Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequality
Background: The article dissected white South African classical Pentecostals’ concept of prophecy in the context of widespread poverty and the resulting socio-economic inequality that characterises their society. As a rule, most white Pentecostals do not respond to the challenges of inequality and d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-07-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Pentecostal Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://ajops.org/index.php/ajops/article/view/14 |
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| author | Marius Nel |
| author_facet | Marius Nel |
| author_sort | Marius Nel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The article dissected white South African classical Pentecostals’ concept of prophecy in the context of widespread poverty and the resulting socio-economic inequality that characterises their society. As a rule, most white Pentecostals do not respond to the challenges of inequality and disparities by getting involved in assemblies in former apartheid-segregated ‘black’ communities that are characterised by widespread poverty. The legacy of apartheid’s separate neighbourhoods is still intact, implying that racial distinctions determine, to a great extent, who lives where. In addition to preaching practices, the congregational prophecies that occur among them also do not reflect these dire circumstances that characterise a majority of South Africans and play no role in arousing their social conscience.
Objectives: The article aims to define Pentecostal prophecy against the context of South African socio-economic inequality.
Method: A qualitative conversation with 43 white Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (AFM) pastors at the level of regional and national conferences during 2024 provides a view of white Pentecostals regarding the church’s handling of social inequality.
Results: Most white Pentecostals in South Africa (SA) are aware of the social inequality that mars the separateness between formerly white and black neighbourhoods. However, the awareness has not infiltrated their spirituality to the extent that it is reflected in the prophetic practice.
Conclusion: Most white South African Pentecostals still live in neighbourhoods separated from the squalid conditions of many black townships and ignore the structural, political, economic, and social issues that cause poverty. They interpret their prophetic task to exclude consideration of social ethics and structural challenges. What is needed is an urgent reconsideration of prophecy and its relevance for current socio-economic challenges.
Contribution: The article was presented to awaken and stir up the consciences of white Pentecostals for the dire economic circumstances of most South Africans threatened by unemployment and poverty. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e20b66cae474a9ebf9139eb6f7dd0cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 3005-6136 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Pentecostal Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-8e20b66cae474a9ebf9139eb6f7dd0cc2024-11-20T13:00:50ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Pentecostal Studies3005-61362024-07-0111e1e710.4102/ajops.v1i1.1414Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequalityMarius Nel0Unit for Reformational Theology, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, PotchefstroomBackground: The article dissected white South African classical Pentecostals’ concept of prophecy in the context of widespread poverty and the resulting socio-economic inequality that characterises their society. As a rule, most white Pentecostals do not respond to the challenges of inequality and disparities by getting involved in assemblies in former apartheid-segregated ‘black’ communities that are characterised by widespread poverty. The legacy of apartheid’s separate neighbourhoods is still intact, implying that racial distinctions determine, to a great extent, who lives where. In addition to preaching practices, the congregational prophecies that occur among them also do not reflect these dire circumstances that characterise a majority of South Africans and play no role in arousing their social conscience. Objectives: The article aims to define Pentecostal prophecy against the context of South African socio-economic inequality. Method: A qualitative conversation with 43 white Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (AFM) pastors at the level of regional and national conferences during 2024 provides a view of white Pentecostals regarding the church’s handling of social inequality. Results: Most white Pentecostals in South Africa (SA) are aware of the social inequality that mars the separateness between formerly white and black neighbourhoods. However, the awareness has not infiltrated their spirituality to the extent that it is reflected in the prophetic practice. Conclusion: Most white South African Pentecostals still live in neighbourhoods separated from the squalid conditions of many black townships and ignore the structural, political, economic, and social issues that cause poverty. They interpret their prophetic task to exclude consideration of social ethics and structural challenges. What is needed is an urgent reconsideration of prophecy and its relevance for current socio-economic challenges. Contribution: The article was presented to awaken and stir up the consciences of white Pentecostals for the dire economic circumstances of most South Africans threatened by unemployment and poverty.https://ajops.org/index.php/ajops/article/view/14prophecyclassical pentecostalismcontinuationismsocio-political engagementsocio-economic inequalitydisparitiessocial justice. |
| spellingShingle | Marius Nel Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequality African Journal of Pentecostal Studies prophecy classical pentecostalism continuationism socio-political engagement socio-economic inequality disparities social justice. |
| title | Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequality |
| title_full | Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequality |
| title_fullStr | Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequality |
| title_short | Prophecy, Pentecostals and South Africa’s socio-economic inequality |
| title_sort | prophecy pentecostals and south africa s socio economic inequality |
| topic | prophecy classical pentecostalism continuationism socio-political engagement socio-economic inequality disparities social justice. |
| url | https://ajops.org/index.php/ajops/article/view/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariusnel prophecypentecostalsandsouthafricassocioeconomicinequality |