Many African churches place significant emphasis in their services on casting out demons and other demonstrations of power. These super Sunday services include healing and prophetic ministries, sometimes even the raising of the dead. In my opinion, this emphasis on powerful demonstrations stems from deeply rooted traditional beliefs about evil spirits, death, sickness, and witchcraft. African culture is almost inseparable from the spiritual realm. On the one hand, this is a good thing. For we inhabit a spiritual world. On the other hand, however, it can result in a pervasive fear of those forces and moving our focus moves from the gospel towards them.
Many African churches place significant emphasis in their services on demonstrations of power.
Broadly speaking, there are two prevailing viewpoints on this matter. There are those who claim that casting out the above demonstrations of power is essential to our gatherings, citing Jesus’ or the apostles’ miracles. Conversely, others argue that all such practices and the miraculous ceased with Jesus and the apostles (Hebrews 2:3-4; Ephesians 2:20).
In this article, I will share a few biblical insights on how we might approach the issues of demons, healing, and death in a way that is both faithful to scripture and relevant to our cultural context. I’ll start by developing the biblical teaching on death and demons (or evil spirits). Then we’ll consider miracles, especially their purpose and how they point beyond this world. Finally, I’ll propose how we should approach sickness, death and demons in God’s power.
A Brief Theology of Suffering and Evil
1. Sickness and Death: Evidence of a Fallen World
Death and sickness serve as evidence of a world under judgment. To effectively confront these enemies, it’s important to understand their origins and the context in which they exist. In many African cultures, there is a prevalent belief that every illness has a specific cause, often attributed to malevolent forces. There is some truth to this belief. However, it can be misleading to assert that sickness or death is always the result of someone’s actions or a curse.
Sickness and death aren’t solely personal issues. They are the consequences of the fall.
Christian theology insists that God created a perfect world. He placed Adam and Eve in an environment free from sickness, death, and demonic powers (Genesis 1-2). Only that isn’t our experience. Because mankind rejected God’s authority (Genesis 3). They sought to govern the world on their own terms, without God. And it was this rebellion that introduced chaos and suffering into the world. Furthermore, this didn’t only affect humanity but the natural world (Romans 8:22). This broader understanding is critical for our understanding of sickness and death. Yes, in some cases, they have immediate, discernible causes. But even in such cases, they nevertheless fundamentally stem from the fallen state of our world.
As Romans 5:12 states, “Death spread to all men because all sinned.” This means that sickness and death aren’t solely personal issues. They are the consequences of the fall, sin and God’s righteous judgment. Collectively, humanity suffers because of rebellion against God.
Contrast that with African culture, where personal misfortunes are ascribed to wrongdoing or witchcraft. In Africa, there is a tendency to attribute illness or disease to spiritual attacks and curses, resulting in fear and speculation. Now, I’m not denying the realities of witchcraft. I’ve witnessed its impact in Zimbabwe. But it’s crucial for us to recognise that this isn’t the source of every sickness and death. Our world is under divine judgment. Therefore, spiritual mediums or mediators can’t solve the greater problem. Because sickness and death are evidence of a much deeper issue: sin.
To centre our church services on demonstrations of power is to lose sight of how large the problem at hand is. Yes, we might pray for healing, but in the end, everyone will die and face judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
2. Angels and Demons: Evidence of the Spiritual World
More briefly than the above, let’s discuss the origins of demons. In a previous article, I covered this topic in more detail. Here, I mostly want to emphasise that demons are real. The Bible confirms this, describing them as evil spirits who sinned against God. Originally, they were like good angels. But God cast them out of heaven along with their leader, the devil, and they now perpetuate evil in the world (Isaiah 14:12-15).
Demons exist. We are engaged in spiritual warfare.
The Western church shouldn’t be deceived. Demons exist. We are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12-13). Growing up in a village, I witnessed spiritual entities firsthand. Many Zimbabweans believe that these spirits are the vengeful souls of the deceased. However, according to the Bible, this belief is incorrect. For once, a person dies, they cannot return to the living (Job 7:9-10).
Jesus’ Miracles As a Means to the End
In my context, many people argue that we should regularly practice healing and casting out demons, because Jesus instructed his apostles to do so. They also usually add, “you shall do greater things than these” (John 14:12). Even though that verse doesn’t specify what the “greater things” are or even what “these” refers to.
To focus solely on healings and exorcisms is to miss Jesus and his church’s mission.
In the Gospels, it’s undeniable that Jesus empowered his apostles to drive out demons and heal the sick. However, it doesn’t seem as though this authority was intended to empty hospitals or cemeteries. Plus, despite this spiritual power, it seems that most of them were committed to evangelism and fairly ordinary teaching ministries. As I’ll argue below, their miracles were primarily given to validate the divine authority of their preaching and message.
To focus solely on healings and exorcisms is to miss Jesus and his church’s mission: proclamation. Because it fails to realise the purpose of miracles.
On at least one occasion towards the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was being pressed—by both the crowds and his disciples—to perform miracles. But listen to his response. “Let’s go somewhere else, to the nearby village so I can preach there also” (Mark 1:38). Then, at the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus issued the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), sending his apostles out to teach and disciple. This was always the focus. The miracles only ever served to validate the apostolic ministry and message (Matthew 10:5-8). But after the resurrection, no greater evidence needed to be offered; no greater demonstration of power was possible.
So What About the”Greater Things”?
“Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). What did Jesus mean?
I’ve never seen anyone perform greater miracles than Jesus.
Critically, this doesn’t necessarily mean healing the sick, exorcising demons or raising the dead. Added to that, I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never seen anyone perform greater miracles than Jesus. Are we missing a trick? I don’t think so. Because one thing is certain. The apostles’ ministry resulted in a greater number of people becoming Jesus followers (Acts 2:42). It was only with them that the gospel went from Judea, to Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). This was the greater thing.
Isn’t someone becoming a follower of Christ more significant than any healing (Mark 2:5; Luke 17:11-19)? After all, the latter will at most last a lifetime; the former for eternity. This is probably why Jesus cautioned the apostles against building their identities—and, by extension, their ministries—on powerful displays or miracles. Instead, they should delight to know that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
Miracles Point Us to the World to Come
But miracles have another purpose. They point us to the world that is to come. They are a picture of our future glory, when God will make all things new. Thus, rightly understood, miracles instruct us in hope. It’s always worth remembering that during Jesus’ lifetime, he didn’t heal every single person. Likewise, the apostles didn’t heal every ailment. Healing isn’t guaranteed. You could have lived when Jesus did and not have been healed. How much more so is that true today?
They are a picture of our future glory, when God will make all things new.
By remembering this, we can also see how miracles give us a picture of the world to come. It is there that everything will be made right, perfect (Isaiah 25:6). We will enjoy fellowship with God and one another, while sickness, death and the demonic will be forever banished (Isaiah 25:7-8). It was incredibly painful seeing my dad deteriorate with cancer. But that’s the terrible reality of this fallen world. In the world to come, such things will never happen.
A Biblical Response to Life’s Troubles
As I draw this article to a close, I don’t want to give the impression that sickness, demons and death don’t matter.
1. Pray for Healing
James instructs believers to pray for the sick (James 5:13). God can heal anyone, if he chooses to. But it’s important to remember that healing happens at his appointed time and according to his will. We shouldn’t put God in a box. He is sovereign and free, both to heal and to do so as he chooses, not because of our commands.
I fear many of us might fall into the same temptation as the disciples did, when Jesus took Peter, John and James up a mountain (Mark 9:2). Waiting at the foot, the disciples were unable to drive out a demon (Mark 9:18). Why? Well, Jesus said it was because of their lack of prayer (Mark 9:29). They could have healed the boy, but they were “faithless” (Mark 9:19).
We must, then, pray that God will heal.
2. Resist the Devil and Demons
Next, we shouldn’t deny the trauma and trouble caused by demons, especially in African contexts. In many places across our continent, demonic activity is prevalent. Thus, Paul encourages believers to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). This isn’t a meaningless sentiment. For he goes on and exhorts them to “put on the full armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11); to “stand firm in the truth” (Ephesians 6:14). Why all of this? Because “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
3. Mourn in Death
Finally, for those who’ve lost loved ones, the church must mourn with those who mourn, implying comfort and support in their difficult time (Romans 12:15). The Bible consistently reminds us to seek the Holy Spirit, our wonderful Counsellor and Comforter, to comfort our souls. We rarely hear about raising the dead, nor is there a concept of “immature death.”
“He Gives Us the Victory”
You and I will, in the end, face death. All of us will. But for those in Christ, it isn’t the end. Those in Christ need not fear death. In some ways, it is nothing more than the passage from this troubled world into a blissful existence with the Lord Jesus. Death has been defeated on the cross. “Therefore,” writes Paul, “my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you…but thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-58).
