FALSE PROPHETISM IN NIGERIA: EFFECT ON THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The study examined false prophets and the derogatory effect of their prophecies on the Ecclesial communities in Nigeria. The qualitative phenomenological method of research was adopted by the work. The study observes that in Nigeria today, there is upsurge of false prophets who claim to be God’s mouth-piece. However, a careful look at their activities which range from false prophecies to even threats to many who would not yield to their silly pranks reveals that they are not actually who they claim to be. These false prophets prophesy peace when there is none, prosperity when people are living in abject poverty, encourage evil by telling the perpetrators of such evils that all is well. They tell people what they want to hear in order to gain cheap popularity and amass wealth. Their prophecy factories are multiplying on daily basis in the streets of Nigerian cities yet, evil is on the increase because these prophets are not condemning it and warning perpetrators to repent. Does it mean that God is not interested in warning Nigerians to turn away from evil anymore? With their teachings on prosperity which makes being wealthy a must, many people have been encouraged into dubious means of making money without any element of fear. It was discovered in this study that many people claim divine calling to prophetic office in order to have ends meet as a result of economic hardship and unemployment. How this phenomenon negatively affects the society especially the image of the Church in Nigeria therefore is the thrust of this paper. The study concludes that the Nigerian government should try and make job opportunities available to the teeming Nigerian youths to combat the problem of unemployment as lack of employment in the country is a possible precipitant for false prophetism. This would undoubtedly curtail the excesses of the millions of revelation claimers in Nigeria and restore spiritual sanctity to the Ecclesial communities.