The Situation

The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Gutu University is recently said to have barred 5 students from becoming a part of the Student’s Executive Council after they failed to speak in tongues. This was after they had gone through the entire process of filling in applications to be considered for the Council.

The student’s dean Zunguze notified the students on the 5th of November 2021 of their disqualification. He stated that because they had not shown any evidence of speaking in tongues, they were not born again or spirit filled and could not qualify to lead any students.(In accordance with Section 9 of the Ezekiel Gutu University student handbook.)

The issue has been taken up to the High Court for Zimbabwe and the students will be represented by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum.

The School Is Right

One school of thought has suggested that the University had every right to act in this way. The reasoning that has been brought up to support this is that the school has made it clear what they stand for and who they are from the beginning.

Ezekiel Gutu University is the first Pentecostal University in Zimbabwe. Being Pentecostal, they emphasise direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit and state that this baptism in the Holy Spirit enables a Christian to “live a Spirit-filled and empowered life”. That said, some people have suggested that they had every right to stand for and enforce THEIR BELIEFS in THEIR PREMISES.

The School Is Wrong

Denying students the opportunity to compete for leadership roles like any other student was not a matter taken lightly by some. For them, it boils down to one word, DISCRIMINATION. This was also considered to be imposing of their beliefs on the students.

One argument was that, if they willingly accepted the students into their University and also gladly accept their money then they should also afford them all the opportunities given to every other student.

Some people don’t even think having someone who is so called “spirit-led” is not at all effective. This view point came about as a results of various activities by other churches including the recent church shooting which was allegedly organised by one of the church leaders.

Biblical Perspective

Usually one does not include religion when it comes to debates, however since this matter is deeply rooted in religion perhaps that side ought to be considered too. We’ll do so in brief.

Some commentators on this matter pointed out to scriptures that suggest that although many might say they are Christians, it is not possible for everyone to be able to speak in tongues.

But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for a beneficial purpose.8 For to one is given speech of wisdom through the spirit, to another speech of knowledge according to the same spirit, 9 to another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one spirit, 10 to yet another operations of powerful works, to another prophesying, to another discernment of inspired expressions, to another different tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.11 But all these operations are performed by the very same spirit, distributing to each one respectively just as it wills.

1 Corinthians 12 vs 7-11

Given this some have suggested that the school is even wrong, not only from a legal point of view but also from a biblical one.

Do you agree with this view?

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