African Theological Journal for Church and Society

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty for Developing a New Africa

Okechukwu Nzenwa Okorie, Victor Umaru — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:47:22 +0200

The focus of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative since 2015 has been “Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030,” if not wholly, then at least reduce it to an ambitious 3% of the world’s population. These concerns have been a reality in Africa, home to 34 of the world’s 48 poorest countries, and about two-thirds of the world’s developing countries are in Africa. Furthermore, of the 32 countries in the world with the lowest levels of human development, 24 are in Africa. Even in other continents, where poverty levels have declined dramatically over the past four decades, Africa’s population of poor people has increased. Therefore, if poverty is to be reduced to 3% globally, Africa would be at the forefront of this movement. This paper seeks to contribute to this ongoing discourse through the description of the nature of African poverty, the comparison of African perceptions of poverty in the past as they relate to the present, the consideration of factors militating against African growth, and the presentation of a Biblical framework for developing a new Africa. Through the historical-critical method, the paper revealed that African history demands that a new generation of African leaders detach themselves from the failed cultures and policies of the past and engage in the global struggle to eradicate poverty. Only when Africa becomes a model for prosperity and dignity can it be acknowledged that a new Africa has emerged to take her place at the forefront of global progress and development. Finally, the paper recommends that Africa accept, recognise and identify her challenges and seek solutions from within; leadership development has to be prioritised; trustworthy, visionary, and God-fearing leaders be given opportunities; the need for electoral processes to be open and accommodating for everyone.

An African Hermeneutics Re-Reading of Luke 18:1-8 and its Implications for Social Justice in Angola

Nelson Samaria — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:46:32 +0200

Social inequality was a great concern in the context in which Jesus told the parable traditionally known as “the parable of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow.” Jesus’s society was clearly marked by socio-economic and cultural imbalances between different social groups under the Roman rule. This was a common characteristic for all societies in the ancient Mediterranean world. Social injustice is also one of the greatest contemporary issues in Angola where the vast majority of the population have been living in extreme poverty for decades. The history of reception regarding the interpretation of this parable shows that for centuries it has been interpreted as an allegory or a metaphor of prayer and divine response, and very little attention is given to the issue of injustice. This article aims to highlight the implication of re-reading this parable in the Angolan context through the African hermeneutics lens with a liberation perspective. It also seeks to unveil the liberationist-educational function of the parable, identifying a Lukan model for social justice in the Angolan context.

Appropriating Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Hermeneutical Concept towards Reformulating Christian Theological Education Curriculum via Vernaculars in Africa

Gentleman Dogara — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:44:23 +0200

This study appropriates Hans-Georg Gadamer’s concept of language and hermeneutics toward reformulating the curriculum of Christian theological education in vernacular contexts of Africa, using Hausa-Positive Contexts as an example. Three research questions guide the study. First: How can Gadamer’s hermeneutical concept be appropriated via translation and communication in support of reformulating the curriculum of Christian theological education via vernaculars in Africa? Second: What emerging questions need to be addressed in appropriating Gadamer’s hermeneutical concept in reformulating the curriculum of Christian theological education via vernaculars in Africa? Third: What strategies need to be engaged consequent to appropriating Gadamer’s hermeneutical concept towards reformulating the curriculum of Christian theological education via vernaculars in Africa? The study concludes that those going through formal theological education in many vernacular contexts of Africa have a more effective hermeneutical experience when an appropriate vernacular is engaged as a pedagogical facility for curriculum delivery.

Eschatology as New Creation

Hassan Musa — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:51:59 +0200

This essay is a theological reflection on the reception of Oliver O’Donovan’s two main contributions to theology and ethics namely Resurrection and Moral Order and Desire of the Nations, with special interest on his discussion in chapter three on eschatology and history. In this reflection I have explored his thoughts on eschatology and how it relates to creation and history in the modern contexts, and also how his thoughts on Christian and political liberalism converge in order to make a united argument on the creation of a new social order that is rooted in Christian biblical vision and morality. His creative moves have been acknowledged in how he approaches and argues his points on the subject. My own argument is that O’Donovan has opened a new vista of appropriating the idea of eschatology to the redemption of life and the transformation of creation. Furthermore, I have discovered his sustained realism on the influence and role of Christianity in giving birth and rise to the modern civilization and the need to sustain such influence within the idea of just judgment and freedom in dignity. His eschatological vision goes beyond the popular notion of eschatology as the end time, or time of the end; rather, from his ideas we see eschatology as the end of time.

Spiritual Transformation in the Nigerian Baptist Convention

AYOTUNDE O OGUNTADE — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Recently, there have been paradigm shifts in the spirituality of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. One major factor responsible for the spiritual transformation is the influence of Neo-Pentecostalism or the Charismatic movement. This new wave affects the Baptist heritage of the denomination. This study reflects on the spiritual transformation in the Nigerian Baptist denomination from the 1980s to 2022. The study is significant because it gives insight into the causes of the spiritual transformation in the Convention over the years and encourages the Convention to assess her spiritual activities to retain her identity continuously. It examines notable spiritual transformations in the history of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, highlighting the factors that were responsible for them and isolating some of the noticeable spiritual transformations. The paper utilises the historical-analytical method.

From South to North

Richard Ondicho Otiso — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:06:06 +0200

Many modern Christian scholars are united behind the opinion that the center of Christianity has immensely shifted from the global north (Europe and North America) to the global south (Africa, Asia and Latin America). Such dynamics have led to the decline of Christianity in the global north and the western world whilst a proportionate increase in Christianity has been a trend of the global south in the last decade. This article asks the question: is it time for the global south to re-evangelize the global north? As the western world becomes increasingly secular, it has become consequently evident that Christianity is currently post-Christian. Moreover, due to the global north’s economic superiority, it has become a major immigrant destination for the global south citizens. This has led to an influx of high number of immigrants into the global north. This article points out the contributions of the global south in western Christianity by using African immigrants as a case point.

Enhancing Sustainable Transformation of Contemporary Teenagers Through Discovery Bible Study Model

Benjamin Akano — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:09:59 +0200

Existing experiments and participant observations have shown that teenagers generally exhibit oppositional defiant disorder. This disorder has a significant relationship to their increased involvement in alcoholism, substance addiction, cultism, crimes, and money rituals, to which teenagers from Christian homes are not exempt. This phenomenon portends danger for the future of Christianity. Thus, the spiritual development of teenagers and the continuity of the authentic Christian faith in the next generation is a cause for concern. These challenges become critical because parents, teachers, pastors, and other ministers, who wish to see transformed teenagers, end up employing the wrong training tools that compound this disorder. Therefore, this writer presented Discovery Bible Study (DBS) as a model for enhancing the sustainable transformation of contemporary teenagers. He posited that the model creates a platform for Christian caregivers to lean on a blend of the principles of cognitive learning theories, such as Lewin's field theory, and experimental learning theories, such as Kolb's theory, to engage their teenagers in sustainable transformation. The paper asserts that a re-educative process, in cooperation with these teenagers, will change their cognitive structure, modify their values, and eventually affect their behaviour for the desired holistic transformation. To this end, it considers the two learning theories, contemporary teenagers and spiritual development challenges, and how DBS may be used to enhance sustainable transformation in contemporary teenagers.

The Role of Counselling Skills and Approaches in Pastoral Counselling

Mussa Kilengi — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:13:08 +0200

The article stresses the importance of “proper training” for pastoral counselling providers to ensure that they can provide effective and ethical counselling services. Many pastoral counselling providers lack the necessary training and expertise in counselling skills and approaches, which creates a potential risk of ineffective counselling, misdiagnosis, and harm to clients. The article discusses key counselling skills and approaches, emphasizes the need for on-going professional development, and provides recommendations for training programmes and resources to improve the quality of pastoral counselling services.

Twenty-First Century Challenges for Sustainable Christian Marital Relationships in the Nigerian Context

Joel K.T. Biwul — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:20:25 +0200

This article asks why a hitherto perceived sweet, glowing, and romantic marital relationship between a Christian husband and a Christian wife can suddenly turn sour or bitter. Sometimes such an expected sweet and romantic relationship goes into limbo and ends up in dissatisfaction, disappointment, disenfranchisement, physical and emotional abuse, and, in a worse scenario, separation and, sometimes, divorce because of the activities of certain intruders. This article contends that certain intruders are encroaching on the sustainability of the Christian marital relationship. It argues that many of these intruders will be greatly minimised where pastoral caregivers provide space by placing a great premium on effective premarital counselling, and more importantly, post-marital counselling within at least the first two years of marriage. It concludes that when this missing gap is appropriately filled in, it will facilitate the commitment of the couple to each other and motivate a progressive dedication to faith by both partners. In this way, a sustainable and harmonious Christian marital relationship can be achieved, which will enhance the quality of the spiritual health of the Christian community with a spill-over to the general society.

African Theological Journal for Church and Society

NetACT Staff — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:43:33 +0200

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