spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State

esurrection. The Holy Spirit is the One who communicates God’s presence in creation. The
Spirit is also the One who joins Christ in the cross event, affirming the relationship between
Father and Son, and between Trinitarian God and creation. Moltmann’s Trinitarian
pneumatology entails a revaluing of creation in the light of Trinitarian life, and a retrieval of the
broad scope of the Spirit’s relatively independent work by his rejection of the filioque clause of
the Western church.
EXCURSION: MOLTMANN ON HEALING
Moltmann is one of the few theologians within the Reformed tradition who addresses the theme
of healing in a more extensive way than can be found with other representatives of modern
theology in the second half of the twentieth century (Veenhof 2005:271). In addition to his
influence within the Reformed tradition, it is because of his attention to the specific theme of
healing that his perception of healing will be described here. Moltmann’s key ideas are that (1)
healing is a gift of the Spirit, and that (2) healing is to be considered as the transfiguration of the
believer in the light of the coming kingdom of God.
Healing as charisma
Moltmann approaches healing in the context of the gifts, the charismata, of the Holy Spirit.
These charismata are concerned with “the vitality of the new life in the Spirit” (Moltmann
1992:181). Moltmann bases his discussion of the charismata on the Pauline doctrine since its
perspective on the charismata can be linked more easily with daily life (in comparison with the
Lukan doctrine). Charisma, or endowment, or gift of the Spirit is closely linked with calling
(according to 1 Corinthians 7:20). It means that every person has received a particular personal
calling which he or she needs to live out in following Christ in the service of the Kingdom.
Moltmann (1992:182) states that “when a person is called, whatever he is and brings with him
becomes a charisma through his calling, since it is accepted by the Spirit and put at the service of
the kingdom of God”.
Since all life is assumed and embraced in Christ, that also applies to forms of life that we usually
exclude on the basis of weakness and disability. Moltmann (1992:193, italics original)
emphasizes that the charismatic and healing powers of life also apply to inflicted life, saying that
“we have to recognize that every handicap is an endowment too. The strength of Christ is also
powerful in the disablement”. Those who are physically or mentally impaired, ill, infected, or
subordinated, are also called to the service of God’s Kingdom. Moreover, in the pains and
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