Bishop Edwards, prophet against crime
RECENTLY, BISHOP Rowan Edwards, in claiming that God has given him the power to speak things into existence, declared, “I am prophesying that this year, you will not see 1,615 people murdered in Jamaica under my watch.” In fact, he got more specific and said, “I am declaring that, by the power of God that works through me as a man of God, that the murder rate will substantially be reduced. You will see less than 1,000 murders this year or a little over 1,000.”This public declaration was made in Spanish Town, (Gleaner April 16, 2018).
This popular bishop oversees the Lighthouse Assemblies Church, Spanish Town, a place where angels fear to tread. He is the organiser of the annual 10,000-people march against evil. He is a promoter of violence-free communities in St Catherine. He also berated the Coat of Arms because the bow in the hands of the peaceful Tainos was a symbol of violence. He is an outspoken, controversial and fearless bishop whose aim is to rid the nation of anything which suggests violence.
Edwards is no fly-by-night foreign evangelist who flies into Jamaica and claims to do some miracles and then leaves. Nor is his prophecy in the mode of the ‘annual Gleaner prophecies’ which state some nebulous things and has a disclaimer that God can change his mind. Edwards claims to have the gift of predicting the future, and more important to bring into existence things by uttering the word.
There are those who have a different understanding of prophecy as a spiritual gift to reveal truth and the consequences of not living a godly life. The prophet has a discerning, fearless spirit but does not predict future events in detail.
FALSE PROPHETS
There are false prophets and the Bible must guide and support prophecy. In Saturday’s Gleaner, reporter Cecelia Campbell relates how two different ‘prophets’ told the same woman that ‘God says you are my wife’. Since God is not the author of confusion, then either one prophet or both prophets are prophesying falsely.
What does Edwards’ prophecy mean? It does not mean that the decrease in killings would be due to new measures being introduced by a new minister of national security and new commissioner of police. It is not even because of ZOSO or the state of public emergency. It is not due to more citizens saying what they see and know. It is not due to a more enlightened citizenry shunning the ingrained ‘informa fe dead’ culture. It is due to Edwards’ creative ability to bring into existence by uttering the word. It would be good and useful to know what else he could speak into being. Can he halt devaluation of the Jamaican dollar? What about a significant decrease in rapes and accidents on the road?
This would be a significant development in the Jamaican Church when or if this prophesy comes true. He would be our leading bishop and prophet. The nation would have to heed his voice and get a new Coat of Arms.
But what of the unthinkable that this prophecy fails? How would God be defended and validated? One thing, it could not be the fault of God!
Perhaps Bishop Edwards could say if anyone else has confirmed this message and who else in Jamaica has this gift, and on what scriptural principle and example is this utterance based.