“Wristbands are encircling strips worn on the wrist, which can be made from a variety of materials depending on the purpose. The term can be used to refer to a bracelet-like band, similar to that of a wristwatch, to the cuff or other part of a sleeve that covers the wrist, or to decorative or functional bands worn on the wrist for many different reasons.” Thanks, Wikipedia.
Wristbands are usually worn and used similarly to event passes such as lanyards to inform or allow people entry to events. These wristbands are made from loops of plastic that are placed around the wrist and are used for identification purposes (demonstrating the wearer’s authorisation to be at a venue, for example).
Our church groups, not to be outdone, have been caught up in this wristband trend and personalised them to the benefit of their religious organisations’ coffers. I am worried with the motive and objective of it all. Making money, more money, and more of it!
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Founder Walter Magaya, late February, paid approximately 3,000 people at Gweru’s GAFA Grounds in Mtapa a 10 minute visit.
Arnold Schwarzenegger-style, the cleric promised the sick, afflicted, barren, jobless, and those seeking marriages that ‘he would be back soon.’ At last Arnie, a former US governor, in The Terminator, honoured his promise. Not Magaya.
In abundance the prophet leaves wristbands, anointing oil, literature, t-shirts, and other such PHD memorabilia. Desperate citizens were persuaded to buy this stuff to ward off evil spirits. Rewind to 2000 years ago. If the Jesus Christ we are told in the book of Hebrews to be ‘the same, yesterday, today and forever.’ was to find people concentrating on buying and selling as opposed to propagating the gospel of Christ, wont we be whipped into line?
Not only is PHD into wristbands and such stuff. Many Pentecostal churches. Emmanuel Makandiwa’s UFIC, Hubert Angel’s Spirit Embassy, Luke Chivasa’s Miracle Church of All Nations…the list is endless.
But are we not majoring on a minor?
Ever heard of Dominican Friar and preacher Johann Tetzel (1465 -1519) who sold indulgences, telling people who bought them that their departed, lost relatives in hell or purgatory could be pardoned!
Tetzel also preached that you could pay to be pardoned for sins yet to be committed!
Where we not ordered to seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, with the rest promised to be added on us later? Why are so it cash, and why do we have more man of Gold as opposed to men of God. Muchaita rini munhu waMwari, nhai munhu weMari? (when will you be a man of God, oh man of Gold?).
No wonder why mabutcheries akugera misoro (people are visiting butcheries to get a haircut!). The point is the church is so into money, and the world. What happened to the shame-faced and sobriety?
Our brothers and sisters can give ladies of the night, and those who get hooked on them, a good run of their money!
I admit, for there to be a fake dollar, there should be a genuine one somewhere.
When I came across a wristband inscribed ‘I love Jesus – Jesus loves me’ I wasted no time to buy it for obvious reasons. It exalted the name of Jesus Christ, and no-one else. Not to mention that it was a hundred times cheaper than the one you and I know.
Plus I wanted to make a religious statement that no ‘father’ or organisation owns me, except he who bled and died for me on Calvary.
