Many assume that in Sub-Saharan Africa, there are whole countries filled with Christians and even Christian-leaning governments. While that may be the perceived reality, the truth is that Sub-Saharan Africa is in trouble. As many predict the rise of Christianity in Africa and label the continent the “new center of Christianity,” we see a continent being fought over by spiritual forces. It is as if Satan is attempting to simply paint over the demonic masks of the past with a thin layer of false Christianity, a Christianity bound to the laws and traditions of culture rather than rooted in the law of grace laid out in Scripture.
While we know dedicated pastors and ministries who are sharing the true gospel and discipling people, there is a considerable concern within those who live and breathe Africa, that a counterfeit Christianity is sweeping the continent. This has been a concern of ours for a long time. Quite a few theologians, pastors, and ministry leaders are now writing books on the subject and are raising the alarm bells (see below for a few of those).
It starts with the unfortunate reality that Sub-Saharan Africa was mostly evangelized but not discipled. For us at One Collective, we stand firm on the belief that long-term relationship based discipleship is key in growing up godly, Bible believing, mature disciples who make disciples.
Understanding the culture, the worldview of individuals, and engaging in authentic relationships within the context of daily life is necessary to uncovering what people believe to be their ultimate reality, their “really real.” Examining how people live out what they believe can shine a light on what they understand “Christianity” to be. In many ways, this is similar to how we might uncover what used to be called “cultural” or “casual” Christians here in the United States: people who identify with Christianity culturally or socially, but whose everyday lives may not necessarily reflect a biblical understanding of faith.
In Zambia specifically, we see the syncretism of African Traditional Religions (ATR), witch-craft, spiritism, ancestor worship, and tribalistic culture all wrapped up into the church. In the same way we must push against our culture here in the states, Africans must stand against the animistic and tribalistic aspects of their culture that has it’s tentacles tightly wound in the church. This is spiritual warfare.
Low literacy rates, elder/position based unchecked authority, poverty, and vulnerability allow for a continued cultural acceptance of corruption, rampant sexual immorality, and abuse in the church that has become the new “tribe.” When position and title equal power, (think chief/headman culture), it is easy to see how a pastor or church leader can do whatever he (or she) desires.
There is also a lack of discernment when it comes to understanding spirits, deliverance, healing, and the practices people become involved in when those practices fall outside a biblical worldview. When animism and spiritism have been the long-accepted framework for understanding the spiritual realm, the concept of deliverance can easily become confused with a biblical understanding of demons and angels.
Unbiblical deliverance services can be rife with people being “unhinged” from spirits, but what spirits? Ancestors? Nature spirits? Or some generic evil spirit believed to be causing someone to commit adultery, requiring them to return for deliverance week after week? If you don’t ask them you will not know. Assumptions are deadly.
Rather than addressing sin through confession, repentance, personal responsibility, and the accountability necessary to put sin to death in a person’s life, these alternative understandings of the spiritual realm can permeate African church services and true demonic activity is missed. The result is a form of Christianity in which spiritual manifestations may be emphasized while the biblical call to repentance, transformation, and holiness is diminished.
Prayer services (which you might have to pay for) centered around all the unfortunate issues in your life are fueled from the idea that some dead ancestor is messing with your well being and must be dealt with. There is little to no biblical understanding of trials, suffering, sanctification, and plain old consequences for sin or bad choices. You must receive prayer from that “pastor” or “prophet” with a direct connection to God.
The Prosperity Gospel and multiple sects of, “name it and claim it”, “health and wealth”, and other false gospels are plowing through Africa. ATR allows for an easy transfer of belief to The Prosperity Gospel and it’s cousins. False prophets and “power people” hold the keys to salvation, healing, anointing, happiness, and prosperity. You, the lay person, have no power. You must have mediation to God.
This is also why Catholicism works well within the context of African thinking. It is easy to accept that you must need someone, like a priest, with power, or title to access the spirit world or pardon your sins. There is not much difference between a shaman or witch-doctor and a false prophet, pastor, or priest, who demands the same “payment” in absolute and unbridled power. You must acknowledge your need for mediation to the spirit world through them.
This is why we work so hard in Zambia (and within our other African communities), to walk alongside people in everyday life. Listening, asking questions, engaging in Bible Study and asking the Holy Spirit to give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Making sure that we are a biblical filter for all the false representations of what Satan would like to push as some form of Christianity, we push against the darkness that masquerades as light. God is not trying to paint over the African mask of animism but is dismantling the whole belief system for the truth and freedom found in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is crushing the demonic oppression. We GET to be a part of what God is doing in Sub-Saharan Africa and it is amazing! But it comes at a cost.
Coming up against pastors, prophets, or even the local witch doctor is not without risk. We have had to stand alone against the evils of local pastors and the prophet who comes through town while also warning those around us where that witch doctor gets his power. Why do we do this? First, because God asked us to and we love Him. Second, because of people. The precious people of Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa seems to be puttering along and mostly out of sight for the average Western Church goer. Northern Africa is more exciting for those that are watching, but if we do not fight the battles in front of us for Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of syncretistic Christianity, the Northern influence will in no uncertain terms infiltrate all of Africa in an intentional, southern push, which is already happening. But God…Pray for us and others who are pressing into the false, corrupt, and abusive ways Satan is trying to destroy the church in Sub-Saharan Africa and that He would strengthen the true Church faithfully proclaiming the good news and standing firm on the Word of God.
The Abandoned Gospel: Confronting Neo-Pentecostalism and the Prosperity Gospel in Sub-Saharan Africa by Philip W Barnes
Biblical Christianity in Modern Africa by William Odonovan
https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/evil-suffering-and-the-gospel-a-biblical-response-to-african-traditional-religion/
Thank you for the update and information. Praying. Proud of you both.
ReplyDeleteThanks for praying, Bob! It has been a journey!
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