An Atheist is Impressed
I liked this quote from his article.
Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.
And I'm afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.
He complains a bit that it requires the idea of salvation, but salvation through the blood of Jesus is at the heart of the Christian religion. Remove that and you don't have Christianity anymore.
It can be thought of like this. If the Church is a body then solid doctrine is the skeleton, faith is the muscle tissue, and love is the life energy itself. Good doctrine and faith, but no love, results in a body and a skeleton without any life; a nice looking corpse if you will. Doctrine and love without faith is like a body whose muscles have withered; it may be alive but it ain't doing much. Faith and love with out doctrine is like a living body without bones and I don't even want to picture a living human with all bones removed. You need all three.
Still I have to say that this Atheist, Matthew Parris, is not far from the Kingdom of God. It's clear he sees something and now he has to absorb and understand what he has seen. It may well be the lens through which he will come to see.
I intended to post this video for my Christmas posting but my Christmas posting didn't happen this year. The singer is John Michael Talbot, who is a monk and his music was very popular in the late 70s and early 80s and it's called Wonderful Counselor. I have decided to share it anyway since the album (cd) it was on, The Painter, was not a Christmas album but a worship album.
Enjoy it.
posted by shoprat at 8:12 PM
6 Comments:
Even though I'm not a Christian, I've always thought that Africans need to become Christians in order to become civilized.
Have to give this person credit in being able to recognize the good works done. A lot of Athiests are so into their (non?) beliefs that they exclude all else.
I'll second Patrick's quite, except I'm indeed Christian. The author of the quote seems strangely incoherent. I can't tell if he wants religion or not, but certainly Africa won't walk tall until it has development.
I love what you said, Shoprat: "If the Church is a body then solid doctrine is the skeleton, faith is the muscle tissue, and love is the life energy itself." Exactly right!
The video is wonderful. Thanks for posting it, and a Happy New Year to you!
Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.
Machete in the hands of Islamists.
Christian missionaries are doing the world a service, even if not all believe the doctrines taught. If more atheists recognized this fact, Africa would greatly benefit.
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