–– Brino Kumwenda

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Shepherd Bushiri, also known as “Major 1,” is a prominent self-proclaimed prophet from Malawi. He is the founder of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG), a non-denominational charismatic church headquartered in Lilongwe, Malawi. The church has grown into a megachurch with branches across Africa and beyond, attracting hundreds of thousands of members. 

Some false prophets today have enough guile and craft to manoeuvre their way in ministry without scandal. Bushiri has found himself lacking in this area and has left a trail of damning controversy in his wake. However, he makes use of an age-old tactic to cover up his flagrant sin, and this brings hordes of his followers to defend his image. 

“You say Shepherd Bushiri is a false prophet, but how can a false prophet donate maize to poor people?  How can he be donating a lot of money?” You will get that response from some sympathisers of the “prophet” in Malawi.  When some people hear of a false prophet, they usually think he is a man in black robes going about killing people and eating their flesh.  But that’s the point of false prophets.  It is to pretend to be like one of the sheep, whilst planning to ravage the sheep with dangerous doctrines. To do this, they put on sheep’s clothing.  The Lord warned, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).  What is this sheep’s clothing? 

One of the deceitful fleece coverings that these wolves wear in our day is fine-looking philanthropy.  Behind their “works of charity” are dangerous doctrines and unholy practices.  Several wolves in Africa, such as TB Joshua and Shepherd Bushiri, have been clad in this garb as they skin the sheep.  

Their philanthropic deeds are done for the wrong motives. They defy the Lord’s command in Matthew 6:2-4, which says: 

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”

The false prophets will not entertain this command from the Lord Jesus, whom they claim to serve.   This is because their acts of charity exist to clean up their public image and draw sympathy from the unsuspecting and gullible masses.  It is vexing to oppose and expose a false prophet who distributes food to the needy.  The masses predictably come to their defence.

That is where the bait lies. Since man naturally prioritises material things over spiritual matters, many do not care about the damning doctrines that these prophets teach. The reasoning is simplistic: “If he gives food to all these needy people, how can his teachings be fake? How can he be a dangerous person?” The acts of charity prevent people from understanding the gospel and salvation biblically, thus leading them to accept a different Jesus from the one Scripture teaches. This bait and switch is a way that seems right in the beginning, but this counterfeit salvation leads to everlasting destruction. 

Moreover, the works of charity are a cover-up for their scandalous lives and criminal activities. This is how Bushiri has managed to remain in favour with countless Malawian citizens. His victims, critics, and accusers are viewed as messengers of the devil sent to destroy his ministry. 

Even when a court in his own country (Malawi) judges that he has a case to answer on charges of rape, money laundering, and other crimes that he committed in South Africa, some still think he is a victim of a witch-hunt. Living in a verse-twisting society, it is not strange to hear convoluted statements about Bushiri’s criminal guilt resolved as follows: “A prophet is without honour in his own country”, “Even Jesus was falsely accused”, “The devil isn’t happy with his ministry”. But this is all idolatry. It is a prime display of defending the so-called “man of God” at all costs. 

Christians, the true sheep, must be on guard against wolves donning the sheep’s clothing of charitable works. Behind the wolves’ charitable works are dangerous and damning doctrines and scandalous criminal lifestyles.