Commercialisation and commodification of the gospel in South African Neo-Prophetic churches: A missiological self-regulation framework

Abstract

The exponential rise of neo-prophetic churches and ministries in South Africa necessitates this investigative study. The recent preponderance of such churches reveals that Christianity lacks a regulatory framework to guide the establishment of churches in South Africa. The commercialisation and the commodification of Christianity in neo-prophetic churches and ministries have led to many abuses and vulnerabilities, and revealed a certain gullibility amongst congregants. The primary research gap this study addresses is the development of a neo-prophetic regulatory framework, with a missiological focus that aligns with the Constitution of South Africa, to curb the malpractices of Neo-Prophets where these occur. Missional imagination serves as a theoretical framework by means of which the phenomenon under study has been conceptualised. The key operational concepts of the study include Missio Dei, Missio Hominum, and Motus Dei, where the missional church is understood as a polycentric entity. The research adopts a qualitative research method, utilising focus groups, in-depth interviews, and observations to generate data. The primary purpose and contribution of this study is to advocate for the establishment of a Neo-Prophetic Council of Churches. This body ought to have the same voice and status as other existing Council of Churches in South Africa. Its primary purpose is to develop a neo-prophetic missional regulatory framework to standardise and regulate practices among neo-prophetic churches and ministries in South Africa. New themes for future study may investigate such a critical intervention as contributing to the reinstatement of Christianity as a credible and humanising religion in South Africa.