Christianity had a firm footing in Africa and Asia and then some major things developed during the Middle Ages to shift the center of power to Europe.
But what if I told you that by the year 2050 half of the Christians on the planet would be from Africa and Latin America?
What if I told you that there are current indigenous versions of African and Asian Christianity?
What if I told you that by 2050 the word “White Christian” would be as oxymoronic as “Black Klansman”?
The truth is: Christianity is now a Southern and an Eastern thing. Do not let the news media fool you! The majority of Christians have no connection to Pat Robertson and the American Religious Right. While we in America wonder how we are going to get more people in the pews there are pastors in Kenya and the Philippines and Brazil who are more worried about how they are going to get a building large enough for all of the members they have.
While Americans complain about “persecution” and buy chicken sandwiches in protest Christians in the global South are experiencing real persecution in places like the Central African Republic
The movement of Christianity is much more than a suburban church in Dallas or a store front in Detroit. Christianity existed in Africa and Asia before there were thirteen colonies and it is still growing south of the equator and east of the Mediterranean.
Many African churches are not from the same mold as their Christian counterparts in the United States and Europe. They are distinctly African and Asian in their worship practice and in their outreach. To put it simply many here in America would walk into many churches in Africa and Asia and cry “Strange Fire!”. Some may say this is due to American influence but I would say that this brand of worship naturally fit the more emotive and holistic way of practicing any type of faith in these cultures.
This is not a dis against white Christians but a call for us to really look at Christianity for what it is: a world movement. If you are going to argue against the Christian faith do not use the lame argument that it is a white man’s religion! You can argue theology or miracles or the resurrection of Jesus but to say that it is a white man’s religion is ridiculous and unfounded. To say that just shows narrow mindedness and an ignorance of history. Christianity has always been global and finds it’s roots in first century Palestine. Those who believe that it is a white man’s religion do not know history and are only looking at the last 500 years. 500 yrs of a 2000 year old religion. Not going to work. So I counsel you to do your homework. Read up on world history in general. Read up on the early church in Africa and Asia. Read up on early Christian expansion in Mesopotamia and Central Asia. Read up on the current global church. Go on some trips to Ethiopia and India and Egypt and experience the richness of a Christianity that’s bigger than what you see on TBN.
Then after looking at that you can bring your arguments and questions. You can bring up the things that don’t make sense. But the one thing you cant bring up is that Christianity is only for white people and is designed to oppress everyone else. Nonsense! Jesus is for everybody!
Recommended Reading:
The Next Christendom by Philip Jenkins
Must God Remain Greek by Robert E. Hood
photo credit: Anthony K. Valley via photopin cc
photo credit: NilmaBoston via photopin cc
