By Joe Simfukwe
I want to examine the interface between African culture, especially its Zambian expression, as it relates to the practical way we think about our Christian lives and more particularly the kind of choices such thinking leads to. Can an African be truly African, culturally speaking, and yet be truly Christian? Or, to put it the other way around, can an African person be truly Christian and yet be recognisably African. Can African culture and Christianity ever meet as friends? Must those of us who strive to be true to our ‘Christian heritage’ be reconciled to the charge of betraying our African-ness?
- Click here to continue reading this article or…
- Click here to download a PDF version of this article (for printing)
By Erroll Hulse
Through the constant republication of his sermons and voluminous writings (135 books) the influence of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) maintains an immense spiritual influence throughout the evangelical world. Over half a million visits have been made to The Spurgeon Archives, probably the best of several Spurgeon websites. The last five years of Spurgeon’s life, 1887-1892 were troubled and saddened by the Downgrade Controversy. Spurgeon carried an enormous workload. He possessed neither the time nor the energy to pursue and remedy the widespread doctrinal decline in the B U (Baptist Union). For any leader to appraise so great an issue would involve full-time work for more than one astute theologian. For his unwillingness to provide documentation concerning his allegations CHS was misunderstood and maligned. The controversy exacerbated his health problems. He admitted at one stage that the controversy was killing him.
A preliminary comment is needful with respect to the Baptist Union. There are many Baptist denominations around the world and they differ widely in character. In South Africa the battle over liberal theology was won in the 1920s so the B U of South Africa is evangelical and has managed to remain intact and resist soul-destroying liberal doctrines. As an introduction to Spurgeon I recommend Iain Murray’s book The Forgotten Spurgeon published by the Banner of Truth.
- Click here to continue reading this article or…
- Click here to download a PDF version of this article (for printing)
