Zimbabwe
Pentecostalism has become the most rapidly growing expression of Christianity in the world today. Anabaptists in the African context are not foreigners to this reality. The desire to break free from missionary control, or better put ‘a quest for spiritual liberty’, has seen an impetus in the Pentecostal expression within Anabaptist domains.
In Southern African over the last 20 years, the spiritual climate is more inclined toward Pentecostalism and away from Anabaptist and other traditional/mainline churches. Much of the character, thought and practice of the African church is being patterned against or mimics that of Pentecostal movements. Traditional churches are struggling to compete for numbers with Pentecostal churches whose spiritual fervency connects with African traditional religion.
How does this affect the Anabaptist churches in Africa?
Anabaptists need to embrace the growth of Pentecostalism within the African context. It is not something that Anabaptist churches can do away with because it is here to stay.
Over time, the highest expression of spirituality in African churches has been idealized as Pentecostal spirituality. The key being its fervency. Many African Christians see the traditional churches, with style of faith, worship and practice taught by the missionaries as lacking spiritual fervency. Now, African believers seek a passionate expression of faith and spirituality, and Pentecostalism is offering that.
Offering that fervency, the Anabaptist church is seeing believers either leaving their congregation or infiltrating it within practices from Pentecostalism. The dramatic sermons, the fervent prayers, the singing, the dancing, the casting out of demons, the calling out to the Holy Spirit, the infilling moments, and all other Pentecostal expressions are more appealing to many African believers today, than are the sombre and subtle expressions of worship commonly seen within the Anabaptist churches. These characteristics connect well with the average African, making Pentecostalism seem more African than foreign.
The opportunity that Pentecostalism seems to offer is a truly African expression of faith in the Triune God. Unlike African Traditional Churches, Pentecostalism has firm belief in most fundamental truths that conservative Christians adhere to, but is at times guilty in application. The opportunity for the Anabaptist church is to relate these Scriptural and theological truths into more meaningful expressions that are relevant to African believers.
But, the downside of this Pentecostal movement is the creation of splinter church movements. The African climate is saturated with Pentecostal movements that have translated into so many charismatic movements from which even other Pentecostal churches are divorcing themselves. These splinter-churches have become a threat to the stability of Christianity within the Southern African region. Opponents to the Christian faith with our region are blaming Pentecostalism of creating counterfeit pastors, prophets, Man-of-God and the prosperity gospel.
It is critical for dialogue to exist between Pentecostalism and Anabaptism. The key is to identify points of confluence and points of divergence. To develop a more effective and fervent Christian context, dialogue must exist between camps. Pentecostalism must be strengthened with the fundamentals of Christian doctrine, thought and practice, rather than just feeling, expression and experience.
Ecumenical relations are now initiating dialogue, seminars, trainings and workshops on best ways to communicate an African Christian expression that is not contrary to biblical teaching. Churches are now coming together to critique certain splinter movements that seek to convey a Biblical message of Christian expression that is not in line with Christian doctrine, thought and practice. Leaders and teachers are collaborating from both Pentecostal and missionary churches to produce and publish articles and literature that will educate the Christian masses on the proper Christian values and practice. Television and radio dialogues are broadcast with pastors, leaders and teachers from various church backgrounds to debate true Christian teachings.
Anabaptists now need to realize the need for dialogue with Pentecostal movements. In our African context, the desire is to experience a truly African Christian Spirituality. Yet, Anabaptist teaching on properly and effectively handling biblical texts is also crucial. If we are not communicating the most effective African Spirituality that embraces the best from both Anabaptism and Pentecostalism, then African believers will be swayed by misconstrued spiritual expressions.
—Mfakazi Ndlovu has a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, a Postgraduate Diploma in corporate governance, and a Master of Business Administration. He served as lecturer and academic dean at Ekuphileni Bible Institute, a Brethren In Christ Church (BICC) Bible college in Zimbabwe, as adjunct lecturer with the Theological College of Zimbabwe, and has served BICC Zimbabwe as an administrative clerk.