Competing with Christ? A critical Christological analysis of the reliance on Pentecostal prophets in Zimbabwe

Abstract

How can we make Christological sense of the Zimbabwean Pentecostal prophets’ mediatory role? This article analyses the domineering and mediatory role of the Pentecostal prophets from a Christological perspective. The mediatory role of the Pentecostal prophets is riddled with competition against the mediatory role of Christ between God and humanity (1 Tm 2:5) as it tends to usurp Christ’s role over the church. Instead of being channels that lead people to depend only on Christ for their spiritual security, prosperity Pentecostal prophets present themselves as super spiritual authorities who must be relied upon by the believers in addition to Christ. Prosperity Pentecostalism, also known as the gospel of wealth and health, emphasises that prosperity in material wealth and good health is an integral component of the Christian faith. As super spiritual authorities, Pentecostal prophets project themselves as uniquely anointed by God. This places them closer to God than other people and, in turn, they receive spiritual power and authority over other believers. The prophets mediate their presence in the lives of their followers through anointed objects such as their personal pictures, anointed oil and armbands. This article analyses the distorted views about Christ created by the reliance on the prophets. The article concludes by proposing steps that should be taken to empower Christians to dissuade themselves from reliance on such prophets.

Doctrine as security? A systematic theological critique of the operational theological framework of the controversial South African neo-Pentecostal prophets

“…A doctrine of God that upholds God's holiness and righteousness would deter the use of God's name in carrying out such abusive behaviour. Furthermore, although NPPs preach Jesus Christ as Lord, they act in ways that do not submit to him as Lord and Saviour as they seem to either compete with Christ's supremacy (Magezi & Banda 2017) or complement Christ's inadequacies in the lives of the believers (Banda 2018).…”

Regenerated without being recreated? A soteriological analysis of the African neo-Pentecostal teaching on generational curses

“…The biblical process of conversion which encompasses repenting from sin, turning to God, renouncing all lords and submitting to Christ by confessing him as Lord and Saviour and dying with Christ and be resurrected with him in the rite of baptism, shows being recreated anew. Ultimately, the teaching about generational curses projects the idea that Christian conversion has limited creative powers in Africa, which must be complemented by efforts of anointed prophets (Banda 2018;Magezi & Banda 2017).…”

Money Dwells in the Spiritual Pocket! The Gospel of Prosperity and the Empowerment of Women through Talents/'Matarenda among ZAOGA FIF Adherents in Gweru, Zimbabwe

“…Various scholars attribute the growing dominance of Pentecostal apostles and prophets to the poor socio-economic and political contexts in Zimbabwe (Chitando 2013;Maxwell 2006;Togarasei 2005;Magezi & Banda 2017). As mentioned earlier, ZAOGA 'appropriated a version of the prosperity gospel in line with African sentiments which place a strong emphasis on black pride and self-actualisation' (Maxwell 1998:371).…”

“…Most importantly, the beneficiaries attributed their success to the God of Ezekiel, the founder and archbishop of ZAOGA who introduced the School of Talents. Magezi and Banda (2017) argue that the moment prophets are treated as channels of encountering God, problems arise. People end up depending more on the prophets than on God, resulting in the abuse and commercialization of religion.…”