…do not seek to liken yourselves to Jesus- tinyanga told

MBABANE - Some church leaders say should not misinterpret the Bible and seek to liken themselves to Jesus Christ.

tinyanya

7he clergymen were responding to claims made by &hairman of the :itchdoctors Association Makhanya Makhanya to the effect that Jesus was their leader by virtue of being the main healer.

7he &hristian 6tar &hurch in =ion Arch Bishop .hanyakwe]we Man ikela said traditional healers should not misinterpret the term µhealer’ and liken themselves to Jesus. He said labeling Jesus as a healer meant that

He healed all diseases by the word of mouth, depending on the faith of the person seeking help.

³Jesus had no ancestral sprit, mean ing he had no spirit of divination. He never cast bones and he healed with out a kit sikhwama . (ven though he was a healer by definition, he was not a traditional or western healer,” Manikela said.

He added that there was a need for a dialogue to make people, including

understand the real meaning of Jesus.

Makhanya had also claimed that traditional healers were not prepared to celebrate (aster services under

He stated that traditional healers could only attend the (aster services the theme µ*ood )riday’. He said traditional healers could only attend to the (aster services if the event was to be termed µBad )riday’.

7o this, Manikela stated that the theme µ*ood )riday’ could only be understood by people who worshiped Jesus.

Resurrection

³3eople were once stuck in the ocean. 7hey needed a man to set them free and that man was Jesus. As &hristians, we believe that the death, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was an assurance of the renewal of our lives. It means a new beginning. 7hrough His death and resurrection, we know that there is no as a regiment if the event was to be termed µBad )riday’. need for animal blood for cleansing. :e can pray directly to *od as opposed to seeking prayers from priests. If tra ditional healers were sinless, they can say it’s Bad )riday,” Manikela said.

He added that even though the cru cifixion of Jesus was accompanied by pain, the outcome superseded everything because the world was saved. ³More than anything, the death and resurrection of Jesus was a fulfilled prophecy. Jesus never ended in the grave but He arose and ascended to heaven where He is seated on the right hand of *od,” he said.

Inka]imulo Apostolic &hurch in =ion Arch Bishop 3aulos Mala]a shared the same sentiments that Jesus could not be referred to as a traditional healer because He did not have an ancestral calling. He advised traditional healers to read the scripture in the Book of 5RPDQV and -RKQ 5RPDQV which reads ³7herefore I urge you, brothers and sisters , in view of *od’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to *od this is your true and proper worship. 'o not con form to patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

-RKQ speaks about the removal of the big stone from Jesus’ grave.

Mala]a stated that the Bible was clear that &hristians worshiped a man who rose from the dead and returned to heaven.