Professional Documents
Culture Documents
To many the word NEWS has a wide range of definitions depending on the
understanding of the word and its relevant application, especially to professional
journalists around the world. When a story comes to the knowledge of the public, it
is expected that it must have gone through a thorough analysis and check by the
relevant authorities. Then comes the part that ensures that all involved parties in
the news are given a fair sense of hearing so that both sides of the story are not
only heard but the final story that is released to the public allows for them to make
an informed conclusion.
When these above stated guidelines are disregarded, a major part of the ethics of
the profession of journalism can be said to have been thrown out of the window. In
most cases where it occurs, it appears to be that the writer is doing the bidding of a
party to the story; to ensure that only one side is heard, and carry out an agenda; in
most cases to bring disrepute to the other party of the story.
Without any form of doubt, when this continually occurs and become a trend, it then
calls for concern and worry. It becomes obvious to all that a grand conspiracy to pull
down the affected individual or body at all cost is in place. Again, it could be that
certain practises of the involved individual are not completely understandable to
the other party or perhaps they do not intend to come to terms with their mode of
operation. Worst of all is if the said individual is a servant of God. Such a person
should obviously be allowed to make their claims and then get the judgement that
follows from their Creator.
As a person with no particular interest and inclination to the most persecuted Man
of God that I have seen in recent times, Prophet TB Joshua, from Nigeria, I can say
without any fear that the way and manner that the media has constantly attacked
the Man has called for my writing this article. As a professional writer I have found
myself constantly having to do follow ups on religious activities and their leaders
around the world. I can boldly say that I have a complete dossier of different men of
God which include their background, practises, habits, doctrines, etc.
It should be noted that I will never hold forth for any Prophet of God or even criticize
their works as I believe strongly in the Almighty God and the fact that He is the all
knowing, the only One who cannot be deceived by any living being born of a
woman. I will only try to ask certain questions and then leave you to give answers to
them and in so doing help yourself to take a well informed position regarding
prophets of God such as TB Joshua. The questions go thus:
Let us try to give answers to this questions one after the other.
• The job that a prophet does for God is the same job that God assigned Aaron to do
for Moses.
So the Lord said to Moses: "See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron
your brother shall be your prophet." Ex 7.1
In Exodus 4.16, God said that Aaron would function as "spokesman to the people"
on behalf of Moses.
As shown by Exodus 7.1 (above), God assigned Aaron the job of serving Moses in
the same manner as a prophet serves God.
Based on Exodus 7.1 and 4.16, we can arrive at the following Bible definition,
(God told Moses, ) "So he (Aaron) shall be your spokesman to the people. And he
himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God." Ex 4.16
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they
were moved (phero) by the Holy Spirit. 2 Pet 1.21
phero -- "to bear, carry," is rendered "moved" in 2 Pet. 1:21, signifying that they
were "borne along," or impelled, by the Holy Spirit's power, not acting according to
their own wills, or simply expressing their own thoughts, but expressing the mind of
God in words provided and ministered by Him.
c. 2 Peter 1:20, "Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation."
A true Prophet NEVER gives his private interpretation. He only shares what the Lord
reveals. Scripture defines Scripture, not man.
d. Jeremiah 28:9, "The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the
prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath
truly sent him."
A true Prophet will be 100% accurate. There is absolutely no margin for error.
e. Deuteronomy 18:21-22, "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the
word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of
the LORD, if the thing follows not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the
LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt
not be afraid of him."
The true Prophet of the Lord predicts that which does come to pass. If the Prophet's
predictions fail, they are exposed as NOT of God.
With proper understanding of the above answers to questions earlier asked, it beats
my imagination to see people take up positions on issues concerning prophets of
God, most times without even attempting to make a first hand analysis of the
involved persons. Thanks to the fact that I will never hold forth for any prophet, lot
less TB Joshua, who I have never met, and do not intend to meet in the foreseeable
future, I will not bother to write about some of his enviable activities and actions in
my possession thanks to my dossier. I believe that I will serve as a means of selling
him to the world and my readers.
My advice to individuals and the world a large is very simple: A prophet of God is a
sacred position of authority, bestowed by God on his select few, for no particular
reason other than the fact that He has deliberately chosen them to carry out His
assignments. Touch the anointed of God. Even when there are reasons to criticize
them, caution should be exercised. Let God, who they claim to represent, be the
Final judge.