Jesus Only

A pastor in Southern Africa came to EPW training wearing the attire of a sangoma, a witch doctor. Sunday mornings he preached in church. Monday through Saturday he threw bones and called on ancestors for power. This was syncretism in the flesh: Jesus plus something else.

During the training, Dave Holdt taught from Mark 9, the Transfiguration. Peter, overwhelmed by seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah, asked: “Shall we build tents?” He wanted to accommodate all three. But God the Father spoke from heaven with devastating clarity: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” The lesson was unmistakable. Accommodation is for one and one only. Not Jesus plus Moses. Not Jesus plus Elijah. Not Jesus plus the ancestors. Jesus only.

Dave looked at the sangoma and said: “Jesus plus the ancestors is death. It is Jesus only.” The man muttered under his breath: “Never.” Dave repeated: “Jesus only.” Again: “Never.” At lunch, Dave sat beside him. “Vusi, ‘never’ to Jesus only is death, not life. It is Jesus only.” Vusi said nothing. But at week’s end, he stood before the other pastors and said: “Men, we’ve been here the whole week. We need to listen to what we’ve heard.”

One year later, Vusi returned to the same training. The animal skins were gone. The sangoma attire was gone. Dave asked him privately: “Do you remember what we spoke about?” Vusi answered: “I do remember. It is Jesus only.” When the Word is rightly handled, the Spirit does what only He can do. He strips away every rival and leaves Christ alone enthroned.