A significant debate erupted recently when popular gospel musician Ayanda Ntanzi visited the Nazareth Baptist Church (commonly known as the Shembe Church), and performed one of his songs during their gathering. His visit sparked conversations across South Africa, with some Christians arguing that the Nazareth Baptist Church is a true church; others firmly disagreed, referencing the church’s motto: “Shembe is the way.” This motto, which many interpret as a claim to Isaiah Shembe’s messianic role, has long been a source of theological contention within the broader Christian community.
Scholars who have written about Shembe hold different views on the church, especially concerning how it should be classified. Is it another Christian denomination or an entirely distinct religion?
A Church That Divides Opinions
In 1967, theologian G. C. Oosthuizen posited that the movement represented “a new religion that sees Isaiah Shembe as ‘the manifestation of God.'” This means that Shembe is a representative of Jehovah rather than Jesus. The significance of this kind of language and Oosthuizen’s distinction is huge. For it likens Shembe to the incarnate Christ, to God himself. Shembe contributed to this understanding by claiming that his essence would live on through his offspring, with him being manifest in some way or other through his successors.
Oosthuizen’s perspective has been contested by scholars such as Bengt Sundkler and Absolom Vilakazi. They argue that his interpretation is overly influenced by a Westernised misunderstanding of Zulu culture, maintaining that the movement is within the Christian tradition.
Is the Shembe Church another denomination or an entirely distinct religion?
The internal leadership dynamics of the Shembe Church reflects the above debate. In the conflict between Isaiah Shembe’s younger son, Amos Shembe, and his grandson, Londa Shembe, both embraced different views on the church. Londa Shembe claimed that the church constituted a new religious movement, with patrilineal succession. These differing interpretations of the church’s identity contributed to major leadership disputes, resulting in separate branches within the movement.
The Shembe Church, officially called iBandla lamaNazaretha, is one of the largest African Independent Churches (AICs) in South Africa, blending elements of Christianity with traditional Zulu spirituality and cultural practices. This article explores the history, beliefs, and practices of the Shembe Church and highlights its key differences from mainstream Reformed Christianity.
The Historical Background
Isaiah Shembe was born around 1865 in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, during a time of intense colonial pressure on the Zulu kingdom. Raised in a traditional Zulu family, he encountered Christianity through the Wesleyan Methodist Church before joining the African Native Baptist Church. However, Shembe became increasingly disillusioned with the Westernised nature of Christian denominations, which he felt failed to address the cultural and spiritual realities of African people.
Shembe felt that Western churches failed to address the cultural and spiritual realities of African people.
Claiming to have had a series of divine revelations, Shembe left the African Native Baptist Church and, in 1910, founded the Nazareth Baptist Church. His vision was to merge Christianity with Zulu traditions, creating a spiritual home for his people that celebrated both their faith and their cultural identity.
Shembe positioned his church as a response to the disempowerment of the Zulu people under colonial rule. By reintroducing Zulu customs and practices within a Christian framework, he established a movement that resonated deeply with his followers, blending their ancestral heritage with spiritual salvation. This blend would become a defining characteristic of Shembe followers and their organisations.
Shembe Church’s Unique Expression of the Faith
The Nazareth Baptist Church (Shembe Church) occupies a unique space in South Africa’s religious landscape, blending Christian teachings with Zulu cultural practices. Worship in the Shembe tradition is deeply rooted in both biblical principles and African heritage, creating a distinctive expression of faith that differs from mainstream Christian practices.
Core Worship Practices:
- Observance of the Sabbath; members strictly observe the Sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening, refraining from work, electronics, and cooking. This day is dedicated to prayer and spiritual reflection, aligning with both biblical and cultural rhythms.
- Pilgrimages to sacred sites; annual pilgrimages to Mount Nhlangakazi, a sacred site, are a central practice. Followers walk barefoot, symbolising a spiritual renewal akin to biblical exoduses and reflecting Shembe’s personal spiritual experiences.
- Sacred dance and song; worship is enriched by Zulu cultural expression through traditional dances and songs. These practices serve as a means of devotion and the celebration of Zulu cultural identity.
- Faith healing and miracles; rooted in the AIC tradition, faith healing, prophecy, and miraculous signs remain important aspects of Shembe worship, continuing Isaiah Shembe’s legacy as both healer and prophet.
- Baptism is seen as a spiritual rite of initiation; it combines Christian rebirth with Zulu cultural and ancestral significance. It is also distinctive in that it can only be performed within the Shembe Church, unlike other Christian denominations.
Views on Salvation and Scripture
The Shembe Church’s theology of salvation incorporates both traditional Christian views and distinct elements shaped by Zulu cultural understanding. The church emphasises works, rituals, and pilgrimage as integral to salvation, with an understanding that salvation is a process rather than an event. This differs from mainstream Christianity, which teaches that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). In Shembe practice, rituals like baptism and feet washing, along with pilgrimages, are seen as essential elements in the believer’s journey toward spiritual renewal and relationship with God.
Shembe’s theology incorporates traditional Christian views and distinct elements shaped by Zulu cultural understanding.
A prominent leader in the church, Reverend Mpanza, once claimed that Shembe knew God and taught him how to interpret the Bible. This positions Shembe’s teachings as divinely inspired, suggesting a living revelation distinct from the Christian belief that God speaks to his people primarily through the Bible itself (2 Timothy 3:16). While the Shembe Church embraces ongoing revelation, the Christian faith holds that God’s word is fully revealed and understood through scripture alone.
Christ’s Unique Mediatorship
Despite these distinctive views on salvation and scripture, a central theological issue remains: the uniqueness of Christ. In mainstream Christianity, Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Salvation is found in him alone (Acts 4:12).
The Shembe Church’s belief in Isaiah Shembe as a messianic figure and mediator introduces a key divergence from this doctrine. Shembe is revered not only as a spiritual leader but as someone who facilitates a direct connection to God, suggesting Shembe being sent to black people as mediator, which contradicts the traditional Christian understanding of Christ as the only mediator.
The church’s motto, ‘Shembe is the way,’ raises significant theological questions.
This belief challenges the core Christian doctrine that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. In the Shembe Church, Isaiah Shembe’s role is seen as central to one’s spiritual salvation, which contrasts with the biblical teaching of Christ’s uniqueness as the sole mediator and source of salvation.
The church’s motto, “Shembe is the way,” raises significant theological questions. This phrase suggests that Shembe is a mediator between God and humanity. Such claims position him as more than a religious leader, leading to theological critiques from mainstream Christian traditions.
Shembe and His Church’s Appeal
Despite theological concerns, the Nazareth Baptist Church remains a spiritual and cultural haven for millions of South Africans. It offers a sense of belonging and identity, particularly for those who feel disconnected from Westernised Christian traditions. By embracing Zulu heritage, the church provides a framework for faith that resonates deeply with its followers.
Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of the world.
The Nazareth Baptist Church is a fascinating example of how Christianity has been reinterpreted in the African context. While it offers valuable insights into the interplay between faith and culture, its theological deviations from the gospel call for careful discernment. As Christians, we must hold fast to the truth that Jesus Christ alone is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), transcending cultural and national boundaries to offer salvation to all who believe.
This reminder is not merely a critique of the Shembe Church but an invitation to all believers to align their worship and faith with the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the only Saviour of the world.
