Could this happen in America?

Today (April 11, 2008), someone pointed out a story from Ghana that is troubling to me. (Updated: Feb 8, 2011)

The pastor of the “Vision Charismatic Chapel” at Kato was just closing his Sunday morning sermon when a fetish priest, accompanied by a group of “his guys” and members of the local police, entered the church and accosted the pastor. They demanded that the pastor return the “juju” (some item or fetish that supposedly has magical power) that the priest had prepared for pastor Collins Agyei Yeboah two years earlier.

According to the article, Yeboah had gone to the priest’s shrine seeking a “special juju to establish a church at Kato, his hometown.” The priest charged GHC 550 (about 5 cents USD). Yeboah paid GBC 100, and a few days later paid another 100 but failed to pay the remaining GHC 350. After two years, the priest demanded that he return the juju!

This begs several questions:

1. Why was the “pastor” unwilling to pay his debt?
2. Why did the pastor seek “power” from a fetish priest instead of from the Holy Spirit?
3. What kind of gifts were evident in the church?  (It is supposedly a “Charismatic” church)
4. Could all of the people who attended the church have been fooled by this “pastor” – or were they involved in such a false “power” also?
5. Is it possible for Satan to actually empower his servants with some “magic” to accomplish supernatural acts?
6. How can one recognize TRUE (Godly) power?
7. The article says the pastor wants to continue with the church. Should he be allowed to do so?
8. Is it possible that some of the most “successful” pastors and/or evangelists have sought/received such magic to advance their own agenda?

Post your comments – What do you think?