Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Recently,  I stated that Africa needs the Christian worldview. Here’s why.

Truth: What is real?

Not a realm of divinized humans and ancestral spirits, but a God who has created a universe in which living creatures dwell. A false view of reality will distort our ethics and affect other facets of our lives. The Christian worldview gives a reliable basis for morality and ethics; it finds the ground for goodness in God’s own character. Sexual purity, honesty, and mercy are right because they are reflections of God’s own nature.

Identity: Who am I?

I am a human, created in the image of the God who created all things. I have value on this account, and not through submission to the will of my community. My allegiance is ultimately to the God who rules over all.

Security: How can I be safe?

Life is not a random sphere; it obeys the will of its Maker. I do not have to fear the threat of a thousand evil spirits, nor should I worry about the influence of divinized ancestors. God rules over the universe, and once I am in a relationship with him through Christ, I am in good hands.

Fear is not an entirely African problem. To quote John Stott, “The ancient world into whuch he [Jesus] came lived in apprehension of the powers which, it was believed, inhabited the stars. Still today the traditonal religion of primitve tribespeople is haunted by malevolent spirits who need to be placated. The lives of modern men and women are also overshadowed by fear.”

The Christ who is at the centre of the Christian story has conquered Satan and his allies, and he reigns with God over all things. Thus the basis for fear is gone.

Ethics: How do I live

I live by the will of God and follow his moral principles as revealed in his word. I do not live by what my community accepts, for this may be wrong. My conscience is nurtured by the truth as revealed by God in his word.

A Present Problem: True Leadership

Many people and thinkers have identified Leadership as the central problem of Africa. Corruption is a failure of leadership. It is what results when those charged with a position or resources abuse it for personal gain. In other words, the scourge of corruption goes against the two themes of Stewardship and Service. And the Christian worldview gives us the clearest example of both in the person and work of Jesus Christ.