CPCT denounces the use of anointing oil, reaffirms maintaining Pentecostal foundations

Dodoma. The Council of Pentecostal Churches of Tanzania (CPCT) has issued a statement declaring that they do not recognise religious leaders using prayer aids such as anointing oil, anointed water, anointed cakes, cloths, salt, and soil, stating that such practices tarnish Pentecostalism.

The statement was made on Friday, July 19, 2024, by the council's Secretary-General, Dr Baraka Kihoza, in the presence of Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who graced a leadership seminar for the CPCT leaders at all levels in Dodoma.

Dr Kihoza said in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of religious leaders referring to themselves as Pentecostals using the aforementioned prayer aids, for which they charge their believers contrary to the Word of God.

"Tanzanians should know that these religious leaders are not our members and are not Pentecostals because they contradict the foundations of Pentecostalism, which believes in the Name of Jesus Christ and not in prayer aids," said Dr Kihoza.

He said such religious leaders distort certain passages from the Holy Bible for business purposes about items like water, oil, cloths, and soil, which, he explained, were used for specific tasks that were not to be repeated forever for the same miracles in their work.

Dr Kihoza noted that those modern religious leaders were turning the miracles performed with the items as written in the Bible into business, contrary to the Word of God, which says ‘they receive freely and should give freely.’

He stated that the foundations of Pentecostalism are based on the Word of God and believe in healing and miracles in the Name of Jesus and not otherwise, as by doing so, they aim to make people believe in miracles through objects and not in the Name of Jesus, who is the miracle worker.

Dr Kihoza said CPCT does not agree with teachings that emphasise the use of aids, either given freely or for payment, to help people with their problems because there is no place in the Bible where apostles performed prayers for money.

"CPCT recognises that the Holy Spirit can give a servant of God instructions on how to fulfil the healing ministry, but it will not always be so, and those specific instructions cannot be used to create a doctrine," said Dr Kihoza.

He added that the original Pentecostal faith is in no way related to the sale of spiritual services, but they believe the Name of Jesus is sufficient and does not need additional support from salt, oil, soap, and similar items.

The chairperson of the council, Dr Barnabas Mtokambali, said one of the council's tasks is to condemn evils that arise in society, including witchcraft, same-sex relationships, homosexuality, family abandonment, and building a community that knows God.

He also urged Tanzanians to turn out in large numbers to register on the permanent voter register so they can participate in the upcoming general election.

He called on the government to create a conducive environment for people to participate in the election so that it is free and fair and to avoid excessive use of state apparatus, which often creates fear and panic among citizens.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa assured the clergy that the local government polls and the 2025 General Election would be free and fair, urging Tanzanians to turn out in droves to register and update the permanent voter register.

He said the government recognises the significant contribution of religious institutions to providing social services such as education, health, and other essential services in various sectors and that it will keep cooperating with them to ensure their goals are achieved.