“… should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?”
(Isa 8:19)
Many faith groupings present their followers with the Christian religion mixed with a certain amount of animistic traditions. Animism can be classified as a primitive faith system which is centred around the notion that all things around us have souls (although the term soul is wrongfully substituted for spirit). Ancestors and holy objects (differing according to religion, could include anything from cows to trees) possess the right of speaking into the lives of men and the affairs of the world.
The rise of African nationalism was closely linked to the Christian religion, brought to the continent by Western missionaries. New Christians had to find a way of integrating their new system of faith with their cultural leanings and traditions, which resulted in a faith which is permeated by syncretic elements, in other words a mixture of basic Christian principles and animistic practices, such as the worship of ancestors.
The Leader of the ZCC, the largest example of this kind of faith system in South Africa (with more than 7 million members) testified before the TRC – “He realized that unless Christianity was interpreted in a context suitable to the African lifestyle, cultural and political development, Africans would in due course find themselves as a nation alienated from its roots, rich history and religious foundation.”
This unholy alliance (Phil 3:2), Christianity defilement with syncretism (Lev 18:23-24), is completely unacceptable before God because it functions as sacrifices made to foreign gods, which mock Him (Jer 44:8). There are various instances in the Scriptures where the believer is strongly advised against making any contact with spirits or the dead (Lev 19:31; 20:6; Isa 8:19). Saul lost his kingship, and his life, because of these practices – “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.”
In Jer 19:3 (KJV) these spirits are called familiar spirits who predict the future, thus acting as a channel for the Evil One. And indeed then it can be asked – “what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?”
Such an ungodly alliance demonically binds millions of good and well-meaning people to the false horns of an altar they think is the altar of God.
- Sela: Pray that members of the ZCC will come to knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4).
- Read: 1 Kings 1; Prov 28; 2 Thess 1
- Memorise: Prov 28:27
For a deeper understanding: http://www.religion-cults.com/Ancient/Animism/Animism.htm
