Healing ministry among the Zulu speaking people troubled by evil spirits / S.J. Veenstra

• Main Author: Veenstra, Sietse Jan
• Published: North-West University 2009
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10394/1187

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.