Directory on Ecumenism: Sharing & Reflection - Monday 19th March

Tele-evangelists and public preachers

Markanthony Agenga

Some of the Tele-evangelists include: Pastor Pius Muiru; Bishop Margat Wanjiru, Apostle Ngang’a; J.B Joshua, J.D Jakes, Kakobe. These tele-evangelists employ several strategies and some of these include:

a.       Gospel of prosperity;

b.      Miracle-based preaching;

c.       Emotion-based preaching and intercession;

d.      Music and use of modern public address systems;

e.       Attack on other denominations, especially main stream churches;

f.       Frequent use of scripture.

g.      Use of simple language;

h.      The idea of ‘personal GOD’ and a ‘personal SAVIOR’ make people want to identify with them;

i.         

These strategies partly explain why many people are attracted to them;

Even though they appear to attract a big number of followers, theologically, they are:

a.       Shallow theology

b.      Stress on sola scripture impoverishes there theology for lack of Sacred Tradition and Magisterium.

c.       Some of them often lack historical and form criticism as means of studying scripture;

How we, as pastoral agents, could face the challenges posed by them:

a.       Solid grounding in the Catholic Church;

b.      Stress on SCCs as a new way of being a church;

c.       Inculturation;

d.      Pastoral agents to be trained;

e.       Encouraging participation of the lay persons in those areas where they can legitimately participate in;

f.       Continued catechesis;

SECTS.

Problems that give rise to “Sects”

a.       Political situation;

b.      Cultural crisis and need of identity;

c.       Divisions and misunderstanding within the believing community;

d.      Economic reasons;

e.       Lack of solid grounding to the Christian faith and traditions;

How to face the challenges posed by these sects.

a.       Inculturation

b.      Proper education and training for the pastoral agents;

c.       Continued catechesis;

d.      Separation of church and state;

e.       Economic empowerment of the people;

f.       Encourage lay participation on the issues related to their faith;

New Age Movements.

It is difficult to define what the term ‘new age movement’ refers to. Basically, it is neither a religion or denomination as such; it does not have a personal God or a tenet of believe system; it is a mixture of belief system as such; it often employs a spirituality that is not related to a personal God; it seeks to offer its adherents what we call, inner solitude and peace of the mind and body.

The challenges that it poses could be addressed as follows:

a.       Proper education and training of pastoral agents;

b.      Proper and continuous catechesis;

c.       Economic empowerment of the people;

d.      Religious and social networking.