<\/p>\n
The reality is that Africa could just as well be characterized by…<\/p>\n
- \n
- The childhood home of Jesus.<\/li>\n
- The home of Joseph, Moses, Simon of Cyrene, and the Ethiopian Eunuch.<\/li>\n
- According to tradition, the home of St. Mark, the Apostle.<\/li>\n
- The home of Origen, Augustin, and Tertullian, three of the most influential theologians in the history of Christianity.<\/li>\n
- The place where it was decided which books should be in The Bible.<\/li>\n
- The location of the Library of Alexandria, the inspiration for modern Universities.<\/li>\n
- The continent where great scientists such as Ptolemy, Aristarchus, Euclid, and Archimedes studied.<\/li>\n
- The location of many ancient churches that pre-dated most European churches.<\/li>\n
- The birthplace of the monastic movement.<\/li>\n
- The location where many early theological disputes were debated (before being debated in Europe).<\/li>\n
- The place where exegetical Bible scholarship has its roots.<\/li>\n
- A place where Christianity thrived for more than 500 years before Mohammed was born.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
In his book How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind1<\/sup><\/span><\/em><\/strong>, 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.\u00a0 I was fascinated to learn about the significant contributions that Africa has made to Christianity.<\/p>\n
In the book, Oden takes aim at both Western historians and Sub-Saharan church leaders who refuse to identify with Northern Africa\u2019s contributions to Christianity.\u00a0\u00a0 Oden also gives ample evidence to refute the idea that Christianity was brought to Africa by the Europeans as a tool of oppression.<\/p>\n
Oden does not pull any punches.\u00a0 He confronts historians who have improperly given credit for the accomplishments of Africa\u2019s great theologians and scientists to Rome.<\/p>\n
He also addressed the debate by some that North Africans were not \u201cblack Africans.\u201d\u00a0 At the same time, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind<\/strong> <\/em>argues against a mindset that would separate Sub-Sahara Africa from Northern Africa.<\/p>\n
While Oden gives much credit to Egyptian figures, he also identifies significant leaders and churches that came from Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/africafirst.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s church in Africa is thriving.\u00a0 When you hear the term \u201cmega-church,\u201d you probably think of a church in America.\u00a0 Yet,\u00a0on\u00a0the list of the top ten most populous mega-churches in the world, two of those churches are located in Africa.2<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0 Not one American, European, or Australian church is in the “top ten.”<\/p>\n
In fact, the Pew Foundation predicts that by 2060, over 40% of the world\u2019s Christians will live in Africa.3<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n
The worldwide church is in the midst of a great shift.\u00a0 For the past few centuries, Europe and North America have set the pace in church growth.\u00a0 It seems that the torch is being passed to Asia, Africa, and Latin America.\u00a0 While affluent U.S. churches fight to hold their own, the under-funded churches of the Global South continue to multiply.<\/p>\n
In the case of Africa, many of these seeds of growth\u00a0were sewn in the first century A.D.<\/p>\n
Yes, there are zebras, storytelling, and\u00a0drum circles\u00a0in Africa.\u00a0 But Africa has also made an indelible mark on the world\u00a0in the areas theology, philosophy, science, and Christian education.<\/p>\n
As Africa begins to take the mantle of having more Christians than any other continent, let\u2019s give credit where credit is due.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/lagosmega-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n1<\/span><\/sup>Oden, Thomas C. How africa shaped the christian mind: rediscovering the african seedbed of western christianity. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span>2<\/span><\/sup>“Global Megachurches by Leadership Network’s Warren Bird PUBLIC.” Google Sheets. Accessed June 02, 2017.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.leadnet.org\/world<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.leadnet.org\/world<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/17991947_10155256291525799_8554968870327251645_n.jpg\")
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