False Prophecy Creates Confusion Across Africa

Broadcaster Harold Camping is spreading confusion throughout Africa with his unbiblical prediction that Judgment Day will take place on Saturday, May 21st.

Billboards warning of the impending rapture have been placed in Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, D.R. Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

In Uganda, Camping’s billboards have been seen in both English and Runyankore (right), although on May 18th the Kampala Capital City Authority ordered them removed. According to the New Vision newspaper: “Simon Muhumuza, the KCC public relations officer, said they had ordered the pulling down of the billboards. ‘We do not know who put them up,’ he said, adding that it was unnecessary to cause panic among Ugandans.”

For Christian critiques of Harold Camping and Family Radio, see (for example):

www.albertmohler.com/2011/05/16/the-end-is-near-the-false-teaching-of-harold-camping/

www.alliancenet.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID307086_CHID560462_CIID1526032,00.html

www.redeemerbroadcasting.org/content/family-radio-alternative

www.refutecamping.com/

UPDATE: A pastor in the town of Kasese has openly repented of spreading Camping’s false message, according to a May 27 report in Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper. “I want to apologise to the people of Kasese and whoever heard my messages about the end of the world. I am very sorry for the inconveniences because I followed false prophets,” said Pastor Isaac Muhindo. “I am ready to go back to my church and repent for misleading the people of God and I am now going to follow the scriptures seriously without wrong interpretations.” The article explains that “Panic gripped some people in Kasese after the predicted doomsday was characterised by a heavy downpour that started at 2pm and ended after 7pm.”

A message from the East Africa Coordinator

As floods of western relativistic tendencies and postmodern idealism sweep the region, the church in Africa finds itself ill-equipped to sustain its relevance in an unpredictable, constantly changing society.

The most subtle and venomous enemy of the church is the invasion of cults—pseudo-Christian and aberrant groups, both foreign and traditional—now arising to challenge orthodox beliefs. Syncretism, unsound theological trends, widespread ignorance of God’s Word, a lack of discernment, social benefits promised by the cults, the unpreparedness of pastors, and other factors heighten the predicament in which the church finds itself.

The African church needs to stand in defense of the Gospel. It must emphasize both formative education and corrective discipline. It must seek to win cultists to the truth rather than simply brand them as its enemies. And it must teach the absolute truth of God’s Word, defending it from misinterpretations and corrupting influences. This will require biblically informed leaders, theologically knowledgeable men who are passionate for the defense and preservation of the Christian faith.

—Rodgers Atwebembeire

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