Abstract
The controversial activities of the neo-Pentecostal prophets (NPPs) in South Africa raise many theological questions. From a systematic theological perspective that affirms the importance of Christian doctrines in regulating church worship and practice, this article uses God’s holiness to evaluate the theological authenticity of the NPPs’ controversial activities. The research question answered in the article is: how can an understanding of the holiness of God empower Christian believers to respond meaningfully to the controversial practices? The article begins by describing the theoretical framework of God’s holiness. This is followed by describing the NPPs’ shift from prophecy focusing on holiness to one focused on human needs. Furthermore, this shift among the NPPs from holiness to human needs is attributed to celebrity cultism through which the prophets thrust themselves as powerful figures who are able to solve people’s problems. Afterward an analysis is made of how the holiness of God is violated by the NPPs’ controversial practices. Finally, some steps are suggested for NPPs and their followers to take to align their activities with God’s holiness. The contribution of the article lies in highlighting the importance of God’s holiness as a standard of measuring the Christian authenticity of the controversial activities of the NPPs in South Africa. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article uses insights from the doctrine of God’s holiness, the role of biblical prophecy and the doctrine of the church, to critique the controversial activities of the NPPs in South Africa.
Highlights
Controversial neo-Pentecostal prophets (NPPs) continue to dominate the South African religious sphere in ways that raise questions about the moral character of the modern Christian churches, and the character of the God being worshipped in those churches
The controversial NPPs points to the new Pentecostal prophetic movement that is different from the classical conservative Pentecostalism (CCP)
This article has attempted to wrestle with controversial NPPs from a systematic theological view that emphasises the role of Christian doctrines in regulating church worship and practice
Summary
Controversial neo-Pentecostal prophets (NPPs) continue to dominate the South African religious sphere in ways that raise questions about the moral character of the modern Christian churches, and the character of the God being worshipped in those churches. The research question which this article attempts to answer is: how can an understanding of the holiness of God assist Christian believers to respond to the controversial practices among NPPs in South Africa?
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