James 5: 13-18 as a favourite passage for Christian faith healing in response to the limitations ... more James 5: 13-18 as a favourite passage for Christian faith healing in response to the limitations of orthodox medicine delivery in Ghana. There are several approaches to the interpretation of this passage among Christians, ranging from reading 'the sacrament of extreme unction' into it, and trusting the oil of anointing as having magical healing powers rather than the healer himself, who is Jesus, to claiming that certain individuals possess special divine powers by which they can heal any sickness. This paper regards such self-styled able-to-heal-all attitude as contrary to the meaning of the text and argues that a proper appreciation of this text is required to help Christian faith healers and their clients not to sink into delusions and a false sense of security from what they consider to be divine healing.
Is tithing, that is, the practice of giving ten percent of one's income to the Church, mandatory ... more Is tithing, that is, the practice of giving ten percent of one's income to the Church, mandatory for Christians? This article investigates this question by studying some of the major biblical references to tithing. The goal of this article is not to present a particular denominational dogma but rather to determine the revealed will of God on tithing. After presenting various interpretations and understandings of tithing, the author finally contends that no biblical passage can legitimately be used to argue for the continuation of tithing in the new covenant period.
Considered as the epitome of Jesus' teaching and hence the essence of Christianity,1the Sermon on... more Considered as the epitome of Jesus' teaching and hence the essence of Christianity,1the Sermon on the Mount has been at the center of many theological discussions throughout the history of the Church. It is undoubtedly one of the most debated works in all of literature and as such it has been variously interpreted in history. Several exegetical implications, theological presuppositions, and ethical meanings have been proposed to it by different people. In this study, encounter some of the most influential Christian leaders and theologians from the patristic era to the present era reflecting on this all important passage in the Bible. The purpose of the study is to examine some of the major views of interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount and to locate these in a current context.
Christian pro-homosexuals constitute a formidable challenge to the witness of the Church of Chris... more Christian pro-homosexuals constitute a formidable challenge to the witness of the Church of Christ in the 21 st century. While anti-homosexuals appeal to the Bible, nature and culture to condemn homosexuality, pro-homosexuals use the same resources to support the practice. This paper examines the two sides of the arguments and offers some suggestions as to the way forward. The thesis statement of the paper is that, Christian anti-homosexuals are enjoined by their calling to love, accommodate and embrace pro-homosexuals.
The issue of imprecatory prayer in African Christianity is alarming these days. Today, in Africa,... more The issue of imprecatory prayer in African Christianity is alarming these days. Today, in Africa, it looks as if everyone has some imaginary enemy against whom vengeance is sought. Imprecatory prayers are very common, filling up our airwaves and Television networks. Almost every African prayer is geared towards destroying one enemy or the other. For this reason, people troop to prayer meetings with canes and ropes to tie and whip their enemies and to eventually destroy them. Interestingly, no matter where prayer meetings are held, no matter the occasion, no matter the prevailing conditions, people pray as loud as they can, energetically and in dramatic fashion when prayer topics are raised against their enemies. Do these prayers resonate with Jesus' teaching regarding how we should treat our enemies?1 Increasing concerns regarding the theology of imprecatory prayers has prompted us to critically examine the issue of pronouncing doom for enemies in Christian prayers. This paper examines prayers collected from meetings of some contemporary African churches and posits that Christian prayer ought to be ordered differently from this pervasive pattern.
The aim of theological education is to raise knowledgeable and godly men and women for the Church... more The aim of theological education is to raise knowledgeable and godly men and women for the Church of Christ, who are able to contribute their quota to the full realization of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, by equipping believers to full potential. In confronting this task, theological educators have had to face many difficulties, especially in Africa that, the gospel of Christ is required to address. How do they train students of theology, especially those of the Reformed persuasion with its unique presuppositions, to respond to socio-political challenges in Africa, such as war, conflict, famine and political instability, while remaining faithful to the tradition? Based on the analyses of the views of 50 Ghanaian Reformed theological students, this paper examines the issues of prosperity theology, deliverance theology and Eschatology, and offers some suggestions as a response.
James 5: 13-18 as a favourite passage for Christian faith healing in response to the limitations ... more James 5: 13-18 as a favourite passage for Christian faith healing in response to the limitations of orthodox medicine delivery in Ghana. There are several approaches to the interpretation of this passage among Christians, ranging from reading 'the sacrament of extreme unction' into it, and trusting the oil of anointing as having magical healing powers rather than the healer himself, who is Jesus, to claiming that certain individuals possess special divine powers by which they can heal any sickness. This paper regards such self-styled able-to-heal-all attitude as contrary to the meaning of the text and argues that a proper appreciation of this text is required to help Christian faith healers and their clients not to sink into delusions and a false sense of security from what they consider to be divine healing.
Is tithing, that is, the practice of giving ten percent of one's income to the Church, mandatory ... more Is tithing, that is, the practice of giving ten percent of one's income to the Church, mandatory for Christians? This article investigates this question by studying some of the major biblical references to tithing. The goal of this article is not to present a particular denominational dogma but rather to determine the revealed will of God on tithing. After presenting various interpretations and understandings of tithing, the author finally contends that no biblical passage can legitimately be used to argue for the continuation of tithing in the new covenant period.
Considered as the epitome of Jesus' teaching and hence the essence of Christianity,1the Sermon on... more Considered as the epitome of Jesus' teaching and hence the essence of Christianity,1the Sermon on the Mount has been at the center of many theological discussions throughout the history of the Church. It is undoubtedly one of the most debated works in all of literature and as such it has been variously interpreted in history. Several exegetical implications, theological presuppositions, and ethical meanings have been proposed to it by different people. In this study, encounter some of the most influential Christian leaders and theologians from the patristic era to the present era reflecting on this all important passage in the Bible. The purpose of the study is to examine some of the major views of interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount and to locate these in a current context.
Christian pro-homosexuals constitute a formidable challenge to the witness of the Church of Chris... more Christian pro-homosexuals constitute a formidable challenge to the witness of the Church of Christ in the 21 st century. While anti-homosexuals appeal to the Bible, nature and culture to condemn homosexuality, pro-homosexuals use the same resources to support the practice. This paper examines the two sides of the arguments and offers some suggestions as to the way forward. The thesis statement of the paper is that, Christian anti-homosexuals are enjoined by their calling to love, accommodate and embrace pro-homosexuals.
The issue of imprecatory prayer in African Christianity is alarming these days. Today, in Africa,... more The issue of imprecatory prayer in African Christianity is alarming these days. Today, in Africa, it looks as if everyone has some imaginary enemy against whom vengeance is sought. Imprecatory prayers are very common, filling up our airwaves and Television networks. Almost every African prayer is geared towards destroying one enemy or the other. For this reason, people troop to prayer meetings with canes and ropes to tie and whip their enemies and to eventually destroy them. Interestingly, no matter where prayer meetings are held, no matter the occasion, no matter the prevailing conditions, people pray as loud as they can, energetically and in dramatic fashion when prayer topics are raised against their enemies. Do these prayers resonate with Jesus' teaching regarding how we should treat our enemies?1 Increasing concerns regarding the theology of imprecatory prayers has prompted us to critically examine the issue of pronouncing doom for enemies in Christian prayers. This paper examines prayers collected from meetings of some contemporary African churches and posits that Christian prayer ought to be ordered differently from this pervasive pattern.
The aim of theological education is to raise knowledgeable and godly men and women for the Church... more The aim of theological education is to raise knowledgeable and godly men and women for the Church of Christ, who are able to contribute their quota to the full realization of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, by equipping believers to full potential. In confronting this task, theological educators have had to face many difficulties, especially in Africa that, the gospel of Christ is required to address. How do they train students of theology, especially those of the Reformed persuasion with its unique presuppositions, to respond to socio-political challenges in Africa, such as war, conflict, famine and political instability, while remaining faithful to the tradition? Based on the analyses of the views of 50 Ghanaian Reformed theological students, this paper examines the issues of prosperity theology, deliverance theology and Eschatology, and offers some suggestions as a response.
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Papers by F. Mawusi Amevenku