TELE-EVANGELISTS AND PUBLIC PREACHERS
Mulu Emmanuel, OP.
The strategies they use to evangelize include advertisements through computer graphics, advertising miracles, capitalizing on peoples problems, dwelling on prosperity gospels and promising easy solutions to the problems people face. They also attack other churches especially the Catholic Church.
Theologically, their doctrines are not sound as such. They are more psychological than theological. There is a way in which they manipulate or play with people’s psychology while overemphasizing on a bible verse which might even be taken out of context. They only appeal to peoples emotions. Only a few can be said to have undergone a theological training.
Many reasons account for the great following they command from the people. These include; Miracles and healing, vibrant music and dancing, relaxed rules, preaching based on the immediate needs of the people and their availability through the net and phones among others.
To face the challenge posed by them especially in the life of the Catholic faithful, there is need for the Catholic clergy to be down to earth in their preaching, have an on-going catechesis for the faithful, promotion of youth activities and participation in the church, and give a chance to other movements in the church like the charismatic among other strategies.
SECTS
There are many different conditions and problems that give rise to sects. Most of them are based on spirituality. They are exclusivist spiritualities or beliefs meaning they tend to exclude a certain group of people against another like the Jehovah’s Witness. Some claim to have received a vision direct from God instructing them to do something or behave in a certain way. Sometimes we may have sects founded on cultural aspects like tribes or overemphasizing on a particular aspect of a community’s culture.
To face the challenge posed by the sects, we have to give proper information to the faithful, help them to avoid spiritualism, strong grounding in faith, and empower them both economically and socially because these are some of the problems which lead them to join these sects. It is especially up to the Bishop, the Synod of Eastern Catholic Churches or the Episcopal Conference to discern how best to respond to the challenge posed by sects in a given area. But it must be stressed that the principles for spiritual sharing or practical cooperation outlined in the Directory only apply to the Churches and ecclesial Communities with which the Catholic Church has established ecumenical relations
NEW AGE MOVEMENTS
These are synchretic movements based on science popularly known as scientology. They have no belief system and are highly secretive. Some attach a new message or meaning to every century or millennium. Some notable ones include the 1st Church of Scientists along Nyerere road in Nairobi, and the Free Masons at the intersection of Nyerere road, Kenyatta Avenue and state house road in Nairobi.
To face the challenges posed by them, the Church has to emphasize on quality education for the clergy because the New Age Movements comprise of highly educated people. Through education the clergy can decipher the lies behind these movements and advise the faithful accordingly.
No comments:
Post a Comment