Weekly Round-Up: Mormonism in Africa, the Lord's Resistance Army, African Christianity, and Biblical Reflection

Here's this week's round-up:

1) Carrie A. Moore, "LDS Beliefs Help, but Attitude Toward Native Worship Affects, Church Growth in Africa" in the Mormon Times. A news report on a Mormon History Association meeting where well-known religious historian Phillip Jenkins spoke. He talked about both the success and challenges of Mormonism in Africa. Here is a saddening projection made by Jenkins:

Present LDS membership is about 270,000 in Africa, and 25,000 others are converts to the Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS Church). Jenkins predicted African Latter-day Saints will number between 3 million and 4 million in the next quarter century.

2) "Children stolen, forced into firefights" on WorldNetDaily. Check out this informative introductory piece on Joseph Kony, the Lord's Resistance Army, and children soldiers in Uganda.

3) Richard J. Gehman, Makumbuko blog. A while back I reviewed Gehman's book Who Are The Living-Dead? A Theology of Death, Life After Death and the Living-Dead. An American missionary and evangelical scholar, Gehman served for years with the Africa Inland Mission at Scott Theological College in Kenya. He was also editor of the Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology. He does an excellent job relating biblical truth to an African context. So the moment I heard that he had begun a new blog, I subscribed to it. So should you.

4) Sam Storms, "Taking every Thought Captive for Christ (2 Cor. 10.4-6)" on the Enjoying God Ministries blog. In light of the loud voices of militant atheism heard all around us, Storms provides an edifying biblical reflection on defending our faith.

What Does Christ Gospel Church Teach? Wrap-Up

What does Christ Gospel Church teach? Over the last several weeks, I have done my best to answer this question. We have come a long way, analyzing Reverend Berniece R. Hicks' teaching on Scripture, mankind, God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the good news. Hopefully we can now more clearly understand the basic beliefs of CGC. As a result, I pray that individuals will effectively assess and address the differences that exist between our beliefs and what is taught by CGC.

Since CGC has a global presence, including affiliate churches in half a dozen African countries and shortwave broadcasts to many others, evangelical Christians must respond to Hicks' claims with the truth revealed by God in Scripture. Lord willing, the Africa Center for Apologetics Research will be established in East Africa to defend our faith against error and corruption.

Here are the previous posts in this series:

• What Does Christ Gospel Church Teach?
• Christ Gospel Church on Scripture
• Christ Gospel Church on Mankind
• Christ Gospel Church on God
• Christ Gospel Church on the Lord Jesus Christ: Part One and Part Two
• Christ Gospel Church on the Good News: Part One and Part Two

Visiting Missionaries in Uganda

[Video - Missionary Doug Wicks on Cults and Challenges in Uganda]
What must my family do to move half way around the world to start the Africa Center for Apologetics Research? And how should we prepare to make this transition? One of the main priorities on our trip to Uganda last month was to explore what it will take to live and serve our Lord in East Africa. To work through the details, my wife and I visited four very different American missionary families with young children who have transitioned to serving in Uganda. Not only did we have a wonderful time of Christian fellowship, but we learned a great deal from these families as well.

Doug Wicks is a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Uganda, and his family graciously invited us over for dinner. During our time in their home, we asked them a lot of questions about ministry expenses and living in Uganda. Doug was also very helpful in telling us more about local life in rural areas and villages. The Wicks family has an incredible zeal to bring God's Word to Ugandans in their own languages.

We also met with the Kelly family, who was both friendly and flexible. Pastor Brian Kelly leads Calvary Chapel Kampala, where I was able to speak on biblical discernment during their Wednesday evening service. After the church meeting, he took us out to eat at a nice Indian restaurant. He told us a lot about ministry in Uganda, especially church life. Later in the week, we met in the Kelly's home to talk about living expenses and gained some great practical advice for when we move over. After spending time with them, I can see why God has richly blessed their work.

Additionally, we spent a couple of evenings with the Schimke family. Kurt Schimke is a Presbyterian who serves at African Bible University. He stays busy, teaching church history, ethics, several New Testament courses, and direct evangelism outreach. Interestingly, our families are very similar, with children in the same order and almost the same age (well, at least before our youngest came along)! The Schimkes were an invaluable resource in understanding family expenses, reassessing our budget and financial goals, as well as what to expect when living in Kampala. They understand the need to develop African church leaders and are working toward fostering biblical knowledge and spiritual growth among students. I thank God that He has brought the Schimke family to Uganda.

At the same time, the Shelton family stood out in their hospitality and encouragement. The Sheltons are Southern Baptist missionaries with the International Missionary Board. They allowed us to stay in their home throughout our time in Uganda. They helped to coordinate our trip, keeping everything as productive as possible. They always kept themselves available if we needed them for anything. What else can I say? We would not have accomplished half of what we did without the Shelton family (and their two cute daughters made sure that we did not miss home too much!).

These missionary families truly made our recent trip to Uganda memorable. They also allowed us to more fully understand the specifics of what it will take to move our family to East Africa. As a result, we now have concrete plans and are able to move ahead to the final stages of preparation. While we have had to make some changes since returning (the weak value of the dollar globally and rising costs have forced us to modify our budget), we are much better equipped to begin serving Christ in Uganda. Lord willing, we will start soon!

(Previous posts on our recent mission trip: Advancing Biblical Discernment in Uganda, The Challenge of Islam in Uganda, Developing the Center in Uganda, Cults Targeting College Students in Uganda)

Weekly Round-Up: Ahmadiyya Muslims, Ugandan Anglicans, a Reformed Podcast, and the Dollar's Impact on Missions

Here's this week's round-up:

1) "Ahmadiyya Muslims to mark 100 years" in the New Vision newspaper (Uganda). Have you ever heard of Ahmadiyya Islam? Many Muslims around the world would not consider it true Islam, but it is very active internationally and has a presence in Uganda. At the end of this month, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community will be celebrating their 100th year of existence in Kampala, the nation's capital.

2) "Anglican Men's Weekend" on AnglicanTV.org. This site now has videos of Ugandan Anglican leaders speaking at a men's conference. If you are not familiar with Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, you should be.

3) "Christ the Center: Doctrine for Life" on the Castle Church web site. I was recently made aware of this podcast and have already become a big fan. Their regular discussions are very informative. What is its purpose? "Christ the Center: Doctrine for Life is an audio program centered on Christian reformed theology. In each episode a group of informed panelists discuss important issues and stimulate listeners to critical thinking and a better understanding of reformed doctrine designed to yield godly living."

4) J. Shaw, "The Effect of the Dollar on the American Missionary Sending 'Enterprise'" in the Lausanne World Pulse (May 2008). While many Christians may not realize it, the weakening of the dollar really impacts international mission work. This article helps to explain what a weak dollar means for missionaries and mission agencies. And if you want to see the relative worth of the dollar in Uganda over the last several months, check out Yahoo! Finance.

Christ Gospel Church on the Good News: Part Two

(Christ Gospel Church is an international sect with affiliate churches in half a dozen African countries and shortwave broadcasts to many others. You can read the previous posts in this series here: What Does Christ Gospel Church Teach?, Christ Gospel Church on Scripture, Christ Gospel Church on Mankind, Christ Gospel Church on God, Christ Gospel Church on the Lord Jesus Christ: Part One and Part Two, Christ Gospel Church on the Good News: Part One)

V. The Good News

This week, we continue studying CGC's teaching on the Good News. After looking at mankind's need, we are now ready to understand the degrees of reward. When taken together, their gospel message becomes clear.

The Degrees of Reward

God has commanded that believers grow in Grace and Knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:1,2; II Peter 3:18). God's Word commands that the believer grow unto the measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Jesus Christ or unto full spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:13,14).[1]

For Hicks, salvation is the first step in the Christian life, not the sum of the Christian life. Christians are to live a life devoted to God. "God gives us His Gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ so that we can have a New Heart created in us; thus our New Heart can perform the good works of His Master Plan and Purposive Will."[2] Hicks points to Ephesians 4:11-13 to show the goal for followers of Christ: "In his letter to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul set forth the possibility of growth to full maturity in the Spiritual Stature of Christ, which every believer is called to press toward."[3] She reveals how believers are to achieve this goal with the following insight: "Nowhere in Scripture do we find such a precious gem of truth or such a complete picture of the measure of the stature of Christ, which Paul relates in Ephesians 4:13, then in the Old Testament Tabernacle."[4] Consequently, one discovers the stature of Jesus Christ through the detailed blueprint of the Old Testament Tabernacle.

Achieving the spiritual stature of Christ enables one to be a member of Christ's bride. This objective is accomplished through one's works and is distinct from salvation. "According to the Scriptures, man's Salvation is a gift. . . . But the Prize of being in Christ's Bride comes by personal choice and by spiritual growth unto the measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ."[5] Later, Hicks is even more explicit: "The Bible tells us that the Bride made herself ready, which speaks of her works. Salvation is a Gift to all believers from God, and, therefore, does not consist of works. . . . The reward of being in the Bride, however, is a result of Works."[6] Therefore, "Not every Christian is going to be in the Bride. In the natural realm there are more people at a wedding than the bride and the bridegroom. There are the best man, the bridesmaids, the guests, and many others. In like manner, the Wedding Supper of the Lamb will have more than just the Bride and Jesus, the Bridegroom."[7]

As a result, the works that a Christian accomplishes in their present life will determine what they will obtain at the final judgement. When speaking of 1 Corinthians 15:41-42, Hicks compares the glory of the sun, moon, and stars with the resurrection glory of believers:

In Eternity, the first group of Christians will shine as small stars of Glory. The second group will shine with brighter Glory, as the brighter stars. The third group will have gained a sufficient measure of the LORD Jesus Christ's Spiritual Stature to shine with a still brighter Glory, like the moon; and the fourth group will be those who have grown into the measure of the Fullness of Christ's Spiritual Stature. They will be spiritually mature and will shine with the brightest Glory, like the sun, because their wills will have been joined in Marriage Union to Jesus Christ's Will. It is the fourth class of Christians who will be in Christ's Bride because they will possess the highest degree of Glory - the Glory of the Sun.[8]

Therefore, believers earn their future eternal abiding place with God.

Christians will also receive a particular type of clothing based upon their works. "The Book of Revelation describes three distinct kinds of Clothing worn by saints at the resurrection: White Robes, White Raiment, and White Linen. This spiritual apparel is exceedingly important because the believer's eternal abiding place will be determined by the Garment or Garments he wears on Resurrection Morning."[9] The bottom groups of glory (both those of the star glory and the brighter star glory) will receive white robes and dwell in the New Heavens. "[T]he ones who wear White Robes never will leave Heaven; they will stay there forever and ever and serve God day and night. God will dwell among them by His Omnipresence in the same way that He dwells in the world today."[10] Those of the moon glory will receive white raiment and rule over the New Earth. "The New City will not be the dwelling place of the White Raiment group. . . . This group grew in Spiritual Stature to such a degree that they will be entrusted with Christ's Governmental Ruling and Reigning Power on the New Earth."[11] The New City [New Jerusalem] is for those in white linen, those of the sun glory, the bride of Christ. "Only the Bride of Jesus Christ, the New Jerusalem, will be able to give Christ's Sun-Glory Light to the New Earth because she is the only one who will be joined in perfect Marriage Relationship with Jesus Christ Who is the Lamb of the New City and the Light of the world."[12] Therefore, the New Heavens, the New Earth, and the New City are three stages of achievement for believers to gain. Clearly, the goal for those who belong to CGC is to become a member of the bride of Christ.

[1]Articles of Faith, 5.
[2]Hicks, Believe, Repent, and Accept God's Gift of Salvation, 51.
[3]B. R. Hicks, Growing in God, 1989 ed. (Jeffersonville, IN: Christ Gospel Press, 1989), 3. Ephesians 4:13 is an oft-quoted key text in Hicks' beliefs and writings.
[4]B. R. Hicks, Precious Gem in the Tabernacle (Jeffersonville, IN: Christ Gospel Press, 1961), 9. This book contains Hicks' exposition of the Old Testament Tabernacle as it relates to believers' spiritual growth.
[5]B. R. Hicks, Degrees of Reward for Spiritual Growth, 2002 ed. (Jeffersonville, IN: Christ Gospel Press, 2002), 4. Emphasis in original.
[6]Ibid, 44-45. Emphasis in original.
[7]Hicks, Growing in God, 11.
[8]Hicks, Degrees of Reward for Spiritual Growth, 22-23.
[9]Ibid, 33.
[10]Ibid, 38.
[11]Ibid, 42.
[12]Ibid, 44. Emphasis in original.

Cults Targeting College Students in Uganda

[Video - Campus Ministry Leader Vincent Langariti on Cults Targeting College Students in Uganda]
I love campus ministry. It was through a campus ministry that I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time. It was through a campus ministry that I committed my life to Christ. It was through a campus ministry that I was discipled and began serving the Lord.

Unfortunately, Christian ministries are not the only religious organizations on college campuses seeking to draw students. Around the world, many cults and false spiritualities focus on colleges and universities. This is certainly true in Uganda.

Why? In many ways, it makes a lot of practical sense. College is often the first extended period of time when the students are away from their parents, figuring out the world for themselves. Additionally, if you want to impact a culture, then you target its students. Those who are well educated will most likely become the future political and business leaders of society. If you want to grow as a religious movement, then having those in power as members can help tremendously.

As a result, campus ministries are regularly at the forefront of defending Christianity against error. While I was in Uganda last month, I tried to get in touch with as many campus leaders as I could. One of the most encouraging and supportive men I met with was Vincent Langariti, the General Secretary of InterVarsity Fellowship (known as FOCUS Uganda).

Vincent was very generous with his time, helping us understand the challenge of cults and false teaching on campuses throughout Uganda. He was also excited to hear about our apologetics ministry, wanting to work with us to reach out to college students. Because of our common vision, we are already looking at how we can come together to foster biblical discernment among students.

After spending an afternoon with Vincent, I was amazed at how richly God is blessing ACFAR in Uganda. And my family is not even there yet! I have come back more committed than ever to serve our Lord in East Africa. I look forward to seeing what Christ will continue to accomplish for His glory. I also pray that many people will support our efforts and join with us as we seek to defend God's truth.

(Previous posts on our recent mission trip: Advancing Biblical Discernment in Uganda, The Challenge of Islam in Uganda, Developing the Center in Uganda)

Weekly Round-Up: Witchdoctors, Buddhism in Uganda, the Importance of Apologetics, and Islamic Shirk

Here's this week's round-up:

1) Phoebe Mutetsi, "Conversations with a pseudo witchdoctor" in the Daily Monitor newspaper (Uganda). Here is a fascinating and troubling interview with a former African witchdoctor. Traditional "healers" like these continue to be popular throughout Uganda and beyond.

2) Florence Baingana, "Heaven and Hell?" in the Sunday Monitor newspaper (Uganda). Buddhism in Uganda? You'd better believe it! And this article looks as if it is promoting Soka Gakkai Buddhism.

3) "The Case for Theology and Apologetics" on the White Horse Inn radio show. While I mentioned this show in last week's round-up, they continued their discussion of the importance of theology and apologetics for a second week. You'll want to download this program in MP3 as well.

4) James White, "Shirk: A Basic Definition and Introduction" on the Alpha & Omega Ministries Apologetics Blog. Islam is growing rapidly around the world, and especially in East Africa. With this in mind, we should all become more familiar with its teachings. James White has posted a helpful video clip introducing us to what Muslims mean by shirk.