spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State
spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State
spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State
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<strong>the</strong> transformation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> believer (<strong>in</strong>to someone who is <strong>in</strong> union with Christ) is emphasized, but<br />
<strong>the</strong> nagg<strong>in</strong>g question is: what is precisely meant by this transformation? Is it true that Reformed<br />
pneumatological articulations <strong>of</strong> transformation <strong>and</strong> <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> can only be understood<br />
metaphorically, with <strong>the</strong> implication that <strong>the</strong> transformation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> believer is a <strong>spirit</strong>ual<br />
transformation (with ramifications for <strong>the</strong> believer’s daily life)? Or does this transformation<br />
somehow also <strong>in</strong>volve physical, material change like <strong>in</strong> physical <strong>and</strong>/or immediate <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong>?<br />
Chapter 8 <strong>of</strong>fers an exploration <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> complexity <strong>of</strong> Spirit <strong>and</strong> <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> by retriev<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />
Reformed notion <strong>of</strong> transformation.<br />
The motif <strong>of</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> life can be found <strong>in</strong> Reformed pneumatological discourse <strong>in</strong> relation to <strong>the</strong><br />
positive qualification <strong>of</strong> creation. The Spirit is present <strong>in</strong> creation, <strong>and</strong> as such <strong>the</strong> believer is<br />
able to experience God’s commitment to his creation. Never<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong> believer also has<br />
contrast<strong>in</strong>g experiences: illness, suffer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> death are <strong>in</strong>extricably l<strong>in</strong>ked with created life.<br />
What <strong>the</strong>n is meant with this quality <strong>of</strong> created life? What determ<strong>in</strong>es <strong>the</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> created life?<br />
Is <strong>the</strong> Spirit <strong>of</strong> God <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> this quality <strong>of</strong> created life? Chapter 9 <strong>of</strong>fers an exploration <strong>in</strong>to<br />
<strong>the</strong> discrepancy between <strong>the</strong>ological quality <strong>of</strong> creation <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> vulnerability that one<br />
experiences <strong>in</strong> this life, by retriev<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> revalu<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Reformed notion <strong>of</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> creation <strong>in</strong><br />
light <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> relation between Spirit <strong>and</strong> <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong>.<br />
The motif <strong>of</strong> power is barely present <strong>in</strong> Reformed pneumatology (<strong>in</strong> contrast to Pentecostal<br />
thought). In some Reformed pneumatologies one can relate <strong>the</strong> Spirit’s efficacies with <strong>the</strong><br />
empowerment (to desire) to live accord<strong>in</strong>g to God’s will, but <strong>the</strong> immediate operation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
power <strong>of</strong> God’s Spirit is underdeveloped <strong>in</strong> Reformed discussions on God’s omnipotence.<br />
Chapter 10 <strong>of</strong>fers an exploration <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> relation between Spirit <strong>and</strong> <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> by pay<strong>in</strong>g attention<br />
to questions emerg<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> church-based <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> discourse <strong>in</strong> Africa. This <strong>the</strong>ological<br />
venture is about <strong>the</strong> re-vision<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Reformed pneumatological thought on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> notion<br />
<strong>of</strong> power.<br />
EXCURSION: BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL FRAME OF HEALING<br />
In chapter 5, <strong>the</strong> academic discourse on <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bible was highlighted as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
church-based <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> discourse. The aim was to <strong>of</strong>fer a broad sketch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ological reflection on<br />
<strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>and</strong> its evolv<strong>in</strong>g practices with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> church. This second part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> research is ma<strong>in</strong>ly<br />
about explor<strong>in</strong>g additional <strong>and</strong> new ways <strong>of</strong> reflect<strong>in</strong>g on God <strong>and</strong> <strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> a<br />
pneumatological orientation. It is essential that this exploration is embedded <strong>in</strong> a biblical-<br />
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