Abstract:
One of the bases of the Twelve Apostles’ Church for practising divination
is the story of Saul consulting Samuel in 1 Samuel 9:1-10:26. Some Christian
churches believe that the concept of divination is not biblical and must be
condemned since it is a key element of the African traditional religion. This study
therefore uses the Twelve Apostles’ Church in Nzema area as a case study to find
out whether divination as practised by the Twelve Apostles’ Church has any
biblical justification.
The Twelve Apostles’ Church emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, has
a flexible liturgy, a prominent place for women. The Church also uses sacred
articles like the water, candles, incense, white clothes, erects crosses and so on.
The Twelve Apostles’ Church defines divination as a means of
communicating with God for him to reveal sources of problems and prescribe
solutions to them. The types of divination employed are; prayers, the use of the
holy cup, the use of the tasbih, carrying basins of water and the use of the Bible.
Evaluating the passage, 1 Samuel 9:1-10:26 three instances of divination
by Samuel are observed. Samuel received a message about Saul through a night
dream, chose an Israelite king by casting lots and located Saul by the help of Urim
and Thummim. The issue that remains unresolved is whether or not the people of
the Twelve Apostles’ Church use the spirit of God in practicing divination or not.
