–– Paul Schlehlein

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Pastor Paseka ‘Mboro’ of South Africa continues to fill the headlines. For years he’s drawn criticism for driving luxury vehicles in a poor neighborhood, claiming bizarre healing ability or, most recently, facing assault and kidnapping charges. But his run-ins with the law are far less concerning than his aberrant theology. 

In a clip from Reggie Yates entitled “Extreme South Africa: The Missionary Preacher”, Mboro insists his parishioners bring underwear to church so that he may bless their “vuvuzelas” and “biscuits”, euphemisms for the male and female reproductive organs. 

Mboro uses common prosperity tactics, in this case “points of contact”, in which the congregants’ undergarments serve as the conduit through which his supposed miraculous power will flow. Is this biblical?

Points of Contact

According to prosperity theology, points of contact connect faith with God. Some liken it to turning the key to start your car. When, in faith, a person takes up these points of contact (like anointing oil, prayer cloths, or faith-filled letters), he should expect something to happen. Examples would be Oral Roberts pouring holy water over his wallet, Creflo Dollar urging his congregation to cure poverty with dollar bills hidden in their shoes, or other prosperity preachers sleeping with prayer cloths beneath their pillows. 

This belief has swept over Africa, an easy target because of its history of witchcraft. For example, David Oyedepo, pastor of the mega-church Living Faith Winners Chapel in Nigeria, believes handkerchiefs, anointing oil, and pastor mantels are containers of spiritual power. 

Proponents of this teaching point to passages like Matthew 14, when anyone who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment was made perfectly well (vv. 35-36). Another popular reads as follows:

"God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them."

– Acts 19:11-12

Looking at the context, Paul is ministering in Ephesus, baptizing some confused believers (vv. 1-7) and relocating his Bible studies due to opposition (vv. 8-10). People use the handkerchiefs that touched Paul’s skin to heal and exorcise the afflicted. 

Six Reasons Scripture Does Not Teach Points of Contact

Should this example of Paul be imitated today? No. Here are six reasons.

First, the miracles were different. In many of today’s prosperity churches and televised crusades, prayer shawls and holy water are the norm. Such was not the case in Acts 19. Even as miracles go, the wonders performed in v. 12 were out of the ordinary. 

Verse 11 calls the miracles “extraordinary”, variously translated “unusual” (NKJ), “special” (KJV), and “remarkable” (JB). These expressions of power were rare and certainly not something people should emphasize.

Second, the preachers were different. Paul and his friends didn’t seek riches by selling personal amulets to fund the ministry. In fact, contrary to prosperity preachers today, Paul endured intense suffering, like imprisonments, riots, sleepless nights, and hunger (1Cor. 15:32). The handkerchiefs from Paul’s body were laced with his own blood.

Third, the circumstances were different. These events were not normative. Just a few verses earlier the text says believers had yet to receive the Holy Spirit. This is an unusual, transitional story. Normally, the Spirit indwells believers at the moment of conversion (1Co. 12:3). 

Fourth, the tools were different. Clearly, the Spirit was showing that the apostles could match anything Ephesus could put forward. Because the town was overrun with sorcery, Luke distinguished miracles from magic. Witchcraft focuses on human control; miracles center on God’s autonomous action.

Fifth, the result was different. Notice the outcome of these miracles. The diseases and demons left immediately (v. 12). There was no prolonged ritual of casting out evil spirits as is so common at prosperity crusades. When Jesus exorcised demons, he did so “with a word” (Mt. 8:16). 

Scripture never emphasizes exorcism. Verse 13 is the only place we find the word “exorcist”. We have no New Testament example of the casting out of demons by anyone except Christ and his apostles. The solution to demons is always repentance from sin and obeying God’s Word. 

Finally, the purpose was different. God gives miracles to confirm His Word. Since the canon was not yet complete, it was necessary for Paul (and other apostles) to perform miracles (2Co. 12:12). 

Conclusion

The unregenerate world wants to capitalize on the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as the sons of Sceva parroted the casting out of demons by chanting “the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 13), so prosperity charlatans continue to do the same. The goal of these extraordinary miracles was not imitation but confirmation. Today, miracles using “sweatbands”, underwear, or other ‘points of contact’ do not exist, as the Scriptures so clearly teach.