Samuel Waje Kunhiyop: African Christian Theology
In chapter seven the attention of the author is on the key issues in practical Christian living in African context. Some of the prevailing issues in contemporary African context include blessings and curses, generational curses, theology of using the blood and name of Jesus, theology of prayer and reverence to the deceased. Our salvation is holistic and so it should affect all areas of lives. Kunhiyop contends that African Christian should live according to the faith they profess in the Bible. As to the issue of whether a born-again Christian can still be subject to family and generational curses, Kunhiyop argues that this can be tackled by prayers of deliverance but to be “preoccupied with issues of demonic deliverance is unscriptural” (p.124). The deliverance wrought by Christ should be the basis of other deliverances. In regard to the issue of using the blood and name of Jesus by African Christians, particularly the Pentecostals, the author warns that they should be aware of fanciful, speculative spiritualizing. He warns that the name of Jesus should not be taken as a magical formula that can be used to manipulate supernatural forces. At the closure of the chapter, Kunhiyop observes that the occurrence of these things in Africa shows that people really have some existential needs, and Christianity can provide all these needs. Therefore our biblical Christianity should allow Christ to “come and give full abundant life to African Christians, even in the midst of their problems” (p139).
Noting the importance of the “concept of community” in African context, the author dedicated chapter eight to its discussion. He presents and discusses the importance of community and mutual relationship in Africa. He attempts to contextualize the biblical ecclesiological concept of community in Africa. Locating the church as the community understood by the African, he underscores the basic ordinances of the community (baptism and Holy Communion and the divergent views on them).[2] To Kunhiyop, worship, evangelism, discipline and prayer are the most important functions of the church. He concludes the chapter with issue of church leadership, its varied forms and the relationship between the church and society. One thing that is noteworthy in Kunhiyop’s submission is that the church community should serve as the light in the world and should have a clear impact on society. The point made here by the author is of utmost importance to the present condition of the church in Africa. Particularly in Nigeria, where leadership problems, unhealthy church politic, love of money and lack of unity has denied the church the ability to make any impact in its immediate environment. Following this is the author’s discussion on the basic practices and belief system of the community of God in chapter nine of the book. The issues he discussed include the use of spiritual gifts and the controversy that it has generated. According to him, there are two errors that permeate Christianity in Africa today. “[T]he error of assuming that the experience the early church had is still normal and present till today, and the error of assuming that everyone else will experience the Spirit in the same way as we do” (p178).
Category: In Depth, Winter 2016
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