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GOSPEL NOW COMMERCIAL

16/03/2019 23:57:00 BY SIBONGINKOSI MAMBA

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Proverbially, a cat has nine lives. Now let me declare early on that I am hopeless when it comes to arithmethics.

However, in my poor math, it means the proverbial cat will or can only meet its maker only after the ninth death. Up until then you may wish it was dead and buried only to see it purring next to your table as you prepare to take your sumptuous dinner.

I hope by now the tumult that was caused by Mandla Maphumulo and his girlfriend, Bongekile Simelane has died. Mandla is a certain larger than life musician from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, whose stage name is Mapintsha.
His girlfriend prefers to be called Babes Wodumo.The two nearly broke the internet last week when a video in which Mapintsha was seen allegedly soldering Babes with open hands went viral.

Now back to the cat. There is a certain gentleman from Zimbabwe. His name is Brighton Moyo. He worships a certain god at Alleluia International Ministries under the leadership of one Alph Lukau. The said Lukau, it would appear, enjoys the status of a cult personality there. He is an idolised icon and as result he is revered. Lukau is also dripping money, if I may add, to pay his cast members.

more than one life

Moyo and the proverbial cat have something in common. They are privileged to have more than one life. That is the reason Moyo decided to ‘die’ only to come back to life in front of cameras as the modern-day Lazarus. Brighton allegedly woke up from the dead after Lukau, prayed for him. Here is a gentleman who can read his script nearly blindfolded. Further, Moyo understands the film world hence lights, camera and action are his game. He is a class act if you like. Presley Chweneyagae of Tsotsi fame would be left green-eyed with envy because Moyo would be at the podium for the Oscars annually. He is incredibly talented.

Brighton knows how the linen inside the coffin feels. He has given his family an idea that when he eventually dies, they should not look for a casket but the coffin so that he responds to Lukau easily and swiftly. According to the news, it was not the first time Moyo pulled a hair-raising stunt. At some point he was on a wheel-chair and again his master, Lukau, allegedly prayed for him and his limbs were restored.

He could move again. At only 29 years of age, this can only mean Moyo still has more shocks in his bag. He is very talented and he is still going to shock the naïve.
On the latest stunt, the ‘walking vision of death’ outsmarted even his employer, Vincent Amoretti. The employer described Moyo as a very smart learner who despite his short-comings academically, can absorb ideas quickly. However, Amoretti did not hide that he was equally perplexed when he saw Moyo in the coffin. He explained that Moyo had been suspended for absenteeism when he was suddenly seen by the world rising from the ‘dead’. But Amoretti told the eNews Channel Africa (eNCA) that he wanted Moyo back at work. I do not know whether for the humour that he possesses in abundance or his prowess in rising from the dead. Only Amoretti can answer that one.

“I want him back. Come back Brighton. You are a good guy”, Amoretti appealed in his brief appearance on television which was punctuated by giggles and smiles. That is just how lucky Brighton is.Even his professional life cannot die.

emulate the cat

He is a wanted man at work despite his disappearing act. But since he has tasted the blood of death, he could emulate the cat. He might just demand more deaths between now and his last death.
I do not know the language Lukau was speaking on set on the day of the act. But I can bet that whatever the language he spoke, it was in monosyllables that were understood by the two of them only in that crowd.

This was a script put together to woo members of the public to Alleluia Ministries. The intention was to portray Lukau as a servant of the Most High, a minister who could prove that God dwells in such busy-bodies. Unfortunately for them, it was not to be. We are very grateful that they failed in their attempt. Dismal at that.

Now one hopes Lukau and Moyo repent and turn from their wicked ways. Otherwise like cancer, such stunts will ravage their already battered persona until they accept Jesus Christ as their saviour.I am very sure that just like poachers, there are others ,who are planning to premierre their own acts and succeed where Lukau has failed. We want to assure them that they will fall hard.
Their fall will thunder so loudly in our ears that even those asleep will wake up and take notice. We are conscious that they are prepared to go out of their way in a bid to embarrass themselves simply because they evilly love money.

Their actions are not a threat to the truth that is in the Bible.
These dim-witted men of shame should know that in these last days some of us will strive to move beyond fear as a national or international paralysis.
We are quite aware that they are opportunists who are riding on the crest of fright that they wantonly purge in tents and corners to induce submission on the men of little faith which the talked about ages ago. We will scrutinise the Bible to look for God’s wisdom.

The Holy Spirit will be the captain who will steer our ship of faith through the treacherous waters of cult- following. We know our God is honest and direct in a way that will put these scoundrels and their followers to deep and indelible shame.

gospel faces a crisis
This is no time for sweet-talk or mincing of words. We must face the stark truth that the gospel faces a crisis as deep and dangerous as any in our history with its commercialisation.

That crisis is not the threat posed by a small band of zealot hiding somewhere in the mountains of Nqabaneni or Lucolweni but from scumbags in very shinny suits and long shoes. It is in these times where the children of God should refuse to be held hostage by fear week after week because we will pay a catastrophic price.

We may be shaken and dispirited but we can draw courage in the fact that the Bible warned us about the end of times (Matthew 24).Sad and shocking as it must be to stare down to so sobering a reality, we must above all have faith that is unerring, unfailing and unbreakable because it will be tested every day of our lives as we walk on this planet. We humans are just mortal beings wracked with knowledge that we are forever doomed to fall short in our aspirations, but also forever soaring with fresh hope that at the crack of dawn,we will start anew. Ngiyabonga.