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SALVATION AS HEALING? an Analysis of Jesse Mugambi and Mercy Oduyoye’S Soteriologies in the Context of African Prosperity Gospels

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SALVATION AS HEALING? an Analysis of Jesse Mugambi and Mercy Oduyoye’S Soteriologies in the Context of African Prosperity Gospels SALVATION AS HEALING? An analysis of Jesse Mugambi and Mercy Oduyoye’s Soteriologies in the context of African Prosperity Gospels by Kefas Kure Umaru Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Theology in the Faculty of Theology, at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Dr. Nadia Marais Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology December 2017 i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated). That reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. December 2017 Copyright © 2017 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Dedication This thesis is dedicated to the glory of God Almighty and my dear parents through whom I developed the desire of loving God that I have been able to stand till now. To my late father, Rev Umaru Kure, in particular, I would have wished if you were still here to attest to what you embedded in me from childhood. Great thanks, however, to my mother for believing in my abilities. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements I would like to express my esteem gratitude to few people who have been of tremendous encouragement to me both before and during this period of study. First, and most important is the Lord God Almighty who has been my inspiration throughout in the journey of life and academic pursuit. I am also indebted to my fervent supervisor, Dr. Nadia Marais for her critical and constructive guidance through which this thesis has come to be. For her patience and believing in my effort to write this project, your encouragements I appreciate momentously. Special thanks also go to the Church of Sweden for the idea of running a postgraduate degree with central focus on Theology, Gender, and Health which this study is part. Thanks also for the bursary which served as a great motivation throughout this study. And to the Dutch Reformed Church, thank you for all the financial assistance. To all the lecturers at the faculty of theology, particularly Drs. Charlene Van der Walt, Julie Claassens, and Dion Forster thank you for your motivation and encouragements. And to the librarians, thank you for always being available to render assistance. I am deeply thankful to my parents, my mother in particular for their moral and financial support through all my studies. To mention particularly, my brother, Dr. E. U. Kure for trusting and believing in a younger brother, that my bills were always taken care of without complaints. Additionally, to the rest of my family, I love you all for standing by me with all your prayers and support. Someone also worthy of mention is the one who edited this work, Dr. Philip Hayab, Mi kpek. To friends in Stellenbosch University and beyond, your love has been that which I would always wish to have. Thank you all for being there and for all the love. iii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract This thesis is a study of the doctrine of salvation with particular reference to therapeutic interpretations. Discourses about salvation often center on that which comes in the hereafter, with less emphasis on the here–and-now dimensions of salvation, which has resulted in disparities in the interpretation of salvation within Christian theology. One of these divisions come from circles that embrace the gospel of prosperity, which focuses on wealth and health as proof of salvation, which is irreconcilable with the life experiences of some believers. Therefore, it has become of the utmost importance that salvation is understood properly and more broadly to bringing clarity and avoid such disparities. With a view to presenting a far- reaching perspective on salvation, the current study critically investigates the notable works of two African theologians selected from many others, whose scholarly contributions to African Christian theology in general, and salvation in particular, have been remarkable. Chapter One sets out the background to the study and introduces certain concepts that are central to the study, so as to allow coherence in the rest of the thesis. Salvation is one of the essential Christain doctrines, but misconceptions in this regard have made it difficult to ascertain or to articulate its meaning appropriately. The previous view gave rise to different ways of explaining salvation, particularly within circles that embrace the gospel of prosperity, which sees health and wealth as proof of salvation. Unfortunately, no matter how important those forms of salvation are, many believers who have experienced salvation are not wealthy and do not enjoy good health. The above perspective calls for an integrative engagement with other theologians so as to present a balanced and broader view of salvation. For the purpose of considering salvation through a much wider lens, Jesse Mugambi’s and Mercy Oduyoye’s interpretations of salvation are examined in chapters 3 and four respectively. Mugambi is a Kenyan Anglican theologian whose salvific quest centres on reconstruction as a paradigm that befits Africa in the 21st century – rather than liberation, which has often been the norm. He discusses reconstruction as a form of salvation that covers social and structural dimensions, thereby presenting an understanding of salvation that is much broader than restricting it to either salvation from sin or the acquisition of wealth and health. Oduyoye is a Ghanian Methodist theologian who focuses her research work on the well-being of women and children in particular, but also that of society. Her research concerns more than the human quest for well-being – also that of society, with particular attention to justice and equality. Shaping an enabling society where individuals are accepted and treated with dignity would go a long iv Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za way to healing many of humanity’s problems, particularly those experienced by women and children, which is considered to be a form of salvation in the context of this study. Chapter 5 draws some conclusions from the preceding chapters and suggests three models for a therapeutic interpretation of salvation, namely reconciliation, transformation, and empowerment. Concerning the prosperity gospel’s perception of salvation and that of Mugambi and Oduyoye, the study concludes that none of those approaches is wrong in itself, but all could offer a better interpretation of salvation by including other perceptions. The study suggests that none of the approaches should be followed exclusively without including others. Integration would afford a balanced view of salvation that comprises different facets of life with particular reference to the therapeutic sense. In that way, the disparity in understanding salvation can be bridged. v Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Opsomming Hierdie tesis is ’n studie van die leerstelling van redding, met spesifieke verwysing na terapeutiese interpretasies. Diskoerse rondom verlossing is dikwels toegespits op dit wat in die hiernamaals wag, met minder klem op die hier en nou wat die dimensies van verlossing betref, en dit het tot verdeeldheid in die interpretasie van verlossing binne die Christelike teologie gelei. Een van hierdie punte van verdeeldheid het ontstaan uit kringe wat die welvaartevangelie aanhang, met die klem op welvaart en gesondheid as bewyse van verlossing, wat onversoenbaar met die geleefde ervarings van sommige gelowiges is. Daarom is ’n behoorlike en wyer begrip van verlossing van groot belang, sodat ’n sekere helderte verkry en soortgelyke verdeeldheid vermy kan word. Om ’n wyer perspektief op verlossing te bied, doen hierdie studie ’n kritiese ondersoek na die belangrike werke van twee teoloë van Afrika wat uit talle ander moontlikhede uitgekies is en wie se vakkundige bydraes tot die Christelike teologie van Afrika in die algemeen, en verlossing in die besonder, diep spore getrap het. Hoofstuk 1 skets die agtergrond vir die studie en stel bepaalde konsepte bekend wat sentraal tot die studie staan, sodat die res van die tesis ’n sinvolle geheel vorm. Verlossing is een van die wesenlike Christelike leerstellings, maar die dwalinge daaroor het dit moeilik gemaak om die betekenis daarvan behoorlik te verwoord. Dit het tot gevolg gehad dat verlossing op verskillende wyses uiteengesit word, veral binne kringe wat die welvaartevangelie aanhang, wat gesondheid en welvaart as ’n bewys van verlossing sien. Alhoewel hierdie soort verlossing belangrik is, is daar talle gelowiges wat verlossing ervaar het maar nie welvarend is en goeie gesondheid geniet nie. Daarom is daar die behoefte aan ’n geïntegreerde benadering wat ander teoloë betrek ten einde ’n gebalanseerde en omvattender siening van verlossing te bied. In ’n poging om verlossing deur ’n veel wyer lens te beskou, ondersoek hoofstuk 3 en 4 Jesse Mugambi en Mercy Oduyoye se interpretasies van verlossing. Mugambi is ’n Anglikaanse teoloog uit Kenia wie se soeke na verlossing toegespits is op rekonstruksie as ’n paradigma wat by die Afrika van die 21ste eeu pas – eerder as bevryding, wat dikwels die norm was. Hy bespreek rekonstruksie as ’n vorm van verlossing wat sosiale en strukturele dimensies omvat, en bied daarmee ’n opvatting van verlossing wat veel wyer strek as om dit tot óf verlossing van sonde óf die verwerwing van welvaart en gesondheid te beperk. Oduyoye is ’n Metodistiese teoloog uit Ghana wie se navorsingswerk fokus op die welstand van vroue en kinders in die besonder, sowel as dié van die samelewing. Haar navorsing omvat meer as die mens se soeke na welstand – ook die welstand van die samelewing, met besondere aandag aan geregtigheid vi Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za en gelykheid.
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