used for partisan purposes. EFZ brings together over 100 denominations, churches, para-church movements and individual Christians of the Evangelical persuasion.
"Of course we do not have the immigration powers to ban him (TB Joshua), but we have never invited him as churches.
"We think it is important to get (into the country) people who can help the country to move forward not people who are judgmental. People have a right to believe what they want, but it is difficult to believe a Word of God that comes on a partisan basis.
"We don't want judgmental teachings, that is why we don't subscribe to his teachings," he said.
Dr Shana said Christianity should be a platform for people to repent not to die. TB Joshua is notorious for issuing death "prophecies", the latest being his announcement that an African president would die, which coincided with the death of Malawi president Professor Bingu wa Mutharika last month.
"Our God is redemptive and when he pronounces death, he confronts that person and gives him or her opportunity to repent, not what we are seeing," he said.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai reportedly invited the Nigerian prophet to attend the National Day of Prayer slated for the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
Culled from Allafrica
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