Appropriating John Stott’s Holy-Worldliness Concept to Deficiencies in the Political Curriculum of Christianity in Africa

Viewpoints from Nigeria

Abstract

This study applies John Stott’s concept of ‘holy-worldliness’ to God’s call upon Christians from the world, and his sending them out to be immersed in the affairs of the world as Christ’s ambassadors, by localising Christ’s political curriculum to Africa. Accordingly, the study engages examples generated from Nigeria. Two research questions guided this study. Question 1: what are the basic elements of John Stott’s concept of holy-worldliness, in the context of the political curriculum of Christianity in Africa? Question 2: how can deliberating on the deficiencies in the political curriculum of Christianity in Africa, as currently formulated, be facilitated by an understanding of John’s Stott’s concept of holy-worldliness, towards reformulating the curriculum in question, using examples from Nigeria? The study concludes by calling on Christians in Africa to start thinking of crafting a ‘Christian Political Agenda for Africa’, as the Christian political version of the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want (2013).