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Rev Sarah Nyathi
Faith in God is simple to grasp and practise as it is composed of the belief of the heart, the focus of the mind and the conformity of the speech. Faith does not necessarily need a middleman to be activated because the scriptures stress that we only have one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. God may sometimes use human vessels to participate in the God process through laying on of hands by believers. During laying on of hands our faith should still be focused on God rather than the human vessel or channel. Bearing in mind that it is God who heals and answers the prayer of the human vessel should make it easy for us to keep our faith focused on God.

It is my intention to stir debate in modern Pentecostal circles through this discourse. My stance is likely to stir up a highly charged and emotional response. However, I encourage people to read on and understand my heart. It is my contention that some practices prevailing in the church currently are not encouraging the growth and development of faith in God. In the light of the foregoing, I have prayed and desired to see leaders of the Pentecostal movement coming together to discuss and debate the theological and doctrinal correctness of such practices. The body of Christ historically has experienced seasons where new doctrines and revelations have been introduced and these have not gone unchecked or unexamined by church leadership. Historically church leaders have always been custodians and they have debated doctrine and decided whether some newly introduced doctrines were theologically sound or heretical in their nature. It calls to mind a time in church history during the Reformation where Martin Luther and several others studied the scriptures and came to the conclusion that men were saved by grace and not by works. This caused much furore and debate. After much deliberation it ultimately was accepted that Martin Luther was not a heretic after all and that men are indeed saved by grace. In my view the Pentecostal movement in Zimbabwe has reached such a critical point. How long will the situation continue unchecked, without being addressed by senior members of the church and leading Christian organisations in the nation, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe for instance?

I would wish to call into question the use of points of contact to enhance our faith during prayer and healing sessions and the commercialisation of such items. These can be handkerchiefs, towels, aprons, oil, items of clothing, bangles etc. There is scriptural precedence of the use of some of these items in the gospels by Jesus (who in one instance used mud) and later in the book of Acts by the Apostles. It should be noted these points of contact were used as the Holy Spirit inspired Jesus Christ and the Apostles at certain times.

These could be referred to as unctions (or flash inspiration of the Holy Spirit). God may inspire the use of these for a particular prayer/healing session. They however, are not adopted as doctrine and are not used continuously for every situation. Jesus did not always spit on the ground and use mud to heal, it was just that particular case. God gave Him different unctions for different situations. After the use of these items in the book of Acts there is no scripture that confirms that pieces of cloth, towels, aprons and items of clothing should be used continuously for the miraculous to take place. Although I do agree that an unction may be released by God from time to time. The use of oil for healing in addition to the book of Acts is encouraged in James 5:14-15. Oil is also used when anointing for service (in the Old Testament), or for ordination to ministry.

There are few references (according to my knowledge) of the mention of a body of water when healing or cleansing took place in the scriptures. In the Old Testament when a leper was being cleansed of his leprosy, running water was used as part of the ceremony. In addition in the book of 2 Kings 5 Namaan, the Syrian army general was sent to bath in the River Jordan to cleanse his leprosy. In the New Testament in John 5 there is mention of the pool of Bethesda wherein the angel stirred the water once a year and the first person to touch the water was healed of any ailment. I will hasten to add there is no scriptural basis to water being packaged and used as a point of contact for healing.

What exasperates the situation is that the use of the packaged water and oil is commercialised. These faith aids are aggressively marketed and are available for a price. Yet there is no record of Jesus or the Apostles soliciting for or receiving payment for miracles rendered. The prophet Elisha refuses payment from Namaan after being healed of leprosy after bathing in the River Jordan in 2 Kings 5:15b-16 . . . .now therefore I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. But he said, as the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

I encourage 21st century believers to study the scriptures and ensure that they engage in practices that are doctrinally sound and have scriptural credence. Let us use our spirits and heads to build our faith. If there is scriptural credence to packaged water and oil being used to activate miracles, may a sound theological debate be initiated and proof presented publicly to shame sceptics like myself (I am sure this would help many others who may not have the courage to stir a hornets’ nest as I have done).

We may need to take a leaf from main line churches who have creeds and statements of faith which are studied and familiar to all their members globally. For instance you enjoy a similar worship experience in a Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian Church anywhere in the world. I commend these denominations that have been in existence for hundreds of years yet they have established a very dominant, systematic DNA in their ministries. The same cannot be said about the Pentecostal movement, each man is a law unto themselves. Scriptural interpretation and practice is left to the individual. In matters to do with faith in God and healing practices we need to reach a doctrinal consensus, if that is possible. This should assist us develop an identity, where a Pentecostal Church can be easily identified by the order of worship and doctrine. If a survey were to be carried out in Pentecostal churches across nation the doctrine and practices found in each church would be varied. Yet this should not be so. I should be able to walk into a Pentecostal church and identify the prevailing spirit. I am not calling for uniformity, each church should maintain their style and flavour, however, we should not have confusing and conflicting doctrine and practices.

Leaders need to ask themselves if they are grooming believers who have a strong faith in God. Or has the focus of our faith gradually shifted to men and faith aids. Can modern believers stand honestly and declare that they are “looking unto Jesus the author and perfector of their faith?”

As I conclude this discourse may I remind the current crop of leaders of the Pentecostal movement in Zimbabwe to realise that all this confusion is taking place during our tenure.

God and history will hold us responsible and accountable should we leave a chaotic and disorganised church for successive generations. Our score card as the church does not look very encouraging on the political and economic fronts.

Let us at least score full marks on the spiritual front, by protecting the sheep and preserving sound biblical doctrine. If we do so we will leave something worth inheriting. Let us remember as leaders that we are custodians of doctrine.

Ezekiel 34 is a very profound chapter that should be compulsory reading for all church leaders.

God often refers to church members as the flock of sheep and the leaders as shepherds. Ezekiel 34:9-10

Therefore, ye shepherds (leaders) hear the word of the Lord.

Thus saith the Lord God; behold I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

To the flock . . . one drop of packaged oil cannot change your life. Only faith in Jesus Christ can.

Remember what His mission was while He walked the face of the earth — Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sicknesses and all manner of diseases among the people.

His mission remains the same, so do the methodologies. Have faith in God not man or his methods.

*For further discussion please SMS 0737 273 413 or email on [email protected].