The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) is back in the limelight, and this time they’ve come back stronger. So I can’t really say I saw this coming, however, it definitely is not surprising.
The AFM Debacle
AFM’s leaders have had their ongoing disputes and didn’t manage to solve their issues alone. Which is nothing new because that’s exactly why courts exist, to help people iron out their differences and solve disputes. The AFM court battles went on and on and a final court decision was reached. This lead to the church splitting into two factions, one called AFM in Zimbabwe and the other AFM of Zimbabwe. Soon after, the leaders are said to have wrestled over the names as well but the drama momentarily stayed out of the limelight.
The Shooting
This Sunday, yet another fiasco took place at AFM church premises in Marlborough. The guards at the premises were said to have been hired by the church’s splinter group, Reverend Cossam Chiangwa to fire shots at rival leader Aamon Madawo’s group. This shooting took place against the high court’s last ruling which established that the legitimate leader of the church was Reverend Madawo.
Why This Is Messed Up…But Not Surprising
People go to church to seek comfort, hope and to feel safe in the arms of the Lord. The last thing probably being expected is an attack from fellow worshippers.
Apart from that, I guess the most important yardstick would be that laid out by the Bible itself, right? 2 Timothy 2 : 24 states plainly
“For a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, showing restraint when wronged”
Without delving to much into everything else laid out, this scripture alone points out to how things are expected to be settled, particularly by people who call themselves Christian and are in positions of leadership within such organisations.
However, it is not surprising that things have ended up in this way and again we refer to the Bible. The Bible indicates that a significant amount of those who are currently saying they’re are worshipping the Lord will not enter into the Kingdom of God for their lawlessness. Now, it is not for any of us to decide who will and who will not enter into the Kingdom, but it is wise to pay attention to what God says in his word in this regard. Here’s what Matthew 7 : 21 -22 has stated would happen to some prophets/ church leaders who currently display an image of worshipping whilst exuding characteristics unbecoming of a worshipper:
Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’
Imagine that! Doing all these things “in [his] name” only to be told “I never knew you!” The surrounding scriptures show that this happens as a result of not doing things that are not doing the will of God, as stated by Luke 6 : 42.
A Sign Of The Times?
Some have suggested that this dispute have been fuelled by money since being the legitimate leader would come with associated monetary and material benefits. Others called it ego/ pride/haughtiness of wanting to be the greater Reverend. If this is true then that would point to something else stated by the Bible that is not supposed to have any place in what is identified as a Christian establishment. These qualities are part of the signs of the end times stated at 2 Timothy 3 vs 1 – 4:
But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.
One could think, the aforementioned would be displayed to some extent by everyone so its excusable to have such conflicts within the church. However, the Bible’s viewpoint on that matter is different. Jesus stated what would identify his disciples clearly at John 13 :35:
By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.”+
So…
…we leave you to conclude. What do you make of this situation?
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