By Fr George Nkeze Jingwa, Director, John Paul II Institute of Theology, Buea
I would like to thank Mr Cho Wanki for expressing his opinion on the views of How Catholics See T B. Joshua. If you were to ask Moslems, Baptists, or Protestants they will react and express different opinions based on their faith. So, it should not be surprising that Catholics are reacting to something which is not part of the Church’s teaching and life.
Let me take the concept of healing which he talked about. The issue we are addressing as Catholics is not the denial of miracles or healing. In the time of Christ, there were other healers and miracle workers. Christ was even accused of using the power of Beelzebub to cast out demons. (Matthew 12:22-28). The question is how biblical or Christ-centred are these healings or miracles. And we know that there are other sources of healings and miracles such as that of the Devil. So knowledge and discernment are important (1 Jn 4:1-3). Let me take the concept of healing to illustrate the point.
It is important today that Christians understand the difference between healing and cure. Cure is one dimensional. You have an illness and a cure eliminates it. Healing occurs on many levels – the emotions, the body, in relationships with others and in relationships to the planet. Cures do not address one’s sense of well-being, or whether one’s life is rich and full of power. Medical anthropologists distinguish between disease as a biomedical malfunction that afflicts an organism, and illness as disvalued human life. Curing is aimed at disease, it is a rare occurrence. Healing is aimed at illness. It occurs infallibly all the time for all people. Everyone works out a new meaning in life no matter what the predicament. Christ did not cure all the sick, but he healed all those who came to him.
Healing, soter in Hebrew, means whole, not divided, disrupted, or disintegrated. Healing restores original harmony. Salvation restores life and implies victory over death. In the New Testament scriptures salvation implies deliverance of human beings from all forms of evil: sickness, mental illness, demonic possession and death.
Jesus’ miracles were significant for his community because they were a sign of God’s reign, redemption, and the arrival of the fullness of time. Jesus’ ability to heal was a living sign that the reign of God had arrived. For a Catholic, what is central is that in Christ we are healed and delivered from the ravages of sin. And this is the purpose of the Sacrament of Anointing which works at the four degrees of healing.
What are these four degrees of healing?
First, the ideal is to remain in perfect health. If one is in union with Jesus, our everlasting Health, perhaps we would never – or seldom – fall sick. Second, to receive healing once one falls sick. Third, to receive God’s courage, endurance, and comfort if one suffers in the midst of sickness without being physically cured and fourth, to accept death and the death process, the ultimate healing and the door to new life.
These gradations of healing are mentioned in the New Rite of Anointing of the Sick, and healing takes place through this Sacrament on at least one of the four levels mentioned above. It is important to note that Christ did not cure all the sick in Israel, but he healed all those who came to him.
I have made this distinction because it helps us to understand the Catholic position vis-à-vis the healing ministry of T.B Joshua. And the opinions Catholic Christians have shared in L’Effort Camerounais confirm that they are different. I do not see any effective form of educating Catholics than making them understand how rich their faith is vis-à-vis a phenomenon today that limits God’s redemptive mission to only physical cures, if at all they do occur as many are being misled to believe.
After this general clarification, permit me to briefly address what I consider to be the three major highlights of Mr Cho Wanki’s concerns:
First, that none of those who responded to the questionnaire knew the life and works of Joshua. I do not have to know the life and works of a person personally before I know what he or she does. I do not have to go to America before I can know what goes on in America. The Scripture says “by their fruits you will know them”. Truth is universal. I have been privileged to counsel more than 50 Catholic Christians who have visited T.B. Joshua. Unfortunately, I have not been able to see ONE who has been cured. I always tell people to give me one case of a genuine cure.
I have cases of those who are cured temporarily and later on the illness becomes worse. I have discussed with patients who T.B Joshua asked not to take their drugs for they were cured and their situation is now horrible. I know a few stubborn ones who refused to go to the hospital to confirm their cure and not be deceived by someone who told them that they were cured. Unfortunately, some have died because they had “terminal illnesses” that needed constant medication. By their fruits you will know them.
It was these and other experiences that made me to reflect on the proliferation of prophets in our society today - A catholic perspective which is being published by L’Effort Camerounais as a series. It is important to remind Mr Cho Wanki that L’Effort Camerounais is a Catholic paper that reflects the faith experience and views of Catholics.
Second, that no one acknowledged the charitable works of T. B. Joshua. In my article prophets or Diviners, I did indicate that TB Joshua is a philanthropist and not a prophet of the poor from the technical point of view. A prophet of the poor, as I explained, is not one who gives to the poor only. A prophet of the poor is one who preaches and lives the life of Christ Crucified. As regards the Catholic Church and charity, I would like to say that there are thousands of charitable organizations in the Church.
Christ reminds us that whenever you give alms do not let your left hand know what your right hand is giving. (Matthew 6: 1-9) In other words, our giving is not for TV or public show, but to give glory to God by reaching out to the poor. Mr Cho is right that Joshua’s social integration policy falls in line with the Pharisaic Approach which Christ condemns in Matthew 6: 1-9. This certainly is not the Catholic Approach. There are many charitable organizations in the Church like St Vincent de Paul Society. There are many dioceses in Cameroon that offer scholarships to children from underprivileged homes and families. The Diocese of Buea has many charitable projects within schools, colleges and parishes. Do you suggest that we go publicising all these? It is not the Catholic Way.
Third, Mr Cho considers 20 years to be long enough to ascertain the truthfulness of Joshua’s miracles. In the Catholic Church it takes a much longer time before the authenticity and truthfulness of self-acclaimed miracle workers are ascertained and confirmed. The Catholic Church has 2,000 years of experience. This is not twenty days. Twenty years is nothing to judge the truthfulness of TB Joshua’s imbroglio. The advice also of Gamaliel using the Miracle workers Theudas and Judas the Galilean also hold good here. (Acts 5: 35-40). In T.B Joshua’s face, Catholics do not panic. It is all to enlighten our Christian brothers and sisters not to go astray. Thank you.
Fr George Nkeze Jingwa
Director, John Paul II Institute of Theology, Buea
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