By Donald Stewart, Contributor
I READ, WITH mixed feelings, the article entitled, 'André Kole's Million- Dollar Challenge', which appeared in the December 2 edition of The Gleaner. Since I am not about to shut up on this issue of so-called Christian magic, I have no other option but to accept your US$1 million challenge, realising that you have now put your integrity in the balance.
I am recommending that you leave the reading public, or if you prefer, an independent panel of impartial lawyers, to investigate and verify the evidence being presented to you today, concerning Satan's ability to impart power. I am also suggesting that you leave a forwarding address, just in case any of our people become demonised (demon possessed) due to your illusionary influence. They would need to know where to locate you, so that you could possibly "zap them" out of it--.and incidentally , you can still keep your US$1 million, or maybe give it to charity--.that's if you have been able to clear all your expenses in Jamaica.
ANSWERS
Please tell us, Mr Kole, what did John mean when he wrote; "The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" (Rev. 13:8). Who or what does the dragon represent? Why not check Rev. 12: 9 or Rev. 20 : 1-2 in case you are not certain? Please, Mr Kole, go on to read Revelation 13: 11-18 and make special note of verses 13-15; "And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth--He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed". Is the Bible true, or is this merely an illusion, Mr Kole?
What do we, Mr Kole, make of the evidence supplied from the book of Acts? Simon of Samaria "had practised sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria--They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic" (Acts 8: 9-13). Was this an illusion, a delusion or what? If his powers had been from God, why did he need to abandon them after he "believed and was baptised"? If he were simply a harmless illusionist, as you might insist, then why did he not use his "gift" to assist Philip in ministry? If, as is obvious, his powers were from the devil, then you have put yourself in quite a dilemma--haven't you, Mr Kole?
And, Mr Kole, how about our little friend, the slave girl in Philippi with the spirit of divination(or fortune telling)? Where did her powers come from? If they were from God, then why, in Jesus' name, did Paul and Silas drive out her demon(s)? And why, Mr Kole, did she instantly lose her power so that; "the owners of the slave girl realised that their hope of making money was gone"? (Acts 16: 16-18) If all of this was an illusion, then Paul and Silas certainly faced a lot of suffering (beating and imprisonment) for nothing, and maybe the dramatic conversion of the jailer, that followed was also an illusion too. Please, Mr Kole, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee.
Paul had some very real (possibly frightening) encounters in Ephesus to the extent that he described some experiences as fighting with "wild beast in Ephesus" (1 Cor. 15:32). When, in that city, "a number who had practised sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly" so that "the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power" (Acts 19: 18 - 20), were they just being impulsive, unenlightened, superstitious, third world natives--Mr Kole? And what about the riot in that same city when "they all shouted in unison for about two hours, Great is Artemis (Diana) of the Ephesians"? (Acts 19 : 34) Were they simply reacting emotionally to an illusion or were there real demonic strongholds over that city, controlling their lives?
Jesus of Nazareth confronted real satanic/demonic powers that were operating in and through people. You only need to read the account of Legion in Mark 5: 1-20, to see the clear evidence. A man "with an evil spirit" was so empowered that "no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain--no one was strong enough to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs, and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones". Where do you suppose this destructive, supernatural power came from, Mr Kole? Jesus, however, cast out the evil spirit(s) into a herd of two thousand pigs , which immediately committed suicide.
In all seriousness, Mr Kole, do you really believe that all this was just a magical illusion, performed by Jesus the magician? And what about the owners of the pigs who ran Jesus out of town because of their financial loss?
Were they also a part of this exciting illusionary drama? I'm sure that the man who had been set free and was afterwards found "sitting there, dressed and in his right mind" knew that this was no illusion. He was fully aware that he had experienced a real deliverance, from the real powers of a real devil. What do you think, Mr Kole?
Let me close by saying a big thank you for the privilege you have afforded me to share with the reading public, these important truths from God's word. I must confess though, Mr Kole, that I am very concerned for your soul, especially in the light of Revelation 9: 20-21; "--they did not stop worshipping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts" and Revelation 21: 8.
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death." Mr Kole, it's still not too late to repent.
The Rev. Dr. Donald K. Stewart, is pastor of the Portmore Covenant Community Church. He may be contacted at covcomoffice@colis.com
Editor's Note: See Bishop Joseph Ade-Gold's response to Andre Kole on E10
