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In Malawi, there is a real political struggle between the former president (the 70-year-old Lazarus Chakwera) and the new president (the 85-year-old Peter Mutharika) over four dogs. The outgoing president took the four dogs who were guards at the presidential palace. He relocated them to be his guard dogs in his personal residence. The incoming president balked, and actually refused to move into the presidential palace for two months because of a lack of security. 

The dogs are worth a combined $2,300. You can read about the controversy in this Wall Street Journal article that is linked --> here <--. Practically, you would think that the country could afford four replacement dogs. A "Go Fund Me" page could probably raise enough cash to do it in fairly short order, if public funds were not available. 

But that assumption would be wrong. You see, these dogs are believed to have the power to guard, not only against neerdowells and political enemies, but also against witchcraft. The outgoing president who took the dogs was an Assemblies of God theologian before he entered politics. One of his vocal supporters is a man who claims to be a prophet. 

This reminds me of the mindset of Simon Magus in Acts 8. He was a former magician who tried to purchase the authority to lay hands on people for the receipt of the Holy Spirit. 

20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 

This belief that dogs can ward off witchcraft is far beyond the text of Scripture, and is contrary to the way we are to engage in real spiritual warfare. This debacle in Malawi is an example of the traditions and religious ideals of man creeping into the worship of the one true God who has fully and finally revealed himself in the words of the Bible. 

The cure to that? Fall in love with God's Word, and upon it you should meditate day and night. Study the original, so that when a counterfiet is encountered, it is seen for what it truly is. 

Pray for the people and the faithful believers in Malawi, so that the spiritual darkness can be broken in their country. Pray that they do not continue to mix devotion to God with pagan beliefs, the imagination of man, and witchcraft.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10-13