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A Study of Reconstructive Religious Discourse in Post-Colonial Democratic Republic of Congo

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BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION AS SOCIAL DISCOURSE: A STUDY OF RECONSTRUCTIVE RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE IN POST-COLONIAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO by JOSEPH BOLANDZA EPOMBO-MWENGE Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF THEOLOGY in the subject of NEW TESTAMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA Supervisor: Prof. Gerhard van den Heever Co-supervisor: Dr. Maarman Sam Tshehla November 2010 (i) Declaration Student Number: 41055047 I declare that BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION AS SOCIAL DISCOURSE: A STUDY OF RECONSTRUCTIVE RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE IN POST-COLONIAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. …………………………. ……………………………. SIGNATURE DATE Rev. Joseph BOLANDZA EPOMBO-MWENGE (ii) Acknowledgments Undertaking and completing a Master’s dissertation is never the fruit of one person. It requires the contribution of many people. First of all, I would like to thank my God, the author of all intelligence and wisdom, who has protected and guided me during my studies in South Africa. I am deeply grateful to Prof. Gerhard van den Heever, my supervisor, for having accepted me as his student despite the fact that English is not my mother tongue. With his intelligence and experience, he was really a benediction for me. His support, remarks and advice helped me to understand how to do research on the postgraduate level. Then, I would like also to thank Dr Maarman Sam Tshehla my joint-supervisor, for helping me to put this dissertation in a suitable form. His advice, and encouragement have been valuable for me in completing my research. I am also grateful to Prof. P.F. Craffert, the Head of Department of New Testament at Unisa, for having facilitated my registration at Unisa in the Department of New Testament. I would like also to thank the Unisa Financial Aid Bureau for having granted me a postgraduate bursary, to pay for my studies fees at Unisa. The financial assistance of Educating Africans for Christ, during the first two years of studies is here acknowledged as well. I am grateful to Pastor Charles De Kiewit and the Central Baptist Church for their support, prayers and co-operation. I remain grateful to Prof. C. Moropa and his family for what they did for me and my family in South Africa, I will never forget you. Thanks also go so to Miss Leanne Brown, a librarian at Unisa for her value assistance. She helped me so much with the editing of my dissertation, her support was very important for my continued stay in South Africa. I am indebted to Prof. Kalemba Mwambazambi and his family, for having welcomed accommodated, and fed during my first years in South Africa. I am also very grateful to Dr Jean Désiré Ingange-wa-Ingange for his kindness towards me and my family. Pastor Joseph Bakasamoa for his support and prayers also thanked. To my cherished wife, Elise Balingongo, thank you for your patience, and support through prayers. To my children, Mamie, Martine, Joel, Doxa, Guy and Rachel I dedicate this work to you all. Finally, I also dedicate this dissertation to the memory of my son, Josué Bolandza, who passed away tragically on 27 September 2008. (iii) Summary The contribution of the Church to the reconstruction of a nation is the primary reason for the present study. The paradox image that the Democratic Republic of Congo presents deserves particular attention. With more than 80% of DRC population being Christians, this study strives to examine the current Christian religious discourse in the DRC and to see in what way this discourse can be ameliorated in order to play properly the role of facilitating a positive transformation of this country. Notwithstanding I have been alienated from the country for some years now, the study analyzes the current situation on the ground on the basis of the data available, and makes some recommendations in order for the situation in the DRC to be ameliorated. This study thus urges a reconstructive Christian religious discourse in the hope of changing the nation’s mentality in order to reconstruct this beautiful Country. Key terms: Biblical interpretation; Church; Democratic Republic of Congo; Postcolonial; Reconstruction theology; Religious discourse; Social discourse (iv) List of Acronyms & Abbreviations AACC: All Africa Conference of Churches AD: In the Year of our Lord ARC: Association des églises de Reveils au Congo (Re-awakening Churches association) Acts: The Acts of Apostles BC: Before Christ BCE: Before the Common Era CCS-DRC: Country Case Study-Democratic Republic of Congo CNCO: Conférence Nationale Episcopale de la République Démocratique du Congo (National Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo) CE: Common Era Cor: Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians Deut: Deuteronomy DRC: Democratic Republic of Congo ECC: Eglise du Christ au Congo (The Church of Christ in Congo) Eph: Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians FCK: Facultés Catholiques de Kinshasa (Catholic Faculties of Kinshasa) He: The Epistle to the Hebrews IMA: International Medical Aid Jn: The Gospel According to John JSOT: Journal for the Study of the Old Testament JSNT: Journal for the Study of the New Testament LRA: The Lord Resistance Army Matt: The Gospel According to Matthew MIBA: Mining Company of Bakwanga NRSV: New Revised Standard Version NT: New Testament OT: Old Testament OTE: Old Testament Essays RDP: Reconstruction Development Progamme Thess: Paul’s Epistle to the Thessalonians UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund USAID: United States Agency for International Development WCC: The World Council of Churches (v) Table of Contents Declaration………………………………………………………………………………..i Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………..ii Summary & Keywords…………………………………………………………………..iii Acronyms & Abbreviations………………………………………………………………iv Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………v Chapter One: Introduction……………………………………………………………..1 1.1 Background to the study……………………………………………….. ……............1 1.2 Motivation for the study……………………………………………………………..9 1.3 Aim, Hypothesis and Objectives of the study……………………………………….10 1.4 Research Methodology………………………………………………………………11 1.5 Definition of Keywords……………………………………………………………...12 1.5.1 Biblical Interpretation……………………………………………………………12 1.5.2 Reconstruction…………………………………………………………………...16 1.5.3 Social Discourse………………………………………………………………….18 1.5.4 Religious Discourse……………………………………………………………...19 1.5.5 Postcolonial………………………………………………………………………21 1.6 Limitations of the study…………………………………………………………….. 22 1.7 Outline of chapters…………………………………………………………………...23 Chapter Two: Current Christian Religious Discourse in the Democratic Republic of Congo……………………………………………………………………………………24 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………….24 2.2 Roman Catholic Church……………………………………………………………..25 2.2.1 Background………………………………………………………………………..25 2.2.2 Beliefs about social issues…………………………………………………………26 2.2.3 Evaluation………………………………………………………………………….29 2.3 Protestant Church……………………………………………………………………30 2.3.1 Background………………………………………………………………………..30 2.3.2 Beliefs about social issues…………………………………………………………31 2.3.3 Evaluation………………………………………………………………………….33 2. 4 Kimbanguist Church……………………………………………………………….35 2.4.1 Background………………………………………………………………………...35 2.4.2 The Kimbanguist Doctrine…………………………………………………………37 2.4.3 Evaluation……………………………………………………………………….....39 2.5 Re-awakening Churches……………………………………………………………..40 2.5.1 Background……………………………………………………………….……….40 2.5.2 Beliefs about Social issues………………………………………………………....42 2.5.3 Evaluation………………………………………………………………………….43 2.6 Summary………………………………………………………………………….....44 Chapter Three: Reconstruction Theology Approach………………………………...47 3.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………….47 3.2 Reconstruction Theology: Background……………………………………………...47 3.3 Defining Reconstruction Theology…………………………………………………..49 3.4 Theological Approach of Reconstruction……………………………………………50 3.4.1 Kä Mana’s theological Approach to Reconstruction………………………………50 3.4.2 Mugambi’s theological Approach of Reconstruction……………………………...55 3.4.3 Villa-Vicencio’s theological Approach of reconstruction…………………………59 3..5 A Critical Assessment of Reconstruction Theology as proposed by Kä Mana, Mugambi and Villa-Vicencio……………………………………………………...63 3.5.1 Similarities and Differences……………………………………………………….64 3.5.2 Strengths and Weaknesses…………………………………………………………64 3.6 What is Reconstruction Theology all about?………………...………………………65 3.7 Summary………………………………………………………………………….….66 Chapter Four: Reading the Bible from a Reconstructive Religious Perspective…..68 4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………68 4.2 Farisani’s reading of Ezra-Nehemiah………………………………………………..68 4.2.1 A Sociological Analysis of the text of Ezra-Nehemiah…………………………...69 4.2.2 Ideology in the Ezra-Nehemiah……………………………………………………70 4.2.3 Reading Ezra-Nehemiah text against the grain……………………………………72 4.2.3.1 Ethnicity…………………………………………………………………………72 4.2.3.2 Debt and Slavery………………………………………………………………...73 4.2.3.3 Women oppression………………………………………………………………74 4.3 Farisani’s reading of Romans 12: 1-2……………………………………………….75 4.3.1 The text: Romans 12:1-2…………………………………………………………..75 4.3.2 Conformity and Transformation…………………………………………………..76 4.4 Reading Romans 12: 1-2 from a Reconstructive Religious perspective……………77 4.4.1 Justification of the choice of the text……………………………………………..77 4.4.2 A sociological analysis of the Epistle to the Romans…………………………….78 4.4.3 Ideology in Romans…………………………………………………………….....81 4.4.4 Reading Roman’s text against the grain…………………………………………..82 4.4.5
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