Eddie's story: A former SCOAN insider speaks, part 1

This is the story of Eddie, who was involved in SCOAN in the 1990s. This is a personal account and the views expressed are those of the writer.

My name is Eddie Amartey, a Ghanaian who was resident in Nigeria, and attended the Synagogue Church of All Nations. I’m going to tell my story of how I came to be involved with TB Joshua and my experiences of his ministry. But first, I wanted to address a couple of points that are often brought up by TB Joshua supporters.

We are required to judge
Let me begin by addressing those folks out there that think we’re here on this site to witch-hunt or to judge their idols whom they worship. They don’t even know that the Word of God commands us to judge, and to judge with righteous judgement. John 7:24. Many of them only know about Matt 7:1, which they quote casually in their ignorance, but they don’t know the next verse, which tells us, ” in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”. Yes, we’re required to make righteous judgement by the Word of God, and this is what this site is doing.

The bible warns us about false prophets
Some people don’t know their Bible and are not willing to learn, and are destroyed by their lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6. But if they want to know, let them begin to read and study their Bibles like the Bereans did in Acts 17:10-11. O Lord, it is time You fulfill Your word to give Your people pastors who would feed them. Jeremiah 23:4. From Old Testament to New Testament, the Bible talks greatly about false prophets. Jesus warned us about them and so did all the New Testament writers. The Old Testament tells us not to have any fear or regard for any false prophet, but to treat them as criminals, to kill them, but today they have so much freedom and could prophesy falsely and with impunity, “…and My people love to have it so.” Jeremiah 5:31; Deut 13:1-5; Deut 18:20-22.

In the New Testament, we have a mandate to judge and EXPOSE false prophets, by their fruit, by their spirit and by their doctrines, in the light of the Word of God. Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1; 2 John 9-10. Indeed, for three years, Paul warned the believers concerning false prophets with crying and tears, ending by exhorting them to stick to the Word of God to check every false prophet and teaching. Acts 20:29-32. Lastly, Jude exhorts all believers to earnestly contend for the faith that was given to the saints. Jude 3. Other Scriptures concerning false prophets are, Matt 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Tess 2:9. So those of you who don’t understand what we’re doing on this site, check out the Scriptures for yourselves, and understand that God has given us the power to judge and expose false prophets. Ask yourself whether you’re true to the Word of God or whether you’re foolishly and blindly following a false prophet. Ask yourself: are you loyal to Jesus Christ who died for you, or to someone who is a sinner like you and needs salvation?

There’s a great deal of ignorance of the Word of God  in the church today and that is why false prophets and teachers are riding high, because the people can’t discern between truth and error, and are blown away by every wind of doctrine. Eph 4:14. And ignorance of the Word is no respecter of persons, whether they’re in high or low positions, rich or poor, black or white. I have seen many intellectuals whose knowledge of Scriptures is very pathetic, to say the least. Like many people in the church today, I was once deceived because of my lack of knowledge of Scriptures, but I thank God that today the Bible has revealed so much to me, through my diligence study of the Scriptures and ” I have more understanding than all my teachers for Your testimonies are my meditation.” Psalm 119:99. And now I’m here to share with you what I saw at SCOAN, what I experienced and why I left.

In part two of his testimony, Edmund tells of how he got involved with TB Joshua’s church.