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Lutherans and Pentecostals in Mission Amongst the Vhavenda -A Comparative Study in Missionary Methods

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Lutherans and Pentecostals in Mission Amongst the Vhavenda -A Comparative Study in Missionary Methods LUTHERANS AND PENTECOSTALS IN MISSION AMONGST THE VHAVENDA -A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN MISSIONARY METHODS by NDWAMBI LAWRENCE KHOROMMBI Submitted iu accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology . in the subject Missiology at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF NICO SMITH October 2001 DECLARATION I declare that Lutherans and Pentecostals iu mission amongst the Vhaveuda - a comparative study iu missionary methods is my own work and all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. NL KHOROMMBI Date ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to Dean Randitsheni and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Devhula­ Leboa Circuit) for granting me access to their archives Members of the Magidi and Thohoyandou congregations who answered the questionnaire for their co-operation and input The Apostolic Faith Mission church in Venda for their assistance The White Apostolic Faith Mission church in Louis Trichardt for access to their archives The Charis Missionary Church for sponsoring my studies The elders of the Charis Missionary Church for their understanding, support and encouragement My wife, Sophy Ndivhuweni, for her love, patience and support Professor Nico Smith, my promoter, for his keen interest and encouragement. I found in him a man for all seasons, an outstanding academic, who encouraged me to think, a friend who was always willing to help, and a father to me in my needs. Mrs Iauma Cooper for editing and critically reading the manuscript Above all, the Lord for all His grace and without Whom neither I nor this thesis would have been conceived. iii SYNOPSIS The thesis of this study is that both Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal churches can grow at a time when only the Pentecostal churches have grown. The stagnation that has occurred in many "mainline" churches need not be allowed to increase or continue. In Venda (Northern Province) both the Lutherans and the Pentecostals have enjoyed visible growth. Chapter I introduces the thesis, the choice of the study area, the objectives of the study, and the typology, methodology and relevance of the study. Chapter 2 looks at the history and socio-economic background of the Vhavenda. Chapter 3 describes traditional Vhavenda beliefs and rituals. The Vhavenda world-view is different from that of the West but closer to that of the East and the Bible. Chapter 4 concentrates on missionary Christianity in Venda and briefly discusses the missionary methods adopted by the Berlin Missionary Society. Chapter 5 discusses the coming of Pentecostalism to South Africa and Venda. Chapter 6 exaruines how the Lutherans and the Apostolic Faith Mission church conducted their mission during the "maturation of Apartheid" in Venda. Major events in the collision between apartheid and the Vhavenda are highlighted. Chapter 7 discusses the unfinished work of the church in Venda. Chapter 8 examines the challenge for Christian mission in the . twenty-first century. iv GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THE STUDY Vhavenda Refers to the people living in Venda in the Northern Province of South Africa, usually referred to as the Muvenda, which is the singular ofVhavenda. The language spoken is Luvenda. Nwali God of the earth in Venda Traditional Religion. He is responsible for all life (every living thing) on earth. Vhuloi ·What Westerners describe as witchcraft. In Venda it refers to invisible, mystical forces and powers in the universe. Certain people have the knowledge and ability to control and use these forces or powers. Missionary Christianity Refers to Christianity as brought to Africa by missionaries from the northern world. Kairos Document A document produced by a group of pastors and theologians from Soweto, supported by other Christian leaders, both Black and White. Evangelical Witness A critique of evangelical theology by evangelicals. Relevant Pentecostal Witness A document initiated by Pentecostal leaders, taking a stand against Apartheid. v LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE STUDY AFM Apostolic Faith Mission AIC African Independent Church ATC African Traditional Religion BMS Berlin Missionary Society BPC Bantu Presbyterian Church CCACZ Christian Catholic Church in Zion CCC Calvary Christian Church DRC Dutch Reformed Church. The biggest Afrikaans-speaking church in South Africa. The three main Afrikaans-speaking churches are "Die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk", the "Gereformeerde Kerk" and The "Hervormde Kerk". These names are all translated as Reformed in English. ECO Evangelical Christian Outreach ELCSA Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa IFCC International Fellowship of Christian Churches NCLF New Covenant Life Fellowship LCWE Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization LMS London Missionary Society SVM Student Volunteer Movement UDP United Democratic Front WEF World Evangelical Fellowship zcc Zion Christian Church VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration . n Acknowledgements ....................................................... 111 Synopsis ................................................................... 1v Glossary of terms used in the study .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. v List of abbreviations used in the study ................................. vi CHAPTER 1 Page TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF CHRISTIAN MISSION 1.1 Introduction 1 1.1.1 Creation 2 1.1.2 Liberation oflsrael 2 1.1.3 Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word 3 1.1.4 The Church 5 1.1.5 The Holy Spirit 5 1.2 Choice of the study area 8 1.3 Objectives of the study 9 1.4 Typology 9 1.4.l Evangelical churches 9 1.4.2 A Pentecostal typology 13 1.5 Methodology 23 1.5. l Interviews 23 1.5.2 Literature review 24 1.6 Reliability of the data 24 1.6.1 Personal experience 24 1.7 Relevance of the study 27 1.8. Summary 28 vii CHAPTER2 HISTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND 2.1 Early history 29 2.2 Crossing the Limpopo 31 2.3 The Vhavenda kingdom 33 2.4 . Early collision with the Trekkers 35 2.5 Political development in Venda, 1930s and 1940s 38 2.6 Population and tribal distribution in Zoutpansberg 40 2.7 Socio-political organisation 42 2.8 Kinship organisation 44 2.9 Economic factors 47 2.9.l Land 48 2.9.2 Livestock and agricultural products 50 2.9.3 Migratory labour 52 CHAPTER3 TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND RITUALS 3.1 Introduction 54 3.2 The High God: Nwali 54 3.3 The spirit world 59 3.3.l Types of spirits 60 3 .3 .2 What spirits do to people 66 3.4 Witches (vhaloi) and witchcraft (vhuloi) 68 3.5 Summary 71 viii CHAPTER4 MISSIONARY CHRISTIANITY IN VENDA 4.1 Missionary Christianity 72 4.1.1 Evangelicalism and the Enlightenment. 72 4.1.2 Crusade against idolatry 74 4.1.3 The perishing heathens 75 4.1.4 Providence and responsibility 78 4.1.5 Commerce and Christianity 77 4.1.6 The Gospel and culture 78 4.1.7 Mission and the future 79 4.1.8 Christianity and the Vhavenda culture 80 4.1.9 The gospel of civilization 80 4.1.10 Missionaries and race 82 4.2 The Lutheran mission in Venda 85 4.2.l Colonialism and mission 85 4.2.2 The beginning of the Berlin Missionary Society 90 4.2.3 Establishment of mission stations 91 4.3 Salient features of the Lutheran mission in Venda 105 4.3.l The Lutheran creed 105 4.3.2 Racism 107 4.3.3 Volkschristianisierung ideas about nation, language and history 107 4.3.4 The importance of the Vo/k's language 109 4.3.5 Elementary education 111 4.3.6 Missionary attitude towards Blacks 112 4.3.7 Authoritarianism and paternalism 113 4.4 The contribution of the Lutheran Church in Venda 114 4.4.1 Education 114 4.4.2 Religion: Christianisation 115 ix 4.4.3 Mission stations 116 4.4.4 Racism 116 4.4.5 Black history 117 4.4.6 Cultural contribution 117 4.4.7 The value of the vernacular in African Christianity 117 4.4.8 The message 118 4.4.9 Health services 122 CHAPTERS THE COMING OF PENTECOSTALISM TO SOUTH AFRICA 5.1 Origin of Pentecostalism 125 5.2 The beginning of Zionism and the Pentecostal faith in South Africa 128 5.2.1 The forerunners of the Pentecostal faith in South Africa 128 5.2.2 The arrival of Pentecostal missionaries 129 5.2.3 The significance of the Black origin of Pentecostalism 131 5.2.4 Seymour and Parham 132 5.3 Introduction of Pentecostalism in Venda 133 5.3.1 Missionary policy of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) 139 5.3.2 Condition of African work 142 5.3.3 The introduction of the AFM in Venda 150 5.4 Understanding the Pentecostal view of mission strategy 154 5.4.l Pentecostal theology and mission strategy 154 5.4.2 The type of ministry adopted by AFM in Venda 160 5.5 Pentecostals and the Evangelical theology of the status quo 181 5.6 The Anti-Pentecostal Debate 183 CHAPTER6 THE MATURATION OF APARTHEID AND VENDA 6.1 Venda in the 1970s and 1980s 188 x 6.1.1 Political development 188 6.1.2 Education and youth culture 190 6.1.3 Further political developments 194 6.1.4 Youth and student organizations 195 6.1.5 Comrades and·witches 202 6.2 ELCSA's mission in the 1980s and 1990s 206 6.2.1 Devhula-Leboa Circuit Evangelisation 208 6.2.2 Power evangelism 209 6.2.3 Diaconal work 210 6.3 AFM ministry 210 6.3.1 Power evangelism 212 6.3.2 Indigenous church principles 212 6.4 Trend of beliefs in both Pentecostal and Non- Pentecostal church members 213 CHAPTER 7 THE UNFINISHED WORK: THE CHURCH'S PUBLIC ROLE 7.1 Introduction 217 7.1.1 Extraversion 218 7.1.2 African Christianity 223 7.2 Africa's new Christianity? 226 7.3 Civil society 227 7.4 The Christian faith and the African world-view 231 CHAPTER 8 THE CHALLENGE FOR CHRJSTIAN MISSION 8.1 Introduction 236 8.2 Church growth 239 8.3 Understanding mission fields of the twenty-first century 240 xi 8.4 Missionary approach of the church in Africa in the twenty-first century 241 8.5 Contexts of mission 242 8.6 Process of mission 242 8.7 Language and culture of mission 243 8.8 .
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