The Christian Mind
How Should a Christian Think?
“Just as the twinkle of stars was reduced to nuclear explosions, and life itself to biochemical reactions, so the brain may one day be explained by the same forces that run the rest of the universe.”[1]
“What’s the matter? Never mind. What is mind? No matter:”[2]
The truth of the joke should not be lost on those of us who claim to be followers of Christ. We should realize the importance of cultivating Christian minds. As the great statesman Charles Malik stated, “As Christ is the Light of the World, his light must shine and be brought to bear upon the problem of the formation of the mind.”[3]
Introduction
Realizing the importance of cultivating our Christian mind brings us to the brink where we can read and appreciate such books as How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity, one of Thomas C. Oden’s finest works.[iv] Africa has played a major role in the development of Christian culture from the beginning, as some of Christianity’s most intellectual and decisive achievements were understood and explored in Africa even before they reached Europe.[v] Oden, general editor of the Ancient Christian Doctrine series and the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, believed that Africa has played a significant role in the formation of Christianity since the beginning.
Summary
Oden’s interest in early African Christianity grew as a result of working on Ancient Commentary on Scripture.[vi] In this book, Oden aims to bridge between the Western Christians, and their theological roots in Africa. In Chapter 2 of his book, Oden (2010) identified seven ways Christianity in the West was influenced by early African Christianity: rhetoric, neo-Platonism, monasticism, ecumenical decision making of conciliar patterns, dogmatism, and exegesis of scripture and the Western idea of the university. He makes special effort to show the influence of early African Christianity on key features of Western culture.[vii]
He further observes that, like other religions, Christianity should be regarded as a traditional religion of Africa.[viii] Due to the lengthy legacy of written traditions of Islam and Christianity in Africa, it is no surprise that the oral tradition of traditional religion is also indispensable.[ix] Oden considers it a gain, although many African Christians feel that it places Christianity in unwelcome and strange company.
Oden does not limit himself to Sub-Saharan Africa. In so doing, he countered the misconception of the West, by stating that Africa includes not only the Sub-Saharan Africa but also North Africa. It can thus be concluded, that as a result of the geography, African Christianity grew to the north of the Sahara in the first millennium, and further in the South in the second millennium.[x] He suggests that the present-day Africans should rediscover the theology, which came into existence in Africa, rather than creating a new theology. He emphasized that one of the major religious and cultural centers of North Africa is present-day Tunisia.[xi]
In Chapter 7 of How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity, Oden argues that the deaths of martyrs of Africa formed the foundation of European Christianity, and have impacted the views of Christians regarding universal history.
Personal Reflection
In my opinion, this book is indeed very important and interesting, as it greatly helps readers rediscover the richness of their own heritage. It indeed has a capacity to illumine personal struggles as it digs deeps into the foundation of a religion. Understanding the teachings and finding the roots of the religion shapes our morals and our values. This book will help reorient the reader to the changing world. Africa, which is indeed neglected by the entire world, should pay attention, as the West in not the real center of the Christian world. Africa has played a decisive role in the formation of Christian culture from its infancy. Some of the most decisive Christian intellectual achievements were explored and understood in Africa before they reached Europe. The pattern, Oden suggests, is not from north to south, from Europe to Africa, but the other way around. The book helps us be more driven towards the mature people of Africa, who can provide us with deep insights with regard to this religion. Maybe. We can now turn more toward our African fathers to rediscover our heritage; they witnessed the apostolic truth. Also, Sub-Saharan Africa has many fine Christian leaders, so it is necessary to provide them with the theological training necessary to apply the teachings of the Bible, and thus prove themselves as good Christian leaders for the coming generations.
[1]. Sharon Begley, John Carey, and Ray Sawhill, “How the Brain Works,” Newsweek 101, no. 6 (1983): 47.
[2]. Ibid.
[3]. Charles Habib Malik, “Your Mind Matters; Cultivate It,” Active Christians in Education (January 1981), 1A.
[iv]. Thomas C. Oden, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2010).
[v]. Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).
[vi]. Amy G. Oden, And You Welcomed Me: A Sourcebook on Hospitality in Early Christianity (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2010).
[vii]. Dirk Van der Merwe, “From Christianising Africa to Africanising Christianity: Some Hermeneutical Principles,” Stellenbosch Theological Journal 2, no. 2 (2016): 559–87.
[viii]. Ian Martin Macqueen, “Re-imagining South Africa: Black Consciousness, Radical Christianity and the New Left, 1967–1977” (PhD diss., University of Sussex, 2011).
[ix]. Angela Khristin Brown, “Cultural Perspective on African American Culture,” International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies 1, no. 2 (2013): 54.
[x]. Kevin Shillington, History of Africa (Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012).
[xi]. J. Jafari and N. Scott, “Muslim World and Its Tourisms,” Annals of Tourism Research 44 (2014): 1–19.
About the Author
Rose Anding
Rose Maria “Simmons McCarthy” Anding, a Visionary, Teacher,Evangelist, Biblical Counselor/ Chaplain and Author, of High Heels, Honey Lips, and White Powder. She is a widower, mother, stepmother, grandmother, great grandmother of Denver James, the greater joy of her life. She has lived in Chicago, Washington, DC, and North Carolina, and is now back on the forgiving soil of Mississippi.6 responses to “The Christian Mind”
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Rose,
You wrote, “Also, Sub-Saharan Africa has many fine Christian leaders, so it is necessary to provide them with the theological training necessary to apply the teachings of the Bible, and thus prove themselves as good Christian leaders for the coming generations.”
In your view, what are the most important components of training needed by today’s African leaders? I ask this specifically because the International Learning Community I hope to create will likely have international students from Africa as participants. I want to make sure we offer what they most need.
Thank you.
Thanks Marc.
International Learning Community is a great dissertation subject. I am unable to answer your question concerning the type of training for the young African without reviewing the history of African leaders, who had no compassion for those they were supposed to serve. Examples of such leaders are Taylor, who used children to terrorize the Liberian people and acquire power; Moi, who contemplated chopping off fingers of opposition sympathizers; and Mobutu, who looted his country into a basket case. Others are Amin, who feasted on cadavers of his victims; and Abacha, who almost brought Nigerians down on their knees. These African leaders have treated the African people miserably in order to satisfy their own desires and then insolently claimed later that God had sanctioned their actions.
In my opinion, one of the most important training factor is to connect young African leaders with one another, the United States, and other nations, and innovative leaders in the private, civic, and public sectors. Your leadership training should provide interconnected avenues of opportunity for young Africans to grow their leadership skills, a training to prove themselves as good Christian leaders for the coming generations.
There are many African leaders who possess leadership personality traits but lack the spiritual character; therefore, teaching them the importance of a spiritual character to effective leadership. Moral and spiritual character takes years to build, and it requires continual attention and patient discipline. Many African leaders think that they are spiritual by merely proclaiming their faith or making appearances at places of worship or being in the company of opportunistic religious leaders.
Final teaching them the greatest challenges facing a leader is training others to become leaders, one of the best tests for good leadership is its willingness and ability to train another person for the position occupied by the incumbent.
Marc, I pray God give you the wisdom to use the knowledge that you have gained the last two years to build the best International Learning Community. Thanks for sharing Rose Maria
Rose, you have answered my question magnificently. Practical applications, like being interconnected, and character development are key. Thank you.
Thanks Marc for responding! I am pleased to have shed a little light on the matter.
Blessings Rose Maria
Thank you for your summary and reflection. I like how you brought in Jenkins. I agree with him that the flow of Christianity is now from South to North, East to West. Does this help you with your project?
Thanks Aaron P.
Frankly speaking, It does help with my project by understanding the teachings and finding the roots of the religion shapes our morals and our values.
It help me to realize the population that I will be serving and the importance of cultivating Christian minds. As the great statesman Charles Malik stated, “As Christ is the Light of the World, his light must shine and be brought to bear upon the problem of the formation of the mind.” We are to carry out the great commission.
Thanks for sharing Rose Maria