Verbum et Ecclesia Volume 28 Issue 2 (2007)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/6737

Verbum et Ecclesia is fulltext available on Open Journals Publishing.

Browse

Now showing 1 - 17 of 17

Matthew, the church and anti-Semitism
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Viljoen, Francois P.
The use of the noun ekklesia forms a distinctive feature in Matthew's Gospel. This term must have had a distinctive meaning for Matthew and his readers at the time he used it in his Gospel, though not as full blown as in the Pauline literature and later church history. At that stage the Matthean community considered itself outside the Jewish synagogues. This consideration can be noticed in the Matthean text, when reading the Matthean Jesus story as an "inclusive" story, including the story of the Matthean community. This story reveals a considerable portion of tension between the Matthean and Synagogue communities. An inattentive reading of this text has often unfairly led towards generalized Christian prejudice against all Jews. I argue that the conflict exposed in the text, must be read in context of the experiences of the Matthean community as to safeguard Christian from unjustified Anti-Semitism in general. Faith in or rejection of Jesus acts as dividing factor between the church and the synagogue, not ethnicity.
Geloofsverskille : waar kom hulle vandaan en wat maak ons met hulle?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Jordaan, W.J.
In this article about the origin of differences in faith and how we can / should deal with them, the article explores the extent to which language may guide or misguide our reflections about God as mystery, and how differences in faith become embedded in the nature and dynamics of religious discourse; both external and internal. Such discourses are then linked to four phases of faith which emerge in various permutations and combinations; are recursively linked; and together attest to faith as a journey and not as a fixed destination. These phases are: blind gullibility and stultification; conflict and doubt; outsidership; and a sense of wonder / fundamental trust. Focussing on the latter faith "position" the author then explores how our talk about God can be guided by what the philosopher Paul van Buren calls the "edges of language" - where the word God serves as the final speech act when one wants deperately to say the most that is possible. Various examples from literature, the arts and Scripture are supplied to elucidate the edges of language and how these may retain connections with traditional / convential religious language utterances and the various phases of faith. Finally, the article explores the deeper meaning of tolerance as as a disposition that emerges from the integrity of commitment and which would allow the respectful accommodation of all such commitments.
Rol en taak van die kerk ten opsigte van begrafnisgebruike
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Oliver, Erna
The modern trend to keep death at a distance has a negative impact on Christians. It seems as if the Church is following this societal pattern and is incompetent to provide sufficient information and preparation to church members. This can be one of the reasons why people who are confronted by the trauma of death, are not able to coupe or find comfort and security in their faith. The historical development of funeral rites, as well as the viewpoint of the different South African sister churches regarding funerals, are responsible for the current gap in ministry to the bereaved. This gap can be filled by redirecting the theological focus of the church, also by providing information, training and guidance to both church members and support groups, and by reforming funeral rites.
Jesus, Judas en 'n stukkie brood. Die betekenis van 'n gebaar in Johannes 13:26
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Tolmie, D.F. (D. Francois)
In the Gospel according to John, Jesus identifies Judas as the traitor in a highly dramatic fashion by handing him a morsel. Although Johannine scholars do not often comment on this gesture, in cases where they do, one finds a surprisingly wide range of interpretations, for example, it is interpreted as a gesture denoting Judas as an outsider, a gesture of friendship, a gesture indicating baptism or the eucharist, even a gesture indicating that Judas shares eucharist with the Satan. In this article the interpretation of this gesture is considered. After a discussion of the characterisation of Judas in the Gospel according to John, the gesture itself is considered. Its possible background in antiquity is discussed, which is then followed by an interpretation of the gesture as a gesture of friendship. It is also suggested that the gesture could also be viewed as (another) example of Johannine irony.
Does the church deliver? Perceptions amongst South Africans about the role of the church in the HIV / AIDS field
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Van Dyk, P.J.; Van Dyk, Alet C.
The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of South Africans regarding the church and their attitudes towards HIV-positive people and condom usage. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to investigate participants' perceptions and attitudes towards the church, HIV-positive people and condom usage. The questionnaire was completed by 1352 participants from diverse religious and other backgrounds. Results showed that 67.2% of participants (mostly active church goers) were prepared to go to their minister for support (if they were HIV-positive). Views that HIV / AIDS is God's punishment, that HIV-infection is the result of a 'sinful lifestyle' and the condemnation of condom usage were more prevalent among certain categories of people (eg. those who had not been tested for HIV before, men, persons from rural areas, people of lower education level, the unemployed and in some cases the more active members of the church). A third (33.5%) of the participants believed that religious people would be less prone to HIV-infection than non-religious people. 59.1% participants (mostly women and active church goers) believed that the church is doing its best to support HIV-positive people.
Pentecostals' reading of the Old Testament
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Nel, Malan
The question of a valid and viable Pentecostal hermeneutic is discussed leading to the preliminary conclusion that such a hermeneutic would consist of the following elements: the experience of the immanence of God, within the charismatic community, through the work of the Spirit. The hermeneutic leads to a reading of Old (and New) Testament texts, especially narrative texts, as replicable for modern-day believers, because Pentecostals view the Bible as consisting primarily of testimonies of God's involvement and intervention in ancient believers' lives with the aim to duplicate those acts in modern believers' lives. The narratives of Pentecostals' preaching and testimony are based upon Biblical tales but they are also accompanied by the same signs and wonders the Bible testifies to. This causes Pentecostals' success in missions as non-literary societies are not interested in creeds but in oral narratives demonstrated in practice. Signs and wonders, healings and revelations, prophetic words and resurrections demonstrate the immanence of God as described in the Bible in a dramatic way to modern people.
Stollen, kristalliseren of verdampen? De collectieve identiteit van christelijke geloofsgemeenschappen in een tijd van individualisering en pluralisering
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Roest, Henk de, 1959-
This article addresses the complex issue of the collective identity of Christian communities in a time of individualisation and pluralisation. The emphasis in the 1980's was very much on organising, building and managing strategies; however, since then the religious 'market' has been offering a wide range of spiritual 'products' to serve every need. Yet the core question remains: what is it that unites members of a particular faith community and encourages commitment and involvement in church matters? Two opposite examples illustrate recent practices. The Saddleback congregation, in Mission Viejo California is an evangelistic orientated church that aims to involve members completely. The Church is a support-system, an answer to questions, a base for talents to flourish, a circle for friendship, sharing and caring. At the other extreme is the Remonstrante Broederskap in the Netherlands with a complete liberal approach, a very low degree of organisation, leaving members free to 'shop'. The mediating mechanism that holds everything and everyone together is a common creed. Within a highly secularised and individualised society a fear exisists that faith and religion might disintegrate. Yet that does not seem to be the case. Communication of a particular identity, the 'spiritual inside' of a faith community raises the possibility of renewed crystallisation of many varied forms of belief and worship, thus saving communities of faith from complete evaporation.
Veronderstelt de natuur een plan en intelligentie?
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Vroom, Hendrik M., 1945-
This contribution analyses the various domains of argumentation in the discussions on intelligent design and creation & evolution: scientific facts, philosophical interpretations on nature and on divinity, and theological reflections upon the relation between and integration of such philosophical interpretations and the biblical message about God. If arguments from those domains are related to quickly, the argumentation becomes sloppy and conclusions are reached to hasty. Therefore the different domains have been distinguished carefully. The intelligence of natural laws points to an intelligent source. The complexity of progress in the evolutionary process suggests that it is improbable that it just has developed by change - whatever the consequences for the understanding of developments that can be valuated as good or as evil. In the last sections the relation between a philosophical idea of intelligence and creation and the biblical ideas of God as Creator, of the goodness of God, and the reality of evil are discussed.
Sinkretisme as missiologiese uitdaging
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Kritzinger, J.J. (Johan Jakob); Niemand, S.J.J. (Samuel Jacobus Johannes)
Religious syncretism is usually seen as the intermingling of two religious systems to the extent that the uniqueness of a specific religion is compromised. It is thus understood as missiologically negative. This article attemps to view this from another - and more positive - angle. Here we show how the process of inculturation, the "incarnation" of the gospel within a culture is not much different from the process we term "positive syncretism". It is also possible that the process could veer off in a negative direction. This process therefore remains a formidable challenge to mission in the sense that while there are always new cultural worlds to be penetrated by the gospel, the process cannot be controlled by any "outsiders". This theory is applied and tested by looking at the phenomenon of African Independent Churches, and a simple two-dimensional model is developed as illustration of a typology.
Schoonheid als theologisch begrip : Urs von Balthasar's en Van der Leeuw's esthetiek kritisch beschouwd
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Stoker, W.
This article will demonstrate why beauty is an important value for the Christian faith. This is done by investigating how beauty has been developed as a theological concept by Hans Urs von Balthasar and Gerardus van der Leeuw. Beauty is an indispensable value because the holy encompasses the beautiful. Beauty belongs to the joy of shalom, to the joy of the coming Kingdom of God. The argument for beauty deals further with three questions: the relationship between the secular and the religious experience of beauty; the place of the ugly as a contrast to the beautiful and the question of whether art is only a matter of contemplating the beautiful or whether art is primarily an instrument and object of action.
Pneumatologiese benadering tot die teologie
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Brand, S.J.P.
This article investigates the relationship between the subjective experiential side of faith and the objective rational side thereof. The two Theologians, Karl Rahner and John Calvin both propose, from different perspectives, a unity between rationality and experience. A Pneumatological approach emphasizes a theology of accountability and responsibility (teologie van verantwoording). This theology acknowledges the importance of man’s experience and man's search for purpose and meaning. Furthermore, from a Scriptural point of view, God places man in various relational contexts. God expects responsibility/accountability towards Him, towards one's fellow man and the whole of creation. Man's response is initiated in prayer guided by the Holy Spirit. In fulfilment of his/her personal responsibility/accountability a sense of meaning and purpose is achieved.
Psalms 69:33-34 in the light of the poor in the Psalter as a whole
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Groenewald, Alphonso, 1969-
The Psalter has very often been regarded as the prayer book of the poor. In the Psalms God is portrayed as the saviour of the poor, their hope, their stronghold and liberator - whether these are prayers of an individual or prayers of the community. The high concentration of the term(s) for the "poor" in the Psalter, in relation to the rest of the books of the Old Testament (OT), indeed indicates a profound affinity for the "poor" in the Psalter, which is an indication that the Psalter underwent a redaction of the "theology of the poor". In this article the focus will be on Psalm 69, as it seems to have undergone a "redaction of the poor". The main focus will be on the verses 33 and 34, as they, specifically, contain terminology of the "poor". Special attention will also be given to the different terms used for the poor in this text.
Natality. A theological approach to an anthropological basic concept in the context of bioethics
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Kortner, Ulrich H.J.
In the controversy about the introduction of new biotechnological and medical technologies, their judicial regulation and political control, not only so-called moral values are discussed but ultimately also religious credos. By the example of natality it will be shown what theology can contribute to the clarification of basic categories of anthropology, which are crucial for medical ethics. The term "natality" ("Geburtlichkeit") derives from the philosopher Hannah Arendt. In terms of the human finiteness, attention is usually turned to the mortality of the human being. Yet what does it mean for human existence that we are born? What role does this factor play with regard to concrete problems in medical ethics, and which perspectives can theology contribute in terms of their solution?
Providence and God's emergent will through prayer as it relates to determinism and healing
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Pretorius, Mark
The paper has a twofold purpose. The first is to explore: if God has settled His plans and He will do what He is going to do, then does it matter whether one prays or not? This section will also deal with the aspect of healing and prayer, specifically from a scientific perspective. The important question is: How should one treat reports of miraculous healings, and the belief that prayer can affect healing? Secondly, if prayer has any effect on what happens, then it would seem that God's plans are not fixed in the first place, and then the idea of an open-future would seem to be valid. As a result, one could no longer see the world as a mechanistic Newtonian picture. Rather, the picture portrayed would be of a world of flexibility and openness to change. The question would then be: What is the manner and scope of divine action and wherein lies the causal joint? Regarding this, areas related to determinism will be explored as determinism states that all events in the world are the result of some previous event, or events. Bringing clarity to these questions is important, as is it has a direct bearing on how one will view miracles recorded in the Scriptures, and how far one will go in trusting God to meet one's needs through prayer.
Ontluikende kerke - 'n nuwe missionêre beweging. Deel 1 : ontluikende kerke as prototipes van 'n nuwe missionere kerk
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Niemandt, Cornelius Johannes Petrus (Nelus)
The article describes Emerging Churches as a 21st century phenomenon. Emerging churches are not a new denomination, but are experimental forms of church life, found in all denominations; formulating and living Christian faith in a post-modern world. The importance of emerging churches is that they serve as risk-taking prototypes, researching ways of being a relevant church and expressing faith in a current language. Serving older churches with new insights which they can consider. They are a new expression of church. Emerging churches should be understood in terms of their strong missional orientation - even to the extent that they should rather be called emerging missional churches. The emerging movement is missional in the sense that they are seeking what changes God is doing in this world. They become missional by participating with God, in the redemptive work God is doing in a changing world. This missional understanding is profoundly influenced by David Bosch's elaboration of the concept of the Missio Dei: the understanding that the very life of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a process of mission. Emerging Churches are a new expression of church - Christians who are doing what they can to get the church back in line with the kingdom vision of Jesus. Part 2 will describe and elaborates on core practices of emerging missional churches.
Lente in die Teologie : 'n opwindende ligstraal van hoop vir die kerk
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Muller, Julian C.; julian.muller@up.ac.za
Despite popular opinion, current theology is still in the midst of winter. In this article the nature of spring - of it as the in-between season - is taken as a metaphor for theology: between the lines and prior to the middle. It is a theology beyond fundamentalism whilst preceding relativism. It is a theology in-between the equilibrium of orthodoxy and orthodox practices; in-between confidence and anxiety; prior to right and wrong. It is highly contextual and with people! A spring theology reminds of so many imperative aspects of Practical Theology: people, uncertainty, deconstruction and imagination. This understanding of theology is explained by reference to three relevant issues: (a) gay persons, who have no place in modernistic theology, (b) people with HIV / Aids who have left the church perplexed, ignorant and without large and successful intervention practices and (c) understanding about the creation of the cosmos to those who still accept, adamantly, the Biblical version of creation (of even theorise about it).
Riglyne vir 'n verantwoordelike Nuwe Testamentiese verstaan in die homoseksualiteitsdebat. Deel 1 : 'n komplekse saak
(Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, 2007) Steyn, Gert Jacobus
This is the first of two contributions that are asking how the New Testament can be used in a responsible manner in the debate about homosexuality. It is clear that this is a complex issue which is driven by subjective opinions about the phenomenon itself, and by the selection and analysis of passages chosen for the chosen viewpoint of the individual. Different arguments are steering the debate: emotional, societal pressure, biological-psychological, biblical, theological, and technical arguments all find their way in different contexts. The fact of the existence of deviations in nature, the occurrence of the phenomenon in different primitive and ancient cultures, and the use and application of a single term for a variety of aspects, are all contributing to this complex labyrinth. A responsible use of the New Testament in the debate on homosexuality can only happen when it is done in a diversified and qualified manner.

Browse

Recent Submissions