Christen-dissipelskap in die Markus-evangelie as critique op die welvaartteologie

Abstract

In hierdie studie is ʼn aantal positiewe en negatiewe faktore ondersoek wat Christen-dissipelskap, soos dit in die Markus-evangelie figureer, kan beïnvloed. Relevante literatuur aangaande die sogenaamde Welvaartteologie en spesifieke leringe van hierdie godsdiensfenomeen is geëvalueer en vergelyk met wat Jesus aangaande Christen-dissipelskap in Markus leer. Hiervoor fokus die studie op eksegese van tekste uit die kerngedeelte van Markus (nl. 8:22-10:52), met spesifieke oorweging van die dissipels se verwagtinge dat Jesus hulle op tydelike gebied sou seën. Jesus se mededeling in Markus van wat dissipelskap in die lig van die Messias se lyding behels, is uitgelig. Die bevindinge gee ’n aanduiding van die mate waarin die hedendaagse fenomeen, wat as Welvaartteologie bekendstaan, ’n herlewing is van die verwagting van seën op tydelike gebied wat Jesus se dissipels gekoester het. Jesus se leringe tydens hierdie situasies vorm die kern van die studie. Indien iemand ’n dissipel van Jesus wil wees, moet hy/sy in ooreenstemming met Jesus se vereistes vir dissipelskap wees. Markus vat die stellinge van Jesus in sy Evangelie saam om dissipelskap duidelik vir sy waarskynlike vervolgde/lydende geadresseerdes in hulle uiters moeilike lewensomstandighede uit te stippel. In die lig van die Meester se selfverloënende en kruisdraende diensbaarheid ten voordeel van ‘baie mense’ (Mark. 10:45) word die twaalf geleer dat die weg van die Meester ook die weg van die volgelinge sou kon veronderstel. Jesus vereis selfverloëning, kruisopneming en nederige diensbaarheid van die wat hom wil volg – dade wat as ‘ten koste van self’ en ‘ten voordeel van ander’ beskryf kan word. Hierdie lering van Jesus is God se wil vir dissipels. ’n Relevante vraag wat in die konteks van die navorsingsonderwerp beantwoord is, is of Jesus fisiese en temporele/finansiële welvaart vir dissipels beloof of in die vooruitsig gestel het. Die eksegese lewer geen aanduiding van die Welvaartteologie se lering dat dit altyd God se wil sou wees dat alle gelowiges op tydelike gebied welvarend sal wees nie. Inteendeel, die bevindinge dui aan dat dissipels, soos Jesus, in nederigheid onderdanig aan God se wil moet wees, ongeag die opoffering wat daarmee gepaard gaan. Die bevindinge van die navorsing dui aan dat die sogenaamde Welvaartteologie nie getrou is aan Jesus se missionêre opdrag om dissipels te maak van al die nasies nie, want per definisie behels Christen-dissipelskap onderwerping aan God se wil selfs al sou dit lyding inhou. A number of positive and negative factors that can influence Christian discipleship, as it figures in the Markan Gospel, have been looked into in this study. Relevant literature concerning the so-called Prosperity gospel and specific teachings of this religious phenomenon have been evaluated and compared with Jesus’ teachings concerning Christian discipleship in the Gospel of Mark. The study therefore focuses on exegesis of texts from the core portion of Mark (i.e. 8:22 – 10:52), with specific consideration of the disciples’ expectation that Jesus would provide them with earthly blessings. Jesus’ conveyance in the Gospel of Mark of what discipleship entails in light of the Messiah’s suffering has been highlighted. The findings give an indication of the extent to which the present-day phenomenon known as Prosperity gospel is a resurgence of the expectation of earthly blessings Jesus’ disciples had. Jesus’ teachings during these situations form the core of the study. In order to be a disciple of Jesus, one should be in line with his requirements for discipleship. The Markan Gospel summarises Jesus’ doctrine in order to outline discipleship clearly to his probable persecuted/suffering addressees in their extremely difficult circumstance of life. In light of the Master’s self-denying and cross-bearing servitude to the benefit of ‘many people’ (Mark 10:45) the twelve disciples are taught that the way of the Master could also be assumed to be the way of the followers. Jesus requires self-denial, cross-bearing and humble servitude from those wishing to follow him – deeds that can be described as ‘at one’s own expense’ and ‘to the advantage of others’. This teaching of Jesus is God’s will for disciples. A relevant question answered in the context of the subject of research is whether Jesus promised or held out the prospect of physical and temporal/financial prosperity to disciples. The exegesis provides no indication of the prosperity teaching that it would always be God’s will for all believers to enjoy temporal prosperity. On the contrary, the findings indicate that disciples, like Jesus, should be obedient to God’s will in humbleness, irrespective of the accompanying sacrifice. The findings of the research indicate that the so-called Prosperity gospel is not true to Jesus’ missionary command to make disciples of all nations, because, by definition, Christian discipleship entails subjection to God’s will even if it results in suffering.