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An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

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part <strong>of</strong> worship services a priority, or appointing <strong>spiritual</strong> healers can be sidelined if <strong>the</strong>resident minister attaches too little attention to such matters.In Chapter 5 consideration was given to <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> minister, organisational culture<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> power <strong>and</strong> control in church governance <strong>and</strong> <strong>spiritual</strong> healing atdifferent levels; local, national <strong>and</strong> international levels in both churches were allexplored. The finding <strong>of</strong> an overt link between healing <strong>and</strong> salvation in COGIC, <strong>the</strong>Pentecostal church, that is different to <strong>the</strong> URC, illustrates <strong>the</strong> different cultures <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong>ologies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> observed congregations.COGIC ministers „allow‟ <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit to guide <strong>the</strong> church services with reference to<strong>the</strong> length <strong>of</strong> service which <strong>the</strong>y <strong>of</strong>ten extend over a longer period <strong>of</strong> time. Thishowever may be a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cultural background <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people who want to take timewithout limitation to worship God. This non-limitation <strong>of</strong> time may also be acontributing factor to <strong>the</strong>ir claim for healing. The order <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> service may also changeas a result <strong>of</strong> „<strong>the</strong> direction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit‟. This maybe because <strong>the</strong> minister cannotexplain a reason for <strong>the</strong> change <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> worship style <strong>of</strong> visitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit, ason <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> Pentecost <strong>and</strong> later in <strong>the</strong> Azusa Street revival which legitimate <strong>the</strong>irliturgical norms.Chapter 6 examines suffering as an outcome <strong>of</strong> imbalance in homeostasis <strong>and</strong> one <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> causal factors for people to seek <strong>spiritual</strong> healing. When exploring suffering it isfound that it is inextricably linked with faith <strong>and</strong> healing, now or in <strong>the</strong> afterlife forthose who believe in an afterlife. The „Apostles‟ Creed‟, written when <strong>the</strong> earlyChristians suffered much persecution <strong>and</strong> were forced to renounce <strong>the</strong>ir faith under312

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