Doctrines of Devils

This past weekend I noticed that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for television have a programme that they screen on their SABC1 channel titled Religions of South Africa – on the Lord’s Day. This is something that I have noticed in the past, but it has given me a righteous anger that wicked people are broadcasting religion that teaches falsehood and lies to a wide audience of people that blatantly blasphemes the nature of Almighty God. This is the first of a new series of blog posts that will be posted from time to time bringing to light the unfruitful works of darkness. As true believers in Christ we are to expose the unfruitful works of darkness and the false religions, churches, and teachers that blaspheme the Holy name of the only true God – Jesus Christ. The three Scriptures for these posts are:

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

In South Africa there are thousands of ‘churches’ that profess to be christian, which are in fact schisms from missionary churches planted by foreign clergy who came to these southern african shores, and there are also splinter churches that have been established due to power-struggles within them. The evil and wickedness of man is seen by the many doctrines that permeate the churchianity that exists and the degradation of  Christianity by mixing it with African traditions (culture). This would clearly bring about another gospel as these ‘churches’ have deviated away from the Truth – or in fact never knew the Truth – and therefore we should look to God’s Word to see His warning in this regard as recorded in Galatians 1:6-10 (my emphasis added, and throughout):

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

The first episode of “Doctrines of Devils” will commence with exposing the false teachings of the Nazareth Baptist Church, also known as the Shembe Church. We will start off with some history and background from Wikipedia and the eThekwini Online site, thereafter followed by a video interview that appears at Vimeo.

— ooo —

Isaiah Shembe (1870– 2 May 1935), was the founder of the Zulu Nazareth Baptist Church and a figure in the African independent church movement in South Africa.

According to Shembe biographer Irving Hexham, not much is known about Shembe’s youth, except that he was born into a Zulu family near Estcourt, South Africa. After his baptism in 1906, he worked as an itinerant evangelist. In 1910, he began a ministry focused on healing and prophecy, and sometime between 1910 and 1912, he began the Nazareth Baptist Church or iBandla amaNazaretha, an indigenous church for the Zulu people. Later, he established a holy city at ekuPhakameni and a yearly pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain of Nhlangakazi. In addition to his preaching and healing, he was known for composing Zulu hymns and sacred dances, for creating sacred costumes that combined Zulu and European clothing styles, for developing a new liturgical calendar (that omitted Christmas), and for dietary laws that included a restriction against eating chicken.[1]

Shembe’s legacy has created some controversy. In a 1967 book, G.C. Oosthuizen argued that the movement was “a new religion that sees Isaiah Shembe as ‘the manifestation of God.'” Oosthuizen was attacked by Bengt Sundkler and Absolom Vilakazi as being too Westernized to understand Zulu culture, and claimed that the movement remained Christian. However, Oosthuizen’s view has been embraced by two of Shembe’s successors, his nephew son Amos Shembe and his grandson Londa Shembe, who (although they fought with each other over who was the legitimate successor and eventually formed two separate branches of the church), both of whom believe that Shembe did indeed create something new.[1]

Nazareth Baptist Church

The Nazareth Baptist Church, often called Shembe, is associated with a small group of churches, often referred to as African “messianic” churches, where the leader or founder is ascribed by his followers with supernatural powers.

The large majority of the three thousand African independent churches are either “Ethiopian” or “Zionist“. The Zionist churches, whose name implies an identification with the holy mountain of Zion in the Old Testament, are largely charismatic prophet-led healing groups. Worship in the Zionist churches is an African variant of Pentecostal spirituality.

_______________________

Reference: 1.  Irving Hexham, “The amaNazaretha”, in Encyclopedia of African and African-American Religions, ed. Stephen D. Glazier. Accessed via Google Books on 7 July 2010.

Shembe’s Rise to the Lord

By Themba Nyathikazi

Near Inanda, north of Durban, is a sacred site called Ekuphakameni, the ‘Place of Spiritual Upliftment.’ It was named by Isaiah Shembe, prophet and founder of the Shembe Church. A major festival is held in mid-January at an equally sacred location, the mountain dubbed Nhlangakazi, some 30 kilometres north of Ekuphakameni.

“Our pilgrimage to the mountain is based on the third book of Moses,” says a preacher from the area, Reverend Nxumalo. “It dates back to a revelation Shembe experienced in 1916, in which he was told that the Lord would speak to him on the holy mountain, Nhlangakazi, just as He had spoken to Moses on Mount Sinai.”

Ekuphakameni is the place where the Shembe’s holiest shrines are to be found. Most of them were erected by Shembe himself. Egumbini, the ‘House of the Tabernacle,’ one of the holiest of holies, lies to the east of the Inanda Road. It adjoins a tree-lined open area termed ‘Paradise.’ As a token of respect, visitors must remove their shoes before crossing this terrain.

Shembe Footwashing

It is said that the late founder of the Shembe movement was alone on a hillside when struck down by lightning. The Voice of the Lord thundered the command: “Go south!”. Isaiah Shembe was carried, unconscious, to his hut. He was paralysed, and taken for dead. The women of his village wailed and ululated in hysterical fear.

Sangomas and witchdoctors were summoned, and rituals performed to revive Shembe. When he came to, he told his followers that he was among spirits who had instructed him to go south. He duly left on his pilgrimage, carrying his Bible, blanket, stick and precious gifts from his followers.

Among the sacraments stored in the Tabernacle at Ekuphakameni is a supply of holy water used for purification ceremonies. The Shembe village is divided into five distinct living areas. Young women live in specially set aside stone dwellings. They are carefully brought up in age differentiated groups by the elders, and subjected to rigid discipline.

Within the temple area, the Shembe leader resides in ‘eGumbini langaphakathi,’ near the Tabernacle. The married quarters for men and women are known as ‘ekamu,’ and the older men’s quarters as ‘Inhlalisuthi,’ whereas women live on the eastern side of the main church in an area referred to as ‘Kwa Fourteen’ or ‘Jamengweni.’

In future, boys living within the village will be divided into two age groupings, and once they are older they will move to the ‘Inhlalisuthi’ – quarters reserved for older males. Female children are divided into three groupings, known as ‘Amasheshakungena’ (up to 11 years), ‘Amatubhane’ (teenagers, not yet of marriageable age) and the ‘Twenty Fives’ or ‘amakhosazane’ (those who are ready to marry).

The Shembe Church is well known for its spectacular dance festivals and the church’s structure is a fascinating mixture of Christian dogma and the tenets of Zulu culture. The founder of the church inculcated in his followers a belief that closely mirrors the traditional norms of social and moral behaviour among the Zulu people.

“Our rituals include baptism by immersion, the keeping of the Sabbath, observance of a seven day fast before Holy Communion, and the celebration of Holy Communion at night, preceded by feet washing ceremonies,” says Enoch Mthembu, spokesman for the Shembe Church. “Holy Communion is celebrated twice a year, during the January and July festivals.”

The January festivals, particularly the one held in mid-January, see Shembe followers, clad in traditional white garments, flock to the holy mountain of Nhlangakazi.

Some worshippers travel very long distances to reach the holy mountain, where they participate in ritualistic song and dance. During the exodus to the mountain, the Shembe take part in a hypnotic, trance-like dance, with the men leading the way. The married women follow, carrying furled umbrellas and tiny ceremonial shields in the same colours as their church clothing. They are, in turn, followed by young maidens in full traditional regalia. A constant stream of vehicles and barefooted worshippers snakes along the dusty road to the holy site.

Praising the Almighty on top of the mountain, and executing traditional Zulu dances, the Shembe reflect an alternative version of Christianity, which has evolved based on the Old, rather than the New Testament. The festival has evolved into one of the most colourful spectacles in Southern Africa, and it attracts increasing numbers of tourists each year.

— ooo —

Vimeo Video

Click the Photo to View the Video

Mwelela Cele interviews Mr Ximba as part of the Memories of Inanda documentary, produced for the eThekwini Municipality’s Ulwazi Programme. Mr Ximba discusses the Shembe Church.

Nazareth Baptist Church (Alternatively called “The Nazarite Church” “iBandla lamaNazaretha”, or the “Shembe Church”) is an African Initiated Church founded by Isaiah Shembe in 1910.

It has approximately 4 million members. The religion bans smoking, drinking, and fornicating. It is seen as a mixture of Zulu tradition and Christianity. It reveres Isaiah Shembe as an African Messiah and emphasizes the Ten Commandments.

— ooo —

Here is an extract from a book titled The theology of a South African Messiah by Gerhardus Cornelis Oosthuizen at page 38 which shows the doctrine of demons, quote:

The exclusion of Jesus is also due to Shembe’s emphasis on the law which is the very source of their redemption – the Sabbath is according to Shembe, the very core of the law. cf. Isl. 218. …

Shembe restored the Sabbath so that “the road which goes home to Jehova our iNkosi” (“indlela yokuya ekhaya Inkosi yethu“, Isl. 571; see also 578). It is no longer the way of Christ but of the messianic Shembe and his Jehova. In Isl. 604 Jehova has to be praised for sending “Isaiah his Servant”. It is natural development that Shembe should be on the side of the lawgiver. The worshippers of Jesus are the breakers of the law; they worship the Sunday-God not Jehova.

Other reasons could be mentioned for pushing Jesus into the background. Jesus’ emphasis on His being “the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 146) has excluded the possibility of accepting the saints of the pre-christian Zulu world into the fold of the Biblical God. This is unacceptable to a society in which the emphasis is so strong on the communion of the saints – and to them all those who were of significance are holy ones. At the gate is no more Jesus and the Cross but Jehova, Shembe and the law.

After his confession of faith in Isl. 73 the emphasis is on the Supreme Being and in the last approximately hundred Izl. the name of Jesus is totally omitted and iNkosi either refers here to Shembe himself or to Jehova, Thixo, uNkulunkulu, Simakade or Baba. It is easier to bring Jehova and Baba together than Jesus Christ and Baba with whom the whole Zulu history is associated.

The aspects of the Shembe doctrine of demons and the Zulu traditions that are contrary to God’s commands need to be exposed. Some of their evil and wicked beliefs and practices are listed here under:

  • They Worship God through ancestors
  • They offer up sacrifices of cows or goats to their ancestors who then speak to God on their behalf
  • They hold to the Old Testament (Shrines, Holy of Holies, The Ark and other Holy vessels belonging to the prophet, sabbath-keeping)
  • Shembe is the prophet of God to the African (black) man. They also see him as their ‘messiah.’
  • They don’t pray in the name of Jesus – they pray to the god of ekuPhakameni
  • They practice polygamy. It is believed that Amos Johannes Galilee “J.G.” Shembe (1907 – 1986 died 1976) had 62 wives.
  • Sangomas and witchdoctors play a significant role in Zulu tradition.

We will now let God’s Word, the Holy Bible speak from hereon:

Only One Blood of Jesus Christ

Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ~ Acts 17:24-31

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. ~ Acts 20:28-30

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ~ Hebrews 9:12,22

Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

Heb 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Heb 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. ~ Hebrews 10:4-22

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ~ Hebrews 13:20,21

Jesus Christ is the Only Mediator

Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ~ Galatians 3:19-22

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. ~ 1 Timothy 2:3-6

Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Heb 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

Heb 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. ~ Hebrews 8:1-13

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Heb 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: ~ Hebrews 9:15-24

Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. ~ Hebrews 12:24-29

Only in the Name of Jesus Christ

Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. ~ Acts 4:11,12

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ~ Acts 10:39-43

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:5-11

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ~ Revelation 19:11-16

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~ Matthew 28:19,20

Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Joh 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. ~ John 5:43-45

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. ~ John 14:12-14

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Man’s Traditions

Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. [The apostle Paul who became a doulos (bondslave) of Jesus Christ]

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

Matthew 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

To conclude this doctrine of demons post hear the Word of God:

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

_______________________

Footnote: Here is a quote from the Sunday World Newspaper reflecting some of the ‘high profile’ members who belong to the Shembe Church.

Pilane is the latest celebrity to join the church . Others include the slain reggae star Lucky Dube, Prosper Mkwaiwa, Brenda Fassie, former President Nelson Mandela, President Jacob Zuma and Mbongeni Ngema.

Read the full article HERE.

One often see on Shembe followers’ vehicles “bumper-stickers” that declare “Shembe is the way”. This is true, “Shembe is the way … to Hell”. For God’s Son:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

BLOG AMENDED ON JUNE 18, 2013 CHANGING ALL SCRIPTURE PORTIONS FROM NASB AND NKJV INTO KING JAMES BIBLE SCRIPTURES.

THE TITLE HAS BEEN CHANGED ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 FROM “DOCTRINE OF DEMONS” TO “DOCTRINE OF DEVILS”.

60 Responses

  1. Dear All

    I am a staunch member of Nazareth Baptist Church (IBandla lamaNazaretha) and am really appalled by the misrepresentation of our Church here.
    I am not ordained, just an ordinary worshipper, but I can easily clarify these issues and point out the evil propaganda that is being propagated here. This is an amateurish presentation of very biased and un-researched information. The paramount sole intention is to defame iBandla lamaNazaretha.

    This shows that whoever wrote this or compiled it were hell bent on discrediting The Almighty Jehovah and the revival of the Afrikan Religion.

    Unfortunately for you, you will not succeed in your Luciferious endeavours.

    Like

  2. Gary

    It came to my attention how ignorant you are, well I would understand if this poorly researched report was written by a black person, since it is from the white person to me it sounds like a racial attack as it is still hard for many white pupil to believe that there can be something good from a black man.

    Without dwelling much to the politics, I know that you can’t swallow that South Africa has changed and anyone has a right to what he believes in (religion). Now SABC can broadcast even the formerly oppressed churches for people to be saved. Your information is really poorly researched and I’ll quote things from the above paragraphs that makes me to say so as a typical member of the Nazareth church:

    (i) “However, Oosthuizen’s view has been embraced by two of Shembe’s successors, his nephew Amos Shembe and his grandson Londa Shembe, who (although they fought with each other over who was the legitimate successor and eventually formed two separate branches of the church), both of whom believe that Shembe did indeed create something new.” Firstly I understand that you are relying more on other peoples information due to your ignorance and lack of knowledge, your sources of information does not understand the history of the church which I think it made you to mislead the public with your poorly researched report, the Holy Amos Shembe was not Isaiahs’ Nephew contact me if you need more info about my church history.

    (ii) “They practice polygamy. It is believed that Amos Shembe (1907 – 1986) had 62 wives.” Firstly, he was born in 1906 and died in 1995. Secondly, it was not Amos Shembe who had 62 wives – go and rewind the documentray that was broadcasted on SABC and stop misleading the public, this actually shows how poor is your listening skills maybe even your reading skills. Please do a proper research before writing anything because that can expose your stupidity if what you write is poorly researched. Again it is not only Shembe who practiced polygamy, when I read through the book which many call it holy (the bible) I noticed that many of those people (the ones you regard them as holy) were also practicing polygamy. To mention the few of them in no particular order: Abraham had 3 wives (Sarah, Hagar and Keturah, Genesis 16:1-3 and 25:1), Isaachar’tribe “And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.” 1 Chronicles 7:4
    David had 18 wives (Michal, Abigail, Ahinoam of Jezreel, Eglah, Maacah, Abital, Haggith, and Bathsheba, and “10 women/concubine, I Samuel 18:27, 1 Samuel 19:11-18; 25:44; and 2 Samuel 3:13-14; 6:20-23. I Samuel 25:39-43, 2 Samuel 5:13, 1 Chronicles 14:3), 2 Samuel 3:2-5
    Jacob Father of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel “Israel” “The prince of God” had 4 Wives – Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah sadly “And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.” Genesis 29:23, Genesis 29:28, Genesis 30:4-9. Solomon had 1,000 wives – Sidontans, Tyrians, Ammonites and Edomites “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.” 1 Kings 11:3, Moses had 2 Wives, Zipporah and the Ethiopian Woman
    “And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.” Exodus 2:21. (See also Exodus 18:1-6.)
    “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” Numbers 12:1, Esau had 3 Wives – Judith, Bashemath and Mahalath
    “And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:” Genesis 26:34
    “Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.” Genesis 28:9

    Sometimes, people are indeed honest enough to admit that the Bible really does not prohibit polygamy (polygyny) except you and other who ignorant like you. This then concludes that polygamy has nothing to do with demons which mean you are out of order sir.

    (iii) “The theology of a South African Messiah by Gerhardus Cornelis Oosthuizen at page 38 which shows the doctrine of demons” As I said that your source is not good and I advise you to come to one of our big services and learn more about the church only if you’ll then go and preach to your Friends that really Shembe is the way, I do have the book you quoted and I totally disagree with this German guy especially since he does not understand isiZulu language and obviously his translation of Nazareth hymns will be poor.

    (iv) “Sangomas and witchdoctors play a significant role in Zulu tradition.” Are you criticizing the Zulu tradition or the church, what is quoted above has noting to do with Nazareth church so again this is racial attack or tribalism, please be specific.

    (v) Siting Wikipedia makes your report very weak because you might find that even the person who created that link does not have knowledge about the church history, so next time you must not do that and learn to ask if you’re clueless about something. Stop claiming to be the jack of all trades.

    (vi) I noticed that all your quotes are from the new Testament which does not amaze me though since most of the ignorant people who calls themselves Christian only quote this testament, do you read the whole bible or certain sections? If so then the bible is not the word of Jehova but a compilation of people’s opinions. Most of your quotes are from Paul whom he did not see Yeshua but read about him.

    (vii) About the ancestors, all the people that are in the bible died long time ago and to me they are like ancestors so if you believe in the bible then we should also believe that our parents are with God as ancestors. Based on our culture there is no conflict with remembering them obviously yours is different because you’re brainwashed.

    How does Gods true religion interferes with culture?

    Yours sincerely
    Dr. S. Jali

    Like

    • Dear Dr. Samuel Jali

      In response,

      Dr. Jali said ~ “since it is from the white person to me it sounds like a racial attack as it is still hard for many white pupil to believe that there can be something good from a black man.”

      Sir, I am only concerned with Truth revealed through God’s Holy Word, the Holy Bible. If you read a “racial attack” into calling sinners to repent, then sir, you are missing the whole point of the message of the blog posted.

      Dr. Jali said ~ “(i) … Firstly I understand that you are relying more on other peoples information due to your ignorance and lack of knowledge, your sources of information does not understand the history of the church which I think it made you to mislead the public with your poorly researched report, the Holy Amos Shembe was not Isaiahs’ Nephew contact me if you need more info about my church history.”

      Sir, I erred and apologise for the two errors. Thank you for bringing them to my attention. I strive for perfection and getting people to hear the Truth and therefore I have corrected the errors accordingly. Amos is not the nephew, but the son of Isaiah Shembe and it was not Amos who had 62 wives, but his brother Johannes Galilee “J.G.” Shembe. See “Hearts and Minds, Natal Witness, 18 May 2010 at http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=40781

      Dr. Jali said ~ “(ii) “They practice polygamy. It is believed that Amos Shembe (1907 – 1986) had 62 wives.” Firstly, he was born in 1906 and died in 1995. Secondly, it was not Amos Shembe who had 62 wives”

      Sir, the response was made under item (i) above and I also refer you to this link – http://nazarethbaptistchurch.blogspot.com/2009/05/shembe-amos-1907-1986.html Under the remainder of your paragraph (ii) dealing with polygamy I suggest you read my letter at this link https://luke923evangelism.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/open-letter-to-the-south-african-president-mr-jacob-zuma/ at this blog.

      Dr. Jali said ~ “(iv) “Sangomas and witchdoctors play a significant role in Zulu tradition.” Are you criticizing the Zulu tradition or the church, what is quoted above has noting to do with Nazareth church so again this is racial attack or tribalism, please be specific.”

      Sir, I have no problem with customs and traditions. Where you have a problem is when your customs and traditions violate the Holy Commands of God then you will be accountable to Him on the Day of Judgment. I am just the messenger giving a warning. Here are two portions of Scripture:
      9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. ~ Mark 7:9-13

      Sorcery is also witchcraft – Revelation 21:8 reads, 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

      Dr. Jali said ~ “(vi) I noticed that all your quotes are from the new Testament which does not amaze me though since most of the ignorant people who calls themselves Christian only quote this testament, do you read the whole bible or certain sections? If so then the bible is not the word of Jehova but a compilation of people’s opinions. Most of your quotes are from Paul whom he did not see Yeshua but read about him.”

      Sir, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is the inerrant, full and complete Word of God. I will close off with Almighty God’s Words taken from Matthew 5:17-20 ~ 17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

      And the apostle Paul did see Jesus (Yeshua) ~ 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

      Have a nice day.

      Like

    • Jesus needs you, Jali

      Like

    • Please Dr S. Jali, read Psalms 115v17 and if you believe in the bible and read Isaiah 8v19-22

      Like

    • thank you Dr. S Jali olwethu unyazi

      Like

    • angikhonzi eNazareth kdwa hay uyibekile Mr. Jali… these people want us to worship God in a foreign way, a way that suits them singama Africa thina

      Like

  3. I believe that polygamy believers had reasons why they Asked the lord to accept it but as to this new generation Mens are doing it out of lust and unfaithfulness why because in polygamy a Man shall ask his wife for authority 2 take onother Wife but 2day Mans dont agree with desagreements from their wifes they just do their thing as they please so the only solution to these urguments is Directed 2 the Prophert UBABA UTHINGO speaking in behalf of womans out there griving innocently hearted we as womans we seek asking God that God is polygamy still be accepted even in these days?so by this question we as womans we kindly ask the Prophert to pls plee and pray To ask the lord for us if its is stil right for it to continue cos it was those days of our grand grand fathers it was accepted by god because they asked the prophert to ask God to accept.so we are looking Forward for respondent as we respectfully asking for a prayer then to comment and urgure till we crac our heads.

    Like

    • Thandi, thank you for your post. Please see my responses to these threads. Understand that it was not God’s wish for sinful man to be in a polygamous relationship. See how polygamy caused problems in the relationships with Abraham and Sarah and Hagar and the rivalry that existed in the relationships of Jacob, Rachel, Leah and the two handmaidens Bilhah and Zilpah (read the accounts in Genesis 30).

      Also know this – the prophet of the Shembe religion does not speak and make intercession on your behalf before God. Scripture confirms that there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Seeing that the Shembe religion sees Isaiah Shembe as the messiah, this would be a false messiah as God sent one Christ (Messiah) into the world and He is the manifestation of God in the flesh – the Man Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Only through repentance and faith in the True Messiah – Jesus – can you have Him make intercession on your behalf at the right hand of God Almighty. And God will not allow adultery and fornication to be practiced in polygamous relationships.

      Sinful, evil and wicked man wants his cake and he wants to eat it, too. See this link that will also put this in perspective.

      Like

  4. Ayikho into ebuhlungu ephula inhliziyo njengo muntu omthandayo ethathe isithembu ungafuni wena wesimame njengoba kwenzeka kanje i polygamy isiyisiqalekiso esifunwa ukulandelelwa emabandleni if iqhubeka makukhulekwe emabandleni akwaSHEMBE kubuzwe u Jehova ukuty kuyamthokozisa yini lokhu kwesithembu kulemnyaka na if ethi yes then we will not blame anybody if No it shall emidiatly stop ebandleni nomake kuqubeka ngokwamasiko esinto but ongokajehova ebandleni uyoyeka sinike u jehova indawo yakhe asiphendulele thina besimane so we please asking UBABA USHEMBE THE PROPHERT to pray for our plee as womans we all waiting 4 a reply in radios emails or media singathokoza simulandele

    Like

    • Brother Lungisa Nhlakanipho Zondi kindly translated this comment.

      Ok, it is a bit all over the place seeing it has no puctuation whatsoever. I read it over again several times just to make sense of it and finally, here is a translation with punctuation marks in place.

      *************
      There is nothing more painful than when the person you love take another wife, without your consent as the woman, as this is the case. Polygamy is a curse that should be reviewed in the churches. If it persist, let us pray and ask Jehovah if this polygamy is pleasing to him in this day and age. If he says, yes, we will not blame anyone. If No it would be stopped, thought it is practiced as according to the cultural tradition, he that belongs to Jehovah will stop doing it. We give Jehovah his place to speak for us women, so we please ask FATHER SHEMBE THE PROPHET to pray for our plea as women, we all wait for a reply on radio, emails or media. We will rejoice and follow him.
      ***************
      This was dealt with under another comment by you, and I will reiterate part of my previous response:

      “Also know this – the prophet of the Shembe religion does not speak and make intercession on your behalf before God. Scripture confirms that there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Seeing that the Shembe religion sees Isaiah Shembe as the messiah, this would be a false messiah as God sent one Christ (Messiah) into the world and He is the manifestation of God in the flesh – the Man Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Only through repentance and faith in the True Messiah – Jesus – can you have Him make intercession on your behalf at the right hand of God Almighty. And God will not allow adultery and fornication to be practiced in polygamous relationships.”

      Regards Gary

      Like

  5. Sir the information that you have is limited.if i were you i would gather as much info as i can before i can crucify.you need a one on one session about our religion!

    Like

    • Dear Zolani

      Thank you for your comment. It is not a matter of what your religion says, but what the Truth tells. Truth is Jesus Christ (John 14:6) and without Him everyone is in darkness (damned for Hell) unless they repent of their evil and wicked ways before a righteous and Holy God. Please read the answers to the comments made by the followers of Shembe. The authority I rely on solely is the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Not man and his feeble attempts of getting right with a god of his choosing. This is idolatry.

      Unless you too repent and believe the True Gospel of Jesus Christ you too will perish. God is merciful.

      Like

      • Who are you to judge other religions? follow your faith and stop recruiting using the Lord’s name to do your dirty work

        Like

      • I am confused here sir Do you believe in God or a bible? cos everything you say its you idolising the bible as a god… God is great yiu cannot limit him in a size of a bible and there are different nations in the world you cannot tell me that God only spoke to Israelites
        The bible is the history of Israelites and and God and we as africans have our own history that is not written down because God is not biblical but Spiritual.

        Like

    • You believe in BLACK POPE, whom devil uses

      Like

  6. i wont say much but a religion can only explain itself the way it wants to so its not up to chritians to decide or coment on a religion thay dont understand. as a nazareth baptist church member i wont make any conclusions about the way the chritians worship Jehovah under their leader Jesus since im not part of their worship but all we need to now is what he teaches in the name of Jehovah since we also believe in him through Shembe

    Like

  7. This is purely ridiculous, you people go on and say stuff about our church and you have no clue on what really is going on. You, go own splashing us on the walls because you want us to believe what you believe. Actually, i belief strongly that this has a racial root into it. The Nazareth Baptist Church is the only one that allowed our ancestors to worship God without changing a thing about their culture.What eats you up is the jealously that how could a black man start something make it successful .The so called ‘western people’ came with his doctrines that were misread and interpreted wrongly. It pains me so much that a fully functional “christian” can judge another believer. Do yourself a favour, get yourself the right facts “*even go there yourself if you want to know the truth*” – not to be an ignorant critic!

    Like

    • Dear Menzi

      Thank you for your comments. It would appear that you have not read the contents of the other responses to the false allegations directed against me, which includes the all too often used ‘racism card.’ If you cannot see that this is a merciful plea to the followers of the false church of the Shembe followers to repent and come out of the darkness into the light then you will never see it.

      I have dealt with the issues you have raised on previous occasions and will once again stress that the TRUTH is knowing the one True God Jesus Christ. If you cannot understand the Scriptures, maybe you will understand that the ongoing court cases is a point in question that the Shembe church is a man-centred and not a God-ordained religion.

      Here’s a newspaper article that appeared in The Witness today, November 14, 2011:

      Shembe: hearing over ‘real’ leader opens today
      By Skhumbuzo Miya

      A TWO-WEEK court hearing to judge who is the rightful leader of the Shembe Church opens in the high court in Durban today.

      KwaZulu-Natal Judge-President elect Chiman Patel will hear evidence from two factions who contest the leadership. The testimony will be heard until November 25 and then Judge Patel will prepare his verdict.

      The contenders are inkosi Mduduzi “Nyazilwezulu” Shembe, who is the son of the late eBuhleni faction leader inkosi Vimbeni Shembe, and inkosi Vela “Imisebeyelanga” Shembe, who is the son of the last leader of the united Shembe church, inkosi Johannes Galilee “JG” Shembe.

      The leadership tussle, which has divided the three million followers of the church, started shortly after the death of inkosi Vimbeni in March.

      During inkosi Vimbeni’s funeral which took place at eBuhleni headquarters in Inanda in April, a local traditional leader inkosi Mqoqi Ngcobo, named Mduduzi as the heir apparent to the Shembe Church.

      Shortly after the announcement inkosi Vimbeni’s lawyer, Zwelabantu Buthelezi, produced a letter, allegedly hand-written by inkosi Vimbeni, naming Vela as the rightful leader.
      The two announcements have divided the church, which has resulted in the approach to the courts. Thousands of faithful supporters of Shembe church are expected to fill the streets of Durban as they did during previous hearings.

      Also known as Nazareth Baptist Church, Shembe is the oldest African indigenous church is South Africa.

      There are three factions of the church in KZN and one in Gauteng.

      Like

    • Well said for the 1st time in history of man kind let a white man be a follower for once not us being followers all the time, i love the fact that you keep ur traditional culture and do believe in Jehova that is very special and important, the roots grow on and remain for the youth to learn. Bless you

      Like

  8. Dear Gary,

    Perhaps it will be in your interest to research a bit on religious and ideoligical differences that ensued after the passing of Christ. The most obvious being the differences of opinion between Peter and Paul…also Jesus’ brother James leading the church…I won’t go into too much detail but the issues of catacombs, knights templars, protestants, etc are all but some indications that Christianity itself is no stranger to controversy…infact the very basis of Christianity is quite controversial…I don’t want to go into the Constantine issue.

    But that is not want I wanted to comment on. I actually wanted to share a few historical facts which you may find interesting and worth considering in your future engagements.

    A bible is actually a book of history…Holy history at that..but history nonetheless.It is a book of religious history of the Jewish people or correctly called Israelites. There is onevery important thing about history…so unless something happens…it will never be known…and there will be no books or testaments about it. Now lets come closer home:

    -When God spoke to Abraham..there was no bible
    -When God spoke to Moses, there was no bible
    -When Jesus walked the earth, there was no bible
    -When Jesus preached, they accused him saying he was using the power of the demon baal to heal
    -There is nowhere in the bible, or at least Iam not aware of any verse where God says…’before I talk or appear to any other nation, I will first say so in the bible.

    I therefore fail to understand why you use a 2000 year old history book to criticise an African religion that came purely from God….and I say so assuming you have fairly famirialised yourself with the history of the Nazareth Baptist Church.

    Are you saying to the world that because you are Christian, you have the right to judge other religions and mark them ‘demonic’..purely because you don’t know, don’t understand or you disagree with their practices?

    I beg to ask the question…are you not following on the footsteps of the Phareeses who accused Jesus of healing with power of ball…or you are simple manifesting your frustration simple because you are threatened by internal fear of the unknown?

    Like

  9. I wish one day we as christians would just look for Christ teach his love the sole message of salvation not just sit and ponder on ideas of why that church is wrong and that church i right but go back to what people need to here most you know out all doctrines and religions out there our message is LOVE and Gods ever lasting Mercy when do we preach that after we have told Hindus how evil they are if they will ever listen. Think about it if i tell you how stained you are would you not that rebel after wards rather then listen if you show me love show me kindness show me good would you not feel unworthy and realise you need me more and think of ways to clean yourself up to please me. HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE CAUSE I AM TIRED OF THE OUR CHRISTIAN JUDGEMENT SEATS THAT SOLEY BELONG TO GOD…..

    Like

    • Dear Nonkululeko

      The man-centered gospel has degenerated into “god has a wonderful plan for your life” when no one follows the Gospel of Jesus Christ who came to warn people of God’s wrath on the Day of Judgment. You want to show LOVE. Let the true Holy Spirit lead you to reach out to those headed for Hell:

      For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:10

      And Jesus said we are to judge righteously:

      Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. ~ John 7:24

      I have no problem with Jesus’ Words – God has spoken!

      Like

      • Wow..Gary so you r still around. I have bin looking forward to your response on my post of November 14, 2011. I do realise though that u have a right of choosing not to respond. And I think you have taken that option. But can I remind u that in yo opening, you said u will be exposing a number of false religions…and it so happened that Shembe topped yo list. I can only hope that u realise that yo failure to proceed with the exposing…leaves much to be desired…infact it gives an indication that yo sole intention was to attack and in the process u hoped to discredit the Shembe church.

        Looks to me like u have 2 options …continue being judgemental on other religions or pull that article and publicly apologise to Shembe, the entire nazareth community and the entire reading public..

        Like

      • Dear Xolani

        Thank you for this post. I did choose not to answer as I have answered many other statements in other comments. One of the reasons is your disdain for God’s Word by making the following statement:

        “I therefore fail to understand why you use a 2000 year old history book to criticise an African religion that came purely from God….”

        The “2000 year old history book” IS God’s Word and IT will and is judging you, unless you repent towards the TRUE GOD of Creation. If your African religion, the Nazareth Baptist Church, came purely from God, then which of the four factions is the one you are referring to as the Court cases go on? There is division over power. Who is ruling? God? Or man?

        You will also note that I have addressed other religions (go to the tag of “Doctrine of Demons”) and will continue exposing their falsehood. I will, when lead of the Holy Spirit, continue revealing the Doctrines of Demons. I need not listen to man when he wants to dictate when things should be done or not. It so happens that much has not been written about the Shembe Church in way of warnings. I know it has a large following – but that does not mean it is from God! This would also apply to the hundreds of other religious groups that follow all manner of idols they call god!

        As I have given a clear warning to other commentors – repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ! “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5) and “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

        Jesus also said: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32) and “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

        I know the TRUTH, so there will be no apology. I do ask that you will examine yourself and ask God to show you the TRUTH! He is Lord Jesus Christ!!

        Like

  10. Gary..I think u must take a deep breath and press the refresh button. You must not always default to the defence mode…reason out the commentary and respond when u have properly recollected your mind.

    If u were to say that the Stone Tablets which Moshe brought back from Mountain with God’s inscription are God’s word…I will totally agree with you. Iam not sure who u r fooling, yourself or your audience…for u know for sure that the Bible is a canonized book…meaning it was put together and decreed by man (not GOD)

    U say there r 4 factions of the Shembe Church and ask which 1 Iam refering to…I ask, r u ready to answer the question…how many versions or factions of Christianity exists and which one r u refering to. I wud rather u talk about the gospel of the Nazareth Church…not factions cause yo Christianity is far worse by comparison on that front.

    I concur with Nonkululeko’s post of March 5…rather stick to preaching yo gospel and stop criticizing.

    Like

    • Here is your answer to your dire situation = The Truth be Told and the Light of Christ.

      Like

      • man written answers again based on their thoughts of what is right or wrong, take a chill pill Gary and focus on self valuation and question your own relationship with your creator instead of trying to convince the world that your opinion on Religion is correct.

        Its good that you love your religion, EXCELLENT!!!. but do not go around degrading other religions and cultures you are not part of. I understand that you are a bitter white man who hates black people and their culture and would go to lame extent of using religion to degrade black tradition culture.

        it fortunate that other most black people still embrace being black even though there is still white racist people like you who would be so lame as to even use the bible to fullfil their evil deeds to degrade a black man and his tradition.

        Like

      • Dear Sthe

        Scripture tells me that your comments have blessed me, when my Saviour Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth said:

        11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
        12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. ~ Matthew 5:11,12

        Why are you falsely accusing me of being “racist”? Are you showing your true racist colours? If I tell you the Truth and warn you of your soul heading for destruction, how can I be, as you say “a bitter white man who hates black people and their culture and would go to lame extent of using religion to degrade black tradition culture.” In an act of compassion and sincere love I am trying to bring you to an understanding that outside of the Saviour Jesus Christ you will end up in Hell. That does not sound like “hatred towards a black man.” It is an attempt by me seeing you drowning in your iniquity and I am throwing out a lifeline to save you. For we read in Scripture, as it is written:

        30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. ~ Proverbs 11:30

        In the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, He gives a stern warning of men who follow their tradition that violate the commandment of God, which is idolatry, as it is written:

        9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. . . .
        13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. ~ Mark 7:9,13

        Therefore, it is not surprising that you use the “black/white race-card” when you have no basis for putting a knowledgeable defence in place. It is an age-old devilish tactic that keeps this rainbow-nation in bondage. Please try prove your ancestral traditional culture is true and that it can save you from HELL! Unfortunately, I am afraid you will spend a futile life-time trying to defend your world view, and it will be useless, because it is ONLY GOD Who is able to save your wretched soul from destruction and NOT the ancestors! As GOD warned His people Israel who He brought into the promised land that they were not to communicate with the spirits of the dead, as it is written:

        9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
        10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
        11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
        12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. ~ Deuteronomy 18:9-12

        We are further advised that there is only one mediator between God and men, as we read:

        5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ~ 1 Timothy 2:5

        It is the only begotten Son of God Jesus Christ who talks to God the Father, not the ancestors and certainly not the sangomas (witch-doctors). Your traditions, whether “black or white”, they are a deception from the Devil that keeps people in bondage and in violation of God’s commandments!

        Today while you still have time, PENDUKA!

        27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
        28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. ~ Hebrews 9:27,28

        31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ~ Hebrews 10:31

        Soli Deo Gloria!

        Like

  11. Does this god that you love so much like what you are doing? If you strongly believe in your Jesus that why are you so concerned about other Prophets and their followers? There’s one funny thing in all of this though, if Shembe was a white individual the everyone would definitely say Jesus has come back and they would follow and praise him. This shows how we as black people are being underestimated and how we also underestimate ourselves. Why should we praise a man who never even visited our country, a man that we read about from the book, a man that we do not even know the relatives of let alone his family?

    Furthermore, assuming the Western’s never brought the Bible to us what would we know about Jesus? Every one who talks about him refers to the Bible so without this book there is no Jesus and there’s no holy works done by him. In Shembe religion we talk about past and present things he has done and for any information about him you can still be able get people from his family or relatives to explain to you. There’s also something that you seem not to understand which proves clearly that you never did your research thoroughly, Shembe is the God’s Holy Spirit that is Shembe the flesh. This holy spirit never dies and it’s the same spirit that was in the founder of the Church and it passes on to the next heavenly selected individual who is of the founder’s blood when it’s time for a reigning leader to pass on.

    You and the other people who have hatred for Shembe see him as an ordinary human being and that is why you underestimate him so much. Ask yourself this question, if Shembe is the way to hell and not to God howcome there’s no other individual from 1910 that can do what he does here in South Africa? Why is there no one else you can compare to him, someone that 12 million people can consider and accept as their Messiah? Even people who do not believe in him and believe in Jesus and other prophets do go to him when they’ve no one to assist them with their problems. I have seen them and even the other races as well, Indians, Whites and Colords they do go there to recieve his blessing and holy healing.

    I remember there was a time when the founder was still reigning as the leader, the sea was overflowing and it had reached Point area which is in the beach front side. It was a scary moment and all the famous Jesus’s pasters were called to pray and stop what was happening as it was disastrous but no one was able to get the sea to stop and move back to where it was. They called Jesus’s name again and again but nothing happened and at last the White people decided to send people to get Shembe to help and pity he was the last option they had since they had strong belief in Jesus like you. He went there with his holy stick, he spoke to the sea, moving it with his stick saying ‘ this is where me and my father placed you, pointing the area where the see was originally’. Slowly the see moved back to its origins as he kept on doing the same thing and till today it had never moved. The news spread all over the country and it was for the first time white people witnessed something so uncanny being done by a black person. Something that they failed to do which a black person did, this is one of the greatest deeds of Shembe which is known by majority of South Africans.

    You can verify this information if you want to, just ask the elderly people of your race and they will tell you the truth. You tell me, who else can be able to do such things? There’s a lot of other things but i was just highlighting one that is known everywhere, one that critics can not deny. About the 4 factions you mentioned, the problem is they are people who want to have their own Shembes as they dislike the reigning one and then they form a faction. All of them they know the truth that there’s only one Shembe and there’s only one that heals people and assist them in all kinds of problems and no other.

    Well you can continue with your compaign do degrade our religion but the truth is you won’t succeed, lot of people have tried tried yet the number of the followers is increasing on daily basis. We even have those who were Jesus’s believers since birth accepting Shembe as their leader and some are my relatives and neighbors.

    SHEMBE IS THE WAY TO HEAVEN…….OLWETHU UNYAZI LIKE IT OR NOT.

    Like

    • Please see the answer I sent to Xolani. It applies to you, too. And stop living in the past or are you still racist? Freedom is not an ideology of being held captive by men who continually remind you of oppression – Freedom is knowing God – Jesus Christ the Righteous. Here is your answer to your dire situation = The Truth be Told and the Light of Christ.

      Like

  12. Gary, u are a hard person to convice because of that u dont have the skill to understand. so its better to focus on yourself and ur church and leave others alone. let them believe in what they believe. Have u heard them judge you or they are trying to give you answers and to help you with your research.

    Like

    • Dear Nthabiseng

      All I am concerned about is that I love the Creator of the heaven and the earth – Almighty God – and I love my neighbour, which includes you. God has given His children, His disciples a mandate – to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (see Mark 16:15). If I had to adopt the attitude of leaving people to their own understanding and devices then I am not a loving person if they are going to hell and I am not warning them. It takes an uncaring hateful person to sit back and not warn anyone – as you said let them believe what they believe. If they are believing the devil – they need to be warned about the lies and their destruction and pointed to the Truth. Here are some links that you should read:

      Idolatries – An Evil Abomination – Part 1
      Idolatries – An Evil Abomination – Part 2
      Idolatries – An Evil Abomination – Part 3
      Christian bias on calendar – The Witness

      If people knew the Truth there would be no need for these posts. It is because they are on the wide road to hell that they need to be warned. There are only two ways in life, a narrow way and a broad (wide) way. Matthew 7:13, 14 reads: (13)Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14)Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

      Love for God’s people compels me to speak and call out to all who think they are alright! By not doing anything about telling people the Truth makes you guilty of their destruction. Who “has the skill to understand” now?

      Like

  13. Gary

    This information might help you in understanding Shembe’s gospel.

    The word ubuNazaretha derives from the word Nazarite, which comes from Hebrew language, Nazir. Nazir is a person whose whole life is dedicated to God and separates him or herself for a holy lifestyle.

    In the olden days Nazaritism was not accepted as a religion, but was rather a particular lifestyle under Moses’ religion. It was not expected for everyone to be the Nazarite, reason being that, it was a vow between God and a person for a specific period of time. This vow together with other certain laws formed integral part to Mosaic law. People who took a vow of being the Nazarite were not governed by peculiar laws from those of the children of Israel, but it was merely an additional Mosaic law.

    These laws were given to Moses by God, read Numbers 6:1-20. As time goes on, there born people who were the Nazarites from womb, their whole life was dedicated to God and their tenacious grip on this vow meant that they were going to separate themselves for God.

    Jesus Christ the Nazarite
    In the Bible we are being told of four people who were the Nazarites: In the Old Testament is Samson (Judges 13:5), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:9-10). The New Testament has the following people: John (Luke 1:15), Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:23, Jesus’ disciples were called Nazarites (Acts 24:5). Now it’s evident that the very first congregation of the Nazarites was that of Jesus Christ (Acts 24:5).

    Now let’s move to Shembe’s story. When God sent Shembe to establish the church of Nazareth, it was not a new religion, but a revival of the old church by Jesus Christ. Shembe reinstated laws of God by initiating the Nazarites congregation as we read in Acts 24:5. It might sound odd to people when we talk of the Nazarite, but these people existed even during the time of Jesus Christ, read Numbers 6:1-20. The Nazarites congregation has no black society background whatsoever, but has a biblical history. The laws of ubuNazaretha are merely based on Moses’ law. When Shembe first established the congregation of the Nazarites, he attached all his teachings to Moses’ law, and he wrote it clearly on verse 3-4 of the Sabbath liturgy which reads as follows:

    3 “Fear Jehovah generations to generations, keep his commandments that He wrote through his Servant Moses, so that your worship will gladly be acceptable by the Lord of Hosts. 4. Failure to keep his commandments, He will never answers your prayers. He will not give you the blessings if ye disobey his commandments and do not keep them.”

    It becomes very clear by now that the Nazarites congregation is the reinstatement of the old church by Jesus Christ as we read in Acts 24:5. In addition to that, the church of Nazarites practices the laws of Jehovah as are precisely spelt out in the book of Numbers 6:1-6. This simply means that, even though Shembe, first established the church of the Nazarites in KwaZulu-Natal, ubuNazaretha is firmly based upon Moses’ law. It is crucial for anyone who intends to study ubuNazaretha, to forage further gathering factual theology of our religion (ubuNazaretha).

    In that case, ubuNazaretha is not attached into any ethnic religions, because it is far beyond that, and it’s merely a continuation of Moses’ religion that was later recommenced by Jesus. Shembe then resumed it here in KwaZulu-Natal, read Hymn 208 of the Nazarites.

    1.Thabani, thabani
    Bufikile ubuNazaretha.
                                    

    Historic roots of ubuNazaretha
    There are three historic roots of ubuNazaretha. Firstly, Mosaic law. UbuNazaretha is governed by Moses’ laws as Shembe explained in verse 3-4 of the Sabbath liturgy. This serves as our scriptural evidence showing that ubuNazaretha is also based upon the teachings of the Old Testament.

    Secondly, ubuNazaretha is based upon Jesus’ teachings and his Apostles. In most cases when Shembe delivers his speech at the congregation he would quote so often from the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles. Hymns of the Nazarites show that particular significance to Jesus Christ, this is our further evidence showing that ubuNazaretha is also attached into the teachings of the New Testament.

    Shembe built the Nazarites congregation in accordance with the Zulu nation customs, which are not contrary to the laws of God. As we have mentioned early on, ubuNazaretha is built under the rigid laws of Jehovah that He wrote through his Servant Moses. Shembe stated very clearly in his teachings that when a person practices ubuNazaretha in contrary to Mosaic Law, God will never answers his or her prayer, and God will not pour blessings upon them. Look, when your prayers are not being answered and acceptably to God, what is the use of your faith then?

    Thirdly, even though we are allowed to preserve and practice our customs, however we are warned not to practice those which are contrary to the laws of Jehovah. When it’s come to the laws of Jehovah, one should not for whatsoever reason compromise these laws with peoples’ customs or the teachings of any ethnic religion. People deliberately impose their customs into the Nazarine religion, which is unacceptable.

    Ethnic religion enforces what is moral acceptably to those people of that particular culture and this kind of religion is built specifically on peoples’ practices which are mainly dominated by their believes, and has no instruction from God. When the time goes on, religions of this nature become a religion of the universe, because people adapt to it as their lifestyle.

    The distinction between Nazaritism and any other religion is that, Nazaretism is built through the command of God, instructions from the Word of Heaven (Izwi leZulu). So the founder of Nazaritism is Isaiah Shembe who personally met with God, and God gave him laws which govern the church of Nazareth. Therefore, the will of God can’t be hindered by peoples’ beliefs, because ubuNazaretha just remains as God wants it to be, and should never be integrated to any cultural religion!

    Humanistic approach
    Cultural religion delves on preaching things that are totally incongruent to the teachings of Nazaritism , such as izulu lomndeni (Kinship Heaven). This means that after death, a person goes to a certain place where people are assembled in kinship groups. However, the church of Nazareth that is built through the teachings of the Bible does not teach anything of this kind, but it embraces one thing, Jehovah’s Heaven. Hymn number 10 of the Nazarites says:

    1.The home of the Nazarites
    Where we are going
    Shines more brilliantly
    Than the sun or the moon.

    2. The Receiver of dues who is there
    Is one alone,
    It is Jehovah alone
    The powerful King

    Now, this hymn poses a challenge to anyone to take the Hymns of the Nazarites where we find Shembe’s teachings about one Heaven. Cultural religion says nothing about repenting from our sins and being judged by God. According to the cultural religion when people die, they go to a certain place whereby they will be grouped according to their clans and that place turns to be their heaven, where their forefathers judge them. According to God’s word, after death people get judged according to their wickedness. In Heaven the Nazarites stay with one another, wizards with one another, drunkard by drunkard etc.
    Failure to draw a distinction between ethnic religion and ubuNazaretha and make the pair look the same impairs the true feathers of Nazaritism.

    In Levi 19:31 Jehovah says: “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead..” Therefore any person whose whole life is dedicated to God must not practice anything related to wizards and mediums. One cannot integrate Nazaritism with ethnic religion because the two are not the same. The ethnic religion is governed by its laws, so as ubuNazaretha is strictly governed by the laws of Jehovah.

    Having said that the Nazarite should be someone who leaves holy lifestyle. The Nazaritism is for Jehovah as Shembe says in Hymn 73 of the Nazarites:

    3.The beautiful rock
    For the Nazarites,
    That Jehovah elected for himself,
    Because he loved it

    4. He even adorned himself three times in a year
    In this Nazarites,
    Before all the Heavens
    In One year.

    In figurative terms the Nazarite can be described as the lovely and lavish apparel that Jehovah adorns himself in Heaven. Nazarite is one who is holy, and is very special before Jehovah and is expected to remain holy, and must not practice things that are totally against the teachings of Jehovah. These words are spelt out in Levi 20:26 “And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” These words should always ring a bell to all the Nazarites, because they are the cornerstone of our faith.
    God bless you. Amen

    Email: newnazarethbaptistchurch@gmail.com
    Fax: 086 528 1956. Find us on Facebook- New Nazareth Baptist Church

    Like

  14. […] Zandile commented on Doctrines of Demons […]

    Like

  15. mr gary. i believe this calls upon us to think as academics and not as fanatical thinkers. i canot express my anger in words right now, nt angry at u but to the comunity at large. 4 it tears my heart apart wen one throws accusations that are not supported by any hardcore sources.not being in defense of the nazareth faith. since u are using the bible as a reference. did u knw that the bible was not compiled by god but by mere mortals in the council of nicea? did u knw that many of the things there are not recorded historicaly? did u knw that the 4 gospels were not writen by the apostles? did u knw….? plz research about yo religion which i`m sure would help. before blaming people. even if they were wrong what would that have to do with u?

    Like

    • Dear Malibongwe

      Thank you for this comment. However, whilst you hope to address this issue in an academic fashion, you have failed academically by denouncing the Truth which is what is being proclaimed here by the Repent and Believe South Africa ministry. What “hardcore sources” do you require? The Holy Bible IS the Word of God as “Thus saith the LORD.” To say it is not is to call God a liar! Read what God’s Word says:

      Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

      1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

      The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek autographs have over the centuries been discovered and been compiled as the Holy Bible. Men have painstakingly transcribed the text over time until such time as the printing press was able to bring us the Holy Bible in book-form and we no longer have to “keep” the Scriptures in papyrus-scroll form. We know that God Almighty is the Author of His Story (History). Obviously, if one studies the Holy Scriptures you will find that God recorded historical events with names, places and times throughout before they even took place by fulfilled prophecies, which you can incidentally also confirm with the fulfilled historical events recorded by historians and scribes alike outside of Holy Writ. [Please view the History of the Bible Video.]

      If you as one of the “Nazarene-faith” do not believe the Holy Bible to be God’s Word to His creation, then by what authority do you go? Remember what the Lord Jesus Christ said about making the Word of God of none effect by reading, as it is written in Mark 7-9,13:

      Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

      Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

      Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

      Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

      Please show us what we have written to be untrue! What has been written, has been written, and we glorify God Almighty by His Word revealing the error of man’s traditions, customs and commandments by quoting His Word.

      Please also note that it does matter what people believe, for if they have been taught incorrectly and believe a lie, their souls will be judged on Judgment Day and their consequence is eternity in the lake of fire. (See Revelation 20:15). Only uncaring, unloving people do not care about a person’s eternal destiny!

      Sir, please repent. Ukupenduka!

      [See Blog Post]

      Like

      • Its funny how this has been made a racial debate. The bible has two testaments, the shembe’s accept one and reject the other but when it suits them, they quote from the new testament.as an example, rev 21:1-4 they say Gods tabernacle is now amongst men and that’s why they believe shembe is the messiah.
        There is no doubt in my mind that shembe is a child of satan. This is evident in many things,firstly he was said to be a prophet bt now he says he was there wen God created the heavens and the earth.all prophets of the past have led men to God, shembe draws all men to him. They pray, plead and do all things in his name. Again, there is one Christ, His spirit never transferred into those of His family. Christ is arisen and is in heaven.shembe dies and has his spirit transferred, like the hindu belief of re-incarnation.

        Shembe religion is not a new thing. I’ve heard many say its new,infact its a mixture of the old gospel as taught by Prophets n Jesus but has been mixed with idolatry,ancestor worship and false religion.shembe reads the bible bt substitutes the name God or Jesus and puts his own. Shembe chose the name nazarite, a hebrew name and yet he is said to be an african messiah,what a joke and most of his teachings are based on hebrew teachings of old. If this is new then why is shembe not exempting himself from the bible and all its beliefs? It is so because in order to fool people, u must mix truth with error and shembe has done this so well.

        If the pope is wrong by saying he is the vicar of God and that people can only get to the Father by confessing sins to Him or other pontiffs then it is wrong if shembe says he and demonic ancestor worship is the way to the Father. There is only one way to God, Jesus Christ and one day, we will all be judged with this truth that we deny.

        Like

      • Dear Zakithi

        Thank you for standing for Truth in the name of the One True God Jesus Christ and also for revealing additional information relating to what the Shembe religion believes. I am most thankful for you adding value to this blog post and standing firm on your convictions as do I and that we are standing together against the forces of darkness. This blog post was brought about by a conviction to reveal the false teachings of the Shembe church and was never intended to be of a racial nature, but an extension of love. Being a white African broken vessel revealing their errors has not gone down too well with the Shembe believers who have made this a racist issue. It truly is sad. However, there is a great reward as our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:11,12 ~ (11)Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (12)Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

        May the Truth prevail as we call all to repentance and faith that they might hear from God and come to the Light. To God alone be the Glory in and through our blessed and exalted Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

        Like

  16. It is true indeed that in the absency of sense nonsese takes a lead. I was just wondering, what kind of person who spends his own precious time, humiliating himself in this site with this nonsensical article.

    It has been said before that in lack of knowledge people perish. I believe that this man lacks a great knowledge about the Nazareth Baptist Church and Shembe Himself. I would like to advice you to go and re-do your search about the church and try and get relevant information from the church itself which is the right source of information.

    And last but not least, I suggest that you come back to your senses now, because I can see that your mind is working like a parachute for it only works when it opens.
    Please consider my advice.

    Like

  17. Excuse me. But unless you have actually attended, listened, experienced the church or ceremonies you have no right to make these petty and ridiculous comments. This is not about race. It’s about faith something you clearly don’t have although you really try to. Firstly: there are no witch doctors or sangomas in the church. So I don’t know who lied to you. Secondly: Since when is keeping the Sabbath a bad thing because even Jesus preached about it. You should know that you are extremly biased and ignorant. This is a violation of people’s right here in SA. Nobody is forcing you to join our church, if you don’t like us then shut up and go on your own way. Polgyamy is practiced by those who want to. It’s got nothing to do with the church. And you would know the way to hell because that’s exactly the path you are taking. This is Africa and we were practicing our cultures loooooong before white people settled and they had nothing to do with evil. Just because one of your family members die, doesn’t mean they no longer exist. In fact, they are the ones who plead and pray on your behalf to God. If we are so evil then how come the membership just keeps increasing by the thousands each week. You keep preaching that Jesus is coming back. You say, “Very soon, we will see Jesus” each sunday but that day has yet to surface. Jesus is in Heaven alongside Shembe. You ‘Christians’ don’t even know the days of the wwek properly. Look up John 19 vs 42: “Since it was the day before the Sabbath and because the tomb was close by, they placed Jesus’ body there.” So he was buried and then at John 20 vs 1: “Early on SUNDAY morning…” so Friday he was buried and Saturday the rested and worshipped and then Sunday, they carried on with their work. Read your Bible closely Mr Crous and then maybe we can start talking because if there’s anything Nazarites don’t put up with; it’s ignorant people who preach rubbish. Man!

    Like

    • Dear Cebo
      You are sorely mistaken by all your allegations that you make in your comments. This is not the first time that reviling has been directed at me and it certainly will not be the last. What has been written has been written. Go back and see that it was an African who wrote the initial article! I will address certain of your points. When a person goes and prays to the Amadlozi (ancestors) does he/she not consult the witchdoctor / sangoma as to the sacrifice to be offered? You might not know, but I have Zulu-brothers in Christ who have come out of the ancestor culture! Deuteronomy 18:9-11 reads as follows:
      Deu 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
      Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
      Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

      For the unlearned “a necromancer” is someone that consults and speaks with the dead! God calls that an abomination – in other words GOD HATES IT! Therefore your praying to your ancestors is an abomination to God.

      You make the statement, quote: “Since when is keeping the Sabbath a bad thing because even Jesus preached about it.” Keeping the Sabbath does not bring salvation and besides it’s the only Commandment not mentioned in the New Testament to be kept. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Sabbath Rest. Read in the Book of Hebrews (as it is in the New Testament, Shembe followers miss the revelation of the fulfilment of the Old Testament) where it reads:

      Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
      Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
      Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
      Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
      Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
      Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
      Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
      Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
      Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
      Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
      Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

      Read Hebrews 4:9-11 again. We also read how the Pharisees wanted to stone the Lord Jesus Christ for breaking the Sabbath. The Scriptures that stand out the most are read in the Gospel according to Saint John:

      John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

      John 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

      The polygamy issue has been dealt with in previous comments. Please go back and read them.

      You make a statement, quote: “This is Africa and we were practicing our cultures loooooong before white people settled and they had nothing to do with evil.” If it was not for the “white missionaries” coming to these South African shores, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Way of Salvation would not have come to the African man. Light entered into darkness. Whilst you still want to hold onto practicing your cultures, God says that your “cultures” which are traditions are kept and make His Word of none effect. In other words, you will rather keep your culture, or mix it with God’s commands, which render God’s commands as null and void. Hear what the Bible tells you:

      Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
      Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
      Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

      You then make an absurd statement that is ridiculous to say the least, quote: “Just because one of your family members die, doesn’t mean they no longer exist. In fact, they are the ones who plead and pray on your behalf to God.” You say “In fact” – where is it written what you say to be a fact? Where is your evidence? This is foolishness! The Word of God says “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (see 1 Timothy 2:5). God does not say family members, ancestors or Shembe makes intercession on behalf of believers, BUT the Lord Jesus Christ, as we read from the Scriptures:

      Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
      Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

      With regards to your statement, quote: “If we are so evil then how come the membership just keeps increasing by the thousands each week.” Remember this, just because a membership increases in a gathering, doesn’t mean that it is of God. Ever heard the saying: “The devil looks after its own”? People who are deceived will follow deception!

      As far as your statement that reads, quote: “You keep preaching that Jesus is coming back. You say, “Very soon, we will see Jesus” each sunday but that day has yet to surface.” Firstly, I don’t preach that. I do however preach that the Lord Jesus Christ will return, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (see Matthew 24:30). We also read in 2 Peter 3:8 “…, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” Since the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven it has only been about “two days” in God’s calculation. So, one day it will happen … and are YOU ready for it? Stop blaspheming God’s Son’s return! And secondly, Jesus is not in heaven alongside Shembe as you allude to. The Lord Jesus Christ is at the right-hand of God Almighty, not a mere dead man named Shembe. Before the incarnation (God becoming a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ – see John 1:1,2,14) Christ was at God’s right-hand as the eternal Son the second Person of the Trinity; now He is at God’s right-hand of all authority as the beloved Son, the God-Man, the Messiah, the King of the universe. We read in Ephesians 1:20-23:

      Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
      Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
      Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
      Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

      There’s not much to comment on how you concluded your comments. All that is left to be said is: Ukupenduka amaNazaretha!!

      Like

  18. I am the member of Nazareth Baptist Church ,I think there’s more misinterpretation here ,Shembe is our Lord we warship Him as the God the Holy ,we believe in Jehovah the God of Sabbath ,Our religion is from the Old testament ,we taken a Nazareth Vow as our Prophet taught us ,our religion is Nazarite religion(numbers 6 Hebrew Bible or Tourah Mishnah ) Jesus to us is a Prophet of Nazareth ,we cannot pray to His name due to the fact Jehovah made a new covenant with Shembe in Holy Mountain of Nhlangakazi ,inanda eThekwini ,Shembe is our Lord , we don’t allow Sangomas and witchcraft in our church ,we use holy water and oil blessed by the High Priest of Ekuphakameni ,we believe in the Creator of heaven and earth ,The Lord of the Sabbath ,WE OBSERVE THE SABBATH ,we don’t pray to Evil things our religion is pure no gods we pray on Ekuphakameni

    people must come and see us worshiping God ,we believe in 10 commandments ,Shembe is our Lord ,we worship as you worship Jesus of Israel, Shembe and Jesus are brother in faith

    Like

    • Dear Ricardo

      You have been deceived. Here is the Truth from Philippians 2:5-11:

      Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
      Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
      Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
      Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
      Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
      Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
      Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

      Like

    • People speak about Christian as saints and only religion to be followed, but christians are the ONE who killed their saver who THEY believed was a son of God. Now it is said people of South Africa who believe they have their SAVER that speaks their language and look like them. Unlike Jesus they dont know, dont know if what they say He said is true. Remember that people of South Africa lost their land to people who told them they were Christians. And lastly Christian religion is of ALIAN NATURE to people of S.A. and doesnt the Bible forbid to follow the God of others or other nations.

      Like

  19. Lord Jesus was the way the Truth and life… As the bible says in John 14:6 Untill they Putted Him in a cross. ALTHOUGH He Forgave those men but he told them that He Will Return to the World but they Will not recognise him. AS HE SAID His Spirit he be with us till utility. So I BELIEVE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT JESUS PREACHED ABOUT IS THE ONE THAT SHEMBE WORKS WITH. ACTUALLY WE ARE NOT MISTAKEN SHEMBE FOLLOWERS COZ GODS GAVE EACH NATION IT LEADER WHO PRACTISE THE SAME TRADITION AND RITUAL WHO EAT THE SAME FOOD AND SHARE DWELLINGS WITH HIS PEAPLE IN THE BOOK OF JOHAN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE .

    Like

    • Dear Coleka

      You have been deceived. Here is the Truth from Philippians 2:5-11:

      Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
      Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
      Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
      Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
      Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
      Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
      Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

      Like

  20. Through JESUS CHRIST WE SHALL SEE GOD. shembe is like zcc… guys ask me; There’s someone I know who witnessed the evilness of zcc. The person who wrote this article makes me cry in tears of joy because what he is saying is very much important to deliver us, particularly black people, FROM EVIL. SHEMBE AND ZCC WORK FOR SATAN!. DO NOT WORSHIP ANYTHING OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST.

    Like

  21. Let us pray for the Shembe believers that their hearts receive the truth that Jesus is the doorway to salvation. Neither tradition nor good works nor religious observances provide redemption. Well written article.

    Like

    • No thanks. I think we shall be keeping our religion and beliefs for a very long time. I don’t know about but when even coaches of soccer teams and important political and social figures are thanking Shembe, this seems to be only the beginning.

      Like

    • No thank you. I think we’ll stick to our religion. How is it that Jews are allowed to weave culture within their religion and not the Afrikan. Don’t bother praying for us either because you’ll only spread the word. When even soccer coaches (The Sundowns coach) and important political and social figures show thank Shembe, it shows that this is only the beginning. Is it hard for one to imagine that an Afrikan can take pride for something that is their own? Is it so difficult to accept the Afrikan’s ways and not constantly try to find ways to belittle him?
      But anyways, the glory of Heaven is always hidden away from the unfortunate.
      God Bless…

      Like

  22. Lol @Gary Crous,

    Sir, Your are in a Deepest darkness and clueless with what you talk about, do your homework rightfully then we can talk, right now you are Deforming A Character of an Organisation and misleading many people, you are the very same person that start religious wars around the world and you should not be entertained, people have a right to believe on what they believe in, so as you.

    Sbusiso Radebe

    Like

  23. Jesus,unfortunately,was crucified at very young age, I wish he had stayed longer and witness his Greatness.
    To be honest I expected an informative debate from this blog but not disrespectfulness,especially from men of God talking about God himself.
    There are many scriptures of God but we are all reading the bible here,it seems. So the way I see it is our religions(Nazareth and Chistianity) are somehow related.
    I am a Nazarite, Shembe is my prophet and I believe Jesus was sent from heaven too. I also believe God made us different purposefully and gave us different ways of life, but I fail to believe we can all go to one heaven, it just wouldnt work, like it doesnt when three different races come to live in one place, we call each other by names, we look through each other (none white American are called n***as, if you are none white elsewhere you are most likely a monkey,if you are none white like me but not from my country you are ikw*re-kwere, the list goes on).
    When i die from the bottom of my heart i would love to see God, if my faith/religion doesnt take me there then i ges there will be more seats in heaven for believers of other religions, God knows which. I will stay loyal to my Nazarite faith, respect and accept other religions i was not so lucky to get a calling from, God knows why after all. I am not sure I can take pride of insulting anyone or their beliefs and expect to seat in his kingdom, being that he is our only Judge.

    Like

  24. Classic colonialism attitude… what you fear and don’t understand (nor bother to understand) is classified as a threat and something that needs to be destroyed at all costs. Ha! This reminds me of the teachers of the Law who accused Jesus. But I guess, Mr Crous, you shouldn’t be blamed for something that has become a culture or a tradition to you. Whatever an Afrikan creates, must be diminished, ridiculed, torn apart, erased and thoroughly crushed.

    The wonderful thing about ignorant critics is that the more they try to suffocate a topic that they fear, the more attention they bring to it. So, I guess you could also be acknowledged for your role in promoting our wonderful religion.

    The Nazareth Baptist Church is the way for the Afrikan and no matter how you try to spin it around, you won’t succeed. There have been MUCH greater obstacles for our church than your opinion and all have been overcome.

    Is this a hobby or an illness? This constant, obsessive need for Christians to try and defame other religions? If it’s not an attack on Islam, it’s Hinduism. If it’s not Hinduism, it’s Nazarites who are attacked.
    Maybe this irrational outburst is due to some pent up anger? Maybe it’s the fear of the unknown.

    A European missionary (the foundation layers of colonialism) told King Shaka Zulu that if he refused to become a Christian, he would burn in hell. King Shaka simply said, “Sidla umlilo thina kuleli lizwe.” (On this land, we eat fire.) I’m detecting similar vibes in this article, Mr Crous.

    I respect Jesus Christ, and so do all other members of our church. He is the King of the Jews, their Saviour, the one sent to help set the children of Israel back on track and back to God. So, as many other heavenly beings before Him, he had to appear to them in a manner that wouldn’t scare them off. He had to be like them in appearance and leave his heavenly state to be like the people he was sent to. But, unfortunately, it’s a pattern in the Bible that the righteous are brutally murdered.

    That being said, I don’t understand how one can take Jesus and his message and apply it to the Afrikan. If it is not applicable to the Indian or the Japanese, how can we possibly try to crop two very distinct things together?

    The Nazareth Baptist Church is religion for the Afrikan. It is our norms, our languages, our attire, our attitudes, our history that is central in our religion. I don’t blame you, Mr Crous. This culture of bashing the Afrikan, is probably even genetic considering how long it has been happening. You might not even be aware that you are following your ancestors’ footsteps. But I will pray that you hopefully are cured of this destructive mindset/illness/abnormality one day.

    “White people think that when I love myself, I hate them. When actually it has nothing to do with them at all. When I love myself, they become irrelevant to me.” – Dr. John Henrik Clarke

    Like

  25. One question to the author: How does one in his/her rightful mind think that keeping the Sabbath, the 7th day demonic because keeping this day was the instruction from Jehovah HIMSELF? unless the author is an anti-Jehovah.

    Like

Leave a comment