tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22862995.post6797933182310884379..comments2009-07-05T10:43:30.020-07:00Comments on Gold Coast Bereans: The Challenges We FaceRobbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01135346623653843796noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22862995.post-22084812435755998472009-07-05T10:43:30.020-07:002009-07-05T10:43:30.020-07:00Of much worry is the fact that many of these pract...Of much worry is the fact that many of these practitioners also go to church. Apparently, this type of religious syncretism is on the increase. <br /> <br />There are social factors contributing to this phenomenon, no doubt. When there is severe economic and social instability, people tend to focus a lot on instant "meeting of needs". And if the exhortations, prayers and pronouncements by preachers appear not to grant immediate relief of these socio-economic hardships, other sources are easily sought. <br /> <br />In some way, this sends African Christianity back to the time of colonialization when people imagined that Jesus was another god to be added to the gods of the clan. But as has been pointed out, this syncretism is also present in the West in various forms. Some Christian groups are indeed mixing up Eastern religious beliefs and practices with Bible teaching. A Bishop of the Anglican Church here in the UK proudly introduces himself as also a member of an "order" of Buddhist fellowship. <br /> <br />The challenge, I believe, is a return to the discipleship demands of Jesus - "if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me". Until the hard and unique demands of Jesus is pressed and re-pressed into the imaginations of Christians in Africa and the West, this phenomenon will persist and grow. Are we really living as His disciples? - Annang.Annangnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22862995.post-66217381453311675042009-06-22T06:42:35.911-07:002009-06-22T06:42:35.911-07:00After, you have been out of the country for a long...After, you have been out of the country for a long time, you forget about this kind of stuff. Even though I know this is not funny, I can’t help seeing some humor in the news item and the queen mother’s dilemma. I do understand the point about many of us haven compromised our faith to the extent that we have lost the intrinsic subversive threat that Christianity poses to the ways of the world.robbohttp://goldcoastbereans.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com