Issues in the Theological Task in Africa Today
Abstract
For too long evangelicals have been content to work at the grass-roots level. This in itself is highly commendable. But dwelling on this exclusively is as dangerous as any extremism. Perhaps we evangelicals now suffer from the exclusive concern of our fathers for minimal theological training. Perhaps it is too late to redeem the time we have lost talking about all the evils of theology. It is hard to say. Be that as it may, one of the immediate consequences of the lack of evangelical presence on the scene of academic theology is the feeling of being trapped. It seems that the agenda for theological discussion is already set for us and all we do is react against the ideas contained in this agenda. This need not be so. There are many key issues currently under discussion in Africa, and I propose to consider a few of them.
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References
Mbiti, John S. “Christianity and African Culture,” Lecture given at the Pan-African Christian Leadership Assembly, Nairobi, 9–21 December 1976, p. 1
The Willowbank Report, a Consultation on Gospel and Culture 6–13 January, 1978, Bermuda, p. 4
Tertullian “The Prescription Against Heretics” in Robert L. Ferm’s Readings in the History of Christian Thought (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1964) p. 5
Clement of Alexandria “The Stromata” in Readings in the History of Christian Thought, p. 12.
Ramm, Bernard L. The Evangelical Heritage (Waco, TX: Word Books 1973).
Chenu, Bruno “Point de vue d’un theologian europeen” Lumiere et Vie, t. XXIII novembre-decembre 1974, No. 120, p. 81
I do not want to minimise the importance of hermeneutics in theology. The right hermeneutic is that which makes us understand what the original hearers or readers of the message understood. Hermeneutics is not easy. Perhaps we should pay less attention to schools of interpretation and more attention to the way Jesus and the New Testament writers interpreted the Old Testament.
Mbiti, John S. Christianity and African Culture, p. 16
Cited by F. Chapey in the introduction to Courage d'etre (2ᵉ ed., Casterman, 1967) p. 10
Olson, Jeanine Histoire de l'Eglise (Yaounde: Editions Cle, 1972) p. 160
Kraemer, Hendrik La foi Chretienne et less religions non Chretiennes (Neuchatel, Paris: Delachaux et Niestle, 1956) pp. 159, 162-163
Blocher, Henry Prolegomenes, pp. 32–33; Jean Calvin Institution de la Religion Chretienne, 1/4, 1, 5, 12, 13, 14, pp. 12, 29–31; Leon Morris I Believe in Revelation (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976) p. 157
Morris, Leon op. cit., p. 148 Cf. Ronald H. Nash’s article “Truth by Any Other Name” Christianity Today, October 7, 1977, pp, 17–23.
Mbiti, John S. ‘Point de vue d’un theologien Africain’ Lumiere et Vie, t. XXIII, November – December, 1974, no. 120, p. 90.
Kato, Byang H. “Black Theology and African Theology” in Evangelical Review of Theology 1/1977, p. 47.
Adeyemo, Tokunboh Contemporary Issues and the Future of Evangelicals in Africa, p. 4.
The Willowbank Report, p. 7
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Copyright (c) 1982 Tite Tiénou (Author)
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