African Apologetics

Russian newspaper profiles the Legio Maria cult of Kenya

2012-01-23T02:08:00.006-05:00

On January 18th, the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Независимая газета) published an unusual first-hand report on the indigenous Legio Maria cult and its “black messiah,” Simeo Melkio Ondetto.

You can read the article (in rough translation) here.

(HT: Dmitry Rozet of the Center for Apologetics Research.)

Wisdom for the New Year

2012-01-07T11:19:00.005-05:00

For all aspiring defenders of the Gospel: Beware of these “Ten Pitfalls of the Foolish Apologist!” They include…

• Speaking before listening
• Trying to win every point
• Pride
• Seeking popularity
• Neglecting spiritual disciplines
• Lacking love

Are you willing to carefully, humbly examine your heart in order to faithfully represent Christ?

Is a doomsday cult reviving in Uganda?

2011-09-19T14:13:00.010-04:00

Reports in Ugandan news sources ranging from the mainstream New Vision to the sensationalistic Red Pepper claim that 52-year-old cult leader Wilson Bushara is now distributing “invitation cards to heaven.”

The Eddoboozi news site quotes a Uganda Radio Network article explaining that “the Luweero cult leader has started issuing invitation cards to his 5000 followers that are spread in Luweero, Mbale, Busia, Kampala, Iganga among other districts to attend the last supper in heaven. Bushara is telling his followers that that the end of the world is drawing nearer and the signs are visible on earth, including lightning, earthquakes, and floods among others. He claims that those with cards will be taken to heaven alive and those without cards will go to hell.”

Since 1999, Ugandan authorities have investigated and detained Bushara, founder of the notorious “World Message Last Warning Church,” on a variety of accusations. He is perhaps best known for his proclamation that the world would end on June 30th, 1999. For a summary of reports, see here.

VIDEO: How You Can Pray for ACFAR

2011-09-12T15:17:00.005-04:00

A personal word from ACFAR regional coordinator Rodgers Atwebembeire.

A special event for ACFAR

2011-09-12T13:34:00.006-04:00

On Saturday, October 22nd the Centers for Apologetics Research will host a special fundraising event in San Juan Capistrano, California to highlight and benefit God’s ongoing work through ACFAR.

Featured speakers include…

• Acclaimed apologist and author Dr. Ron Rhodes
• ACFAR regional coordinator Rodgers Atwebembeire
• CFAR Ethiopia director Tesfaye Robele.

To learn more and take part in this unforgettable evening, sign up here!

False Prophecy Creates Confusion Across Africa

2011-05-20T15:31:00.007-04:00

Broadcaster Harold Camping is spreading confusion throughout Africa with his unbiblical prediction that Judgment Day will take place on Saturday, May 21st.

Billboards warning of the impending rapture have been placed in Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, D.R. Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

In Uganda, Camping’s billboards have been seen in both English and Runyankore (right), although on May 18th the Kampala Capital City Authority ordered them removed. According to the New Vision newspaper: “Simon Muhumuza, the KCC public relations officer, said they had ordered the pulling down of the billboards. ‘We do not know who put them up,’ he said, adding that it was unnecessary to cause panic among Ugandans.”

For Christian critiques of Harold Camping and Family Radio, see (for example):

www.albertmohler.com/2011/05/16/the-end-is-near-the-false-teaching-of-harold-camping/

www.alliancenet.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID307086_CHID560462_CIID1526032,00.html

www.redeemerbroadcasting.org/content/family-radio-alternative

www.refutecamping.com/

UPDATE: A pastor in the town of Kasese has openly repented of spreading Camping’s false message, according to a May 27 report in Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper. “I want to apologise to the people of Kasese and whoever heard my messages about the end of the world. I am very sorry for the inconveniences because I followed false prophets,” said Pastor Isaac Muhindo. “I am ready to go back to my church and repent for misleading the people of God and I am now going to follow the scriptures seriously without wrong interpretations.” The article explains that “Panic gripped some people in Kasese after the predicted doomsday was characterised by a heavy downpour that started at 2pm and ended after 7pm.”

A message from the East Africa Coordinator

2011-05-20T14:55:00.005-04:00

As floods of western relativistic tendencies and postmodern idealism sweep the region, the church in Africa finds itself ill-equipped to sustain its relevance in an unpredictable, constantly changing society.

The most subtle and venomous enemy of the church is the invasion of cults—pseudo-Christian and aberrant groups, both foreign and traditional—now arising to challenge orthodox beliefs. Syncretism, unsound theological trends, widespread ignorance of God’s Word, a lack of discernment, social benefits promised by the cults, the unpreparedness of pastors, and other factors heighten the predicament in which the church finds itself.

The African church needs to stand in defense of the Gospel. It must emphasize both formative education and corrective discipline. It must seek to win cultists to the truth rather than simply brand them as its enemies. And it must teach the absolute truth of God’s Word, defending it from misinterpretations and corrupting influences. This will require biblically informed leaders, theologically knowledgeable men who are passionate for the defense and preservation of the Christian faith.

—Rodgers Atwebembeire

To schedule an ACFAR seminar or conference, click here.

Still No Justice for Kanungu Killers

2011-03-16T22:41:00.007-04:00

Uganda awaits the capture and trial of those suspected of murdering hundreds through the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God in March of 2000.

According to a report in the New Vision newspaper, “arrest warrants for [cult leaders] Kibwetere and Mwerinde still stand.”

Audio lectures on the Kanungu massacre by Drs. Chris Tuhirirwe and Paddy Musana, both renowned experts on the cult, can be heard on ACFAR’s iTunes page.

UPDATE: On March 20th the Sunday Vision newspaper published “I Almost Joined Kibwetere’s Cult,” a detailed interview with former MRTCG follower Elias Rutebuuka about his five-month involvement with the deadly Kanungu sect.

More ACFAR Audio Now Online

2011-01-10T16:03:00.008-05:00

We’ve added more messages from our March 2010 conference and the Words of Hope broadcast to the ACFAR iTunes page, including:

Understanding and Answering Indigenous Cults by Robby Muhumuza (right)

Understanding and Answering Mormonism by Eric Pement

Understanding and Answering Jehovah’s Witnesses by Robert M. Bowman, Jr.

Is Jesus God? by Rodgers Atwebembeire

Commonly Misunderstood Verses by Rodgers Atwebembeire

Tell a friend!

Answering the Prosperity Gospel in Cape Town, South Africa

2010-12-08T21:31:00.005-05:00

The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa brought forth much fruit—especially in responses to the devastating errors of the Word-faith movement and “prosperity gospel.”

Preparing the way, J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu published an extensive advance paper, “From ‘Calvary Road’ to ‘Harvesters International’: An African Perspective on the Cross and Gospel of Prosperity.”

During the congress, Femi Adeleye (right) delivered a major statement at a multiplex session titled “Poverty, Prosperity and the Gospel,” recorded on video here.

Daniel Bourdanné offered a well-reasoned assessment of the movement’s errors with his online article “The Prosperity Gospel: All That Glitters Is Not Gold.”

And advancing the online “global conversation” on this topic, Ruth Padilla DeBorst attacked prosperity-purveyors in “The Gospel of Greed,” but mistakenly stated that these “Self-appointed apostles [who] are accountable to no one in matters theological, financial, or ethical” are “all men.” Evidently DeBorst hasn’t met neopentecostal preachers Imelda Namutebi Kula of Uganda and Margaret Wanjiru of Kenya and their counterparts.

NEW: African Apologetics Podcast

2010-09-08T16:25:00.003-04:00

ACFAR now has a podcast, available worldwide via iTunes!

It features selected messages from ACFAR’s March 2010 conference and radio broadcasts by coordinator Rodgers Atwebembeire on the “Words of Hope” program.

Tell a friend!

ACFAR ON THE RADIO

2010-06-18T14:52:00.003-04:00

Be sure to listen to “Words of Hope” in Kampala on Spirit FM (96.6) each Wednesday at 8:30 PM (repeats on Sunday 7:30 PM).

ACFAR coordinator Rodgers Atwebembeire (shown at right) is presenting a series of studies on discernment and the defense of the faith.

Tell a friend!

Exposing the “Bio Disc” in Africa

2010-05-11T18:05:00.010-04:00

The Bio Disc scandal finally receives some long-overdue press coverage. In “QuestNet pyramid scheme drops anchor in Africa” we read of the multi-level marketing company’s exploits in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and elsewhere. The article’s unnamed author alleges that “The sale of [QuestNet] products is fraudulent and targets the poorest of society—those who are desperate to make money quickly. The scam destroys relationships, because it’s to family and friends that recruited salesmen then sell the scheme to themselves. They convince their friends into indebting themselves in order to enroll in the scheme, and later find themselves responsible for both their own and their friends’ financial struggles when the pyramid collapses.”

Read our evaluation of the Amezcua Bio Disc here.

Background: A damaging report on QuestNet was broadcast by American Public Media in February of 2008. Read their report here, or listen here. QuestNet was banned in Rwanda in August of 2009, according to this report, and was the subject of a “sting operation” in Armenia in December of the same year, according to this report.

Update: QuestNet is under criminal investigation in Turkey, according to a May 28, 2010 online report by the respected news daily Hürriyet: “The Turkey branch of an international Ponzi scheme that collected millions of dollars from thousands of people has collapsed after police raids against the company. Quest.net, which defines itself as an ‘international direct selling brand that utilizes network marketing combined with e-commerce,’ victimized nearly 20,000 people in Turkey, according to government officials. The company, which is headquartered in Hong Kong, has been banned in many countries.”

A Major New Survey on Religion in Africa

2010-04-28T19:46:00.009-04:00

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has released the results of an important survey, Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The executive summary notes that “sub-Saharan Africa is clearly among the most religious places in the world. In many countries across the continent, roughly nine-in-ten people or more say religion is very important in their lives. By this key measure, even the least religiously inclined nations in the region score higher than the United States, which is among the most religious of the advanced industrial countries.”

Of special interest is the finding that “Despite the dominance of Christianity and Islam, traditional African religious beliefs and practices have not disappeared. Rather, they coexist with Islam and Christianity. Whether or not this entails some theological tension, it is a reality in people's lives: Large numbers of Africans actively participate in Christianity or Islam yet also believe in witchcraft, evil spirits, sacrifices to ancestors, traditional religious healers, reincarnation and other elements of traditional African religions.”

The report also explains that “in every country surveyed that has a substantial Christian population, at least half of Christians expect that Jesus will return to earth during their lifetime. And in every country surveyed that has a substantial Muslim population, roughly 30% or more of Muslims expect to personally witness the re-establishment of the caliphate, the golden age of Islamic rule that followed the death of Muhammad.”

Significantly, “By their own reckoning, neither Christians nor Muslims in the region know very much about each other’s faith. In most countries, fewer than half of Christians say they know either some or a great deal about Islam, and fewer than half of Muslims say they know either some or a great deal about Christianity. Moreover, people in most countries surveyed, especially Christians, tend to view the two faiths as very different rather than as having a lot in common.”

Major newspapers in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and other countries provided local insights on the survey, which involved “more than 25,000 face-to-face interviews in more than 60 languages or dialects in 19 countries, representing 75% of the total population of sub-Saharan Africa.”

You can download the full report here.

In the news: Kanungu, ten years later

2010-03-17T15:50:00.004-04:00

Uganda’s largest daily newspaper, The New Vision, has published four articles on the tenth anniversary of the tragedy sparked by the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God: “I survived Kanungu fire by a whisker,” “Kibwetere’s daughter speaks out on the cult,” “Kibwetere land still unclaimed,” and “Ten years after Kanungu inferno.” The cult’s ringleaders have not been apprehended, and a promised government inquiry has yet to begin.

Online Registration for March Conference Begins

2010-02-28T18:19:00.005-05:00

You can now register online for ACFAR’s upcoming conference on cults and biblical discernment.

The event will be held in Kampala, Uganda from March 15–17 and include such international speakers as Robert M. Bowman, Jr. (pictured), Eric Pement, and J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu. Scheduled topics include Branhamism, the Word-Faith movement, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, indigenous cults and sects, the “Bio Disc” and alternative therapies, the ongoing tragedy of child sacrifice, and more.

Tell a friend—and be in prayer for this landmark gathering!

Mormonism Advances in Uganda

2010-02-11T17:29:00.005-05:00

The Mormon Church News has announced the formation of the first LDS “stake” (equivalent to a diocese) in Uganda on January 17. The cult’s first branch in the East African nation was organized in 1991.

Read the complete story here—and pray that the Christians of Uganda will be ready to recognize and respond in love to the missionary efforts of this deeply heretical movement.

ACFAR Announces Its First Major Conference

2010-02-05T09:35:00.022-05:00

Mark your calendar now for “The Bible and the Challenge of Discernment” (1 Thessalonians 5:21–22), a national conference for pastors and Christian leaders to be held on the campus of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda on March 15–17. The event is being held to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Kanungu Tragedy.

Noted speakers include:

• Dr. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu (Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana)

• Robert M. Bowman, Jr. (Institute for Religious Research, USA)

• Eric Pement (Centers for Apologetics Research, USA)

• Robby Muhumuza (Leadershipwise Africa, Uganda)

Among the topics to be addressed are the Christian’s call to discernment and defending the faith; the integrity and authority of Scripture; the Word-Faith movement; indigenous cults and sects; the Branham movement; Jehovah’s Witnesses; Mormonism; and the challenge of child sacrifice.

The conference is being jointly sponsored by ACFAR and the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST).

We truly covet your prayers as we prepare for this event!

Space is limited! For registration and additional information, visit the conference web page.

A False Prophet Spreads His Confusion Across Africa

2010-01-11T23:45:00.006-05:00

Harold Camping, the head of the international Family Radio broadcasting empire, is predicting the end of the world for May 21, 2011. (He previously stirred controversy by declaring that 1994 would bring the end of the world and mark the coming of Christ, and by announcing “the end of the church age” in early 2002.)

Camping is taking his latest prophecy around the globe, with a special emphasis on Africa. According to one recently published article, “Family Radio is searching for people who can help them expand their range of broadcast languages. Included in the proposed new mix are Arabic, Armenian, Creole and Khmer. By far the largest component on the list, though, is African languages—and especially South African languages. If Family Radio is successful, listeners will soon be able to hear about the imminent Second Coming of Christ in Sindebele, Northern Sotho, Sesotho, Shona, SiSwati, Tswana, Xhosa and Zulu.” Billboards promoting the false prophet’s message have been placed in Lesotho (above), Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Ghana.

Pray with us that evangelical churches across Africa will actively resist this latest abuse of Camping’s media platform—and help believers to “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21–22).

A Powerful New Statement on the “Prosperity Gospel”

2009-12-17T20:55:00.006-05:00

In two consultations at Akropong, Ghana (October 2008 and September 2009), the Lausanne Theology Working Group, Africa chapter developed a new and powerful statement addressing “the phenomenal rise of prosperity teaching around the world at large and Africa in particular.”

The statement, released online this month by Christianity Today, declares that “it is our overall view that the teachings of those who most vigorously promote the 'prosperity gospel' are false and gravely distorting of the Bible, that their practice is often unethical and unChristlike, and that the impact on many churches is pastorally damaging, spiritually unhealthy, and not only offers no lasting hope, but may even deflect people from the message and means of eternal salvation. In such dimensions, it can be soberly described as a false gospel.”

The statement offers a detailed, and fairly comprehensive, series of affirmations and rejections focusing on the major defects of this neopentecostal theology and the widespread damage it causes. We commend it to everyone who has an interest in the future of Christianity in Africa.

En route to Kenya

2009-12-11T19:12:00.005-05:00

ACFAR coordinator Rodgers Atwebembeire is on his way to Kenya for several days of ministry. Plans include preaching on discernment and the defense of the Gospel at a conference in Rititi, as well as various research-related meetings. Please remember him in your prayers.

Become a fan of ACFAR on Facebook

An important update from ACFAR coordinator Rodgers Atwebembeire

2009-11-23T12:42:00.010-05:00

What a timely and timeless blessing ACFAR is to the malnourished church in East Africa! There could be no better moment than this for such assistance.

As floods of western relativistic tendencies and postmodern idealism sweep the region, the church finds itself ill-equipped to sustain its relevance in an unpredictable, constantly changing society.

The most subtle and venomous enemy of the church is the invasion of cults—pseudo-Christian and aberrant groups, both foreign and traditional—now arising to challenge orthodox beliefs. Syncretism, unsound theological trends, widespread ignorance of God’s Word, a lack of discernment, social benefits promised by the cults, the unpreparedness of pastors, and other factors heighten the predicament in which the church finds itself.

The African church needs to stand in defense of the Gospel. It must emphasize both formative education and corrective discipline. It must seek to win cultists to the truth rather than simply brand them as its enemies. And it must teach the absolute truth of God’s Word, defending it from misinterpretations and corrupting influences. This will require biblically informed leaders, theologically knowledgeable men and those passionate for the defense and preservation of the Christian faith.

In partnership with Kampala School of Evangelical Theology (KEST), ACFAR is organizing training conferences for the week of March 14–20, 2010. The timing coincides with the tenth anniversary of the doomsday cult tragedy in Kanungu which left nearly a thousand people dead. We hope to gather about 400 pastors and church leaders from all over Uganda. Themes will include the authority and reliability of the Bible, practical apologetics and evangelism, resisting the “prosperity gospel,” and the challenge of cults and child sacrifice in Uganda.

Will you commit to praying with us from now until the conferences? We realize that in planning these training events we are about to enter a season of spiritual warfare, and every prayer, every petition, from the saints of God matters greatly!

Become a fan of ACFAR on Facebook

An Important Article on the New Apostolic Church

2009-11-16T23:02:00.008-05:00

Dr. Victor Kuligin has graciously granted us permission to post his article on the New Apostolic Church to the ACFAR web site. The article, which first appeared in the Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology (Vol. 24, No. 1—2005), offers a rare critique of a cultic movement that’s growing rapidly across Africa with little resistance.

He writes: “With over ten and a half million members worldwide in over 72,000 congregations, the NAC is a church to be reckoned with. Nearly three-fourths of its membership is in Africa, making it one of the largest single denominations in the entire continent....with nearly sixteen times more members in Africa than in Europe. From the surface, the NAC appears to be just another Protestant denomination, but a deeper investigation yields some disturbing theology and practices in this church.”

In conclusion, Dr. Kuligin states that “we can conclude that the NAC is not simply another church or denomination but is in fact a cult.” He adds: “Whereas often we find ourselves concentrating on the ‘classic’ cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons, neither of these compare to the NAC in terms of membership numbers and influence on the continent. In the next decade, the membership of the NAC will approach ten million Africans. Teaching concerning this cult should play a more prominent role in the education of evangelical church leaders and pastors, and subsequently of evangelical believers continent-wide.”

The Prosperity Gospel in Africa: “Did Jesus Wear Designer Robes?”

2009-11-09T17:14:00.014-05:00

The November issue of Christianity Today (pp. 38–41) offers an important new article about the damage wrought by the Prosperity Gospel on Africa. You can read the article here, watch the related video here, and go “behind the scenes” with the filmmakers here.

Excerpt: “The gospel of Jesus Christ—with its promise of liberation, deliverance, forgiveness, grace, and restoration—can never be a gospel of poverty. But just as the Bible does not glorify poverty, neither does it glorify greed. Scripture consistently warns that the pursuit of worldly interests can lead us to neglect the deeper values of the kingdom of God. Yet this is exactly what happens in the biblical interpretations favored by prosperity teachers.”

Why I'm Excited about the Future of ACFAR...

2009-08-31T22:00:00.004-04:00

“Many leaders can’t tell the difference between true orthodox faith and cultism....
As a trained minister, and as a former victim of the above, I believe it’s my mandate to go out and teach the centrality and essentiality of Scripture—the Christ-centered Christian worldview and the integration of faith with the rest of life”
Rodgers Atwebembeire, new Ugandan Coordinator for ACFAR

Dear Friend,

After the deadline of my family moving to East Africa by the end of May came and went, I wondered about the future of ACFAR. As it turns out, God was about to answer our prayers in a wonderful and unexpected way.

But before I explain, consider how much Christ has already blessed our ministry! Thanks to your support…

We’ve developed a strong network of strategic partnerships with ministries here and in Africa
We’ve taught in various venues—including over 200 pastors at last month’s conference in Kampala
We’ve conducted substantial research into a wide range of cults and false teachings in East Africa
We’ve built a blog and web site—both of which will serve as a growing and ongoing resource
We’ve begun distributing tracts, pamphlets, books, CDs, and DVDs to Christian workers and organizations across Uganda
We’ve laid the foundation for long-term outreach in the region, including training events for pastors and Christian workers

My most recent trip to Uganda confirmed the great strides we’ve made in advancing biblical discernment in Africa. Over the last few years, our Lord has allowed us to do far more than I imagined possible. So many wonderful things happened in Kampala last month that I can’t recount them all.

But one meeting in particular has enabled us to finalize our transition period and launch a revised strategy for equipping Christians across East Africa...

When we met with Pastor Gerald Sseruwagi of New City Church in Kampala, he strongly recommended Rodgers Atwebembeire, one of his personal disciples, as a candidate to coordinate ACFAR’s work in East Africa.

Who is Rodgers? A Ugandan minister who just graduated from Africa Bible University at the top of his class. He comes highly recommended by everyone with whom we’ve spoken, from his professors to his pastor. And he has a heart for apologetics, having already done live question-and-answer radio programs in English and other languages to help Ugandan believers, along with many other ministry opportunities.

With Rogers as ACFAR’s new coordinator, the future is bright. Our strategy for the next phase of ministry includes:

Tools

Literature—including all-new tracts in English and local languages, and a practical quarterly newsletter on discernment for evangelical pastors
Electronic resources—including the multilingual apologetics resource collection

Training

Conferences for pastors and university campus workers in 2010

Research

Monitoring cultic movements via group-specific research and mass media sources
In-depth interviews with denominational and parachurch leaders, as well as Christian educators, on how to address the challenge of the cults and false teaching

Therefore, I’m stepping down as ACFAR’s director, though I’ll continue in an advisory role as my time allows. Dr. Sam Waldron, one of the pastors of Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky and Academic Dean at Midwest Center for Theological Studies, has asked me to assist him in some of his ministry responsibilities. After much prayer, fasting, and counsel, Jennifer and I are preparing to move our family to Owensboro.

I’m grateful for all that God has done over the last several years. And while this may be a time of uncertainty for me, I continue to trust in the One in whom I live and serve. Now we have a local African willing to continue our vision. I can’t wait to see what will happen in the upcoming years through Rodgers’ faithful service to Christ.

ACFAR is moving forward—and it needs your support now more than ever! I ask you to continue praying for our ministry and for Rodgers. And I humbly request that you join Jennifer and me in supporting ACFAR in every way possible in the months and years ahead.

Because of His grace,

John Divito, Director
Africa Center for Apologetics Research (ACFAR)

P.S. Let us renew our commitment to helping our African brothers and sisters follow the instruction of the Apostle John: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

I'm Back With Exciting News!

2009-08-28T00:00:00.004-04:00

Now that I have returned from Uganda, I wanted to post the updates which were sent out to our prayer partners and supporters. Below is a message I sent on Friday, August 7th. Do you feel left out? You don't need to be! Simply sign up for future e-mail updates here.

Dear Friend,

Last week I wrote to thank you for your prayers, and about the tremendous response to our ministry at the Calvary Chapel pastors’ conference in Kampala, Uganda.

Here’s the rest of the story.

Our final three days in Uganda focused on strategy meetings with Christian leaders. And here’s what stands out.

They didn’t just ask us to help them; they offered their facilities, their manpower, and other resources to get the job done. A large-scale training event in early 2010, focusing on cults and false teaching, now appears very likely. Two highly placed leaders made a startling offer to use radio and other mass media to give us a national platform for exposing error. We also interviewed two gifted nationals who could serve as ACFAR’s “feet on the ground” in the months ahead.

Even though my family isn’t moving to East Africa, God’s hand on ACFAR is plain to see. We now have a strong basis for developing a new ministry strategy in these last days of our transitional period.

I’ve never seen so much hunger from African church leaders who want to grow in biblical discernment.

We must help them.

God has used your prayers and support to bring us this far! Please continue standing with us as we lay the groundwork for the future of ACFAR.

Because of His grace,

John Divito, Director
Africa Center for Apologetics Research (ACFAR)

I Have Great News from Uganda

2009-08-19T00:00:00.004-04:00

Now that I have returned from Uganda, I wanted to post the updates which were sent out to our prayer partners and supporters. Below is a message I sent on Wednesday, July 29th. Do you feel left out? You don't need to be! Simply sign up for future e-mail updates here.

Dear Friend,

I’m sending you this quick note to let you know that the Lord is hearing your prayers! Our ministry has had a wonderful response at the Calvary Chapel pastors’ conference here in Kampala. Yesterday I taught two workshops. The first session was on how to practice biblical discernment using the five “Solas” of the Reformation: Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, God’s Glory Alone. The second session applied these five principles to the widely popular “health-and-wealth gospel.”

How were our workshops received? Well over half of the pastors and Christian workers at the conference chose our sessions from among the various topics offered. We ran out of ALL of our tracts and booklets by the end of the first session, and we could have easily distributed double or even triple the amount we brought. The reason? A deep hunger for resources on the cults.

So far, the most frustrating—yet exciting—moment was when a pastor came up to me after the second session and asked, “What is this grace thing you’re talking about?” I was amazed—a pastor was asking me this question! So I shared the Gospel with him. He seemed to be “getting it” for the first time. Praise God!

Another conference speaker told me about a pastor who expressed his gratitude for my message on the “prosperity gospel.” Apparently, some of his family members are involved in churches that proclaim this false gospel, and he hasn’t been able to respond to them well from the Scriptures. Now he feels that he can. It’s humbling to know that God has used our ministry here to help hundreds of church leaders in such ways.

Today is the last day of the conference. After it ends, we’ll remain busy by meeting with Christian leaders and defining a future strategy for ACFAR. Please pray that Christ continues to bless our efforts here. We have so much to accomplish in the brief time remaining. Nevertheless, we’ll continue to trust in our sufficient and gracious Savior here in East Africa.

Thank you again for your prayers—keep them coming!

Because of His grace,

John Divito, Director
Africa Center for Apologetics Research (ACFAR)

Will You Pray for My Return to Uganda?

2009-07-23T22:00:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I will finally be flying out to return to Uganda! Paul Carden (the Executive Director of our parent ministry) and I will be in Kampala from July 25th through August 3rd—and we're asking for your prayers!

I’m to lead workshops at a major pastors’ conference, training hundreds of Christian leaders in biblical discernment and teaching them how to respond to the many errors in their midst. I’ll even have the chance to confront the errors of the “prosperity gospel” among pastors who sympathize with this corruption of God’s truth. (Benny Hinn brought his false teachings to adoring crowds in Kampala last month, and the need for a thoroughly biblical response is great.)

We also plan to continue developing a revised strategy for ACFAR. By meeting with a number of our East African partners, our transitional plans will progress into a more concrete strategy for the future.

Will you lift us up before the Lord daily during our time in Uganda? There’s so much to accomplish—but as always, we want above all else to glorify Christ in His strength. Thank you for your encouragement and support!

What is the Future of ACFAR?

2009-06-05T18:00:00.001-04:00

Below is the latest update sent to my prayer partners and supporters. I will not be blogging during our ministry's transitional period. But please stay subscribed and check back for the latest on advancing biblical discernment in East Africa!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8–9

Dear Friend,

Over two years ago, we established a vision and set goals to advance biblical discernment in East Africa. I’ve been devoted to making that vision a reality ever since. However, we’ve now passed our prayerfully determined goal of launching our ministry. The end of May has come, and we have less than 1/3 of our needed monthly financial support.

What does this mean? My family will not be moving to East Africa in the foreseeable future. In His providence—and in the midst of a global recession—our Lord hasn’t opened this door to us. I’ve found it unproductive to ask “Why?” and accept full responsibility for any shortcomings. As in all things, my only hope is in clinging to the cross of Christ, knowing that it’s by staying close to my Savior that I can serve and glorify Him.

At the same time, we’re just as committed to the vision for ACFAR. Our African brothers and sisters in Christ continue to ask us to come and help them defend our common faith. As a result, we’re beginning a 90-day transitional period to re-assess our approach to ACFAR.

During this time we’re exploring a number of options to move ACFAR forward —and even flourish! So we need your prayers just as much as ever. And if you financially support our ministry, we need you to keep doing so. Every dollar will go toward the cause of equipping pastors and other believers to defend the Gospel and win cultists to Christ in East Africa.

I still have a heart for East Africa and a deep desire to see African church leaders grow in their devotion to Christ and their ability to counter corruption and error. With this in mind, we’ve begun planning a strategic short-term trip to Uganda later this summer. Please pray as I prepare for this important trip!

You’re a tremendous blessing to my family and me, and we’re grateful for your ongoing prayers and support. I look forward to seeing what God shapes in the coming months!

Because of His grace,

John Divito, Director
Africa Center for Apologetics Research (ACFAR)

Weekly Round-Up

2009-05-30T12:00:00.002-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Barbara Among, "Finish Kony threat, Obama told" in the Sunday Vision newspaper (Uganda). There is a growing desire in America to help Uganda end the reign of terror from Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). This is a report on a US bill helping to launch a second military offensive against the LRA.

2) "Oyedepo lit the candle of truth" in the Sunday Vision newspaper (Uganda). Now that the Nigerian health-and-wealth gospel peddler David Oyedepo has visited Uganda, here is a piece suggesting "he brought the truth that crushed the deception in many Uganda churches." A sad commentary demonstrating the need to advance biblical discernment in East Africa and beyond!

3) HE Baber, "The pull of conviction: New religious movements hold more attraction for young people than churches that have jettisoned their fundamental theology for fear of offending" in the Guardian newspaper (UK). This is a fascinating commentary on the success of cults, including the writer's own experiences with the Unification Church.

Book Review: African Reformation

2009-05-27T22:00:00.001-04:00

Since African Apologetics has picked up a large number of new visitors and subscribers, we are re-running another one of John's important book reviews.

Allan H. Anderson, African Reformation: African Initiated Christianity in the 20th Century (Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, Inc., 2001), 282 pp.

The twentieth century witnessed the rapid expansion of Christianity throughout Africa. One of the main avenues of growth was in African Initiated Churches (AICs). These churches began in Africa and were started by Africans (not missionaries). What can we learn about their origins and development? How should we understand their place in global Christianity? Allan Anderson answers these questions in African Reformation. A white South African who is involved with AICs, Anderson combines his experience and knowledge with thorough research in this work.

The result is a book that is broken into three parts: context, history, and lessons. The author begins by seeking to characterize AICs and then moves to examining their causes. Next, he devotes a chapter to each region of Africa, summarizing the formation and progression of AICs through the twentieth century. Finally, Anderson concludes by providing an analysis of AICs in light of contemporary questions and issues.

I am amazed at how much information is packed into African Reformation. It is a veritable treasure trove of data on AICs. I will regularly consult this book as I conduct research on African Christianity. It will be an invaluable resource in understanding numerous churches and denominations in Africa.

At the same time, I found Anderson's third section lacking. As an "insider," he dismisses theological challenges far too easily and goes out of his way to minimize charges of syncretism. He essentially submerges Christianity into cultures, leaving us with numerous contextual theologies rather than with an overarching revealed Theology. As a result, he denigrates theology and philosophy while emphasizing experience and the dynamic, ever-changing nature of "spiritual" Christianity.

Anderson's treatment of salvation and the gospel is especially troubling. He writes:

"Salvation" in Africa needs to be related to more than an esoteric idea of the "salvation of the soul" and the life hereafter. It must be oriented to the whole of life's problems as experienced by people in their cities and villages. . . . Many AICs see "salvation" not exclusively in terms of salvation of sinful acts and from eternal condemnation in the life hereafter (the salvation of the soul), but also in terms of salvation from sickness (healing), from evil spirits (exorcism), and from other forms of misfortune" (233).

While Paul Hiebert and other missionaries today are correct in pointing out Western Christianity's unbiblical segregation of the natural and supernatural worlds leaving an excluded middle, expanding salvation itself into deliverance in this world easily corrupts the gospel. The fundamental problem in this world is our rebellion against God, not poverty, sickness, or evil spirits. Far from being esoteric, salvation from God's just wrath gives us true joy and hope. This does not mean that the gospel has nothing to do with the many challenges in our world, but they must be seen in light of our relationship to our Creator. We must distinguish between salvation in Christ and the many other ways that God works in this world.

In any case, there is a lot to like about Anderson's book. He has done all of us who are involved in African ministry a great service by providing so much material in one place. At the same time, his analysis must be read critically. For the discerning reader, African Reformation will prove tremendously useful.

The Seriousness of Deception

2009-05-26T12:00:00.003-04:00

Last week we began looking at Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:15–23. In these verses He gives us two reasons why we must guard against spiritual deception. His first reason (vv. 15–20) is that deceivers are dangerous. Today we look at His second reason in verses 21–23:

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”

This text shows us the seriousness of spiritual deception. Deceivers aren’t just dangerous, they’re damned—and I don’t use the word lightly. Jesus takes us to the final judgment to expose these false prophets for who they really are.

First, notice how strong their confession is: “Lord, Lord.” This isn’t merely a casual profession; the false workers are adamant in calling Jesus their Lord, and they appeal repeatedly to His lordship for emphasis. Yet they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Why? Because they haven’t done the Father’s will. True believers must live in submission to the Father.

What do you mean, they haven’t done the Father’s will? Haven’t they prophesied, cast out demons, and done “many mighty works?” And don’t forget, Jesus doesn’t even suggest that these supernatural acts didn’t occur as claimed; evidently the false workers really did accomplish these things. Shouldn’t prophecy, exorcism, and miracles prove beyond a doubt that the one doing them truly speaks for God?

No. Jesus says that in the last days, “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). The signs many so often seek today are not what our Savior teaches us is important; in fact, false prophets and deceivers can accomplish many amazing things in Jesus’ name.

But Jesus declares: “I never knew you.” It’s not as though He once knew them and later they fell away through disobedience; they were never Christ’s disciples. As He says elsewhere, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). In Jesus we become the healthy tree that bears good fruit by doing the Father’s will (see John 15:1–11).

So Jesus quotes Psalm 6:8 and pronounces judgment: “Depart from me.” What awful words! Matthew Henry expresses the horror of these words well:

When he came in the flesh, he called sinners to him, but when he shall come again in glory, he will drive sinners from him. They that would not come to him to be saved, must depart from him to be damned. To depart from Christ is the very hell of hell; it is the foundation of all the misery of the damned, to be cut off from all hope of benefit from Christ and his mediation. See from what a height of hope men may fall into the depth of misery! How they may go to hell, by the gates of heaven!

Spiritual deception has eternal consequences. Can we take it lightly? Is it safe to disregard Christ’s command to beware of this ever-present deception? Of course not. You and I must always be on guard—and we must help equip our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world to follow our Savior’s warning.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-05-23T21:00:00.003-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Dan Harris and Almin Karamehmedovic, "Child Witches: Accused in the Name of Jesus" on the Nightline television program. While witchcraft in Africa is very real, there is a growing danger throughout the continent of Christians accusing children of witchcraft and submitting them to extremely violent exorcisms. You'll want to make thew time to watch and/or read this report.

2) Patrick Jaramogi, "Hindu spiritual leader Swami visits" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). When people think about religions in Africa, most will not point to Hinduism. But here we see the status of Hinduism in Uganda, with the Hindu spiritual leader His Holiness Swami Sri Satyamitranand Giriji Maharaj coming for a five-day visit.

3) Jason Swensen, "Full joy found in principles of the gospel" in the Church News. I have previously mentioned Mormonism's first black African general authority. Here is a follow-up piece, covering his background in Africa and history with the LDS church.

Book Review: Foundations of African Traditional Religion and Worldview

2009-05-20T20:00:00.001-04:00

Since African Apologetics has picked up a large number of new visitors and subscribers, for the next couple of Wednesdays we will be re-running some of John's important book reviews.

Yusufu Turaki, Foundations of African Traditional Religion and Worldview (Nairobi, Kenya: WordAlive Publishers, 2006), 128 pp.

There are many different ways that individuals can study African Traditional Religion (ATR): historical, psychological, sociological, etc. But one approach is often overlooked, the theological. When examined in this manner, many important questions are raised. What is the ATR worldview--its framework for understanding the world in which we live? What are ATR's basic beliefs? How does ATR compare to the Christian faith?

Yusufu Turaki seeks to answer these questions in his book Foundations of African Traditional Religion and Worldview. A Nigerian theologian and scholar, Turaki is certainly qualified to address these essential religious issues. He begins by defining religion and placing ATR within its religious context. Next he turns to explaining its fundamental theological, philosophical, and ethical beliefs. After laying this groundwork, the author continues to examine ATR's beliefs regarding the Supreme Being as well as the gods and spirits. Then he looks at how humans interact with the spirit world, from communication to the acquisition and use of power. Finally, he analyzes what it means to be human and the meaning of life according to ATR.

I learned a great deal from Turaki's book. To begin with, I appreciate his approach--laying out the fundamentals of ATR as a whole while showing how these foundational beliefs relate to each other. Understanding ATR as a worldview has been tremendously informative. I am amazed that he was able to include so much in such a few pages! This work will definitely be a convenient reference.

At the same time, I also find this book's brevity to be a limitation. When reading it, I regularly found myself wanting to dig deeper and learn more. At times, I almost felt as if I was reading through a beefed-up outline. While this may have been the author's intent, his book would be more useful with additional expansion and analysis.

Turaki also seems somewhat overly dependent on the work of Philip M. Steyne. He admits his dependence in the first chapter, but his citations and quotations from Steyne were so frequent that I occasionally wondered if I should simply read Steyne instead.

In any case, I'd still suggest that those interested in an introduction to ATR should read Turaki's book. It is a helpful starting point to further study. I hope that more theologians, philosophers, missionaries, and others will build off of the foundations of a work like this to further equip the body of Christ.

The Warning of Jesus

2009-05-19T20:00:00.003-04:00

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to speak at a church about our ministry and vision for East Africa. After the service ended, I stayed in the foyer to greet and talk with members.

I’ll never forget what happened next.

A man came up to me and said, “Let me give you some advice. I’ve been going to church for many years and heard a lot of missionary presentations. You were far too negative in what you talked about. Who cares about cults? I want to hear something more positive, about the gospel being shared and Africans coming to know the Lord.”

Now, in all fairness, maybe I wasn’t as balanced as I could have been. And I certainly want to see the conversion of many Africans through the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ! Nevertheless, I think that his critique ultimately lacked biblical support. Jesus Himself warns us against those who seek to overthrow our faith in the Sermon on the Mount. So for the next couple of weeks, I want to briefly look at Christ’s words in Matthew 7:15–23.

In these verses, Jesus warns us that we must guard against spiritual deception. Why? As Jesus explains in verses 15–20, deceivers are dangerous:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Here we recognize a hidden danger. Jesus begins with the word “beware,” a command. This is not optional, not a suggestion, not a merely good idea. Our Savior requires us to beware of false prophets. And notice that He portrays these false prophets as an active concern, not a rare or occasional challenge. We’re to constantly be on guard against them because they’re always among us.

So who are these false prophets? They claim to speak for God but entrap others through their lies. In the New Testament, we see that they are greedy, arrogant, immoral, and ungodly. But they also impersonate true Christians—they do their work in “sheep’s clothing.” False prophets seldom tell you that they reject the faith; instead, they’re ravenous wolves who actively seek to destroy Christians.

If this is true, how can we recognize them? Jesus provides us with an exposing test: Recognize them by their fruits. Most directly, these fruits are what Jesus has laid out throughout His sermon. Here we find two foundational kinds of fruit—(1) belief in Jesus, and (2) following Jesus’ teaching—in other words, belief and behavior. Both kinds of fruit need to be tested.

To underscore His point, Jesus states the obvious. Grapes can’t come from thornbushes, and figs can’t come from thistles. Plants only produce what is in their nature to produce. Only a healthy tree that bears good fruit; a diseased tree will produce bad fruit. And in this comparison we see that there’s no neutrality. All trees are bearing fruit; the question is, what kind? If you know the fruit, then you can tell the tree. Again, we see Jesus’ seriousness: All of the trees that do not bear good fruit are condemned (“thrown into the fire”). This is the same warning that John the Baptist gives earlier to the Pharisees in 3:7–10.

Finally, in verse 20 Christ repeats Himself: “you will recognize them by their fruits.” All Christians are commanded to be “fruit testers” by the very Lord of Glory.

Which leads me to ask: How seriously do we take spiritual deception? Do we recognize the danger? Are we prepared to test the fruit of those who claim to speak for God, either in what they teach or in how they live?

Let’s not forget that Christ’s command applies to His followers everywhere. How can you and I help our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world to recognize and resist deceivers? False prophets aren’t just a danger only here in America or the West; such people are seeking to overturn the revealed truth of Christ globally.

Next week, we’ll examine Jesus’ second reason for warning us against spiritual deception.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-05-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Francis Kagolo, "Bishop Oyedepo to preach at Africana" in the New Vision newspaper and Malita Wamala, "Let us make good use of Oyadepo's visit" in the Observer newspaper (Uganda). One of Africa's most well-known and successful prosperity gospel preachers, David Oyedepo, is coming to Uganda for a three-day gospel conference. If you'd like to know more about Oyedepo, his Winners Chapels, or the corrupted health-and-wealth preaching that is spreading throughout Africa, then also be sure to check out Paul Gifford's article from the Christian Century, "Expecting miracles: the prosperity gospel in Africa."

2) Dismus Buregyeya, "Masaka cult approved" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). It looks like yet another Catholic cult is growing in Uganda, led by Barnabas Kazibwe. As you can see, the need to research and respond to cults in East Africa is never-ending.

Book Review: Theological Pitfalls in Africa

2009-05-13T23:00:00.003-04:00

Since African Apologetics has picked up a large number of new visitors and subscribers, for the next few Wednesdays we will be re-running some of John's important book reviews.

Byang H. Kato, Theological Pitfalls in Africa (Nairobi, Kenya: Evangel Publishing House, 1975), 200 pp.

At a small Anglican bookshop in Uganda, my eyes stopped when I came across a book on a crowded shelf. Immediately the title struck me--Theological Pitfalls in Africa. Intrigued, I picked up a copy and purchased it. I had never heard of Byang H. Kato (you can read an informative bio here), but I am always interested in learning more about theological controversies where I will be serving my Lord.

Needless to say, I made a wise investment. Kato responds to two dangerous trends he saw emerging in Africa: the growth of universalism and the danger of syncretism within contemporary African theology. Through the continuing influence of ecumenicism and liberal Christian scholarship, Kato writes about the increasing compromise and even abandonment of biblical Christianity throughout the continent.

In this book the author singles out for critique African theologians John Mbiti and Bolaji Idowu, as well as the ecumenical All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC). Through several chapters, he analyzes and replies to numerous problems that have been produced by these Christian leaders. His primary objective is to demonstrate the uniqueness and exclusivity of biblical Christianity against attempts to find parallels and continuity with African Traditional Religions. Additionally, as he records the progress of the ecumenical movement in Africa, he points to the need for an uncompromising evangelical alternative.

I greatly appreciate Kato's wisdom and doctrinal insightfulness throughout this work. He gave me much to think about. However, I do want to mention two cautionary notes. First, I am not sure that Kato is always properly summarizing the views of those whom he disagrees with. Having read some Mbiti, while a lot of Kato's critique is entirely appropriate, I also wonder if Mbiti is always properly understood. Occasionally, I wonder if Kato has set up a straw man only to quickly tear it back down.

Second, this book is rather dated. Of course, its age is not the author's fault! He actually prematurely died not long after this book was published (1975). Nevertheless, I can't help but wonder about the last 30-plus years. How prevalent is the ecumenical movement in Africa today? Where does African liberalism stand compared to the growth of evangelical scholarship? Are there more pressing theological challenges faced by Christians today? Answers to these questions must be found elsewhere.

In spite of these minor concerns, I still heartily recommend Kato's book for anyone looking to learn more about some theological dangers present in Africa today. While I am not sure how easy this book will be to buy outside of Africa, I assure you that it is worth the effort. May we be ever vigilant in our commitment to the Word of God, refuting all attempts to overthrow God's revealed truth!

This review was previously posted on December 10, 2007

Cross-Cultural Apologetics and Missiology

2009-05-11T22:30:00.000-04:00

If there’s one area that I believe is almost completely neglected in missiology (the study of missions) today, it’s the role of apologetics. Thankfully, veteran missions scholar David Hesselgrave has clarified its importance in “Revelation and Reason in Cross-Cultural Apologetics and Missiology” in the latest issue of the Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics.

Having served as a missionary in Japan for twelve years, Hesselgrave certainly has the experience and insight to address the question: What role do reason and apologetics have in missions? Many answer by saying that reason and apologetics are simply a byproduct of our Western approach to knowledge and are therefore irrelevant to those who have an Eastern or other non-Western way of thinking. But Hesselgrave knows better, and he points us to the trinary approach of conceptual/postulational, concrete-relational/pictorial, and psychical/intuitional ways of thinking rather than the Eastern vs. Western binary approach.

What does this mean? Hesselgrave explains that, instead of there being just two opposite and irreconcilable approaches to knowledge, people in all cultures approach their pursuit of truth in varying combinations of these three ways of thinking. As he summarizes:

“[This] proposal is especially helpful to Western Christian apologists and missionaries because we can anticipate that, as a result of the Imago Dei [i.e., image of God in man], the employment of cogent, coherent and consistent reasoning will be both appropriate and effective in Eastern cultures. At the same time we can anticipate that due to our fallen nature, God-given rationality will be rather easily transmuted into rationalism and irrationalism in both Eastern and Western cultures. Divine revelation will serve both to complement and complete, and to compensate and correct, ways of thinking and knowing in all cultures.”

In other words, reason and apologetics are both needed as we proclaim the gospel to all cultures. But if this is true, what does it mean for cross-cultural missions? Hesselgrave concludes by summarizing four avenues for reappropriating apologetics in our missionary task, namely:

1) Ronald Nash’s tests for truth as rooted in the nature of God,
2) Harold Netland’s defense of our objective propositional faith over fideistic subjectivism,
3) Norman Geisler’s three kinds of essentials of the Christian faith, and
4) Paul Hiebert’s view of the local church as a hermeneutical community.

One need not agree with (or even understand!) all of these applications to approve of Hesselgrave’s conclusion:

“After my experiences in Japan and a half century of subsequent involvement in evangelical missions worldwide I suggest that evangelical apologists and missionaries ‘renew their vows.’ . . . Currently missionary efforts to evangelize the world stand in need of the contributions of evangelical theologians and philosophers. Of course, the converse is also true. Apologists and theologians stand to benefit from the contributions of evangelical anthropologists and cross-culturalists.”

To which I reply with a hearty “Amen!” Hesselgrave’s principles can be used to powerful effect in Africa, and I commend his incisive article to everyone who is committed to our Savior’s missionary task.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-05-09T22:00:00.001-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Paul Fauvet, "Saboteurs Or New Age Fanatics?" on AllAfrica.com and "Mozambique dam was New-Age cleansing ritual - not sabotage" in the Sowetan newspaper (South Africa). In Mozambique, four people belonging to "Orgonise Africa" were arrested as they sought to add "orgon" to the lake. They are a New Age sect which follow the teachings of Austrian psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich.

2) "Expansion for Scientology in South Africa" in Scientology Today. The Church of Scientology recently made a massive purchase in South Africa, the Johannesburg landmark Kyalami Castle. They are continuing to aggressively expand their presence throughout Africa.

3) Latayne C. Scott, "Can't We All Just Get Along?," "Understanding Representational Research," "Agreeing with Spurgeon," "'It's All About the Story'," and "'Can You Un-Cult a Cult?'" on the Koinonia blog. Latayne Scott has been busy, releasing her novel Latter-day Cipher (which I reviewed on this blog) as well as an extensively revised third edition of The Mormon Mirage (which I hope to review soon!). These five posts are on the Zondervan Academic blog, with the series titled "A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today." Be sure to check it out!

Responding to a Baha'i

2009-05-06T22:00:00.003-04:00

Today, instead of our usual Ask Anything Wednesday, I wanted to briefly interact with someone who commented on my recent blog post Visiting the Bahá’í House of Worship. He wrote the following:

Dear John,
I enjoyed your article and appreciate that you presented the Bahá’í beliefs accurately from your viewpoint. I just want to testify to you that good Christians can and do become Bahá’ís without losing Christ. The early, and modern, Jews were also accused of abandoning the Jewish faith when they embraced Christ. They in fact were embracing the purpose of the Jewish Faith as you know. This example shows how “traditional” views and doctrines may become a barrier to accepting God’s Messiah or Manifestation. One has to return to the Bible itself and understand God’s methods in the past.

Why did the Jews reject Christ? They knew their scriptures, prophecies and promises very well. Their Messiah was expected to “sit on the throne of David,” vanquish the enemies of the Jews, be a descendent of David and bring world peace. The prophet Elijah was also expected to return and prepare the way. By taking these prophecies “literally,” they missed their Messiah. Was John the Baptist the return of Elijah? Jesus said that he was.

The return of Christ in the Person of Bahá’u’lláh can be understood using the same analogy. This alone doesn’t prove that He was Christ returned, but it opens the door to a new way of investigating the Bible concerning this most important subject. I am from a Christian background and am a first generation American Bahá’í. I would be happy to dialogue with you concerning the Biblical evidence that Bahá’u’lláh is genuine.

Harlan

Harlan, I want to thank you for your kind words as well as your interest in discussing the question “Who is Christ?” A more important question cannot be asked!

However, you’ve already shown your guiding authority in interpreting Scripture: Bahá’u’lláh. How do you know that we should see as symbolic the biblical teaching of Christ as God incarnate? How do you know that Christ’s return was fulfilled in Bahá’u’lláh? It’s by first accepting Bahá’u’lláh’s claim to be a true prophet of God. You must read Scripture with him as an already existing authority to understand the Bible in a way that fits with your beliefs. You’ve “stacked the deck,” finding Bahá’u’lláh where you expect and want him to be.

Christians interpret the Bible differently. We seek to understand the Scriptures in their grammatical and historical context to determine the original meaning of the text. This isn’t a question of Jew (OT literal) vs. Christian (OT symbolic/NT literal) vs. Bahá’í (OT and NT symbolic) way of understanding Scripture as you suggest. Rather, it’s a question of how we properly interpret the Bible. In theological terms, it’s the study of hermeneutics. Until you and I can come to an agreement on how we’re supposed to interpret the Bible, a discussion of specific texts would yield little fruit.

It’s exactly at this point that you’re merely making an assertion about interpreting Scripture symbolically because of your commitment to Bahá’u’lláh. I ask you to come to the Bible asking what God has revealed through what the writers of Scripture themselves intended to say. If you do so, then you will open yourself to God’s truth that directs us to the God-man, Jesus Christ, and His redeeming work.

Good Christians cannot and will not become Bahá’ís without losing Christ. Christ cannot be demoted to the level of human prophets. He is the prophet, as well as priest and king. All other true prophets direct us to Him. Bahá’u’lláh was a false prophet. I pray that you will recognize this fact and believe in the One who reconciles us with our Creator.

Advancing African Apologetics in Charlotte

2009-05-04T23:00:00.005-04:00

By God’s grace, for the last several months our ministry has been developing an important relationship with the Tactical Evangelism and Apologetics Mission (TEAM) at Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES), an evangelical school founded by world-renowned apologist Norman Geisler. Last weekend, Paul Carden (the Executive Director of our parent ministry) and I finally had the opportunity to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina and personally meet with TEAM’s leadership. Many of you were praying for these strategic meetings, and I can hardly believe how much the Lord allowed us to accomplish in such a brief time together.

First, we met with a number of African seminary students at SES. I was so encouraged to talk with those who came all the way from Kenya, Congo, Liberia, and South Africa to study apologetics! Their passion for defending our common faith was both edifying and challenging. All of them wanted to bring biblical discernment and the defense of the faith to Africa. May the Lord bless their cause and increase their number!

Second, we met with several missionaries who are actively engaged in various ministries within Uganda. They also have a heart for protecting Christians in East Africa and reaching out to those trapped in error with the true hope of Jesus Christ. We discussed how we could work together, building on each other’s strengths to serve the church in Uganda and beyond.

Third, we spent extensive time with Simon Brace, the director of TEAM, and his wife Nel. Simon is a gracious and humble man who’s aflame for the defense of the Gospel worldwide. I instantly knew that we were kindred spirits (including our great appreciation for Ravi Zacharias and Indiana Jones). I’m confident that we’ll accomplish great things for Christ as we continue building our relationship and working with Simon and TEAM.

Fourth, I was given the opportunity to preach and present our ministry’s vision at Community Fellowship Church. The church’s interest and enthusiasm for our future was remarkable—the congregation nearly cleaned us out of ministry brochures, DVDs, and bookmarks! They’re clearly committed to upholding the truth of God’s Word and exposing error both locally and globally. Worshiping with them was truly a time of joy.

Nevertheless, all good things must come to an end (as they say), and I headed home late Sunday evening. How the Lord blessed our time in Charlotte! Strategic partnerships were developed, new friendships were made, and Christ was glorified. May we continue to faithfully serve Him as we defend His truth in East Africa!

Book Review: Latter-day Cipher

2009-04-29T18:00:00.002-04:00

Latayne C. Scott, Latter-day Cipher. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009.

What happens when you take a fictional suspense-thriller and place it in Utah, the center of Mormonism? Latayne C. Scott gives us an example in her novel Latter-day Cipher. A former Mormon who converted to evangelical Christianity, Scott helps readers understand Mormonism through a murder mystery.

The main character is Selonnah Zee, who winds up in Utah when the murders begin taking place. As a journalist, she is quickly assigned to cover the growing number of deaths which are connected by Mormonism and its history. In reporting on these complex cases, she finds herself embarking on a crash course in Mormonism, from her LDS cousin Roger to her newfound local reporter friend Anne. Can Selonnah wrap her mind around Mormonism enough to solve these crimes? And what will these crimes expose about the Mormon church? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

I admit up front that I don’t read a lot of fiction, so I’m not evaluating the book’s literary merits from a position of strength. I can see reviewers critiquing Scott’s work as being somewhat underdeveloped, with the plot serving primarily as a vehicle for teaching readers about Mormonism. With this in mind, the book may fall short for someone who’s simply looking for a good thriller.

At the same time, I really appreciate Scott in her attempt to creatively educate people about Mormonism. Many Christians and others may never pick up a book summarizing and evaluating LDS teaching. But they would likely be drawn to a contemporary murder mystery novel which is filled with information on Mormonism’s history and beliefs. Consequently, as a teaching tool, I really like her book. I would definitely give it to a Christian friend who enjoys this kind of fictional work. It even has questions for discussion in the back to think through some of the concerns and issues that she raises.

Nevertheless, I should offer a few disclaimers. First, given the nature of the crimes, the storytelling can be graphic and may be inappropriate for some readers. Second, Selonnah’s friend Anne is a Christian who explains the Trinity by using the analogy of three states of water (ice, water, and steam)—a common illustration that’s fundamentally flawed and can lead to a misunderstanding of the nature of God. Third, I don’t think the ending provides sufficient closure to the story. I can only assume that this book is meant to be the first of a series, but I felt like the book just kind of abruptly ended.

In any case, I don’t believe that these caveats should necessarily prevent Christians from reading an entertaining page-turner which will also inform them a great deal about Mormonism. I pray that the Lord will use Latter-day Cipher to better prepare His people to lovingly respond to the errors of Mormonism with the truth of biblical Christianity.

Visiting the Baha'i House of Worship

2009-04-28T12:00:00.001-04:00

Last week I wrote about attending the annual conference of the International Society of Christian Apologetics (ISCA). While in the Chicago area, Paul Carden (the executive director of our parent ministry) and I also visited the Bahá’í House of Worship. This House of Worship is the only one on the North American continent, and one of just seven in the world.

As a side note before I move on, guess where one of the other Bahá’í Houses of Worship is? You guessed it: in Uganda, where I plan to launch our ministry.

I have to admit that I was amazed by the architecture of the House of Worship in Wilmette, Ill. It’s truly a sight to behold, with a seating capacity of nearly 1,200 and a dome that’s 90 feet in diameter. Quotations like these from the Prophet Bahá’u’lláh appear over all the entrances and alcoves:

“All of the Prophets of God proclaim the same faith.”
“Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent.”
“So powerful is unity’s light that it can illumine the whole earth.”

After we finished looking at the building, we spent an hour and a half or so with a tour guide, who was a fifth-generation Bahá’í and very friendly. We asked her lots of questions to better understand the faith, learn why she’s a follower, and politely challenge her misperceptions (and misrepresentations) of Christianity and the Gospel. Our time together was very educational, and I can easily see why it appeals to so many Westerners today.

But what is the Bahá’í faith? For most people in America, it’s still a fairly unknown and mysterious religion. An offshoot of Islam, its central theme is: “Bahá’ís believe that there is one God, that all humanity is one family, and that there is a fundamental unity underlying religion.” Thus, God has sent a series of “manifestations” or divine messengers, namely: Adam, Noah, Zoroaster, Krishna, Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh. Each messenger builds off the truths taught by preceding prophets, thus opening new vistas of spiritual insight as humanity becomes ready for them. The latest manifestation was Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892), who provides the fullest and most thorough understanding of God and our purpose in the world.

Bahá’ís do not see Jesus as God incarnate, but as simply one of the nine messengers. They generally interpret the Bible as symbolic instead of accepting its literal meaning. Bahá’u’lláh is said to fulfill Jesus’ Second Coming and complete His teachings. Essentially, Bahá’ís force Jesus to fit into their mold of religious history in order to claim him as their own. In so doing they deny who He is and the redemption He has accomplished.

Consequently, I left the Bahá’í House of Worship more committed than ever to respond to such falsehoods with the true gospel of Jesus Christ. By counterfeiting Jesus, Bahá’ís are keeping others from knowing the genuine Savior who brings true hope and peace with God.

Pray with me that the Lord will use us to equip our African brothers and sisters in Christ to meet this challenge!

Weekly Round-Up

2009-04-25T22:00:00.008-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Mwangi Muiruri, "Gang now takes war to the church" and "Mungiki: Victims tell of their ordeal in hands of sect" in The Standard newspaper (Kenya). Mungiki is a growing, violent sect which has been gaining ground for years in Kenya. Here are two reports that demonstrate the serious challenge it presents to Christians in East Africa.

2) Robert Kalumba, "Ugandan pastors and their lifestyles" in the Sunday Monitor newspaper (Uganda). The subtitle summarizes this article well: "If it wasn’t for their job titles, some of our pastors would be mistaken for CEOs of multinational companies." While I would not consider some of those included in this list Ugandan pastors, it nevertheless provides insight into the success of the false prosperity gospel in Uganda.

3) Michael J. Ssali, "The healing powers of Mutume" in the Sunday Monitor newspaper (Uganda). This news story introduces us to a Ugandan Catholic miracle worker who has an increasing number of followers even as the Catholic church is trying to rein him in. The report notes that Mutume (which in Luganda means Apostle) "has attracted a considerable following and could soon be the leader of a new break-away sect from the Catholic Church."

Book Notice: The Dawning of a Brighter Day

2009-04-22T22:00:00.000-04:00

Alexander B. Morrison, The Dawning of a Brighter Day: The Church in Black Africa. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1990; 149 pp.

Though Mormons have always zealously sought to convert others to their faith, in many ways their “last frontier” has been Africa. Given its long history of racism toward Africans, the LDS church’s early missionary efforts generally steered clear of black Africa. All of this changed when the LDS church released “Official Declaration—2” in 1978, allowing “worthy” Mormon males of African descent to hold the priesthood. Today the church reports amazing success over much of the continent, and with the recent announcement of the first black African general authority, Mormonism seems poised for even greater expansion—and confrontation with evangelical Christians.

Alexander B. Morrison, now an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, recalls his church’s transformation from outsider to “contender” in Africa in The Dawning of a Brighter Day. Even though the book is now out of print, the fact that it was released by the official LDS publishing house testifies to its importance in understanding the changing face of Mormonism in Africa.

At the church’s October 1987 general conference, Morrison declared that “our humble African brothers and sisters are well prepared to receive and obey the fulness of the gospel of Christ”—that is, the message of Joseph Smith. Let us pray that the Body of Christ will prepare itself and resist.

From the inside cover:
“In some ways establishing the gospel in Africa represents the most difficult challenge the Church has ever had to face....We will succeed in Africa only as we learn and come to understand the oftentimes confusing social, political, historical, and economic realities of that vast continent and base what we do on real knowledge.”

So writes Alexander B. Morrison....In The Dawning of a Brighter Day, Elder Morrison describes some of the “confusing realities” of Black Africa, particularly as they pertain to proselyting efforts of the Church there.

“The golden key that unlocked the door to bringing the fullness of the gospel to Black Africa was the revelation on priesthood, received in June 1978,” he explains. Since then, missions and stakes have been established in several countries, and many faithful individuals have been converted and are ass uming leadership roles among the members.

Today, “the clouds if a long night’s darkness are beginning to roll away from Africa as a new day dawns,” Elder Morrison concludes. “It is a day whose light is the Son of God, a day made brighter by the glow of the glorious gospel of Christ.”

Iron Sharpening Iron in Chicago

2009-04-20T22:00:00.004-04:00

Late last night I returned from the fourth annual conference of the International Society of Christian Apologetics (ISCA). This year it was on the campus of Trinity International University, which houses the well-known Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. It was my first time to the Chicago area (unless you count brief layovers in the O'Hare airport) as well as my first time to be a part of this conference.

What a blessing! Reflecting on my weekend, I thank God for so many things. Here are a few:

I met lots of brothers and sisters in Christ committed to defending His truth, including several scholars which have been very influential in my spiritual growth and service. This included men such as Rob Bowman, Winfried Corduan, Norman Geisler, Wayne House, Chad Meister, and Phil Roberts. I am honored to have met and talked with these experienced apologists.

I learned how to better defend my faith through several incredibly informative workshops and sessions. Obviously I cannot give my thoughts of each one, but I must mention one session that I found especially important—"The Ethics of Apologetics" by David Cook of Wheaton College. Cook spoke from his heart and experience, listing several key considerations apologists must keep in mind as we counter error. I only wish that they recorded the session!

I was able to strategize with Paul Carden on the future of ACFAR. While I cannot say too much about our discussions yet, we were able to accomplish a great deal. You should be hearing about some wonderful developments over the next several weeks, so be sure to stay tuned!

I worshiped on the Lord's Day at Village Bible Church. I greatly enjoyed my time there, praising God with fellow believers and hearing His Word faithfully proclaimed. Pastor Ray Gurunian's sermon was a deeply edifying message on a very hard passage of Scripture (have you ever heard a sermon on Matthew 7:6?!?).

I may have come home tired, but by God's grace we accomplished so much. With so many challenges facing the church today, it is easy to lose heart. But last weekend reminded me that the church of Christ will not fail—the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Praise God!

Weekly Round-Up

2009-04-17T18:00:00.003-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Peggy Fletcher Stack, "Africa's 'Mormon superstar' is first black African LDS general authority" in the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper. Three decades after worthy African males were allowed to hold the Mormon priesthood, the LDS church's first black African general authority has been named. Joseph W. Sitati is a Kenyan and former President of the Nigeria Calabar mission. His appointment is evidence of the LDS church's growing commitment and missionary success in Africa.

2) Peggy Fletcher Stack, "LDS Swahili Branch unites African Mormons" in the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper. As Mormonism continues to spread throughout Africa, it is also seeking to convert Africans here in America. This article reports on a branch in Utah that conducts its meetings in Swahili.

3) John MacArthur, "Doctrine IS Practical" in Pulpit Magazine. As only MacArthur can, he gives a compelling demonstration of the importance of doctrinal truth for Christians today.

Viral Video: The Lausanne Movement and its History

2009-04-15T17:00:00.002-04:00

As an avid supporter of the Lausanne Movement, I am thrilled that they have established a YouTube channel to post videos on their movement and modern missions work. However, I realize that many people are not very familiar with one of evangelicalism's most important global efforts. To do my small part, I am turning over today's Viral Video post to a series of videos explaining the Lausanne Movement and its history. Enjoy!

Your Prayers Can Open the Door to Africa

2009-04-13T17:00:00.000-04:00

Today I sent out our ministry's latest update to our prayer partners. While I normally do not post these updates to our blog, I wanted to share this month's letter with you. If you would like to become a prayer partner and automatically receive our updates in your e-mail inbox, then be sure to sign up today!

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Dear Friend,

In the afterglow of Easter I’m reminded of how the Apostle Paul opens his well-known chapter on the resurrection. He grounds the life-changing message of the Gospel in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And by holding fast to Christ’s redeeming work, you and I are saved—what amazing Good News!

Yet many in Africa are corrupting this glorious truth, leading multitudes of unsuspecting people to destruction:

• The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus wasn’t God, that he rose from the grave as a spirit-being, and that God the Father simply discarded his physical body.

• The Branhamites, by contrast, teach that Jesus was literally God the Father who died on the cross.

• The Bahá’ís deny Christ’s bodily resurrection, calling it “a spiritual and divine fact, not a material reality.”

• The abaikiriza of Ugandan “god-man” Owobusobozi Bisaka, like other indigenous cults, have no use for Christ or Easter at all. Bisaka even claims that Jesus “was not a saviour, and never existed.”

• Missionary Islam is on the march across the region, denying the resurrection of Jesus outright, teaching instead that He was merely a prophet of God who was taken up into heaven, while someone else—possibly Judas Iscariot—perished on the cross in His place.

• Peddlers of the prosperity gospel exploit the cross of Christ as a path to personal enrichment, as if our Lord and Savior were a genie in a bottle. In East Africa there are thousands of churches with pastors who preach this distorted message.

Where can African pastors turn for help? Who will help Christians refute these false claims and faithfully proclaim the good news of Christ’s resurrection to a world starving for redemption?

For the past two years, we’ve been prayerfully working toward launching a center in East Africa to meet this very need. And today our ministry faces some critical challenges. While we’ve gained a handful of faithful new supporters since the first of the year, ACFAR’s support has essentially stalled.

To reach our goal of launching the ministry “on the ground” in Kampala by the end of May, we still need 275 prayer partners, $5,000 in new monthly commitments, and $30,000 in startup support.

Unless God does something drastic and wonderful in the next 60 days, our ministry goal will remain out of reach, and we’ll have to rethink the future of the Africa Center.

So we must pray! Please join with me in prayer and fasting this month, asking God to advance His kingdom through the defense of His truth in East Africa.

Our ministry’s future is in the Lord’s capable and all-powerful hands.

And I can’t imagine being in a better place.

Because of His grace,

John Divito, Director
Africa Center for Apologetics Research

P.S. If God is leading you to support CFAR, please join us today! Your partnership can help us change the spiritual equation in East Africa for generations to come.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-04-10T22:00:00.004-04:00

On this Good Friday when we remember the sacrificial death of our Savior, I want to provide a couple of important articles for this week's round-up:

1) Paul Kiwuuwa, "Christians to mark Jesus’ suffering in Friday walk" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). How are many Ugandan Christians celebrating Good Friday and Easter? You can read more about their united plans here.

2) Andrew Rice, "Mission From Africa" in the New York Times magazine. This is a long but extremely important piece in the latest issue of the New York Times magazine. Here we learn more about the growth of Pentecostalism in Africa and their spreading influence throughout the world, mainly as reported through the Redeemed Christian Church of God. A Nigerian based denomination, this group is rapidly expanding globally and has ambitious plans here in the US. Also, be sure to listen to this excerpt of Pastor Daniel Ajayi-Adeniran preaching.

Yusufu Turaki on Western and African Worldviews

2009-04-08T22:00:00.001-04:00

Since no one submitted a question for Ask Anything Wednesday, I thought it would be a good opportunity to point out an important article analyzing Western and African worldviews. "Sharing the Burden of Defending the Gospel" was written by Yusufu Turaki, a Nigerian theologian at Jos Theological Seminary. Turaki's paper is essential reading to understand African Christianity today, especially as it so often mixes with traditional beliefs and practices or leads to cultic groups. Here is the introduction to whet your appetite:

"This paper is divided into two major parts: (1) the first examines modern Western worldviews, philosophies and religions; and (2) the second part analyzes traditional African worldviews and religious beliefs, syncretism, and religious cults.

"In the first part of the paper, I will consider the socio-political context and the environment which gave rise to both the modern philosophies and religions that are opposed to Christianity. In the second section of the paper, in which I analyze traditional African worldviews and religious beliefs and practices, a major focus will be on the ways in which African Christians often lapse into syncretism and religious cults in the expressions of their Christianity."

Ask Anything Wednesday Tomorrow

2009-04-07T22:00:00.000-04:00

Ask Anything Wednesday is tomorrow! Do you have any questions about the Africa Center for Apologetics Research? Do you have a question about witnessing to cult members? Do you want to know what I am reading right now? Anything is fair game!

Just ask and I'll try to answer it. The easiest way to submit a question for tomorrow is simply to post it as a comment below. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Stay Tuned!

2009-04-06T21:11:00.001-04:00

While my family continues to recover from a very busy but productive weekend, I want to ask my friends and readers to pray for upcoming opportunities to spread the vision of ACFAR via radio.

This week, Paul Carden (executive director of our parent ministry) is scheduled to discuss ACFAR on...

Wednesday, April 8 on The Allan Dempsey Show, WTLN Orlando (time TBA)
Thursday, April 9 on The Morning Show, KFUO St. Louis (9:30 am Eastern, 6:30 am Pacific)

Also scheduled:

April 21—CDR Radio Network, Cedarville
April 27—WWJC, Duluth and USA Radio
May 20—CJCA, Edmonton

Our Lord has truly blessed us in raising awareness of our ministry through the radio! Please pray that He will be glorified as we make the case for ACFAR across the United States and Canada. And pray that many more will join with us to advance biblical discernment in East Africa.

Blog Break

2009-04-01T22:00:00.001-04:00

Since my family is going to the annual Indiana Home Educators Convention this week, African Apologetics will be "on hold" until we return. If any of you happen to be attending the convention and spot me in the crowd, feel free to stop by and say "Hi!"

Meanwhile, please be sure to pray for our ongoing efforts to raise awareness (and support) for ACFAR via radio! The next interview is scheduled for next Thursday, April 9, on KFUO (St. Louis).

More on this next week!

Branham, Moreau, and East Africa

2009-03-30T21:30:00.004-04:00

We’re continually on the lookout for existing resources on cults in East Africa. Recently I came across A. Scott Moreau's article on the Branham movement in the East Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology (April 1989). Moreau was a missionary in Africa and now serves as Professor of Intercultural Studies and Missions at Wheaton College and as editor of Evangelical Missions Quarterly. He writes:

Almost every Kenyan student at the Nairobi International School of Theology has had encounters with a Branhamite and found them to be extremely difficult to talk to without having to engage in a defense of the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity or of the baptismal formula “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Moreau first summarizes the history of the self-proclaimed prophet William Branham (1909–1965) and the movement that grew from his international healing ministry. Then he details the Branhamites’ core beliefs, especially that 1) while the Bible is inerrant, we need Branham’s gift of prophetic revelation to fully understand God’s message, and 2) God is not a Trinity; instead, the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are different manifestations of a single divine person. After mentioning several other doctrinal deviations, Moreau provides a basic evaluation of Branham’s ministry and teaching, concluding that Branham was a false prophet and his end-time message was in serious error. He concludes by classifying the Branhamites a theological cult and gives several suggestions for how to approach the movement’s followers.

There’s such a wealth of information in this brief article that I barely know where to begin. I especially appreciated Moreau’s practical emphasis. He wasn’t simply an academician dryly describing another religious group; he was an evangelical Christian on the front lines recognizing the need to more effectively engage this cult in Africa. For this Moreau deserves our sincere thanks.

Still, his article is twenty years old. Not only does this render his research somewhat outdated (William Branham Ministries is now deeply entrenched across the continent), but the lack of related research since then is a sad indication of how little has been done by serious theologians in East Africa to address harmful groups of this nature.

May God help us to build on the work of such scholars and equip East African believers with the tools and training they need to effectively refute those who follow false prophets—and share the true Gospel with them in love.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-03-28T15:00:00.004-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Michael Mubangizi, "Fire in the name of God" and "Cult leaders were caught having sex, which was forbidden" in the Weekly Observer newspaper, and "Kanungu massacre: Why govt must rein in cults" in the New Vision newspaper (both papers come from Uganda). I wrote of the anniversary of the Kanungu tragedy last week, but newspapers are continuing to report on the this tragic end to the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God. These are three more informative articles.

2) Josephine Maseruka, "Born-again churches reject federation" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). Here we see some courageous Ugandan pastors standing up against false teaching in the formation of a new "born again" united federation. Unity must never come at the expense of truth!

3) David Gibson, "Is One Man's Faith Another's Superstition?" in the Wall Street Journal newspaper. This one is an opinion piece reflecting on Pope Benedict's time in Angola. Yet again we see the danger of witchcraft and syncretism in Africa.

4) "The New Apostolic Church of East Africa soon to become independent" in the New Apostolic Church International News. The success in Africa of the New Apostolic Church, a Swiss-based cult, has been so dramatic that they are restructuring. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the international church leader, will be conducting a service in Kampala, Uganda today.

ACFAR on the Radio

2009-03-25T13:00:00.000-04:00

By God’s grace, we’re continuing to spread the word about the Africa Center for Apologetics Research on the radio!

Today we’re scheduled to appear on “Live with Jeff & Lee” on KKMS in metro Minneapolis (6:00 pm Eastern, 3:00 pm Pacific)

And here are two upcoming shows to check out:

Saturday, March 28th: “The Pastor’s Study” with Pastor Tom Brock on KKMS in metro Minneapolis (12:30 pm Eastern, 9:30 pm Pacific)

Monday, March 30th: “Total Impact” with Kurt Goff on KSOS in Las Vegas (5:00 pm Eastern, 2:00 pm Pacific)

If you’re in the area, please tune in! If not, you can stream the shows over the Internet live. And if you’d like to talk to Paul Carden and me tonight or this Saturday, be sure to call. In the meantime, pray for us!

A Few Thoughts While Staying Busy

2009-03-23T23:00:00.002-04:00

This past Lord’s Day I had the privilege of worshiping with a church that’s considering supporting our ministry in Africa. While our family always enjoys fellowship with our home congregation, we’ve come to appreciate the opportunities that God brings to meet other church families. Why?

First, I meet many Christians who love and serve our Savior. I’m reminded of the diversity of the body of Christ when I worship at other churches. People from different social and ethnic groups come together to worship our Savior. What a glorious sight!

Second, I meet brothers and sisters in Christ who are dedicated to the Word of God. It’s refreshing to stand in the midst of other congregations as they read the Scriptures and submit to the Bible as it’s proclaimed from the pulpit.

Third, I meet other believers who care deeply about African Christians and their need for biblical discernment. Rarely have I left a church discouraged after telling them about our ministry. Many of our most dedicated prayer partners have joined us through the time we’ve spent in their churches.

Raising awareness and support is a challenge, but when I reflect on the blessings the Lord gives in the process, I can only thank Him for the opportunities He brings. I’m not the same man I was when I first decided to become a missionary. I pray that, by God’s grace, His refining process will continue!

Weekly Round-Up

2009-03-20T21:30:00.001-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Steven Candia, "Kibwetere arrest warrant still on," Josephine Maseruka, "Pastors call for probe over sodomy," and Frederick Kiwanuka, "Luweero cult members arrested" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). I wrote of the anniversary of the Kanungu tragedy earlier this week, but many newspapers included several articles related to the cult that tragically ended nine years ago. Here are three from one of the main national papers in Uganda.

2) Joyce Namutebi and Catherine Bekunda, "Govt officials involved in witchcraft, says Kivejinja" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). Uganda's internal affairs minister has accused some senior government officials of practicing witchcraft. I have mentioned the need to take witchcraft seriously before, but this report is an important reminder of the challenge it remains in Africa.

3) "Irony in the Big apology" on GetReligion.org and "HBO’s Mormon Temple Ceremony Scene" on the Mormon Coffee blog. If you haven't heard about the recent controversy surrounding the HBO series Big Love portraying portions of the temple endowment ceremony, then be sure to read more and even watch the clip online. It was surprisingly accurate.

Viral Video: The International Adventist Challenge

2009-03-18T22:00:00.002-04:00

Paul Carden, the Executive Director of the Centers for Apologetics Research (our parent ministry), spoke at the annual Former Adventist Fellowship Weekend earlier this month. His message was a timely one: "The Apostolic Imperative and the International Adventist Challenge." Thankfully, his message has been made available online. Please watch as Paul explains the serious challenge that Seventh-day Adventism presents globally.

Remembering the "African Jonestown"

2009-03-16T21:30:00.006-04:00

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Can cults be dangerous?

You won’t have to convince Ugandans. Their recent history is enough to persuade them of the serious harm cults can bring.

Nine years ago this week, on March 17, 2000, a tragedy took place that has come to be known as the Kanungu Massacre—or the “African Jonestown.” Hundreds of men, women, and children perished in a southern Uganda town after being locked into a church building which was then set ablaze. The media called it a “mass suicide,” but the facts point to something quite different.

Swiss scholar Jean-François Mayer explains that the group first “emerged around [Roman Catholic] visionaries who shared their messages and were able to attract a following which even included a few priests.” Credonia Mwerinde and other local visionaries reported that the Virgin Mary told them the end of the world was fast approaching and that only those who had properly purified themselves would be prepared for Christ’s return. Joseph Kibweteere joined Mwerinde and other Catholics in spreading this end-time message, and in 1989 the two and several others founded the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God (MRTCG).

The MRTCG grew as its doomsday message found a ready audience. Most scholars agree that political instability, corrupt Catholic leadership, and an AIDS epidemic led many Ugandans to believe in the need for moral renewal in the midst of global collapse. The cult eventually located its headquarters in what is now the Kanungu district, where Mwerinde’s father gave them a large area of land before he died.

Those who joined were required to surrender all of their earthly possessions and live a strict lifestyle of devotion to God. By submitting to the absolute leadership of Kibweteere, Mwerinde, and others they would escape the wrath to come. Sex was forbidden among married couples, and their children were moved to live elsewhere. At times, even speaking was forbidden. Living in the highly controlled compound separated them from the rest of society and made them dependent on the group.

The MRTCG leadership predicted that Jesus would return by the year 2000; questions and disaffection arose when January arrived and the prophecy failed. Leaders quickly set March 17th as the new date. Unknown to their followers, Kibweteere, Mwerinde, and their accomplices started planning the end of their movement before it could unravel completely. Much of the group’s property and livestock was sold off for next to nothing. A communal feast was held on March 15. And one leader was spotted purchasing sulfuric acid, which would intensify a fire.

At the appointed hour the faithful gathered in the church to welcome their day of deliverance, perhaps not noticing that the doors and windows had been boarded up. In the midst of their singing and prayers, a loud explosion was heard, and fire ripped through the church.

Escape was impossible. No one survived.

In the days that followed, Uganda police investigating MRTCG properties discovered hundreds more of the cult’s victims in mass burial sites at four locations across the country. The death toll from the cult continued to rise until excavations were called off. The final official number of those dead reached 770, though other estimates range as high as 900 to 1,000, and the actual count will likely never be known. The cult’s leaders have never been apprehended.

Nine years ago, Uganda experienced an unspeakable tragedy at the hands of a cult. Since then, Christian leaders have demanded accountability and sought to raise awareness of the dangers such groups pose to the church and society, even as cults multiply and the government entertains proposals to impose tighter restrictions on all religious organizations. We have been asked to help the Body of Christ in Uganda to warn and train believers so they can recognize and resist deception—in hopes that many can be spared not only the devastation that cults can cause in this life, but the infinitely greater loss of eternal separation from God in the next.

Please pray with us that soon we can establish ACFAR in Kampala to equip African Christians for the vital task of discernment, defending the faith, and cult evangelism.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-03-13T22:00:00.005-04:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Ruth Kang`ong`oi, "Is there a 'bright' side to witchcraft?" in the New Times newspaper (Rwanda). This report shows how ingrained witchcraft and sorcery are in Africa. I pray that living with such fear will be overcome with the gospel, bringing in Christ grace and hope to Africans!

2) Jamie Dean, "One-man war" in World magazine. World magazine is an excellent newsweekly which is rooted in the biblical worldview. Their latest issue has an article on Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army. Once again, we see how this spirit medium and his terrorist organization are wreaking havoc in East Africa.

3) "Episode 16" of the Persecution Podcast (MP3). As far as I am concerned, every Christian should stay informed and become involved with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing persecution all over the world. The latest edition of this Voice of the Martyrs audio podcast includes a discussion of the Islamic persecution against Nigerians.

4) Serious.Life magazine. The latest issue of Serious.Life was released this week, and African Apologetics is included in their Featured Blog Directory (on page 173). If you are interested in learning more, be sure to check it out. Subscriptions are free.

Book Notice: Brother to Brother

2009-03-11T22:00:00.004-04:00

Rendell N. Mabey and Gordon T. Allred, Brother to Brother: The Story of the Latter-day Saint Missionaries Who Took the Gospel to Black Africa. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1984; 161 pp.

One of the greatest obstacles to the missionary advance of the Mormon church in the 20th century was its notoriously racist view of Africans. Beginning with Brigham Young, generations of Mormon prophets and apostles characterized blacks as inferior and deformed (bearing the dreaded “mark of Cain”). Young declared that “a man who has the African blood in him cannot hold one jot nor tittle of priesthood” and warned his brethren that “The moment we consent to mingle with the seed of Cain the Church must go to destruction.”

Not surprisingly, early Mormon proselytizing efforts in sub-Saharan Africa concentrated on white-dominated South Africa and Rhodesia. But after the LDS church’s 1978 “Official Declaration—2” granted Mormon males of African descent the ability to hold its priesthood, the cult has been spreading rapidly across the continent. According to the church-owned Deseret News, noted scholar Philip Jenkins predicts that “African Latter-day Saints will number between 3 million and 4 million in the next quarter century”—a trend that itself presents Christians with a new and growing missionary challenge.

Brother to Brother provides the story of the first Mormon missionaries to black Africa. Written by Mormons and for Mormons, this book offers invaluable insights into the early stages of LDS growth in Africa. Though it’s now out of print, it’s obviously an important reference for our ministry.

From the Inside Cover:
The call came from President Spencer W. Kimball in the fall of 1978: Take the gospel to Nigeria and Ghana. Two specially chosen couples were the first ones called on that demanding but exhilarating mission to Black Africa. This book tells their exciting story.

The welcome mat was spread conspicuously. Not only did they benefit from the widespread Christian beliefs; there were even groups awaiting conversion and baptism, and some of these had set up unauthorized “branches” of the Church. Now was the day of their deliverance. These fine people—unworldly, simple of taste but strong of faith—welcomed the missionaries with great joy, responded willingly and anxiously to their gospel message and counsel, and eagerly received baptism—by the hundreds. Branches and districts were then officially established, and the Lord’s kingdom set down its roots there.

This is the story of faith, patience, persistence, and the ultimate reward—the initial gospel ordinances and all that comes from membership in the true Church. Moving stories abound within the main story: Anthony Obinna and his thirteen-year wait for baptism; the dramatic conclusion to a twenty-four-hour fast; the first baptism; Sunday Ukpong and his bicycle; and always, in those “faraway places with strange-sounding names,” the story penned by faith and conviction.

Written in a flowing, pleasing, narrative style, the book is authored jointly by Rendell N. Mabey, the missionary leader, and Gordon T. Allred, well-known writer on Latter-day Saint themes. It draws heavily on the former’s detailed manuscript journal of over thirteen hundred pages.

For every reader whose heart is in the Lord’s cause of spreading the gospel worldwide, reading this book will be a moving and thrilling experience.

Sermon: "Spiritual Deception"

2009-03-09T00:00:00.010-04:00

On February 22nd, I once again had the privilege of opening the Word of God before my home congregation at Parkwood Southern Baptist Church. Below is the audio and outline of my sermon. I pray that God will use this message for His gory!

Matthew 7:15-23, "Spiritual Deception" (MP3 download, 40:50)

I. Deceivers are Dangerous, vv. 15-20A. The Hidden Danger
B. The Exposing TestII. Deceivers are Damned, vv. 21-23A. The Final Judgement
B. The Final Declaration

Weekly Round-Up

2009-03-06T22:00:00.002-05:00

For this week's round-up, I am going to do some catching up:

1) "Membership Growth in 2008" on the LDS Church Growth blog. Would you like to read about the global success of Mormonism? This post summarizes last year's statistics.

2) Kanina Foss, "Court saves Jehovah's Witness girl's life" in The Star newspaper (South Africa). Yes, the Jehovah's Witnesses are very active in Africa too. Here is another example of the trouble caused by their distinctive beliefs.

3) "Church Struggling After Islamists Destroy Building" on Compass Direct News. A sad story about the all too common reality of Islamic persecution. What may surprise some is that this attack took place in East Africa. Let us pray for these Kenyan believers during this difficult time.

Ask Anything Wednesday

2009-03-04T22:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our monthly feature Ask Anything Wednesday. While I am answering a question left for me earlier today, please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider answering it next month.

Question:
"I'd like to know if you are still on track to move to Uganda and have ACFAR be THE apologetics resource to that area."

Answer:
I appreciate the obvious passion you have for our ministry! Your encouragement is both encouraging and humbling. I pray daily that our East African ministry will glorify Christ through the defense of His truth. Lord willing, our center will be used mightily for the advancement of His kingdom!

But I want to make sure that I directly answer your question. Are we on track to begin? I really cannot give you a simple "yes" or "no" answer. The Africa Center for Apologetics Research is built on faith and trust in our Savior. Therefore, we don't have a number of defined intermediate steps which we "pass" or "fail." We have established our goal to launch ACFAR by the end of May. To reach our goal, we still need 275 prayer partners, $5,600 in monthly commitments, and $30,000 in start-up support. Yes, this will mean a lot of new supporters in the next few months. But we are trusting in God to provide. Is raising awareness and support difficult in our current recession? Of course! But it is nothing that Christ cannot overcome if it is His will.

I am excited to see what our Lord will do in the upcoming months ahead. We continue to build momentum, regularly establishing more contacts and developing new partnerships. There is one fact that I am absolutely certain of: the challenges facing Christians in East Africa will only be met by advancing biblical discernment and apologetics. May Christ use ACFAR in Uganda to help our African brothers and sisters in Christ defend our common faith!

Ask Anything Wednesday Tomorrow

2009-03-03T18:00:00.002-05:00

Answering the Branham Challenge in Africa

2009-03-02T21:00:00.005-05:00

Jesus’ warnings about false prophets in Matthew 7 are being played out all around us, and on a scale never seen before.

The question is, how will we respond?

Last week I gave you a glimpse of my recent visit to the international headquarters of William Branham Ministries (also known as Voice of God Recordings, or VGR). Today I want to offer a few more reflections on that unforgettable trip.

VGR headquarters draws a stream of Branham followers from all over the globe. On the day I went, a local member brought along a friend from Nebraska so she could see the facility firsthand. Just going through VGR with them was educational; I saw how intently they listened to the guide as he summarized the various stages of Branham’s life and gazed with wonder at the pictures and paraphernalia on display. As a former Mormon, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the exaggerated devotion many Latter-day Saints pay to their founding prophet, Joseph Smith.

VGR displays (and actually uses) Branham’s original pulpit. His desk sits below a framed picture, along with sheets of his handwritten sermon notes. These and many other artifacts testify that, for his legions of devotees, Branham is much more than a gifted and anointed man; he’s God’s unique and final prophet, and one can be only be prepared for Christ’s return by believing and following his divisive “message.”

Something else stands out in my memory: Seeing racks and racks of Branham’s booklets in other languages on prominent display as I first entered. VGR prints in at least 16 indigenous African languages, plus some 60 others. Actually seeing row upon row of these booklets left a deep impression on me. These are the very booklets that are drawing men and women in towns and villages across Africa to another Jesus and a false gospel, booklets that spread Branham’s errors with little or no resistance from Christians equipped with God’s Word.

It was deeply troubling to watch Branham’s disciples dispatch such vast quantities of false teaching from their distribution center. I watched in frustration as scores of pallets, filled with booklets, tapes, and other materials, were lined up and readied for shipment.

What can we do?

The answer is powerful, yet simple. ACFAR’s mission is to equip African Christians with tools and training so they can recognize and resist cultic groups like Branham’s—putting scriptural answers into the hands of thousands of pastors so they can warn their flocks. And the best part is that believers who know how to test the claims of false prophets like Branham can also lead his followers to a saving knowledge of the true Jesus.

You and I can answer the challenge of Branhamism—and we must.

Pray with me that God will bring the support we need to launch ACFAR in Uganda this year!

Weekly Round-Up

2009-02-28T16:00:00.005-05:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Robert Kalumba, "Digging into the juju world" in the Sunday Monitor newspaper (Uganda). I always hesitate to post these stories, but this article is the latest report on the growing popularity of witchdoctors and human sacrifice.

2) Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, "We must crusade against human sacrifice" in the Weekly Observer newspaper (Uganda). With the increasing attention on witchcraft and human sacrifice in Uganda, church leaders are stepping forward to confront this challenge. This letter was released by Anglican Archbishop Orombi and several other key Christian leaders in the country. May God bless their efforts!

3) Marshall Rabil, "Delicious peace: A story from across the world in Africa" in the Tidewater News newspaper. Here is an account of a recent visit to Uganda where the writer met and stayed with a local member of a Jewish splinter group—the Kulanu: "This is a unique sect of Judaism that began in 1919 by Shimei Kakungula because of his interpretations of the Bible. J.J.’s grandfather was a friend of Shimei’s and converted to Judaism with him, and he and his family remain in the minority in Mbale."

4) Tim Keel, "An Invitation to Amahoro Africa" on the Emergent Village Weblog. The Emergent movement in Africa? Yes. While I have pointed out their involvement in Africa before, this blog post is an unfortunate reminder of their goals among our African brothers and sisters in Christ.

Visiting Voice of God Headquarters

2009-02-24T18:00:00.004-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to tour the international headquarters of William Branham Ministries (also known as Voice of God Recordings, or VGR). While most Americans have never heard of William Marrion Branham (1909–1965), the message of this American “prophet” is rapidly spreading throughout the world. And given his cult’s special focus on Africa, it cannot be ignored.

Who was William Branham? His followers believe that he was God’s unique end-time prophet sent to prepare the church for Christ’s return. Branham is considered the promised Elijah to the Gentiles (Mal. 4:5), the “angel of the Laodicean church” (Rev. 3:14), and the mighty angel with the rainbow on his head (Rev. 10:1). Branham fiercely denied the Trinity and taught that Christians need to become part of “the Bride” (i.e., those who follow his teachings). Branham’s messages are seen as Scripture, and the printed books and booklets include verse numbers for easy reference. His ministry is the key to being ready for the Second Coming, so his followers zealously seek to spread his message as widely as possible in these last days.

Everybody at Branham headquarters was very friendly and open about their ministry, and I was surprised to see how involved they are internationally. My tour guide proudly gave the following statistics:

65 offices around the world (with 5 offices in South Africa alone!)
Active in 177 countries
Printed materials in 77 languages
Audio translations in 40 languages

VGR’s outreach efforts are focused and aggressive. Their immense printing warehouse can produce 64,000 32-page Branham booklets per hour. VGR also has high-tech audio editing and duplication capabilities. A worker in their audio department told me that they can average 2,000 cassettes a day between their two main machines. Since I know a little about how difficult it would be to translate and record audio messages into other languages, I was shocked to learn that they’re also currently translating about five of Branham’s messages a week.

Their hard work is paying off. My tour guide estimated that VGR produced and shipped ten million booklets last year alone. They can deliver an oceangoing container filled with material to South Africa in just four weeks (less time than they can get material to parts of Europe!). Branham is estimated to have followers numbering in the hundreds of thousands in Uganda alone, yet most evangelical Christians I ask have no idea who he was.

My tour was eye opening and sobering. I left more certain than ever of how important it is for us to counter Branham’s false message with the true gospel of Jesus Christ!

Next week I plan to share more of my reflections. Until then, be sure to join the new ACFAR cause on Facebook. I just uploaded a photo album of my visit, so you can see many more photos of my time at VGR headquarters.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-02-21T22:00:00.002-05:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Rachel Kabejja, "What’s with men of God and titles lately?" in the Sunday Monitor newspaper (Uganda). This writer looks into the frequent lack of theological knowledge and training among the pastors and church leaders in Uganda. She also researches several options available for educating church leaders.

2) Hamadou Tidiane Sy, "Senegalese president admits he was a Freemason and causes controversy" in the Daily Nation newspaper (Kenya). The title pretty much says it all, but the story becomes even more interesting when one recognizes that Senegal is a predominantly Muslim country.

3) "The Pygmies Of Yeyimbo" Part 1 and Part 2 in the Catch the Vision Update. Earlier this month, the Branhamites put out a two part update on their ministry among the Pygmy believers in Africa. In these articles, you can read firsthand about this cult's success in the continent.

4) Erich Bridges, "Healing Africa's wounded urban heart" in Baptist Press. Last Thursday, Baptist Press devoted their stories to mission work in Nairobi, Kenya. All of the reports are worth reading. But this article includes an important quote from a missionary serving there: "Nairobi has every religion you can find in the world: Hindu, Buddhist, animist, African traditional religions, Christianity, hundreds of cults." May Christ advance biblical discernment and the defense of our faith in East Africa!

Book Review: Who are the Living-Dead?

2009-02-18T21:30:00.002-05:00

Richard Gehman, Who are the Living-Dead? A Theology of Death, Life After Death and the Living-Dead. Nairobi: Evangel Publishing House, 1999.

While preparing to become a missionary in East Africa, I am seeking to better understand the cultural beliefs and worldviews of those living in this region of the world. The latest book I have completed is Who are the Living-Dead? A Theology of Death, Life After Death and the Living-Dead by Richard Gehman. Gehman is an American missionary who served for years with the Africa Inland Mission at Scott Theological College in Kenya. He is also editor of the Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology.

The living-dead may not be much of an issue for Christians and others in North America, but they are very real for many Africans. As an experienced missionary teaching African pastors, Gehman recognized the need to address ancestors, death, and the living-dead biblically. He summarizes his purpose with three goals:

This book has three objectives:
(1) to provide theological and pastoral help for the Christian pastors and church leaders in Africa so that they can teach and strengthen Christians to face sickness and death with courage without returning to African Traditional Religion.
(2) to provide the educated, thinking lay Christian in Africa with an understanding of death according to the Bible so that he can develop a Christian world view and stand strong in his faith.
(3) to help the church in Africa develop a biblical theology of death, life after death and the living-dead so that she will continue to grow strong in the knowledge of the gospel and resist teaching contrary to the truth of the gospel (x).

His book is broken down into five parts. The author begins by explaining and summarizing the African Traditional Religion's beliefs and practices regarding death, life after death and the living-dead. Then he examines how Christians are to relate to God and to our parents, including the tension between the first and the fifth commandments concerning worship and honor. Next, he turns to different solutions Christians have offered to these issues in Africa, assessing their truthfulness in light of Scripture. The rest of his work is devoted to building a biblical understanding of the living-dead, death, and the afterlife.

Overall, Gehman's book is excellent. I found it very informative. He tackles many questions, such as the difference between veneration and worship, whether the living can speak and relate to the dead, and the powers of darkness. His work is theologically rich while remaining clear for the average believer. Additionally, I am grateful to his continual commitment to the centrality of Scripture in his study. He exegetes numerous biblical texts to see how they relate to the important issues under consideration.

One section of this work that really stands out is his consideration of the intermediate state (as well as his appendix on Hades and Sheol). What happens to believers and unbelievers between their deaths and the time when Christ returns? Gehman's treatment is one of the best overviews surrounding this complex question that I have read. Easy to understand and biblically compelling, I am especially thankful for the clarity he brings to this difficult issue.

However, I do have a couple of disagreements. First, Gehman seems to believe that Christians can be demonized (demon possessed). He writes:

Christians who are walking in obedience to God, filled by His Spirit and washed in the blood, have nothing to fear from the powers of darkness, as we shall see. But the Christian who lowers his guard and falls away from God by living in sin, may open himself up to various forms of oppression from the unclean spirits. There are various degrees of demonic control, ranging from milder forms of demonic oppression to a complete spirit possession (170).

While demons are real and can bring severe external oppression upon Christians, a true follower of Christ cannot be demonized. For more information and an excellent refutation of this view, see the article "Can a Christian Be 'Demonized'?" by Brent Grimsley and Elliot Miller in the Summer 2003 issue of the Christian Research Journal.

Second, when dealing with the destiny of the unevangelized, Gehman leaves open the possibility of salvation apart from the gospel. Following Reformers such as Zwingli and others, he says:

General revelation does not offer any hope of salvation. Only by a special revelation from God Himself can anyone understand his own sinful condition, repent of his sin, and turn to the Lord for forgiveness. Normally this comes through preaching the gospel. But there may be some individuals whom God draws to Himself apart from such proclamation, as He did with Job, Melchizedek and others. But this is the exception, not the rule (282).

In his analysis, the author simply does not sufficiently take into account the progression of redemption. We do not live in the era of Job and Melchizedek. Jesus Christ has come, establishing the reality of the new covenant. No hope exists apart from gospel proclamation.

Nevertheless, I cannot stress enough the importance of this book for Africans and missionaries serving our Lord in Africa. The church is indebted to Gehman for his taking the time to provide a theology of death, life after death, and the living-dead. I am sure that this book will continue to be essential reading for years to come.

One last note: this book was published by Evangel Publishing House in Nairobi, Kenya. While their distribution reaches Britain, this book may not be easy to find and purchase. Do not let this challenge deter you—it is well worth the money.

This review was previously posted on another blog.

eBooks and Mission Work

2009-02-16T13:00:00.002-05:00

Last week, Amazon.com made an announcement that sent shock waves through the Internet. They are finally releasing their second-generation eBook reader, the Kindle 2. Zondervan also recently mentioned that they gave away two free Sony Readers, preloaded with several leading Christian books and a Bible, at last year’s ETS and SBL annual meetings. I’ll let others debate whether we’re witnessing a transition away from printed books to electric reading, but I want to take a few moments to discuss what eBooks could mean for missions work.

The potential advantages are exciting. Imagine carrying an entire library in an object smaller than a single book! Missionaries often have very limited space to move items with them overseas, and books must usually be kept to a minimum. Those of us with ministries focused on theological education and defending the faith find this challenge especially daunting. Could eBook readers give us the flexibility we need to effectively serve Christ without losing essential information and resources? We wouldn’t have to figure out how to ship dozens of heavy boxes of books halfway around the world; our research collections could travel in our carry-on luggage.

But issues remain. While Zondervan, Crossway, and others have made electronic versions of their books available, many more evangelical publishers haven’t joined the eBook bandwagon. I’d guesstimate that under ten percent of my library is currently available in some electronic form, so devices like the Kindle and Sony Reader aren’t workable replacements—yet.

Electronic reading also has some limitations which I’m not sure can be easily overcome. As an avid Mortimer Adler devotee (and if you don’t know who I’m talking about, read this book!), I frequently mark my books with various lines and notations. How can I do this in an electronic reader and easily refer back to my thoughts in the future?

And one final concern: While this technological step may be a great leap forward in global ministry, most of the world is nowhere close to taking advantage of it. I first realized this fact as I started serving Christ overseas. Since I’m something of a tech-geek, I figured that the efficient and inexpensive way to get relevant, updated, and translated resources into the hands of the most church leaders and other believers was to establish an elaborate Internet presence. We could create a web site with articles that can be viewed and printed, plus a database offering the latest research. But when I actually went to East Africa I quickly discovered that such assistance can only go so far. Most Africans have only limited Internet access, if any—and they seldom have computers. We can’t assume that church leaders can access our information online, however badly they may need it. So we’ve had to focus our near-term strategies on using more traditional media like printed tracts, newsletters, and DVDs.

Now perhaps you can see a little better how a Kindle or Sony Reader would mainly be of value to missionaries. I could have hundreds or even thousands of books at my fingertips—but the vast majority of my African friends could not. And until technological initiatives like Ubuntunet take hold, they’ll still need theological libraries with lots of printed books, journals, magazines, newsletters, and other periodicals. Most fundamentally, they’ll need the Bible; too few African Christians own so much as a single copy of God’s Word, even when it’s been printed in their own language.

So you can see why I’m both enthusiastic and cautious about electronic readers. I may be able to use one to effectively serve Christ someday. At the same time, technology alone can’t equip our African brothers and sisters in Christ. May the Lord guide our efforts as we navigate through these complex waters!

Weekly Round-Up

2009-02-13T00:00:00.004-05:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Ben Okiror and Cyprian Musoke, "Mubajje warns of bloodshed" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). The split among Uganda's Muslims continues to escalate. While controversial Mufti Sheikh Ramathan Mubajje seeks to remain in his leadership seat, his support continues to dwindle. Hopefully, this situation can be resolved soon and peacefully.

2) Robert Kalumba, "Will only 144,000 people go to heaven?" in the Sunday Monitor newspaper (Uganda). This writer tries to give an overview of several religions (including the Jehovah's Witnesses), but he fumbles when arguing for religious pluralism. We must not believe that different religions have their own ways to God. Instead, we should seek to understand our Creator and who He has revealed Himself to be. Knowing Christ will not result in hatred and superiority but humility and love. I pray that Kalumba will understand this essential truth!

3) Max Delany, "Brutal retreat of LRA rebels in Congo" in The Christian Science Monitor newspaper. This prestigious newspaper gives a grim update on the renewed advance against the Lord's Resistance Army. May peace come quickly to East Africa.

4) Malita Wamala, "How ready are you for ministry?" in the Weekly Observer newspaper (Uganda). In answering this question, Wamala has found insight and inspiration from Benny Hinn. Once again, we see the need for biblical discernment in Uganda and beyond.

Book Notice: New Religious Movements in Africa

2009-02-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Aylward Shorter and Joseph N. Njiru, New Religious Movements in Africa. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa, 2001; 112 pp.

Christianity is rapidly growing throughout Africa—sadly, accompanied by many new religious groups, most of which corrupt the gospel and God’s Word. In New Religious Movements in Africa, two Catholic scholars seek to better understand these groups through case studies conducted in Nairobi, Kenya. While their book has notable shortcomings, it is one of the few works available which even addresses this vital topic.

From the back cover:
During the last ten to fifteen years, there has been a bewildering explosion of new religious movements in Africa: open-air rallies, crusades, revival gatherings, miracle centers, healing ministries and so on. Kenya, a country which had already experienced a proliferation of sects and independent churches, was a propitious ground for these new religious movements. More and more, this is the form that Christianity is taking, outside the confines of the mainline churches. Many observers are wondering about this phenomenon. Why is it happening? What does it mean? What is its impact on the mainline denominations?

This book is an examination of new religious movements as they are appearing and operating in the city of Nairobi. New religious movements are essentially an urban phenomenon, and Nairobi City is therefore an ideal environment in which to observe them. But the study can be applied to new religious movements all over Africa.

Table of Contents:

Introduction, 7
Religious Movements New and Old, 11
Pentecostals and Neo-Pentecostals, 25
Bible and Salvation in New Religious Movements, 39
New Religious Movements and the Catholic Church, 54
Women and Youth in the New Religious Movements, 68
External Relationship of New Religious Movements, 85
Apparitions and Cults, 99

Christ in Word-Faith Teaching

2009-02-09T22:00:00.006-05:00

As I prepare to serve Christ in Africa, I'm thankful to have discovered a remarkably relevant issue of the Evangelical Review of Theology (ERT). This week I'll focus on one more essay from this collection: "The Nature of the Crucified Christ in Word-Faith Teaching" by William P. Atkinson. As most of you already know, the Word-Faith movement (and its notorious "prosperity gospel") poses a tragic and ever-growing challenge to Christianity throughout Africa.

Atkinson specifically examines the widespread Word-Faith belief that Jesus died spiritually on the cross and in the grave (also known as the JDS teaching). E.W. Kenyon, Kenneth Hagin, and Kenneth Copeland have all taught some form of this view, which maintains that Jesus partook of a sinful and satanic nature in His death. After summarizing their positions, the author moves to the critiques commonly made of JDS teaching and assesses their validity. Finally, focusing on the claim that JDS teaching is based on Scripture, Atkinson turns to the Bible itself to refute this problematic error.

I learned much from Atkinson's analysis. While I've read other materials on Word-Faith theology, his article was a fresh reminder of just how dangerous this teaching can be—its proponents are compromising the very nature of our Savior Himself! As Atkinson concludes:

"... the greatest weakness ... of JDS teaching is its inability to offer satisfactory answers to questions that are demanded by tensions between these teachers' superficial allegiance to traditional incarnational Christology and substitutionary atonement theory, and their actual delineation of the events of the cross" (184).

—which is a scholarly way of saying that holding to JDS teaching is incompatible with the truth of who Christ is and what He accomplished in His death. Such deception cannot be tolerated by followers of Jesus!

Another challenging feature of this article is Atkinson's assessment of typical polemics against the JDS view. A thorough and thoughtful critic, Atkinson takes great care to properly represent the views of those with whom he disagrees. He demonstrates the inadequacy of efforts by some evangelical apologists, who take the easy route by attacking unjustifiable caricatures they've set up just to score theological points. How easy it is to settle for straw-man arguments and not invest the time required to correctly understand, and engage with, the real views of one's opponent.

Thanks to the ongoing parade of Word-Faith celebrities and their imitators in Africa, such harmful teachings have been spreading almost unchecked for years and must be addressed. May ACFAR be greatly used by God to model sound apologetic approaches to these errors and help the Body of Christ to rightly handle God's Word.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-02-06T21:30:00.001-05:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) "Anti-Christian Gaddafi Takes Over as AU Chair" in Catholic Information Services for Africa. I have previously mentioned the controversy surrounding Muammar Gaddafi in East Africa. Now he has been elected chairman of the African Union. His new position could impact the Christian-Muslim relationship in Africa. We'll have to see.

2) "Christians in Africa Face Persecution" on CBN News. Here is an important news story about the persecution facing our brothers and sisters in Christ. The report even mentions Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Let us pray for Christians in Africa!

3) "City Opens For Missionary Work In the DR Congo" on the LDS Church Growth Blog. Mormons continue to have success in Africa. Here is a blog post celebrating their latest advance in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their false claims need to be countered with the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

4) Michael Oh, "Missions as Fasting: The Forsaking of Things Present for the Global Exaltation of Christ" on the Desiring God web site. Would you like to be challenged and convicted? Then listen to or watch Oh's message from the Desiring God 2009 Conference for Pastors. And if you would like to join me in fasting and prayer for our East African ministry, then please let me know.

Bio Disc: Healing Miracle or Deception?

2009-02-04T22:00:00.002-05:00

We recently received a request from an African church leader who wanted more information on the Amezcua Bio Disc. Though it’s not well-known in America, the Bio Disc is being sold across Asia and the Middle East as a miraculous solution to common health-related problems. Now Christians in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania are being invited to not only purchase and use the Bio Disc and related “Harmonised Energy” items, but to sell it themselves as well.

What is the Bio Disc? Does it actually work? Should Christians join QuestNet (or “The V”) and engage in “network marketing” so they can profit from selling this expensive object to their families and friends? These important questions demonstrate how practical apologetics can be in Africa. As with other New Age products, the Bio Disc's promoters do much more than promise “wellness,” because the device actually promotes a deceptive Eastern worldview.

We compiled a basic one-page overview of the Bio Disc that summarizes our research and succinctly addresses the main theological and ethical concerns of relevance to African Christians. You can read it yourself (in PDF format). And if you’d like to learn more, here’s a video featuring a man identified as Dr. Ian Lyons (who is said to be one of the Bio Disc’s inventors):

Sadly, such problems aren’t confined to the West; in our shrinking world, hucksters can easily find an ignorant and sometimes desperate audience in developing countries. May our Lord bring more discernment to His people in East Africa!

Learning to be Content

2009-02-02T15:00:00.001-05:00

Have you missed me? I know that it’s been a week since my last post, but last Tuesday night our area went through what’s been reported as the worst ice storm for our region in modern history. Maybe you heard about what happened in the news. The latest report is that National Guard troops are going door to door to make sure everyone is OK and provided for.

My home was without power (and heat!) from early Wednesday morning until late Friday evening. And due to the amount of ice frozen to the trees, we had plenty of branches fall down. Nevertheless, God provided for us during this difficult time. A friend’s family generously opened up their house to us until power was restored. A coworker with a 4-wheel Jeep and a winch helped move a huge branch out of our driveway. A flexible work environment has allowed me to modify my schedule as needed. Amazingly, our house sustained minimal damage considering the amount of branches and debris that fell.

If nothing else, I’ve quickly realized how important something can be which we normally take for granted. Without electricity, life as we know it simply grinds to a halt. I wish I could say that I relied on Christ and took everything in stride, but frustration and fear quickly set in. Thankfully, God uses times like these to show me how much I have to grow in my contentment in Him. The fact of the matter is that God took wonderful care of us. Far better than I deserve!

Now our lives have begun to return to normal. I’ve returned to work. I’ll begin blogging again. And I’m slowly cleaning up what remains from the storm. At the same time, I pray that I will continue to grow in my contentment in Christ. These words from the Apostle Paul keep coming to mind:

“...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11–13)

Theology in Africa

2009-01-26T23:00:00.002-05:00

Last week I mentioned coming across an issue of the Evangelical Review of Theology (ERT) that’s been valuable to my preparations for serving Christ in East Africa. One especially noteworthy article is “The Contemporary Theological Situation in Africa: An Overview” by Dr. James Nkansah-Obrempong, a Ghanaian theologian who teaches at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology.

First, Nkansah-Obrempong describes efforts by Christians to regain their identity as the continent emerged from the colonial era. Next he moves through the interaction of African theologies with culture and explains how Africans have engaged in theological reflection. Finally he examines the fruit, achievements, and future of African theological reflection today.

I’m gaining much by listening to the voices of African Christian leaders, and Nkansah-Obrempong is no exception; his overview has helped me to better understand the current state of theology in Africa. I especially appreciate his desire to balance the need to contextualize God’s truth with the need to remain faithful to His revealed Word.

This balance can be hard to achieve—and it’s here that I admit to having a degree of hesitation with this article. (I want to resist drawing hasty conclusions, as my exposure to African Christianity is admittedly limited.) Nkansah-Obrempong’s treatment of African liberation theology and Christianity’s interaction with various socio-political issues seems to lean toward an overemphasis on this-worldly concerns at the expense of our relationship with God. And while I don’t suggest that he’s actually gone down this path, at times his article suggests tendencies in that direction.

Where Nkansah-Obrempong truly excels is in pointing to the future of African theology. He stresses the need for greater engagement with African Independent Churches and the danger of syncretizing the historic Christian faith with traditional beliefs:

The theological climate in the African Independent Churches (AICs) is one that needs serious attention. By ignoring this area, evangelical communities have neglected the theology of some of the fastest-growing churches in Africa. Since most of the leaders of these communities are not theologically trained, there is a greater risk of syncretism developing among them. However, these groups are making a frantic effort to relate theology and religious experience to the African culture.

He also mentions the serious challenge posed by cultic groups in Africa:

The current cults, such as the House of Yahweh with all their heretic tendencies and theological heresies, are alleged to be hatched from the west. These theologies have the potential to destroy the purity of the Christian faith in Africa. The African church must guard against such infiltration of religious and heretical influences from the west.

Nkansah-Obrempong also laments the growing spiritual cancer of the Word-Faith movement:

In addition, the theology of prosperity that has come from the west is leading the church into a philosophy of materialism, which, if not checked, could have devastating effects upon Christianity in Africa. This theology is undermining the teaching of Scripture at many critical levels, and this can lead to rejection or at least undermining of certain teachings of the Christian faith on suffering and persecution, which are central to the Christian faith.

Let us join Dr. Nkansah-Obrempong in praying that authentically evangelical theology will flourish in Africa. As global Christianity continues to shift away from the West and toward the South, our African brothers and sisters in Christ will have an increasingly important role in the future of our faith. May Christianity continue to grow in Africa—and may it remain faithful to Scripture.

Weekly Round-Up

2009-01-24T16:00:00.003-05:00

Here's the latest for this week's round-up:

1) Madinah Tebajjukira, "500 Muslim Sheiks Convict Mubajje" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). The ongoing controversy among Muslims in Uganda has just escalated with the latest development among their leaders. An international gathering of clerics came together and concluded: "The court prohibited Mubajje from going to any mosque anywhere in the world. It also condemned him to hell for reportedly committing Haram (sins) against the Muslim community. "

2) Fredrick Nzwili, "Church leaders want action on ritual killings of children" in Episcopal Life Online. I have largely tried to avoid mentioning the growing child sacrifices occurring in Uganda and throughout East Africa. Nevertheless, Ugandan Anglicans and others are coming together to put an end to this horrible practice. I pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ will overcome witchcraft in the country!

3) Colin Smith, "A Brief Introduction to the Qur'an: The Qur'an and the Old Testament" on the Alpha & Omega Ministries Apologetics Blog. Last month, I mentioned that Colin Smith began a series to introduce Islam's sacred book. He's just posted the second post in the series. Don't forget to check it out.

4) Rob Bowman, "Who Wants to Be an Apologist?" on the Religious Researcher blog. For those of us who defend the Christian faith, Bowman provides an excellent reminder of what it means to be a good apologist. Like him, I pray that the Lord will continue to show me where I fall short as well as raise up many good apologists globally in these days of confusion.

Ask Anything Wednesday

2009-01-21T22:00:00.004-05:00

Welcome to our monthly feature Ask Anything Wednesday. Last week I received a question in a comment thread that I love answering, so I'll respond in today's post. At the same time, please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider answering it next month.

Question:
"Let me know how I can be praying for you."

Answer:
Thank you for asking (OK, this was technically not a question. But you obviously wanted to hear back from me, so I am going to bend the rules on this one!).

You can pray that my family will glorify God. Pray that my wife and I will grow in Christ, trusting and depending on Him completely. Pray that our children will receive the gift of salvation. And pray that He will prepare all of us to faithfully serve Him in Uganda.

You can pray for East Africa. Our brothers and sisters in Christ face many challenges daily. From syncretism to cults, from the prosperity gospel to missionary Islam, they need our daily intercession. Only our Savior can prosper our ministry in Africa. Let us pray that He will do so!

You can pray for more opportunities to raise awareness about our ministry. ACFAR is a unique ministry and very few believers know that we exist. More Christians need to hear about our vision to help fellow African believers stand firmly in the gospel. Pray that many more will not only learn about the need, but they will also get involved.

You can pray that God will provide for our financial needs. We still need many new monthly commitments as well as more initial support to begin. And to reach our goal we only have five months left! Nevertheless, we leave our needs in the Lord's hands. If He wants our ministry to move forward, then He will draw enough of His people together to advance His truth in Uganda. I look forward to seeing this happen!

Again, thank you for asking. And in case you do not know, the best way to keep up with our ministry as well as receive our latest prayer requests is by subscribing to our ministry updates. Simply sign up and let us know of your commitment to pray for us. I am always encouraged by the involvement of so many in our work. May Christ be glorified through the defense of His truth!

Global Challenges Facing African Christianity

2009-01-19T21:00:00.004-05:00

As I prepare to serve Christ in East Africa, my research can turn up some interesting resources. Recently I came across an issue of the Evangelical Review of Theology (ERT), published by the World Evangelical Alliance, that has tremendously relevance to our ministry. The theme of its April 2007 edition is “Revival and the Global Context.” Consequently, over the next few weeks I plan to interact with several of these essays.

One especially important article is “African Christianity in Global Religious and Cultural Conflict” by Yusufu Turaki, a noted evangelical theologian from Nigeria. Turaki seeks to address several of the most pressing global issues and challenges facing African Christianity today. These include the escalating conflict between the West (i.e., North America and Europe) and militant Islam; the growing rift between Western Christianity and African Christianity; the historical ties between Islam and African Christianity; and the tension between traditional religions/cultures and African Christianity.

While Turaki’s entire article was informative, two elements stood out.

First, his discussion of Islam and Christianity in Africa was especially enlightening. From the different levels with which Islam has historically confronted African Christianity to the need for correcting the Muslim misperception of Christianity as merely an imported Western religion, Turaki succinctly summarizes the longstanding tensions between these two religions throughout the continent.

Second, he reminds us of the ongoing danger of cults and false teaching in Africa:

Besides western neo-paganism, there are new forms of Christianity coming out of the West that have serious theological implications for Christianity world-wide. There are Christian cults and syncretism that are coming out from the West into Africa.

Does this sound familiar? Yes, I’ve often emphasized this point, but it’s helpful when a well-known African theologian underscores the same challenges. Turaki goes on to say:

. . . Africa also has its own home-grown revived neo-paganism, religious cults and syncretism. These contemporary religious movements are being boosted by (1) pagan revival in the West; and (2) the religious vibrancy and fervour of American Prosperity Pentecostalism.

And in contrast to the relativistic attitudes one often finds in the wider missions community, Turaki concludes this section with this ringing call to action:

. . . [N]ot every form of Christian expression is authentic, biblical and culturally relevant in an African setting. Not every theological experiment, teaching and model is acceptable and relevant. The believing Christian community has the duty of ascertaining what is acceptable or not. Not every cultural understanding, interpretation and expression is valid, as this has to be authenticated by the believing Christian community. In its own self and spiritual understanding of the Scriptures and apostolic Christianity, the believing Christian community can set guidelines as to what forms of Christian expressions are valid or not. Only sound biblical hermeneutics or exegesis and theological methods can help guard against possible errors, heresies and syncretism which may tend towards the emergence of new cults and neo-paganism.

What does Turaki see as the solution? Churches and believers who practice biblical discernment. (And all I can say is a hearty “Amen!”)

I praise God for my African brothers and sisters in Christ, for He is truly at work throughout the continent. At the same time, Turaki illustrates us the need for further theological reflection and refinement in light of difficult global issues.

Let us press on, glorifying our Savior as we equip Christians in Africa to face these challenges!

Weekly Round-Up

2009-01-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

This week's round-up is a little late since my wife and I were able to go on a date last night (a rare opportunity when you have a diabetic child!). In any case, I still wanted to bring your attention to some new material on the web:

1) Paul Carden, "False teachings addressed in Africa" in Proclamation! magazine (November/December 2008). The Executive Director of our parent ministry has an article on African apologetics in the latest issue of Proclamation! Published by former Seventh-day Adventists, this magazine is an incredibly informative resource. I appreciate the opportunity to expose their readers to the challenges facing Christians and others in East Africa.

2) John Arube-Wani, "We musn't forget the Kanungu tragedy" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). Here is another editorial piece on the Sserulanda Spiritual Foundation. This researcher is worried that Uganda could be facing another Kanungu. Regardless, more study definitely needs to be done on this group.

3) Massimo Introvigne, "'The Black Jews of Africa': A Review" on the Center for Studies on New Religions web site. I find book reviews to be helpful overviews and quick snapshots of more substantive works. This review was very helpful in opening my eyes toward Black Jews in Africa. Now I'll have to add The Black Jews of Africa to my Amazon wish list!

4) "Theology in Black and White?" on the (Anglican) Church Mission Society web site. This link includes an audio dialogue between an emerging church, postmodern Englishman and a Pentecostal Nigerian. I found their discussion to be fascinating. This is a good MP3 to download and listen to for those interested in African vs. Western Christianity. As one blogger titled this conversation: "Postmodern Doubt and African Certainty."

Book Review: Free Indeed From Sorcery Bondage

2009-01-14T19:00:00.004-05:00

Marvin S. Wolford, Free Indeed from Sorcery Bondage. San Rafael, CA: Pathway Press, 1999.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21). The Apostle Paul warns followers of Christ about the works of the flesh. In the West, we are familiar with most of these sins. But sorcery? What should we think of this evil?

For people living throughout Africa, this is not an abstract question. Sorcery is a part of their daily lives, and it does not simply disappear when one becomes a Christian. Marvin S. Wolford should know--he served as a missionary for 42 years in the Republic of Congo. And he brings the light of Scripture to bear on his experience and ministry in Free Indeed from Sorcery Bondage.

His book is divided into three parts. To begin, Wolford explains the reality of sorcery in Africa. For many throughout the continent, sorcery is more than a reality. It is a way of life. Next, the author turns to the Word of God. What does the Bible have to say about sorcery? Quite a bit, actually. But too many of us have never really taken the time to recognize the numerous passages dealing with sorcery or connected beliefs and practices. Wolford leaves no stone unturned, thoroughly explaining what God's truth has to say about this overlooked issue. Finally, he seeks to bring his insights down to a practical level. How can believers minister to sorcery-bound people? Practical steps and guidance is given to those seeking to work with individuals involved in sorcery.

I really appreciate Wolford's work. His explanation of sorcery in animistic contexts was enlightening. He also includes numerous examples of people throughout Africa, showing how central the sorcery cycle is to different cultures and people groups. Most importantly, he turns to Scripture for a true assessment of sorcery. This is the book's key strength. One may consult various anthropological or sociological materials to learn about sorcery. But only the Bible provides the examination necessary for faithful and fruitful ministry among those who live with sorcery. I enthusiastically agree with the author when he observes:

Preaching based on the scriptural facts, plus teaching the meaning and pertinence of the Scriptures, are the means of delivering people bound by sorcery. There is no human strength nor human wisdom that can deal with the situation. Spirit filled evangelistic preaching from the Bible, which regards sorcery as a sin, but a forgiveable sin, should direct people to a definite time of confession and repentance that will make a definite break with their past beliefs and practices. This is precisely the first work of the Holy Spirit in those who are in bondage (81).

At the same time, I must admit that Wolford and I come from different perspectives. He is a Wesleyan Arminian. Hence, in his rejection of fatalism, I have difficulties with his defense of personal free choices. He says, "Consequently, it is God's will for everyone to choose life; but the choice is up to each person" (134). Or, "When Jesus urges: 'Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,' he is admonishing his hearers to make the choice to seek God's kingdom first before all other things, but he leaves that decision up to them" (137). Biblically, we simply do not have this kind of freedom. Our hearts, our minds, our wills, every part of us is depraved. We would never choose God if left to ourselves. It is only through God's sovereign work of grace that we repent, believe, and obey Him.

Additionally, I would disagree with his belief in a second work of grace. Wolford writes "there is a distinct experience of filling that is separate from the initial salvation which Christ accomplishes in the repentant sinner's heart. The Holy Spirit is sent by Christ himself (see John 15:26), and his work in the believer is to glorify Christ (see v. 14), to guide him into all truth, and to give power to his life" (179). Thus, he divides Christians into two groups: victorious Christians and nominal Christians. However, this is an artificial separation. All believers are filled with the Holy Spirit when we are saved. Our lives are a slow process of spiritual maturity as we become more like Christ.

Regardless, I would not let these differences stop a Christian from being richly blessed through the reading of Free Indeed From Sorcery Bondage. Wolford provides such a wealth of insight and biblical application that I believe all missionaries serving where sorcery is a challenge should read this book. As I prepare to serve my Savior in Africa, I am sure that I will be regularly referring back to Wolford's work.

Unfortunately, his book is no longer in print. However, you can still purchase copies through sending a check for $10 each plus $2 shipping per book to:

Jean Wolford
125 Lowry Lane
Wilmore, KY 40390

For those desiring to learn more about this vital subject, make sure to pick up a copy while you can.

This review was previously posted on another blog.

Depending on God Through Prayer

2009-01-12T19:00:00.001-05:00

I admit it—I have a hard time depending on God. I know that I’m supposed to trust in Him for ACFAR’s success. I will even write and talk about our ministry’s dependence on Him. Nevertheless, all too often I try to handle establishing ACFAR in my own strength. I think: “What else can I do to raise awareness and support for our ministry?” “Have I done enough?” or “How can I be more productive?” I tend to keep busy, believing that the launch of ACFAR will only happen if I can get enough done.

Now you can see my problem plainly: There are far too many “I”s in the above paragraph. Where is Christ in my thinking and planning? Instead of placing my confidence and trust in Him, I can too easily succumb to worry and doubt. Maybe you’re even surprised to read a missionary writing this way. But I’m not a perfect Christian—I continue to struggle with sin. And sin is exactly what to call my lack of focus and trust in God.

As 2009 begins, this truth has become all too evident to me. How is my Savior calling me to respond? Not by sitting back and doing nothing. No! What I need to do is keep what I’m doing in perspective. I am serving Christ, and I should not get so caught up in my work that I loose sight of my purpose in working. I seek to glorify Christ through the defense of His truth!

With this realization in mind, by God’s grace I intend to devote far more time this year to prayer, to communing with my Lord. I’m struck by the words of Jonathan Edwards:

“[P]rayer is but a sensible acknowledgment of our dependence on him to his glory. As he hath made all things for his own glory, so he will be glorified and acknowledged by his creatures; and it is fit that he should require this of those who would be the subjects of his mercy. That we, when we desire to receive any mercy from him, should humbly supplicate the Divine Being for the bestowment of that mercy, is but a suitable acknowledgment of our dependence on the power and mercy of God for that which we need, and but a suitable honour paid to the great Author and Fountain of all good.”

The future of ACFAR is not in my hands; it’s in God’s. What a wonderful truth! And by being united with Christ, I’m able to ask God to bless our ministry with confidence: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Will you join with me in prayer? If so, then please sign up to receive our e-mail ministry updates. I treasure every fellow believer who has come together with us to strengthen the church against error and win cultists to Christ in East Africa!

With just five months to go, we still have a long way to reach our required goals, and the challenges facing African believers are far more numerous and difficult than I can summarize here. But I can confidently say that only God can provide what’s needed for us to move to Uganda and launch the Center’s work there.

It may not be easy to depend on Him during the coming months, but it’s not hard to see that this process will bring me closer to Christ. And for this I praise God!

Weekly Round-Up

2009-01-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Since I have been away for a couple of weeks, I'm going to play catch up with a few new articles:

1) Matthew Parris, "As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God" in the Times Online (Britain). A fascinating opinion piece with the subtitle "Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem - the crushing passivity of the people's mindset." I pray that the freeing gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to spread throughout Africa!

2) "A look at the church in Uganda in 2008" in the Sunday Vision newspaper (Uganda). Here is a brief report on the good, the bad, and the ugly of Christianity in Uganda. It is a helpful summary of where I will begin serving this year (Lord willing!).

3) Rob Crilly, "Escaping from a cult-like army" in the Irish Times newspaper (Ireland). Don't pass up this opportunity to read the account of a high-ranking leader in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA continues to wreak havoc in Uganda, Sudan, and Congo. May God bring an end to this horrible situation soon!

Book Notice: Truth About Adventist "Truth"

2009-01-07T22:30:00.004-05:00

Dale Ratzlaff, Truth About Adventist “Truth.” Glendale, AZ: LAM Publications, 2007; 88 pp.

Though many people don’t realize it, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is growing quickly around the world—especially in Africa. With this in mind, I’ve undertaken a detailed study of SDA history, beliefs, and practices.

One especially helpful resource is Dale Ratzlaff’s recently revised Truth About Adventist “Truth.” Ratzlaff, a former SDA pastor, has packed this booklet with solid summaries of the movement’s most troubling doctrinal distinctives, along with references and quotations from SDA leaders. CFAR’s executive director contributed the foreword and explains that “The time for a reassessment among evangelicals is long overdue, because for too many inattentive Christians, Adventism represents a profound danger hidden in plain sight. As Dale Ratzlaff amply demonstrates in the following pages, the movement is founded not on the infallible Word of God, but on such an extraordinary mass of error and calculated deception that it must be seen to be believed.”

From the Back Cover:
Many Christians believe the Seventh-day Adventist Church is simply another evangelical church that worships on Saturday (Sabbath). They do not perceive the organization’s cultic nature nor understand the spiritual bondage that results from following Adventist teachings.

In this book you will learn about:
• Adventism’s emergence from the date-setting heresy of the Millerite movement in the 1840s.
• The church’s foundation in Arianism.
• Ellen White, the “messenger” who is a “continuing and authoritative source of truth.”
• The gospel-denying investigative judgment.
• Sabbath as the “seal of God” and Sunday-worship as the “mark of the beast.”
• The doctrine that the dead do not exist; they do not go to be with the Lord.
• The printing and continuing promotion of The Clear Word, a Bible paraphrase containing Ellen White’s theology inserted into the texts.
• Deceptive practices, including misleading Walter Martin, concealing their identity in public evangelism, proselytizing Christians, pastors and administrators who privately disbelieve many Adventist doctrines yet must present a public image of complete loyalty for fear of losing their influence and livelihood and creating a crisis among the laity.

This book will help Evangelical pastors in knowing how to better minister to transitioning Adventists who may visit their church and help pastors to keep their own members from being caught in the enticing net of Adventist evangelism.

Table of Contents:
Foreword, 11
Preface, 13
Ellen White, a Source of Truth, 15
Founded on Error and Deception, 21
Remnant Church of Bible Prophecy, 29
Sabbath Observance, the Seal of God, 33
Sabbath Observance, the Mark of the Beast, 39
Judgment Started, October 22, 1844, 43
Promote The Clear Word, 51
Dead Persons No Longer Exist, 61
Gospel Additions, 65
Deceptive Practices Still Used, 69
Author’s Summary Remarks, 75
The Good News of Christ, 79
Suggested Resources, 85

Happy New Year

2009-01-05T19:00:00.003-05:00

As promised, I’m back! And as you can tell, we’ve entered 2009 with some changes.

The Africa Center for Apologetics Research now has a thoroughly updated web site. Not only does it have a fresh look, but you’ll also find some special new features. One exciting addition is the section on Cultic Groups in East Africa. You can now search through a growing list of cultic and controversial religious movements by both their names and by the countries where they’re active. Be sure to check it out!

As you can see, this blog has also undergone a major facelift, and we’ve given it a more descriptive title: African Apologetics. We hope that many more people will learn about ACFAR and join us in advancing biblical discernment in East Africa. Please feel free to link to this blog so that others can become aware of the many cross-cultural challenges to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (And for those of you who already have us listed in your blogroll, don’t forget to change our name in your link!)

Before I forget, I also want to let you know that my popular series on Christ Gospel Church (CGC) has been slightly edited and uploaded to Google’s Knol: “What Does Christ Gospel Church Teach? Analyzing the Teaching of Bernice R. Hicks.” Those who are interested in the CGC can now easily read and refer others to this introduction to the basic beliefs of this international sect, which has its headquarters in my hometown.

These updates are just a taste of what’s to come. As the Divito family prepares to serve Christ in Uganda this year, a lot more will be happening.

Stay tuned for more—and keep praying for ACFAR!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T00:00:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas from the Divito family!

During this holiday season, John will be taking a brief hiatus from blogging here at African Apologetics. Don't worry, he'll begin posting again after ringing in the new year. Until then, let us all celebrate the birth of our Savior into this world!

As we focus on the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we leave you with this insightful quote from John Owen:

His conception in the womb of the Virgin, as unto the integrity of human nature, was a miraculous operation of the divine power. But the prevention of that nature from any subsistence of its own--by its assumption into personal union with the Son of God, in the first instance of its conception--is that which is above all miracles, nor can be designed by that name. A mystery it is, so far above the order of all creating or providential operations, that it wholly transcends the sphere of them that are most miraculous. Herein did God glorify all the properties of the divine nature, acting in a way of infinite wisdom, grace, and condescension. The depths of the mystery hereof are open only unto him whose understanding is infinite, which no created understanding can comprehend. All other things were produced and effected by an outward emanation of power from God. He said, "Let there be light, and there was light." But this assumption of our nature into hypostatical union with the Son of God, this constitution of one and the same individual person in two natures so infinitely distinct as those of God and man--whereby the Eternal was made in time, the Infinite became finite, the Immortal mortal, yet continuing eternal, infinite, immortal--is that singular expression of divine wisdom, goodness, and power, wherein God will be admired and glorified unto all eternity. Herein was that change introduced into the whole first creation, whereby the blessed angels were exalted, Satan and his works ruined, mankind recovered from a dismal apostasy, all things made new, all things in heaven and earth reconciled and gathered into one Head, and a revenue of eternal glory raised unto God, incomparably above what the first constitution of all things in the order of nature could yield unto him.

Weekly Round-Up

2008-12-19T22:30:00.003-05:00

Here's a couple of new articles for this week's round-up:

1) "3 armies raid rebel camp in eastern Congo" on CNN.com. Armies from Uganda, southern Sudan, and the Congo have come together to begin a new advance against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). As I have written before, the LRA is a terrorist organization led by Joseph Kony, who claims to be a spirit medium. They have been in open rebellion against the Ugandan government for decades, wreaking havoc throughout northern Uganda and beyond. May Christ quickly bring peace and stability to the region!

2) Adam Sparks, "Salvation History, Chronology, and Crisis: A Problem with Inclusivist Theology of Religions, Part 2 of 2" in Themelios Journal. Last month, I linked to the first part of this important essay. Now the second part has been posted. Sparks has given the church an invaluable resource by defending the exclusivity of the gospel and the necessity of faith in Christ. Be sure to read both articles!

Book Review: Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventists

2008-12-17T22:00:00.002-05:00

Dale Ratzlaff, Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventists. Glendale, AZ: Life Assurance Ministries Publications, 2003; 383 pp.

Seventh-day Adventism has had amazing success around the world, especially in Africa. (There are some 1.5 million Adventists in East Africa alone.) Since my exposure to Adventism has been limited, due diligence demands that I become well acquainted with the movement’s history and beliefs. In this important book Dale Ratzlaff introduces evangelical Christians to the troubling doctrines of historic Adventism—and confronts Adventists with the seriousness of their error. As a fourth-generation Adventist and former SDA pastor, Ratzlaff has the insight and experience necessary to critically evaluate Adventist doctrine and the personal authority required to call Adventists to repentance.

He begins by taking us back to the Millerite movement, with its failed predictions of Christ’s Second Coming in 1843 and 1844. When the latter date came and went without Jesus’ return, a vision by one disappointed Millerite led many to believe that the prediction had been misunderstood; instead of Christ’s reappearance, it marked when He invisibly entered the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary for the first time, beginning a new phase in his atoning work. Ellen G. White was among those who embraced the new doctrine, and she quickly developed a following as one who had the end-time “spirit of prophecy.” Through her leadership and authority, the Church grew in size and influence, and further defined its distinctive beliefs of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the “investigative judgment.”

Having carefully placed these and other central SDA beliefs in their historical context, Ratzlaff provides biblical, theological, experiential, and ethical evaluations. From examining Adventist interpretations of Daniel 8:14 and Revelation 14:6–12 to showing how these errant beliefs weave themselves throughout the SDA doctrinal system, Ratzlaff leaves no stone unturned. He concludes by contrasting the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he appeals to SDA leaders to follow God’s truth instead of their traditional beliefs.

The book is amazingly informative. I began Cultic Doctrine with little familiarity with Seventh-day Adventist teachings and ended with a substantial understanding of what makes Adventism “tick.” What’s more, Ratzlaff’s reasoning is well laid out and convincing, documented with numerous extended quotations from Ellen G. White and other major Adventist authorities.

I especially appreciate Ratzlaff’s evenhanded approach to the Seventh-day Adventists themselves. He distinguishes among different streams of Adventism, including contemporary historic Adventism, liberal Adventism, and evangelical Adventism. He admits that evangelical Adventists should, as individuals, not be shunned as cultic, but emphasizes that denominational Adventism fully deserves the label until it repudiates its teachings on the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment—false doctrines that corrupt the gospel of Jesus Christ and demand biblical refutation.

Cultic Doctrine does have the usual problems one sees in independently published works, including typos and formatting issues. It also could have been more concise through robust editing. Nevertheless, these minor points should not detract from the importance of Ratzlaff’s book. Any Christian who wants to better understand Seventh-day Adventists and engage them with the gospel of Christ should read Cultic Doctrine. And Adventists themselves should wrestle through the issues that Ratzlaff raises. May our Lord continue to use this work and Life Assurance Ministries to draw people to Jesus!

Our Year in Review

2008-12-15T22:00:00.002-05:00

This year will soon be over. But what a year it’s been!

Two themes stand out in my mind as I reflect on ACFAR’s progress in 2008: Prayer and patience.

One fruit of your prayers for ACFAR—and the highlight of the year—was returning to Uganda with my wife in April. God has given me a deep love for this country, and she also fell in love with the people and the area. While we kept busy with research, planning, and ministry, our days in East Africa were unforgettable and marvelous.

This year the Lord also gave us greater opportunities than ever to raise awareness about the urgent need to advance biblical discernment in East Africa. I’ve spoken and preached in several states. Our web site and blog continue to attract numerous visitors. We even had a special evening in Southern California with Greg Koukl from Stand to Reason as our keynote speaker (feel free to download and listen to his message in MP3), and we produced a video to spread the vision for ACFAR.

So by God’s grace, we gathered a great deal of momentum in 2008. More and more people are catching the vision. Fellow believers, both here and in Africa, are getting excited as we work toward helping our African brothers and sisters in Christ defend our common faith. We’re closer than ever to reaching our goal and launching our ministry.

Now for the part about patience.

This year brought its share of challenges. Our oldest daughter was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, adding expenses and delaying our target date for departure until May. The global recession is limiting our opportunities to raise awareness and support. As the year closes, we still need at least 28o new prayer partners, $5,800 in additional monthly support commitments, and $30,000 for one-time special support to reach our goal.

We’re trusting in Christ, knowing that he can generously and abundantly provide! And we praise God with the Apostle Paul, who wrote: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Where do we stand as we head into 2009?

If I were to add a theme to carry us into the new year, it would be “persistence.” Because one thing is certain: We can’t slow down.

As you can imagine from reading the “Weekly Round-Up” on this blog each Friday, my spirit is provoked within me (cf. Acts 17:16) as I watch the steady stream of news from across East Africa—cult controversies, charismatic confusion, the surge in occultic practices—all posing a challenge to the Body of Christ and its witness.

Will we answer the cry from our brothers and sisters in Uganda? They’re asking us to equip them with the tools and the training they need to grow in biblical discernment and to resist and refute the intrusion of cults and false teaching. Will we help them to win cultists to Christ?

With just five months to go, our target date is aggressive. But we’re placing our trust in Jesus and keeping our eyes on the goals set before us.

It’s hard to express my thanks for the many of you who pray. Most of the answered intercession we’ve seen this year began in your hearts. Your continued interest, encouragement, and support are both moving and humbling. Please prayerfully consider how can you help ACFAR in 2009. Let’s serve our Lord together for the sake of His kingdom in Africa next year!

Weekly Round-Up: Cults and False Teaching in East Africa, New Apologetics Resource, and Historical Background to Islam

2008-12-12T21:00:00.003-05:00

Here's this week's round-up:

1) Peter Thatiah, "In God’s name" in the Eastern Standard newspaper (Kenya). A very important news report on several contemporary cults and false teaching that is all too common in East Africa today. If you want to understand better the challenges facing Christians in Africa, then I suggest reading this article.

2) Tim McGrew, "Historical Apologetics: 1697-1893" on the Resurgence blog. This is an excellent annotated bibliography including some great resources on the defense of our faith from an important period of Christian history. McGrew also provides links to download all of these resources for free. What a tremendous resource!

3) Michael A. G. Haykin, "Historical Background to Islam" (MP3) on the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies web site. Haykin's lecture on Islam from a conference earlier this year has finally been posted online. To learn more about the formation and early development of Islam, you'll want to download and listen to this message.

Book Notice: African Christianity - Its Public Role

2008-12-10T17:00:00.002-05:00

Paul Gifford, African Christianity: Its Public Role. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1998; 368 pp.

Americans are used to hearing about the separation of church and state. Religion is said to belong in the private sphere, while politics is in the public domain. But what of Africa, where Christianity is rapidly growing and this public/private distinction is not recognized? Paul Gifford provides a survey of the socio-political influence of Christianity in Africa, where the church has had a foundational place in the building and development of many countries. Especially relevant to ACFAR is the chapter on Uganda, which gives special attention to controversial charismatic movements like Robert Kayanja’s Miracle Centre, Simeon Kayiwa’s Namirembe Christian Fellowship, Handel Leslie’s Abundant Life Faith Centre, and Samuel Kakande’s Holy Church of Christ (now Synagogue Church of All Nations).

From the back cover:
“This is by far the most informative book about contemporary African Christianity around; nobody could have written a study as richly detailed and as informed by real insider knowledge as he has done.... It will be the most significant study of African Christianity to appear at a time when its importance for Africa is becoming ever more widely recognized.” —J. D. Y. Peel

“A sophisticated political and social analysis of the various Christian groups is allied to a most original, consistent exploration of their different theological positions and thinking.... An interesting, important critical assessment of the extent to which the churches are playing a major role in the emergence of a civil society.... Gifford’s overall analysis and his four case studies are so fresh and so important that ... they cry out for immediate publication.” —Richard Gray

Paul Gifford analyzes African Christianity in the mid-1990s, against the background of the continent’s current social, economic, and political circumstances. Gifford employs concepts taken from political economy to shed light on the current dynamics of African churches and churchgoers and assesses their different contributions to political developments since 1989. He also evaluates the churches’ role in promoting a civil society in Africa. Four case studies—Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, and Cameroon—cover all strands of Christianity: Catholic, Evangelical, mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, and Independent. These detailed analyses of the state of the churches in each country also suggest more general patterns operating widely across sub-Saharan Africa.

Paul Gifford is Lecturer in African Christianity at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His previous books include Christianity and Politics in Doe’s Liberia and The Christian Churches and the Democratisation of Africa.

Table of Contents:

Preface, iii
The Context: Africa Now, 1
African Churches: Their Global Context, 21
Ghana, 57
Uganda, 112
Zambia, 181
Cameroon, 246
Conclusion, 306
Select Bibliography, 349
Index, 363

Working Together With Rose Publishing

2008-12-08T17:00:00.002-05:00

As we prepare to launch the ministry of the Africa Center for Apologetics Research, we’re always on the lookout for good material to help East African believers grow in their ability to defend the Christian faith. Thankfully, we’ve developed excellent partnerships with several other ministries, allowing us to bring some of the best material available to Africa. I’ve already described our partnerships with Stand to Reason and the Institute for Religious Research; today I want to focus on Rose Publishing.

You may have seen Rose’s fine work without realizing it. Chances are good that their Bible charts and maps are being used in your local church. Interestingly, the company was started by a Sunday-school teacher and a public-school teacher who were having trouble finding good visual teaching materials for their classes. They began to create their own, and as time went by more and more people starting requesting them. Today, Rose produces some of the very best Christian books, pamphlets, wall charts, timelines, PowerPoint presentations, and maps available.

A number of Rose’s apologetics-oriented resources (including the “10 Questions and Answers” series) are edited by CFAR’s own Paul Carden. And with Rose’s permission, CFAR has already translated and/or adapted a number of their pamphlets on the cults and apologetics into Russian, Hungarian, Spanish, and other languages. By making such high-quality resources available to CFAR, Rose helps us to put otherwise unavailable discernment tools into the hands of pastors and Christian workers. Whenever pastors and other church leaders receive Rose pamphlets, they’re immediately impressed and want to know how to get more.

And thanks to Rose, we’ve already taken many pamphlets and wall charts on cults, comparative religions, the Trinity, and Islam to East African Bible colleges and seminaries. In the future we plan to create special African editions of the Christianity, Cults and Religions pamphlet and other materials to meet the unique needs of believers there.

As my family moves to Uganda to start ACFAR’s ministry, it’s certain that materials from Rose Publishing will be critical to our success in inoculating and equipping Christians. Rose is a treasured partner in our work, and we praise God for their help in advancing biblical discernment.

Note: A number of the pamphlets we use are gathered in The Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, Time Lines and Rose Bible Basics: Christianity, Cults & Religions.

Weekly Round-Up: Lord's Resistance Army in Congo, Witchcraft in Tanzania, Basics on Islam, and Missions Reflection

2008-12-05T22:00:00.006-05:00

Here's this week's round-up:

1) "Africa's rogue army is reborn" in the Sunday Vision newspaper (Uganda). A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Lord's Resistance Army. This news article points us to the latest horrific development: the LRA is now crossing borders into north Congo. May Christ bring peace to this appalling situation.

2) "Albinos targeted in Tanzania" on CTV (Canada). Here is one of many recent reports on a repugnant practice in Tanzania. Local witchcraft beliefs lead to the slaughter of albinos because their bodies and blood are thought to contain special powers. I know that I have said it before, but witchcraft is a very serious problem in East Africa. Christians must respond in love with the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

3) Colin Smith, "A Brief Introduction to the Qur'an: The Structure of the Qur'an" on the Alpha & Omega Ministries Apologetics Blog. Would you like to know more about Islam's sacred book? This series should serve as a helpful introduction.

4) Peter Leithart, "Desert Like a Rose" in First Things. With such confusion surrounding missions work today, Leithart provides amazing insight from the Word of God. He writes, "The Bible provides a theology of missions that is neither accommodation to existing culture nor total war that leaves the existing culture in smoking ruins. Mission is more like cultivation, a process of nurturing the hidden but unforeseen potential within a culture."

Viral Video: The Doomsday Cult - Uganda

2008-12-03T23:00:00.002-05:00

For this month's viral video, I want to direct you to an important documentary on the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God and the resulting Kanungu Massacre. If you want to see the severe challenge of cults in East Africa firsthand, then be sure to watch this twenty minute video.

While I would normally include the video in my post, for some reason the distributor has disabled the embedding feature (why would anyone not allow this option?). Regardless, you can follow the link below to view the documentary.

How We Honor Christ in Our Hearts

2008-12-01T21:00:00.007-05:00

The most commonly quoted Bible verse on defending the Christian faith becomes even more powerful when we pause to study it in greater depth.

The Apostle Peter writes:

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:14–16).

First Peter notes our status in Christ, plainly stating something that few of us want to hear: We will suffer in Christ. As His followers, we must expect to suffer. Jesus explains that “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18–20).

For believers, suffering isn’t optional; it’s inevitable for everyone who is faithful to Christ. But we should also be encouraged. Why? Because we will also be blessed. Even though we will face suffering, we ultimately have nothing to fear—not humiliation, not physical harm, not even death! When we’re united to Christ and receive His blessing, we have all that we need in Him!

Having established our status in Christ, Peter instructs us regarding our responsibility to the Lord. He first gives a negative requirement: Do not fear or be troubled. This command is drawn from Isaiah 8:11–13, which tells us that we’re not to fear man, but the Lord. Our security and hope rests in Him alone.

Having set aside our fears and troubles, we must honor Christ as holy in our hearts. The heart is the core of our being, the origin of all our behavior, and the place where Christ must reign supreme. And notice how we’re to do this—by “always being prepared to make a defense” of our faith. The phrase “make a defense” is a translation of the Greek word apologia, from which we get the English word apologetics. Apologetics means simply a defense—in this case, a defense of the Christian faith. So God commands all followers of Christ to engage in apologetics, and we’re to do this with anyone who asks about our hope, with no favoritism or discrimination.

Peter takes us a step further, instructing us in the manner of apologetics. We’re to engage others gently and with reverence before God. How easy it can be to get caught up in winning an argument! In our zeal to prove Christianity true, we can appear rude and demeaning. But we’re not defending our faith for the sake of having intellectual battles; we’re doing it out of love for God and for others. We want nonbelievers to embrace God’s truth, and when we defend our faith kindly and reverently, we’ll keep a good conscience—and those who oppose us will be shamed.

Of course, these truths aren’t just applicable to Christians in the West; African believers are likewise commanded to make a defense before their challengers and opponents. And many of them face much harsher persecution! As obstacles and opposition to biblical faith multiply in Africa, we must stand with them and do all we can to equip them, that they might always be prepared to respond. And that’s the special focus and calling of the Africa Center for Apologetics Research.

Join with me in praying that God will raise up a mighty army of bold and humble apologists to bear witness to Christ throughout all of Africa, beginning in Uganda!

Giving Thanks

2008-11-24T17:30:00.001-05:00

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 107:1)

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. While we’re called to continually give thanks to God for His abundant mercies, I appreciate the chance to set aside a special time each year to focus on His blessings to us. Here are just a few of our many reasons for rejoicing:

I thank God that I have been reconciled with Him through Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ as my substitute, I would be without hope and justly face God’s wrath for my sins. But by His grace, I have been saved. Praise God!

I thank God for my wife. Next to Christ, she is my most precious gift. She encourages me, takes care of me, challenges me, and loves me. I simply wouldn’t be the man I am today without her.

I thank God for my children. Having four kids certainly keeps me busy, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world! Children are truly a blessing from the Lord.

I thank God for my church. I’m edified and built up through the ministry of my local congregation. We’re centered on the Word of God, we have great fellowship with one another, and we’re committed to ACFAR’s vision in East Africa.

I thank God for this ministry. I have the privilege of preparing to serve Christ in Uganda. He could have chosen a much better candidate for this task, but I pray that He will be glorified through our efforts in Africa.

I thank God for Paul Carden. As CFAR’s executive director (the ministry I’m serving through), he has to put up with me! Still, he is patient, helpful, wise, and supportive.

I thank God for our supporters. Without the many believers who partner with us through their prayers and sacrificial giving, there would be no ACFAR. They are truly essential to the success of our ministry. I’m humbled to be working with them to advance biblical discernment and cult evangelism in East Africa.

Of course, there are many more things for which I should thank God, and I plan to devote Thursday to doing so. I hope you’ll join me and take advantage of this opportunity as well.

I’ll be back next week with another blog post. See you then!