The Place and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts In the Scripture: The Understanding of the EECMY-IBS Congregations in Mettu and Alge Towns

Jira, Tariku Tolessa

Etd

The Place and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts In the Scripture: The Understanding of the EECMY-IBS Congregations in Mettu and Alge Towns

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Jira, Tariku Tolessa. The Place and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts In the Scripture: The Understanding of the Eecmy-ibs Congregations In Mettu and Alge Towns. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/20bdf2c8-e90f-4511-b1f0-96b4ee9a2f3e?q=2019.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

J. T. Tolessa. The Place and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts In the Scripture: The Understanding of the EECMY-IBS Congregations in Mettu and Alge Towns. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/20bdf2c8-e90f-4511-b1f0-96b4ee9a2f3e?q=2019

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Jira, Tariku Tolessa. The Place and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts In the Scripture: The Understanding of the Eecmy-Ibs Congregations In Mettu and Alge Towns. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/20bdf2c8-e90f-4511-b1f0-96b4ee9a2f3e?q=2019.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Jira, Tariku Tolessa

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In Copyright

Abstract

We learn from the Bible and the Lutheran confessions that the Holy Scripture is the only standard by which all Christian teachings and practices are judged. Further, there is no other way or means to meet God and receive his grace except through his audible and visible words. The devil, on the other hand, always works against this permanent truth through his false teachings that human beings would seek and use other alternate means and standards respectively to approach God and examine faith and practice. As the teaching and practices of the Prosperity Gospel that undermines the primacy of the Word of God and the importance of the Holy Sacraments are spreading in the working areas of the EECMY-IBS, the researcher conducted this study to give awareness about the danger coming into our congregations with this false teaching. To conduct the study, the researcher used questionnaires, which were completed by thirty-nine participants that were recruited from six congregations of the synod to gather viable data. Further, he involved three notetakers who assisted him in taking notes during and after the presentations offered to the participants and the sermons delivered in two congregations. The participants and the notetakers have also participated in analyzing and interpreting data. The believers of the area theoretically believe in the authority and primacy of the Word of God and the importance of the Sacraments. However, the study indicated that: (1) for some participants, the term ‘Word of God’ is interchangeable with the Scripture and the words of the ‘Charismatic Preachers’ (2) some prioritized ‘blessed objects,’ and the words of Charismatic Preachers over the audible and visible Word to receive God’s blessing, (3) some prioritized miraculous gifts over gifts like the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, forgiveness of sin, eternal salvation, and other non-miraculous gifts, (4) some attempted to use spiritual gifts for personal edification rather than collective purpose. On the other hand, the result of the post-intervention responses has shown improvements in all the mentioned areas. Evaluating the findings in the light of the theological discussion presented in chapter two of this paper, the researcher recommended that teachings that could respond to these shortcomings should be given to all members of the synod.

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