Kimbanguism

Kimbanguism

Kimbanguism is a branch of Christianity founded by Simon Kimbangu in what was then the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The church's name is the Kimbanguist Church (fully Église de Jésus Christ sur la Terre par son envoyé spécial Simon Kimbangu, or The Church of Christ on Earth by His Special Envoy Simon Kimbangu), and is a large, independent African Initiated Church with an estimated 5.5 million believers.

In April 1921, Kimbangu, a Baptist mission catechist, inaugurated a mass movement through his supposed miraculous healings and biblical teaching. The Belgian authorities treated the faith with suspicion and imprisoned Simon Kimbangu for most of his life (he died while in prison). The church was formally recognised by the Belgian colonial authorities in 1959.

Some smaller, more loosely organised groups in Central Africa regard Kimbangu as God's prophet, though that view is not orthodox.

Contents

Beliefs and practices

The church eschews politics and embraces a puritan ethic, rejecting the use of violence, polygamy, magic and witchcraft, alcohol, tobacco, and dancing. Its worship is Baptist in form, though the institution of Holy Communion was not introduced until 1971.

The three key dates in the Kimbanguist are April 6 (marking the date of the start of the ministry of healing), October 12 (marking the day Kimbangu died) and May 25 (marking Christmas[1], falling on the birthday of Papa Dialungana). The church is largely non-sacramental with large services only loosely organised.

The church also believes that Papa Simon Kimbangu is, in fact, the Holy Spirit, according to John 14:15-17. The Kimbanguists pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, both beginning and the end.

Alongside Father Simon Kimbangu, the Holy Trinity are, Father Kisolokele (first son of SK), as God the Father, Father Dialungana (the reincarnated Jesus Christ, and second son of SK), Father Diangienda Kuntima (last son, reincarnation of Papa Simon Kimbangu, and second human form of the Holy Spirit), and Father Simon Kimbangu Kiangani (grandson of Papa Simon Kimbangu, third human form of the Holy Spirit, and current spiritual leader of the Church, reigning from 2001-present)

The Church Kimbanguist and the Catholic Church have some things in common, such as sharing the belief of the Incarnation, and the conceiving of the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church and the EJCSK both belief that the Virgin Mary is the Mother of the Universe,[citation needed] but Kimbanguists believe that Mother Muilu Kiawanga Nzitani is the wife of Papa Simon Kimbangu, mother of the Trinity and of course, the Virgin Mary.

The life and works of Kimbangu

Simon Kimbangu is said to have came down to earth from Mount Zion as a Congolese infant. He was raised by a Pentecostal minister and poor wife, and is believed to have been an extraodinary child, with the wisdom of Solomon and the power to bring salvation to sinners. He grew up to be an Anglican. When he was 20 years old, he married his aunt, Muilu Kiawanga Nzitani, who the church teaches was Virgin Mary returned to earth. He did this because, when his uncle was on his deathbed, he asked Kimbangu to marry his wife.

The church teaches that while Muilu was asleep in bed, she heard somebody talking to her Husband. Approaching the garden, she saw Kimbangu talking to a "divine stranger", who Kimbangu told her was Jesus Christ.

In 1921, the mother of a deceased child is said to have approached Kimbangu while he was talking to his disciples. He is said to her, "Have faith in Me. I will give you a miracle and you know the truth about me. I will do something great for your daughter and you know see God's glory", and resurrected her child from the dead.

Hierarchy

  • The spiritual head (Diangienda)
  • Adjunct spiritual heads (Dialungana and Kisolokele – the other sons of Simon Kimbangu)
  • Bansadisi (healers)
  • Legal representatives of churches in the various countries
  • Regional representatives and their staffs
  • Subregional representatives and their staffs
  • Main parish ministers, evangelists and helpers
  • Parish-section ministers, evangelists and helpers
  • Congregants

See also

External links

Further reading

  • Kimbangu: An African Prophet and His Church Marie-Louise Martin (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976) ISBN 0-8028-3483-3

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