PROPHETS OR PROFITEERS? AN INTERROGATIVE STUDY OF THE SELECTED CONTEMPORARY PENTECOSTAL PROPHETS IN ZIMBABWE IN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This study investigates the selected contemporary Pentecostal prophets in Zimbabwe in the context of development to establish whether they serve either as prophets or profiteers. It is a selective explorative enquiry on these contemporary religious figures because they are overwhelmingly many in the religious space in the country. The study draws inspiration from the Biblical version of prophecy in the Old Testament especially the eighth century canonical prophecy. The divergence in scholarship is centred on two strands: the evangelical-traditional school and the liberal-contemporary school. The evangelical perspective is pro-prophets inclined whilst the liberal school is the pro-profiteers slant. The convergence of the two parallel positions in debate shows that the liberal school arguments outweigh the evangelical one. It is scholarly sound to refer to these religious functionaries as profiteers rather than prophets because of their emblem agenda of gospelreneurship. The study is mirrored on the sociological cum liberation approach which permeates the justice agenda in the Bible. This study draws lessons from the message of Micah of Moresheth-a canonical biblical prophet which was then transposed to the contemporary reality in Zimbabwe for fostering development.