Has Pastor Chitsinde followed Biblical protocol?

By Bishop Dave Chikosi

If anyone should be measured in their criticism of local prophets it is Pastor Godwin Chitsinde.  As a follower and disciple of the prophet William Marion Branham (1909-1965), Pastor Chitsinde is no doubt aware of how this man of God was attacked, ridiculed and persecuted in his day.

The internet is awash with websites that attempt to prove that Branham was a psychic, spirit medium, occultist or downright fraudulent in his claims about the supernatural – the very criticism Pastor Chitsinde is leveling against the current crop of local prophets.

Critics have expressed doubts about Branham’s miracles. They have been even harsher in their criticism of a number of his doctrines, which some have labeled as bizarre etc. Some of us who disagree with Brother Branham doctrinally choose to do so quietly and respectfully, knowing that a brother in the Lord is a brother still, even though we may disagree.

Is it too much to ask Pastor Chitsinde to be equally charitable to other people’s prophets, as we are to his? To urge the secular media to investigate the work of God may look like the best option – until the same media turns its cameras on your own ministry.

What I would be interested to know is if Pastor Chitsinde has followed the Matthew 18 Biblical protocol for dealing with an erring brother:

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses

Has this procedure been followed? If not, why? Why rush to the secular media to attack fellow ministers publicly before talking to them privately? Is this a publicity move on his part, since nowadays any news that has to do with these two ministers is big news in Zimbabwe?

I humbly urge Pastor Chitsinde to place a call to the ministers concerned and take them out to lunch. Quizz them. Push them doctrinally. Rebuke them. Show them from scripture where they are erring.

But for crying out loud, let’s desist from this practice of reporting each other to the secular media. We are brothers. We don’t owe Babylon anything. Shalom