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Christianity Today, November, 2007 |

Africa Unbound

God may be clearing the stage for the next act in his redemptive drama.

Jonathan J. Bonk | posted 11/21/2007 08:19AM

Westerners are prone to silly generalizations about Africa. We forget that it is geographically huge, culturally complex, and linguistically diverse. The sheer immensity of the continent is belied by ...

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Kent	Posted: December 02, 2007 6:01 AM

An incredible article - balanced, thoughtful and vivid. Unlike Johann's comments above - still vivid, but unbalanced and thoughtless. Did you even read the article, Johann? The parts describing the great cultural and spiritual diversity across the continent? Nevertheless, you still happily lump "African Christianity" together and predict a wholesale, apparently on the basis of a second-hand account of one Zambian Christian. I shudder to think of the unbelievers who might be reading these comments, wondering to themselves: are all Christians like that Johann guy? Bitter, negative, racist? If you are such a person reading this, please know that views like Johann's are very much in the minority amongst the Christians I've known and worshipped with all my life. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God bless Africa)... and us too, we need it badly.

Johann

Posted: November 30, 2007 7:50 AM

It's hard to believe that African "Christianity" is Christian in any sense. It's an ugly, deformed Pentecostal bastard- full of false miracles, pagan sensibility, name it/claim it magic and heretical nonsense. I know people who just went on a mission trip to Zambia. I was told that the chief of the tribe had 8 wives. I commented that he must be a Moslem. "No", I was told. "He's part of our church. We don't exactly approve of it, but what can we do?" Knowing Africans, in another 100 years, most of the continent will have sunk back into animism and cannibalism.

Anonymous

Posted: November 29, 2007 7:47 PM

Right on, Ephrem!...But I can tell you that I have seen the difference between these two. One "group" was heavy into the Spirit and pushed the idea that you had to have a "spiritual experience" or you were not filled with the Spirit, and therefore, not a Christian. They're version of being filled with the spirit meant walking around like you are drunk (in the Spirit), laughing uncontrollably, crying uncontrollably, holding your hands out and claiming entire areas in the name of God, discovering the name of the demons that controlled an area (like: lust, sexual immorality, or the demon of fear) and praying them out of the area. It was very strange and not quite right.

mwamburi

Posted: November 28, 2007 7:56 AM

Mr. Bonk, what difference is there between the name and claim, pop-culture, Bentley gospel sold by televangelists and the syncreticism seen in African Instituted Churches? None, just an expression of the Church subverted by the dominant contemporary culture in each instant. What difference is there between the declining mainstream churches in West and similar trends in Africa? None, except both are not spiritual fulfilling so followers go to other wells. As for theology, the 10,000 denominations are nor different from theology by televangelism that dominates American Churches. Let us instead pray that both American and African Churches will finally come to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit and in Truth, instead of trying to create a newsworthy but spiritually useless article. Let us further pray that churches everywhere will preach and practice the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, that includes the Word, Spirit, and right living as was during the time of St. Paul.

Parker

Posted: November 27, 2007 5:22 PM

I believe the author paints the major shapes and hues of the Christian church in Africa well. Major challenges are faced by both Western and African church. Attacks on the truth of the Biblical Gospel are the most obvious. There are over 10,000 DENOMINATIONS in Nigeria. That leaves room for any gospel anyone can imagine. Since any departure from Biblical truth is not of God, many of these lead people into bondage, not salvation and freedom. Accurate discernment is crucial there, just as here. I encountered a young man who dramatically exhibited demonic presence but "rather liked him" and refused to give him up. He received him at his church, "The Church of the Twelve Apostles". Bishops worry about the onslaught of oil money from Muslim countries buying politicians and building schools; bishops whose first priority is evangelism and work to double their church in five years; the Episcopal Bishop of Dar es Salaam who refused bribes from American pro-homosexual emissaries.

Francis, Kenya

Posted: November 23, 2007 9:19 AM


I am from Kenya too and I agree with this article unlike Grace. Africa still has myriad hardships, but the Holy Spirit is definitely working there, and as the Bible says the meek shall inherit the earth, the mighty of the world shall be humbled. If not for Christ, who would we turn to?

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: November 23, 2007 7:15 AM


For Western Christianities to be described as "Christ-centered" and African Christianity as "Spirit-centered" is a sure witness that neither one knows who Jesus Christ really is by Biblical standards? The Bible knows no such separation between the Giver of the gift and the gift or for one without the other!

Ejohn

Posted: November 22, 2007 10:35 PM

I like the last paragraph in Bonk's article. what does it mean to say "goodnews to the poor"? Many would say it's poor in the spirit. well, Matt. 5:13 doesn't suggest that because it says the kingdom of God belongs to the poor in Spirit! could it be well, something that most western Christians reject as being fringe, lunatic, ectra-biblical, un-biblical and even heretical stuff - just because it doesn't fit the western, so called "Christian" worldview? The western church cannot digest biblical prosperity when it's sinking under the weight of materialism. I'm surprised to find so many western christians who criticise it as "prosperity theology"! well, if it is there in the Bible, then let's accept it... and if we can't accept what the bible says then, let's just get out of the way! if the old covenant promised material blesings for God's people, how much more should it be in the new covenant which is based on Christ's fulfilling the requirements of the law?

Grace Koome, Kenya

Posted: November 22, 2007 7:23 AM

I am an African from Kenya and very proud about our continent Africa. I want to say here that the contents of this article are not true and are quit misleading. The writer need to visit and see especially our country Kenya. I can offer him free five star hotel accomodation and free food because God has blessed us with plenty of food and land here.I am a born again Christian and we Africans allow the Holy Spirit of God to teach us all truths we dont use human understanding which is misleading.My prayer is God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ will visit this author. I forgive him. Be careful readers what you are told about Africa out there,your people use these lies to make money, come visit us and our churches(non on the list above) and you will be blessed.

Joan	Posted: November 22, 2007 2:19 AM

The church in Africa is more than what you think because God seems to be turning to Africa than ever before for his word says this all together will bring joy to those who have faith in God. The Suffering in Africa is but a seed that God is giong to use in these last days to bring many to him. Despite all these problems we have not left our God? He remains central in all we do. Think about that! Think about a nation like Rwanda, despite all effects of war and genocide people have not given up christ and infact there's shoots of more attendancy in churches like never before. Jion hands with Africa brethern you 're just on the right truck. You are yet to see more awesome presence of God in africa like never before. thanks

Raymond Takashi Swenson

Posted: November 21, 2007 5:19 PM

This is a very interesting insight into the expansion of Christianity in Africa. I note its remarkable charity in embracing as Christian the very diverse and original doctrines and practices of churches arising in Africa without close ties to existing American and European denominations. There seems to be a strong emphasis in African Christianity on experiencing the reality of the Holy Spirit and of miracles. Since Evangelicals can express such tolerance toward African churches with these characteristics, so different from those of American Protestants, it is puzzling to me why they have such hostility toward an indigenous American expression of Christianity which also emphasizes the miraculous action of the Holy Spirit, namely the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Is the tolerance for the diversity of African Christianity a matter of racial condescension that cannot be extended to American Mormons? How about to the 250,000 African Mormons?

Bill Bray

Posted: November 21, 2007 3:06 PM

This is probably the best single article published on Africa in years in any American evangelical magazine. It should be reprinted as part of the mandatory introduction required of every Christian individual or committee working with Africans today. Jonathan Bonk has done an excellent job describing the current situation and why we need to rethink our relationship with African churches and leaders at every level.

Karen

Posted: November 21, 2007 12:11 PM


i'M THANKFUL THAT THE THE POWER OF GOD AND HIS WORD NEVER RETURNS UNTO HIM VOID. I PRAISE GOD THAT THERE I GOOD FRUIT IN AFRICA AND I FEAR FOR OUR UNITED STATES WHO ARE PLAYING AROUND WITH THE DEVIL'S CROWD AND YET TRYING TO BE CALLED CHRISTIAN.

Jim	Posted: November 21, 2007 11:46 AM

I saw a lot of this beginning when I was a student in West Africa in 1970. The church in Africa is quickly moving out of the control of the West and perhaps justly so. The culture demands that the church there address the supernatural elements of society with its own power, and it does. I beleive we have nothing to fear from African Christianity, yet need not acquiess to the tangents and excesses of the chaos that seems to be rampant.

alanps

Posted: November 21, 2007 10:55 AM


I will read this again - timely, and thought provoking - thanks!

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