— Charles Russell
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Our Bible study is currently going through a book on evangelism. One of the young men asked me how to respond when, while sharing his faith, was confronted with the accusation that he had been spending too much time around white people. “Don’t you know… Christianity is a white religion”, his accuser asserted.
Like a punch to the gut, he was at a loss for words and overwhelmed with doubt. “Have I got it all wrong? Have I been lied to?” he thought to himself. “If this assertion is true, then the gospel that I am attempting to share is worthless”. This accusation is deeply emotive at its core. If the “white man” came to South Africa in 1652 with his “false gospel” and his subsequent display of heinous racism expressed through apartheid, then I have fallen prey to his indoctrination!
The problem with this statement, however, is that it is false. Christianity is not white. It did not begin with white people, and white believers remain in the minority today. In fact, this accusation reveals an ignorance of history and inherent racism.
Let’s trace Christianity’s roots. While God was there from the very beginning (Genesis 1:1), followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians in Acts chapter 11, likely in the early 40’s AD. They were a mixture of Jewish and Gentile converts based in Antioch, Syria, declaring allegiance to the recently risen Messiah, Jesus Christ. Though He remained fully God, He was also a Middle Eastern man, born a Jew.
As Paul, Barnabus, Timothy and others embarked on their missionary journeys, spreading the gospel, the church grew into Asia and Europe, but it was earlier in the book of Acts, in chapter 8, that the gospel came to Africa.
The first record of an African convert was the Ethiopian eunuch on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. He read the scroll of Isaiah (chapter 53, the prophecy of Christ’s suffering and death) and heard the good news from Philip: that though Jesus gave up his life on the cross, having exhausted the wrath of the Father meant for us, he was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven.
He believed and was baptised. And so, Africa’s first evangelist experienced the second birth. Incidentally, without any white person’s involvement and several centuries before the white descendants of South Africa had ever heard the gospel!
Even earlier in the book of Acts (in chapter 2), we read that on the day of Pentecost, many people heard the gospel in their own language as the Holy Spirit miraculously worked to enable the disciples to speak foreign languages. Among them were visitors from Egypt and Libya – Africans! This happened so that they would believe. Long before any European missionary set foot in Africa, a special invitation was extended to people of Africa in their own language.
By the end of the 1st century, the body of believers grew in Egypt. The Coptic Church in Egypt traces its origins to the apostle Mark, who is said to have brought the gospel to Alexandria around AD 42–62. This church became one of the strongest centres of early Christianity.
North Africa was a powerhouse of the faith. Think of the church fathers—great theologians who shaped Christian doctrine. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage in Tunisia (AD 200–258), led the church through persecution and wrote powerfully on unity. Athanasius of Alexandria in Egypt (AD 295-373) was a bold defender of the faith in the face of the false teachings of Arianism, standing “contra mundum” or against the philosophies of the world.
Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–430), born in what is now Algeria, was a prolific writer — his books on sin and grace are still read by reformed believers today. These were African men, dark-skinned sons of the continent, powerfully used by God long before Christianity became associated with Europe.
The scriptures record that before the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, he commanded his followers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). He included every people group. It was not Christ’s mission to save only the Jews or any single people group. His mission was far more universal.
Romans 5:18 says, “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” Christ’s mission was truly global. In Revelation 5:9, John records a song sung in the heavenly throne room “Worthy are you to take the scroll and open its seals for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.
The beautiful result of this successful mission is that Christianity is thriving around the world today, with the largest group of believers residing in Sub-Saharan Africa (31%), exceeding that of Latin America (24%), Europe (22%), Asia-Pacific (12%) and North America (10%).
The truth of God’s Word and the testimony of history clearly show that Christianity is not of European origin, nor is it tied to any one race or skin colour. So, Africa has not been hoodwinked by the white man. Rather, it is a hub of God’s grace! May He continue to show his face to our continent and draw many more to Himself.