spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State

for Jesus’ holistic approach to the restoration of the individual and the community. However, the
image of Jesus as an all-round healer who is able to address spiritual, physical and social
afflictions also induces some hesitation among African Christian theologians, for the emphasis
on Jesus’ holistic healing abilities might trigger an association with the traditional healer: when
Jesus is presented as healer, most often the image of the well-known and familiar traditional
healer emerges before him (Brinkman 2007:296).
Despite the risk of association with the image of the African traditional healer, Diane Stinton
(2006:64-71; 2006) shows that the image of Jesus the healer is the most powerful and convincing
image of Jesus in African Christianity. Stinton works out four levels of meaning that African
believers attach to the image of Jesus as a healer. Firstly, the efficacies of Jesus’ healing powers
is interpreted in the sense that Jesus restores life, that he mends what was broken, and that he
infuses strength when human life is weak. Jesus as a healer then means that Jesus is in control of
the restoration of life. The second meaning attached to the image of Jesus as a healer is that Jesus
aims at holistic healing. Restoration cannot take place if only some parts of the human being are
taken into account, or if the surrounding community and its responsibility are ignored during the
healing process. The image of Jesus as a healer implies the holistic aspect of health, illness and
healing. The third meaning identified by Stinton describes how Jesus is mightier than evil. As a
healer, he is the one who overcomes destruction. It is not surprising, then, that the concept of
Jesus as the victor, as the great Physician, is at the core of the Christologies of AICs and PCCs.
Finally, the image of Jesus as a healer represents Jesus’ role as the one who brings salvation.
Jesus’ healing works are intrinsically bound up with concepts of Him as a savior and redeemer.
His healing is profoundly the liberation and redemption of evil and sin.
5.3.5 Healing rituals
Restoration, healing or deliverance efforts are usually accompanied by healing practices and
rituals. An indispensable healing ritual is prayer, for prayer (with or without fasting) provides the
setting for other healing practices and rituals. Many rituals embrace the use of herbs, oils,
perfumes and love potions, but the use of anointing oil and white handkerchiefs gained particular
importance in the church-based healing discourse. Besides the prayer scheme and the use of
certain objects, the healer him- or herself is also important in the healing ritual. In the following
sub-sections more attention will be paid to the meaning of particular aspects of healing rituals:
the anointment with oil, the person of the prophet healer, and the redefinition of individual
personality embedded in the healing ritual.
Anointing oil
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