Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The worldwide phenomenal growth of Pentecostalism is a well-acknowledged
fact, which no one can deny. Research shows that much of the growth is in the
neo- Pentecostal or charismatic wing of the movement. Ghana is not left out of
this.
One phenomenon that has become so pronounced in the charismatic movement
in Ghana is the practice of the so-called "deliverance". This phenomenon
purports to let Christians attain to the abundance of life that Christ offers as part
of God's salvation package to humankind. Most of the deliverance ministries, to a
large extent, attribute situations such as sicknesses, poverty, late marriage, denial
of visa to travel abroad and even some natural disasters among others to
supernatural causes. These supernatural causes, which are said to hinder
Christians from achieving the abundance of life, are mainly identified as demonic
contamination, demonic influence, demon-possession, witchcraft or ancestral
curses. The prescribed antidote to these is to be taken through deliverance by a
special person of God.
Due mainly to a very bad economic situation which has made many Ghanaians
live below the poverty line; it makes it very difficult for many people to afford the
cost of western medical care. Many Ghanaians are also daily looking for avenues
to go and better their lot in other countries. The traditional Ghanaian like many
Africans has a worldview, which believes in a supernatural dimension to every
physical occurrence including difficulties in the acquisition of visa to travel
abroad.
The emergence of the deliverance ministries has therefore provided a legitimate
haven to which people who would otherwise have gone to the traditional shrines
to seek solutions to their problems can now go. The challenge that this
phenomenon poses to evangelical Christianity is highlighted in this research. A critical assessment of the phenomenon as it pertains in Ghanaian Christianity has
been done from the perspective of a specific definition of evangelicalism.
Much as the fact cannot be denied that some of the deliverance ministries are
meeting real felt needs of people in biblically unquestionable ways, there are
obviously, some who are for various reasons employing anti-Christian and
superstitious principles. The purpose of this research therefore, is to inform
evangelical Christians on what the whole phenomenon is about in the light of
Scripture so that practices that are not in line with the whole truth of the word of
God can be avoided.
On the other hand, evangelical Christian ministers can find ways of inculcating
some of the useful practices of the phenomenon into their ministry for the benefit
of their congregations and all people who might need such assistance. This is very
necessary because the people from these congregations are patronizing the
services of the deliverance ministries anyway. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wereldwye fenomeniese groei van die pinksterbeweging is 'n welbekende feit
wat niemand kan ontken nie. Navorsing toon dat die meerderheid van die groei
binne die "neopinkster" of charismatiese deel van die beweging plaasvind. In
Ghana is dit geen uitsondering nie.
Een verskynsel wat so prominent geword het in die charismatiese beweging in
Ghana is die beoefening van die sogenaamde "bevryding". Hierdie verskynsel
beweer dat die Christene lewe in oorvloed sal he wanneer hulle Christus aanbid,
as deel van God se verlossingsplan vir die mens. Meeste van hierdie
bevrydingsbewegings, in 'n groot mate, skryf situasies soos siekte, armoede, die
weiering van 'n visum vir ander lande en selfs sommige natuurlike rampe, onder
andere toe aan bonatuurlike oorsake.
Hierdie bonatuurlike oorsake waarvan gepraat word wat die Christene daarvan
weerhou om die lewe in oorvloed te geniet, word hoofsaaklik geidentifiseer as
demoniese kontaminasie, demoniese invloed, demoniese heksery of
bloedlynvloeke. Die voorgeskrewe teenmiddel hiervoor is om deur bevryding te
gaan deur mid del van 'n spesiale persoon in God.
Hoofsaaklik as gevolg van 'n haglike ekonomiese situasie, leef baie Ghanese
onder die broodlyn en is dit werklik moeilik vir baie mense om Westerse
medisyne te bekostig. Ghanese soek ook daagliks 'n ander heenkome en probeer
hulle lot verander in ander lande. Die tradisionele Ghanees, soos meeste Afrika
inwoners, het 'n werelduitkyk wat glo in die bonatuurlike dimensie vir elke fisiese
verskynsel, insluitend die probleem om 'n visum te kry.
Die verskyning van die bevrydingsbedienings, het gevolglik 'n legitieme
toevlugsoord gebied aan mense wat andersins na tradisionele heiligdomme sou
gaan, om antwoorde op hulle probleme en vrae te soek. Die uitdaging wat hierdie
verskynsel aan die Evangeliese Christendom bied, is onderstreep in hierdie navorsing. 'n Kritiese evaluering van die fenomeen, soos dit voorkom in Ghanese
Christendom, is vanuit die perspektief van 'n spesifieke definisie van
evangelisasieleer gedoen.
Net soos die feit dat sommige bevrydingsbedienings werklik die mens se egte
behoeftes op 'n onbetwisbare, bybelse manier aanspreek, net so is dit duidelik dat
sommige mense om verskeie redes anti-Christelike en bygelowige beginsels
implementeer. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is dus om Evangeliese Christene in
te lig waaroor hierdie verskynsel handel, in die lig van die Woord. Sodoende kan
praktyke wat nie ooreenstemend met die waarheid van God se Woord is, me
vermyword.
Aan die anderkant, kan Evangeliese Christen predikers maniere vind om die
nuttige praktyke van hierdie verskynsel in hul eie bedienings te integreer tot
voordeel en opbou van die gemeente en aIle mense wat sulke bystand mag
benodig. Dit is noodsaaklik omdat die mense van hierdie gemeentes in elk geval
die bevrydingsbedienings ondersteun.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49903 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Ampong, Ebenezer Adu |
| Contributors | Smit, D. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology & Ecclesiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 124 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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