Africa: The Deep Roots of a Revival
“Africa”
For many, that word brings up a wide variety of thoughts.
- Jungles
- Exotic wildlife
- Bongo drums
- Grass huts
- Abject poverty
- War masks and spears
- Tribal Dances
- Oral storytelling
- Pagan religions
The reality is that Africa could just as well be characterized by…
- The childhood home of Jesus.
- The home of Joseph, Moses, Simon of Cyrene, and the Ethiopian Eunuch.
- According to tradition, the home of St. Mark, the Apostle.
- The home of Origen, Augustin, and Tertullian, three of the most influential theologians in the history of Christianity.
- The place where it was decided which books should be in The Bible.
- The location of the Library of Alexandria, the inspiration for modern Universities.
- The continent where great scientists such as Ptolemy, Aristarchus, Euclid, and Archimedes studied.
- The location of many ancient churches that pre-dated most European churches.
- The birthplace of the monastic movement.
- The location where many early theological disputes were debated (before being debated in Europe).
- The place where exegetical Bible scholarship has its roots.
- A place where Christianity thrived for more than 500 years before Mohammed was born.
In his book How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind1, Thomas Oden challenges us to set aside our pre-conceived notions about Africa as we look at the vast Christian legacy that Africa has given to the world. I was fascinated to learn about the significant contributions that Africa has made to Christianity.
In the book, Oden takes aim at both Western historians and Sub-Saharan church leaders who refuse to identify with Northern Africa’s contributions to Christianity. Oden also gives ample evidence to refute the idea that Christianity was brought to Africa by the Europeans as a tool of oppression.
Oden does not pull any punches. He confronts historians who have improperly given credit for the accomplishments of Africa’s great theologians and scientists to Rome.
He also addressed the debate by some that North Africans were not “black Africans.” At the same time, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind argues against a mindset that would separate Sub-Sahara Africa from Northern Africa.
While Oden gives much credit to Egyptian figures, he also identifies significant leaders and churches that came from Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria.
Today’s church in Africa is thriving. When you hear the term “mega-church,” you probably think of a church in America. Yet, on the list of the top ten most populous mega-churches in the world, two of those churches are located in Africa.2 Not one American, European, or Australian church is in the “top ten.”
In fact, the Pew Foundation predicts that by 2060, over 40% of the world’s Christians will live in Africa.3
The worldwide church is in the midst of a great shift. For the past few centuries, Europe and North America have set the pace in church growth. It seems that the torch is being passed to Asia, Africa, and Latin America. While affluent U.S. churches fight to hold their own, the under-funded churches of the Global South continue to multiply.
In the case of Africa, many of these seeds of growth were sewn in the first century A.D.
Yes, there are zebras, storytelling, and drum circles in Africa. But Africa has also made an indelible mark on the world in the areas theology, philosophy, science, and Christian education.
As Africa begins to take the mantle of having more Christians than any other continent, let’s give credit where credit is due.
1Oden, Thomas C. How africa shaped the christian mind: rediscovering the african seedbed of western christianity. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2010.
2“Global Megachurches by Leadership Network’s Warren Bird PUBLIC.” Google Sheets. Accessed June 02, 2017.
http://www.leadnet.org/world
http://www.leadnet.org/world
3McClendon, David. “Sub-Saharan Africa will be home to growing shares of the world’s Christians and Muslims.” Pew Research Center. April 19, 2017. Accessed June 02, 2017. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/19/sub-saharan-africa-will-be-home-to-growing-shares-of-the-worlds-christians-and-muslims/.
About the Author
Stu Cocanougher
8 responses to “Africa: The Deep Roots of a Revival”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Stu did you take that picture? I love it! Africa has definitely experienced tremendous growth. Both the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements have lead much of the rise in growth. Despite the marginalization and the eradication from Christian history the Spirit of God continues His divine mission through using His people throughout the continent of Africa. So glad that God does not treat us the way in which we treat one another!
Stu, I have been noting through Christians for Biblical Equality and other organizations the shift in the growth of Christianity from the West to Africa, Asia, and Latin America for some time. The largest Baptist church is in NE India and apparently they are sending missionaries to the US. Well, Amen we need them.
What a great comparison you drew up between what Americans think of Africa and what we could be thinking instead. Good job!
That’s a great picture and I hope we can go to a church like that in So. Africa. I’m curious like Christal – did you take that picture?
Great post with some helpful insights, particularly regarding the shift that is taking place from West to East and North to South. In theAnglican context, it is the Africans who are setting the pace now in standing up for orthodoxy against the liberalism of much of the Western church…
As far as that fantastic photo, it is a from a National Geographic article on Nigerian Megachurches. You can check it out here…
http://proof.nationalgeographic.com/2015/01/13/life-in-lagos-the-deafening-roar-of-big-religion/
I did add a photo of the much smaller church that meets at Twin Palm Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia.
I loved the pictures
Thank you for sharing that there are mega churches in Africa. They have been there for years across the mother continent. More than 10 years in many areas. Of course, the Catholic church is huge in size.
We in America see only what the nonprofit organizations and churches seeking funding want us to see the poor areas of Africa.
There are rich cities and communities in Africa.
Good summation, Stu (and great picture!). I think one of the things that hangs people up is the idea that drum circles, tribal dances, etc., and the childhood home of Jesus are not necessarily mutually exclusive. We have adopted “white Jesus” and a very restrained, Western view of theology which has, in my opinion, robbed us of a rich tapestry of heritage.
Great pics Stu. Yes, I couldn’t agree more, give credit where it is due. How would you suggest doing this in our American churches?