Out of Africa!
It is my last night in Africa. It has been an eye-opening experience on many fronts. We have met with pastors who believe in Jesus and practice ancestor worship. We have met with pastors who believe in Jesus and sacrifice chickens. It has been a long time (when I was a Roman Catholic?) since I've seen such a distortion of the gospel. I'm reminded what J.I. Packer said: "A half-truth masquerading as a whole truth is nothing but a complete untruth."
Friends, America's T.V. exports are not helping Africa! The Trinity Broadcast Network (The God Channel) is here. It's there. It's everywhere.
We're sitting at lunch last week in a remote spot and a South African white woman overhears Jonathan Leeman, Paul Passaro and I talking. The conversation with her went like this:
Her: "Are you Americans?"
Us: "Yes."
Her: "What brings you to South Africa?"
Us: "We're Christians and we're teaching the Bible at a nearby Christian Camp."
Her: "Oh, I'm a Christian. I just love Joyce Meyer and Kenneth Copeland.
Us: Silent groan.
Another conversation with a young pastor named Sayulego who has already received his theological education said he has learned a lot from listening to Joel Osteen. I'm not saying Osteen is all bad, but at best he is preaching just part of scripture. Half truth masquerading as a whole truth anyone?
T.D. Jakes was spoken of positively by one bishop we were working with.
This false gospel of health and wealth exported from America feeds right into the African need and is gutting the Christian church.
We're warned of such activity. In Acts 20 Paul warns of "fierce wolves" coming among them. In Acts 20:33 he says, "I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel." Presumably that was in contrast to the wolves. Could we say the same about the TBN broadcasters? These so-called Christian leaders should be called out. 1 John 4:5 says, "They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them."
Join with me and pray that the Lord silences these false teachers and gets them out of Africa, America and everything in between.
I have really enjoyed the reflections offered on your blog regarding your time in Africa. Praise God for using you and 9 Marks in bringing biblical teaching to South Africa!
I especially appreciate this post, where you list some of the challenges Christians and churches face throughout Africa. As one who is striving to advance biblical discernment and apologetics in East Africa, I pray that Christ and His gospel will shine brightly in the midst of error!
Because of His grace,
John Divito
Director, Africa Center for Apologetics Research
Posted by: John Divito | Jul 10, 2008 3:42:24 PM
I'm wondering at your description, "met with" ... how so? Were such folks participants in your sessions in some way? Or met outside the sessions?
What, if anything, was done to correct these errors?
Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Posted by: Donald Johnson | Jul 11, 2008 1:41:17 AM
Don,
When I say "met with" I mean we spent four days teaching 50 church leaders and about 20% of them were ancestor worshippers and ones who sacrifice animals. The more we understood of their belief, the more we simplified their teaching and preached the gospel. Read my next post for more information.
Posted by: Matt Schmucker | Jul 11, 2008 1:56:33 AM
more questions...
So how did you preach the gospel? What were your texts? Some immediately come to mind, like: 1 Jn 5.21 and Acts 14.8-18, but I am sure there are others...
Did you discuss the problem of relationships with unbelievers with the apparently believing pastors?
Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
Posted by: Donald Johnson | Jul 11, 2008 11:02:24 AM