ASPECTS OF THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE MINISTRY OF DELIVERANCE FROM THE OCCULT AND IDOLATRY: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE RCA ___________________________________________________________________________ Gregory Hilton Denysschen For The Doctor of Philosophy In the Subject of Missiology At the University of the Free Sate Promoter: Professor Pieter Verster Co-promoter: Doctor Maniraj Sukdaven Date 27 December 2013 The opinions expressed in this thesis do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of the Free State. ABSTRACT People converted from polytheistic religions face spiritual and physical challenges that impact adversely on the quality of their Christian experience in their new-found faith, as found within the ambit of the Reformed Church in Africa (RCA) and its ministry. Is this due to the inadequate attention given to addressing and dealing with the possible spiritual bondage suffered by converts from these religions? What are the implications of reference to bondages brought about by the influence of spirit entities, called demons in the Christian scriptures, and which manifests itself in the form of physical, emotional and spiritual affliction perpetuating their suffering? What is the meaning of the hope of deliverance the Gospel hold out to them? This research thesis has an introduction followed by six chapters. The introduction broadly spells out the challenge the research faces in terms of the nature of the subject matter. The first chapter serves to clarify the purpose, research questions and define terms as used in the study. It deals with question-problem statement, the field to be focussed on in terms of what it hopes to achieve and the state of research. My hypothesis is that the purpose of the Gospel in the coming of Christ amounts to the restoration of the Kingdom of God among the nations on earth. The kingdoms of this world, represented by the idols, stand in direct antithesis to the kingdom of heaven. Emerging from a world saturated in animism and idolatry has had certain specific social and physical consequences for the members of such a community, which can be shown to have impacted adversely on the quality of their Christian experience in their new found faith. A ministry tailored to effectively address trauma experienced directly as a result of the spiritual implications of idolatry is desperately needed. In order to test this hypothesis, certain questions were raised: Will developing a comprehensive counselling and prayer therapy in ministry to deal specifically with this unique challenge, effectively solve the problem of meeting the need for each new believer to fully experience the actual physical and spiritual liberty that are theirs in Christ in real terms? Can a specialised approach be developed and presented to clergy and related counsellors, to equip the church to minister to the new believers from animistic and polytheistic religions, and would this dramatically impact on the quality of Christian life experienced in the RCA? Would equipping the ministers of the gospel with the findings of this research render them more capable to effectively serve this community in the way envisioned? The second chapter is dedicated to my methodology and research mode. Chapter three covers hermeneutical and theological perspectives and chapter four examines Biblical passages illustrating the broad spectrum of spirit influence and consequences. Chapter five deals with case histories phenomenological observed and analysed. I propose a responsible and appropriate counselling and prayer therapy in Chapter six and then conclude with final remarks, a summary of insight and present an aspect of transforming mission celebrating the triumph of Christ over the forces of darkness. OPSOMMING Ses hoofstukke word in hierdie navorsing aangebied. Die eerste hoofstuk handel oor die doel van die studie en navorsingsvrae en die definisie van terme wat gebruik gaan word. Die probleemvraag en fokus, sowel as die staat van navorsing in die verband word aangeraak. Die hipotese is dat die doel van die Evangelie in Christus se koms, die oprigting van die Koninkryk van God onder die nasies op aarde is en dat dit op ‘n betekenisvolle en tasbare wyse moet plaasvind. Komend uit ‘n lewensruim deurdrenk met animisme en afgodery ervaar so ‘n gemeenskap sekere gevolge wat negatief inwerk op die kwalitiet van hul belewenis in hul nuutgevonde geloof in Christus. ‘n Bediening word benodig wat sulke trauma, veroorsaak deur die geestelike implikasies van afgodediens, effektief kan aanspreek. Om hierdie hipotese te toets is drie vrae gestel : Sou die daarstelling van ‘n omvattende beradings- en gebedsterapie in die bediening om spesifiek hierdie unieke uitdaging aan te pak, die behoefte wat elke nuwe gelowige ervaar om ten volle die werklike fisiese en geestelike bevryding wat aan hulle behoort in Christus in reele terme te beleef, aanspreek? Kan ‘n gespesialiseerde benadering aan predikante en beraders voorgehou word, om die gemeentes toe te rus om nuwe gelowiges uit animistiese en politeïstiese agtergronde sinvol te bedien en sou dit ‘n indringende impak op die kwaliteit van hul Christelike belewenis in die RCA maak? Sou die beskikbaarstelling van die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing aan die bedienaars van die Evangelie hul in staat stel om meer effektief te wees in hul diens aan die gemeeskap soos beoog? Deur hierdie vrae te oorweeg sal sekere antwoorde verskaf word. Dit sal gedoen word met verwysing na die gevallestudies en onderhoude wat gehou was met mense wat inderdaad trauma beleef het en gehelp is. 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply grateful to God our Almighty Father and to the Lord Jesus our Saviour for his strength through the period of working on this thesis. Without the guidance, wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit this would have been very difficult to complete. I would also like to heartily convey my gratitude to the following people for their contribution to this study: Words cannot express the deep appreciation for all the guidance and help I received from a very patient and understanding Prof Pieter Verster who probably many times thought about what had come over him to take on this task. His encouragement and undergirding assistance was hugely treasured. It is with endless gratitude that I return thanks to the University of the Free State, especially the Faculty of Theology for the financial assistance which afforded me the means to conduct this research. I also thank Dr. Maniraj Sukdaven, my co-promoter, to whom I am indebted for the commencement of this project in the first place, may it not be in vain. I wish to thank Mrs Noelene Vorster for her availability to do the proofreading and adjustments. Last but not least, I specially want to remember my family who had to bear the brunt of my absence from our affairs; my wonderful wife and friend Annelie for her patience and support; and the children for understanding –thank you DEDICATION I dedicate this research to my wife Annelie and our children. They have given me unfailing support throughout the period of this study. I also dedicate it to Maranatha Family Fellowship of the RCA for allowing me the opportunity to serve the church in this way, and to Jivannadi Mission who provided the backdrop to this work and most of the experience and material emerging from the ministry there. God bless you brave men and women who fight the good fight of the faith, for allowing me the privilege of serving there and doing the research and paper preparation on location. Your reward will be great. 1 DECLARATION I, Gregory Denysschen, declare that this research is my own work and that all sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. All copyright is ceded to the University of the Free State. Signed: Gregory Denysschen Date: 27/12/2013 2 Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................... 6 Chapter One ..................................................................................................... 16 PURPOSE, RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATION OF TERMS ....... 16 THE QUESTION-PROBLEM STATEMENT………………………………………16 HYPOTHESIS……………………………………………………………………….18 Point of departure ................................................................................................. 21 Paradigm Conundrum .......................................................................................... 29 Kingdom of God Perspective ............................................................................... 32 DEFINITION AND CLARIFICATION OF TERMS……………………………….36 Supernatural ......................................................................................................... 36 Evil spirits ............................................................................................................ 38 Demon-possession ............................................................................................... 42 Bondage ............................................................................................................... 47 Trance .................................................................................................................. 49 Deliverance .......................................................................................................... 53 STATE OF RESEARCH……………………………………………………………..56 Chapter Two .................................................................................................... 64 METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH