| Summary: | The main aim of this study is to let the light of the Scriptures fall on the occult
schemes of the devil that has such a strong hold on many Zulu-speaking people by the
.ancestral veneration and the seduction of spirits among them, and to propose a
reformed/biblical healing ministry.
The method of research followed in this study was to study literature and to get the
necessary information through interviews, but the main sources of input were the Old
and New Testament. The culture of the Zulu-speaking people was studied and they
are proud of their tradition and persistent in sticking to it. The heart of their religion is
the ancestor worship with the izangoma as their spokesmen. They also protect the
Zulus against the onslaught of the evil spirits coming from the side of the sorcerers
and witches. The churches follow a different approach how to handle this problem of
the attack of the evil spirits among Zulu-speaking people. The Old Testament
mentions many practices involving the worship of ancestral spirits, which were/are
strongly prohibited for believers, and when they did it, they were punished severely to
set an example that these things are not allowed in the reign of God, where He is the
Caretaker of His people who don't need these occult practices.
The New Testament with the appearance of Jesus gave a complete new way of
communicating with God, and also a new approach toward the devil. The enmity
between our Lord and the devil is widely spoken of, and Jesus indeed came to destroy
the works of the devil, and this He did thoroughly at the cross. This gives the
Christians the right to act in His name and to continue the work that He has bestowed
upon us.
In the search for a new healing ministry this study first looked at other churches or
groups and how they deal with this problem of Zulu people troubled by evil spirits.
The methods of the African Indigenous Churches, Pentecostal Churches and
Reformed Churches are analysed but also the psychological praxis of healing these
people.
The conclusion of this study is that there is a great need among Zulu-speaking people
for a sound Christian healing method and that for an effective pastoral approach an
authoritative directing of the evil spirits was needed. We concluded that the content of
the MET-method has biblical merits, but the checklist forces a counsellor in a
mechanic way of handling the person troubled by evil spirit, and this doesn't improve
the spontaneous working of the Holy Spirit in the counselling process. There is room
for the MET-method in the Reformed Church to help troubled by evil spirits. This
method gives prominence to the truth encounter above the power encounter by
directing the evil spirits after a long and deep counselling session wherein the
troubled person gets the opportunity to take a spiritual cleansing and start anew to
follow Jesus on the narrow road. === Thesis (M.A. (Missiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.
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