During the reign of Herod the Great, one of the most adored kings to ever rule Israel, the Jews suffered the most pain ever. It was this Herod who ordered the death of all children two years of age and below in Bethlehem and its surroundings in a bid to destroy the Messiah.

The Bible and the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus reported that Herod the Great died a painful death – worms consumed his flesh. When his tomb was discovered by Israeli archaeologists in 2007 at the site of the city of Herodium, eight miles south of Jerusalem, there was a broken casket but there was no body!

The book of Acts Chapter 12 tells the story of the death of the ruthless King Herod. After he had arrested and put James the brother of John to death and got the Jewish public approval, he had Peter arrested and put under heavy guard. He intended to prosecute Peter in public after the Passover but Peter escaped with the help of an Angel. Herod executed the guards who were watching Peter.

The Bible says later Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. He had been quarrelling with the people of Tyre and Sidon. The people came together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.

Verse 21 says on the appointed day, Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. The people shouted, “The voice of a god and not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Herod was punished by God because his supporters had elevated him to God’s status yet he did nothing about it.

Recently, Christians watched in disbelief as a man in Kibera declared “Raila Baba, Mwana na Roho Mtakatifu” (Raila the father, the son and the holy spirit). He demanded that those who had allegedly insulted Raila go on their knees and ask for forgiveness.

Christians believe in the Holy Trinity—God the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit.

This man however, in broad daylight and before TV cameras, declared that Raila is all the three; God, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit! I was horrified!

Just as Raila kept quiet so has the Church! No one condemned this blasphemy, not the flamboyant Pastor Ng’ang'a nor Cardinal Njue nor Bishop Margaret Wanjiru. Prophet Owuor and Bishop Ogonyo Ngede have said nothing so far. The media let it go unchallenged, save for replaying the clip during their satire segment.

I too kept quiet and hoped it was a one-off thing and the man would repent, until I had an argument recently with another Raila diehard supporter who threw in the line: “Jaramogi left for us his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him will not perish but will have eternal life”.

Prof Steve Hassan states that to build a cult-level loyalty, one needs three major ingredients; a goal that is not achievable in a lifetime, a perennial enemy to be blamed for everything that goes wrong with the cult members and a charismatic leader.

I need not explain more. In Exodus 20:5, the Israelites were warned thus: “You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected – even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me."

God's instant wrath ended with the birth of Jesus, but His punishment still exists.

Odoyo Owidi is chairman of the Luoland Dialogue Initiative.

- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.k...ur#sthash.stqN1kkx.dpuf

Is he not overreacting to political rhetoric

blas·phe·my
ˈblasfəmē
noun
the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.

Of late I have realised anytime I listen to religious folk telling their thing, I am convinced @hambulglar might have the last laugh on us.

But what do I know. Lets wait for the angel of God to strike the non-believers.

At least, nowadays Christians don't feel the urge to help their God avenge those who disrespect him. Unlike some people I won't mention.

someone said i don't fear Allah... I fear his followers