NG Kerk ondersoek die Duiwel

[Die Ou Man]

Johannes de Villiers, Beeld dd 05/06/2007

Boksburg - The Dutch Reformed Church (NGK) has appointed a task-team to decide if Satan really exists.

A proposed decision on "spiritual warfare and deliverance (casting out evil spirits)", was referred by the NGK's General Synod meeting on Tuesday for further investigation, because a number of delegates felt that such a policy would literally deny the existence of the devil.

In terms of the policy proposal the church would distance itself from certain "spectacular" forms of deliverance, including lengthy confrontational discussions with devils, and the idea that people can become possessed.

Many delegates were upset that a report intended to underscore the policy, stated that evil could rather be seen as an internalised part of humankind, or as part of unjust social structures, rather than as a supernatural being.

Psycho-pathological phenomena

Professor Johan van Rensburg, a Free State University theologian, said the report contained a "highly dangerous, unscientific and irresponsible" point of departure, namely that the biblical passages in which Jesus Christ cast out evil spirits were actually descriptions of psycho-pathological phenomena.

Matthew chapter 8 described Jesus casting out evil spirits, which then took possession of swine.

"Now, what psycho-pathologies were cast into those swine?" Van Rensburg demanded.

By contrast, Dr Ben du Toit said, when one works with a pre-modern interpretation of evil, the effect is precisely to reduce it.

"A devil that dwells among us, committing all kinds of (evil) deeds is not as big a threat as the evil that exists within each one of us.

"To think of the devil as a pre-modern figure, is to constrict the destructive influence of evil in the world.

"Evil is much worse than a presence that sits somewhere, deliberately planning how to influence our lives," he said.

Church must take a stand

Professor Adrio Konig who proposed an amendment to listen to the arguments of deliverance, said the church should also provide clarity on its thoughts about the devil.

The amendment was carried by 277 votes to 75.

[Die Ou Man]

Nou wonder ek hoe ver die kerk intussen met sy ondersoek na die Duiwel gevorder het.

Hoe meer onder druk die kerk en bybel-dwepers kom, des te meer gryp hulle na die Duiwel as bondgenoot.

[knipmes]

Seg ek ohk mos...

Miskien moet ek hulle help in hul ondersoek, ek en die duiwel is al hoeka pelle.....











groetnis
knipmes

[kobus]

Ek weet nie waarna hulle soek nie. My oorle skoonpa se ou sêding was altyd dat waar 'n klomp kerkmense bymekaar is, dans die duiwel heel voor. Dink hulle die maklikste manier om van satan onslae te raak is ontkenning, ek hoop hulle dink weer want daar sit 'n hele klompie pragtige en goeie mense wat hulle dogma soos soetkoek opeet en onwrikbaar glo. Dit is die wat nie sê "wyk satan" nie maar "my dominee het so gesê". Al het die rakker wat gesê.