Ch. 5: Good and Evil Tim Wodarczyk

Overview  Christians in global South readily accept demons and evil spirits, and the exorcisms and healings that eradicate them  Africa (mainly Nigeria)  Asia (mainly Korea)  Christians in global South readily accept demons and evil spirits, and the exorcisms and healings that eradicate them  Africa (mainly Nigeria)  Asia (mainly Korea)

Scripture  Not much of the New Testament would be left if all healings would be taken out  Verses that are central there, are just marginal here  Ephesians 6:12  Luke 8 (demon possessed man, Jairus’ Daughter, bleeding woman)  Psalm 91 (a Psalm of protection from spirits, Devil quotes it)  Psalm 31 (another Psalm of protection, Christ quotes)  James addresses rules of spiritual healing  Also Mark 16 and Luke 10  Not much of the New Testament would be left if all healings would be taken out  Verses that are central there, are just marginal here  Ephesians 6:12  Luke 8 (demon possessed man, Jairus’ Daughter, bleeding woman)  Psalm 91 (a Psalm of protection from spirits, Devil quotes it)  Psalm 31 (another Psalm of protection, Christ quotes)  James addresses rules of spiritual healing  Also Mark 16 and Luke 10

Pagan Influences  Most global South Christians today are only two or three generations removed from when Christ was first introduced to their family.  Traditions and practices from their native religions still have a presence in their worship and understanding of God.  Africa - Animism  Asia - Buddism  Most global South Christians today are only two or three generations removed from when Christ was first introduced to their family.  Traditions and practices from their native religions still have a presence in their worship and understanding of God.  Africa - Animism  Asia - Buddism

Devil is what causes troubles  Global south is more familiar with struggles and persecutions (war, famine, genocide, corruption, tsunami in 2004)  Readily attribute these struggles to the devil and evil spirits.  Churches there emphasize these things  Global south is more familiar with struggles and persecutions (war, famine, genocide, corruption, tsunami in 2004)  Readily attribute these struggles to the devil and evil spirits.  Churches there emphasize these things

Devil is what causes troubles cont’d  A gay man was suggested to be appointed a bishop in England  An leader of the church in Nigeria claimed this was the work of the Devil and those endorsing it were agents of the Devil  A southeastern Asian church leader made similar claims  A gay man was suggested to be appointed a bishop in England  An leader of the church in Nigeria claimed this was the work of the Devil and those endorsing it were agents of the Devil  A southeastern Asian church leader made similar claims

Spiritual Warfare North America  A part of what we believe  Exorcisms viewed as more of a fanatical occurrence  Mainly only Charismatic churches emphasize a literal spiritual war North America  A part of what we believe  Exorcisms viewed as more of a fanatical occurrence  Mainly only Charismatic churches emphasize a literal spiritual war Global South  Central to what they believe  Exorcisms are logical and legitimate  All denominations emphasize literal spiritual war (even denominations that do not in the US) Global South  Central to what they believe  Exorcisms are logical and legitimate  All denominations emphasize literal spiritual war (even denominations that do not in the US)

Spiritual Warfare  Prior to Christianity, global South had their own solutions to evil  After being reached by missionaries, they eventually accepted Christ as the one genuine solution.  They cling to Christ’s exorcisms and healings  Prayer is more of a desperate plea for deliverance in the global South  Prior to Christianity, global South had their own solutions to evil  After being reached by missionaries, they eventually accepted Christ as the one genuine solution.  They cling to Christ’s exorcisms and healings  Prayer is more of a desperate plea for deliverance in the global South

Witchcraft  Again, way more recognized in global South  Practice of Witchcraft is on the rise in Africa, along with other occult practices  Many Christians see their faith as a deliverance from this too  Again, way more recognized in global South  Practice of Witchcraft is on the rise in Africa, along with other occult practices  Many Christians see their faith as a deliverance from this too

Healing  Healing was a fundamental part of the Pagan belief systems that used to dominate this area  Led to an easier acceptance of Christianity when they saw healings in scripture  High practice of gifts of the Spirit in the South, including healings in Jesus’ name  Sometimes eisegesis is done, but mostly these are done faithful to the text  As well as Christ healing in the gospels, healings are also reinforced to the global South by Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament  Healing was a fundamental part of the Pagan belief systems that used to dominate this area  Led to an easier acceptance of Christianity when they saw healings in scripture  High practice of gifts of the Spirit in the South, including healings in Jesus’ name  Sometimes eisegesis is done, but mostly these are done faithful to the text  As well as Christ healing in the gospels, healings are also reinforced to the global South by Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament

Jesus: The Superior Healer  Jesus is more versatile than other healers  Jesus asks for faith, which shows wisdom  For these reasons, Jesus beat out pagan healers, and why they trust put their trust in Jesus  Jesus is more versatile than other healers  Jesus asks for faith, which shows wisdom  For these reasons, Jesus beat out pagan healers, and why they trust put their trust in Jesus

“Mainstream” Worship in the global South  Despite all this, there are more traditional churches in the South  There is a booklet that goes into detail about all sicknesses, and in contrast, healings  Testimonies and case studies  But overall, it stresses a tolerance and respect for all those in Christ  Despite all this, there are more traditional churches in the South  There is a booklet that goes into detail about all sicknesses, and in contrast, healings  Testimonies and case studies  But overall, it stresses a tolerance and respect for all those in Christ

Ancestral Guilt  Something else very relevant to the South  In most places, India particularly, your circumstances are based on how those you descended from lived their lives  Caste system in India: 200 Million untouchables  These groups of people accept Christianity because it does not hold them to their ancestors actions, which is something they don’t get form other faiths  Something else very relevant to the South  In most places, India particularly, your circumstances are based on how those you descended from lived their lives  Caste system in India: 200 Million untouchables  These groups of people accept Christianity because it does not hold them to their ancestors actions, which is something they don’t get form other faiths

Quotes  “ The African Christian is fearful: fear of the environment, fear of the neighbors, fear of sorcerers. Only Jesus Christ can free him. ” page 111  “ The biblical emphasis on healing rings so true to modern believers because it fits precisely into their cultural expectations and the healing traditions of pre- Christian societies page. ” 117  “ The topic of faith healing, along with other miraculous deeds of Jesus, comprised the most prominent place in their sermons, while ethical or pedagogical themes remained relatively inconspicuous. ” Page 114  “ The African Christian is fearful: fear of the environment, fear of the neighbors, fear of sorcerers. Only Jesus Christ can free him. ” page 111  “ The biblical emphasis on healing rings so true to modern believers because it fits precisely into their cultural expectations and the healing traditions of pre- Christian societies page. ” 117  “ The topic of faith healing, along with other miraculous deeds of Jesus, comprised the most prominent place in their sermons, while ethical or pedagogical themes remained relatively inconspicuous. ” Page 114