Author Archives: Paul Schlehlein

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About Paul Schlehlein

Jesus is Lord. Husband to Lindy. Father of eight. Missionary church-planter to the Tsongas in rural South Africa.

Should Christians Own Guns? 

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Gun-ownership in the United States is the highest in the world, with a rate of 120 guns per 100 people. Yes, that’s more than one gun per person. Gun-ownership rates in Africa, however, are tiny (at least among non-criminals), with almost non-existent rates in countries like Malawi, Benin, Ethiopia, and Niger. 

In South Africa and South Sudan, there are less than ten gun-owners per one-hundred people, even though (as of 2024), South Africa has the fifth-highest crime rate in the world. 

South Africa is a very dangerous place to live. According to recent crime statistics from the South African Police Service, 453 homes are burgled every day in the country. This despite each home being clothed in a robe of steel burglar bars and shiny razor wire. 

This raises the question: are Christians allowed to defend themselves? If Jesus said to turn the other cheek, may His followers use dogs, walls, and fists to protect their lives and property? If so, are weapons like guns and knives valid? Consider the following four principles.

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The Eloquence of Chrysostom (Ep. 10)

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It was said of John the Golden Mouth that it was better for the sun never to shine on Constantinople than for Chrysostom to stop preaching. While the multitudes loved him and his enemies despised him, this towering bishop continued to use the oratorical gifts God had given him to honor the name of Christ, even until the very end when it led to his death. 

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Execution of Justice: Should Believers Desire the Death Penalty?

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–– Evan Cantrell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

In 2020, Tafadzwa Shama and Tapiwa Makore (Sr) killed and dismembered Makore’s nephew, 7-year-old Tapiwa Makore (Jr). The killing was part of a pagan ritual intended to ensure the prosperity of their cabbage growing business.

In 2023, the men were sentenced to death for their horrific crime. However, in December 2024, Zimbabwe repealed the death penalty, almost 20 years after its last execution in 2005. As a result, Shama and Makore had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. 

When faced with brutal crimes like the murder of little Tapiwa Makore, our hearts cry out for justice through the ultimate punishment. However, activists argue that the death penalty only breeds more violence, and is ineffective and unproductive. They hold up Zimbabwe to the rest of Africa as an example of what should be done in abolishing the death penalty. 

What does God’s Word say? Is it right for believers to desire that the death penalty be carried out, or does this stand in conflict with the command to “love our enemy”? 

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John MacArthur’s Legacy in Africa and Beyond

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

On Monday, July 14, shortly after 6 p.m., John MacArthur breathed his last breath on earth and was received into the presence of Jesus Christ, whom he loved and had preached faithfully for over six decades. 

I enjoyed the privilege of studying under Dr. MacArthur at the Master’s Seminary and was honoured when he endorsed my first book. His influence reached around the world and will impact the church for centuries to come should the Lord tarry.

Having served for two decades as a missionary in Africa, I would like to highlight four ways John MacArthur influenced this continent for Christ. 

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The Solitude of Jerome (Ep. 9)

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Each generation of church fathers built upon the teachings of the previous era. Should you observe a painting of Jerome, most likely you’ll see him sitting at a desk, reading a book, or holding a pen.

He was learned, eloquent, and a lover of words, most importantly a lover of the Word of God. With these gifts he served the Church well and is best remembered for his translation of the Bible into Latin and introducing the monastic life to the world. 

The giants of the faith that established the foundations of Christianity between the first and fifth centuries are called the Early Church Fathers, a broad category that can be broken into three smaller divisions. The Apostolic Fathers, like Clement of Rome, were contemporaries of Jesus’ twelve apostles.

The Ante-Nicene Fathers predate the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 and include Justin Martyr and Tertullian. The Post-Nicene Fathers come immediately after the Council of Nicaea and include Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom and the focus of this episode, Jerome. 

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Family Overreach in Marriage

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–– Joe Shoko

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Ubuntuism is a good thing. What makes it unique is the emphasis on communal living. Not too long ago, African communities were distinctly community-oriented. It was as if Acts 2:42-47 was being re-enacted, but without Christ as the focal point. Whenever someone was sick, they didn’t run out of aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters to lend a helping hand. 

In such times, high yard walls were still very much a vague, futuristic half–baked concept and the only thing that separated you and your ‘neighbour’ was the closed doors and windows at night. This was the ideal scenario, until it was time for prospective couples to wed. 

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The Composure of Ambrose (Ep. 8)

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Ambrose of Milan stands as one of the greatest theologians and bishops of the 4th century. His pen attacked the false teachings of his day, and his preaching led to the conversion of the great Augustine of Hippo. 

But his greatest contribution to the church may have been his unflappable resolve while under fire from the authority of the State.

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Reading the ANC’s ‘Bible’: A Christian Response to the Freedom Charter

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–– Tim Cantrell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Last month was the 70th anniversary of South Africa’s Freedom Charter, once called the ANC’s “Bible” by former president, Jacob Zuma. Hailed as the true ‘voice of the people’ for liberation since 1955, it is often elevated to the status of religious dogma, and exalted above our national Constitution. As image-bearers of the Almighty, God has placed this cry for freedom and human dignity in all of our hearts, as we’ve often argued here on TARIF. Muzzling the consent of the governed and trampling on human rights is abominable in God’s eyes and must be opposed.

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Marriage Thoughts on Polygamy, Virginity, and HIV Tests

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Having lived in a little Tsonga village for nearly two decades, I’ve learned a thing or two about African culture. The place where I reside is semi-rural, and is thus a better representation of African culture than the westernised cities. Pit toilets are more common than flush toilets, the native language is more prevalent than English, granny-led homes are more numerous than houses with a mom and dad, and unemployment is sky-high.

One of my convictions is that feminism has devastated the African home perhaps more than any ideology—even more than the Prosperity Gospel. 

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The Stewardship of Basil the Great (Ep. 7)

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God gives some people more advantages than others. One man is born free with excellent parents, a good education, and food on the table. Another is born amidst danger, receives no schooling, and endures the daily challenge to eat.

Three men that enjoyed immense privilege in their youth were Nicene theologians known as the Cappadocian Fathers because they were natives of the province of Cappadocia in modern-day Turkey. The most formidable of the three was Basil of Caesarea (330-79), sometimes called Basil the Great; not only for his tremendous influence upon the Church, but for his generosity toward the needy.  

Four Principles for Overcoming Prejudice and Racism

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

These days, it seems the word “bigotry” could be applied to almost any behaviour. Criticise a Zulu’s English and you’ll be accused of racism. Complement that same Zulu’s English and you’ll be charged with implying that other Zulus can’t speak English well. 

To be sure, Scripture is opposed to every form of prejudice, racism, and bigotry. But it is important to properly define these sinful behaviours. Favouritism is the unfair treatment of certain people. It refers to preferential actions toward one group over another for no good reason. 

But does this mean we treat everyone the same? And isn’t it true that the world seems to call everything racism these days? How do I avoid jealousy of other groups unlike mine, and how do I navigate the idea of prejudice in a way that honours God? 

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The Mess of Minimum Wage (Part 2)

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The unemployment rate in South Africa stood at about 7% in the mid-1970s. It rose to 13% in the mid-90s, 25% in the late 2000s, and stands at about 33% as of the first quarter of 2025. In a recent survey of 24 developed countries, South Africa had by far the highest unemployment rate. Other worldwide surveys confirm that unemployment in South Africa is among the worst in the world.  

While there are many solutions to unemployment, one obvious answer is removing Minimum Wage Laws (MWLs)—one of the greatest causes of a jobless society. An MWL is when the government makes it illegal to hire someone at a lesser rate than it has decreed. 

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The Determination of Athanasius (Ep. 6)

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The extraordinary men of church history gave their lives for the central truths under attack in their day. Paul focused his energy on Christ crucified. Martin Luther preserved the doctrine of justification by faith alone. 

Athanasius jumped headlong into the Arian dispute, the greatest theological controversy in church history, and as we shall now see, defended the deity of Jesus Christ with robust determination.

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Wokeism: When the Cure Is Worse Than the Disease

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–– David de Bruyn

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Africa receives some American errors that are quite beneficial. For example, before the NBA finals, the Super Bowl or the World Series, sports merchandisers produce memorabilia of both finalists winning, so as to be able to immediately sell when the final is over. Unfortunately, half of that merchandise represents an alternate universe, where the team that lost actually won. What happens to the champions-that-never-were T-shirts and caps? Many of them are donated to African third-world countries, where needy folks wear shirts displaying an event that never happened. 

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The Perseverance of Cyprian (Ep. 5)

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Dying for one’s faith is a decision many Christians have faced in the past and in the present. In most countries today, martyrdom is rare but in the early church, Christians expected it. 

In church history, many consider Cyprian of Carthage to be the greatest bishop of the third century. He also exemplifies perseverance in the faith and how to counsel professing Christians who fall away. 

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Independence—A Call for African Churches to Support African Missions

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–– Joe Shoko

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The current call in African countries is for the “Decolonisation of Africa!” One African country, Zimbabwe, gained its independence from British rule on April 18, 1980. It’s neighbour, South Africa, was one of the last countries in Africa to see the end of racial segregation in what is known as apartheid, and to be declared an independent, “democratic” country.  

Currently, there are 54 fully independent countries in Africa. Independence is something that many young university students long for. The dream of being able to come home without the curfew alarm going off, or being frantically called by a worried mother is what many aspire to. When we think of independence, what comes to mind is being able to stand on your own two feet. This is when boys become men.

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Who was to Blame for Original Sin?

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Answering 439 Bible Contradictions 

Answer: Eve was guilty for the first sin, but Adam was responsible for original sin.

Problem: First Timothy 2:14 says Eve (not Adam) was deceived into sinning first, but Romans 5:12 says that sin came into the world through Adam (not Eve).

Explanation: First Timothy 2:14 declares: “Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

This verse gives the second reason why Paul prohibited women from teaching the Bible to men in the church and exercising authority over them (2:12).

The first reason comes from v. 13: “Adam was formed first.” But Paul, never one to leave his audience short-handed, gives another basis for men-only preachers: Eve was deceived, though “Adam was not”. Eve, being tempted by Satan, sinned first by eating the forbidden fruit (Gn. 3:6). Continue reading →

The Mess of Minimum Wage (Part 1)

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Most nations around the world utilize minimum wage laws, which make it illegal for employers to pay less than the government-specified price for labor. Politicians and labor unions are notorious in their calls for higher minimum wage. These regulations, however, vary significantly. 

The per-hour minimum wage in USD is about $19 in Luxembourg, $13 in Germany, $7.25 in the US, $2 in India, and $1.50 in South Africa. Some African countries are so poor (like Sudan, Burundi, and the Gambia) that monthly salaries work out to under $1 per day, or just a few cents per hour.  

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The Zeal of Tertullian (Ep. 4)

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In the 2nd century, God gifted the church with a shrewd and systematic thinker from North Africa. His name was Tertullian, and his warlike spirit and cutting sarcasm laid an axe upon the tree of false teaching.

The writings of this hot-blooded Roman lawyer were pungent and thought-provoking. He became a fiery champion of orthodoxy against “practically every opponent of Christianity.”

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Fanon Still Fanning the Flames: Exposing the Lies of Marxism

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–– Tim Cantrell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Recently, one astute analyst of South African news went beyond the usual reporting to identify competing ideologies.  Since our national crime and violence have been recently exposed on a global stage, what’s at the root of such ugly fruits? 

Turns out that a 1961 book still exerts an enormous influence on the Ramaphosas and Malemas of our day (just as it did on the Gaddafis, Mugabes and many other tyrants), a kind of Marxist ‘Bible’ for many – entitled, The Wretched of the Earth, by French psychiatrist, Frantz Fanon.  

Thanks to Fanon’s influence, hate and crime (or utterly failed policies like BEE or Eskom) can be justified as long as they are done in the name of liberation.  Instead of believing that mankind is universally evil and needing to be civilised, we’re told man is basically good but oppressed, so Western civilisation must be deconstructed and rebuilt by the liberators.

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Is the Day of the Lord at Hand?

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Answering 439 Bible Contradictions 

Answer: Yes, the Day of the LORD draws nearer and nearer, though God’s final judgment of sinners has not yet happened.

Problem: First Thessalonians 4:15-17 suggests an imminent return of Christ, while 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 suggests it may already have happened.

Explanation: The Day of the Lord refers to Jesus’ future judgement of sinners. The Second Coming refers to Jesus’ future, bodily return to earth. These are not exactly the same event, though they are connected. Continue reading →

10 Theses on Helping the Poor

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Calls for helping the world’s poor are ubiquitous. These cries arise from church pulpits, university professors, school textbooks, media channels, and especially government officials. Indeed, poverty exists all around the world. 

For example, Africa is by far the poorest continent globally. In 2023, twenty-three of the world’s twenty-five poorest countries were in Africa. In 2025, the country with the highest per capita GDP was Luxembourg at $141,080. The nation with the lowest per capita GDP was Burundi at $157, nearly 900 times less than Luxembourg. 

According to Visual Capitalist, South Africa has the greatest wealth inequality in the world. This means that, more than any other country, princes and paupers live side-by-side—or, more realistically—within distant sight of each other. But this is misleading, since the “poor” in South Africa are far wealthier than the middle class of, say, Malawi, where the per capita annual earningis $448 compared to $6,517 in South Africa. 

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The Defence of Justin Martyr (Ep. 3)

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Flavius Justinius was born about a half century or so after the death of Christ. Today we know him as Justin Martyr, a man who serves as an excellent example of one whose education and position did not stop him from listening to the life-changing counsel of an old Christian—a man whose wisdom helped change the course of church history.

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The Scandal of the African Church

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–– Seth Meyers

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The scandal of the African church is that there is not much of an African church. Most of the 54 countries in Africa claim to be Christian by more than 50% of their inhabitants. That works out to be nearly half of the 1.5 billion Africans on the continent. 

Number of Churches

Using South Africa as a test case, can we estimate the number of Christians in the country? If we estimated there were 50 Sola 5 churches with 200 members each in South Africa, that would be 10,000 members. That is more churches and more members in each church, but just as a thought experiment, let it stand. Now add in an estimated 50 assemblies from the Afrikaans Baptiste Kerke with 200 members each, and there is another 10,000.

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The Contours of Godly Speech: A Biblical Evaluation of “Kill the Boer”

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–– Mark Christopher

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The contentious issue of struggle songs in South Africa has sparked considerable debate, consternation, and division for several years now. Last week, President Trump showed a 5-minute video of Economic Freedom Fighter leader, Julius Malema, singing what is called the “Kill the Boer” song at several rallies. 

As a result, the issue has dominated the headlines for 8 days straight. The South African delegation, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, awkwardly squirmed as Trump had the video played and the world listened to “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer … shoot to kill, shoot to kill … Brrr pop, Brrr pop.”

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Voices of Virtue: The Steadfastness of Polycarp (Ep.2)

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Soon after Jesus ascended to heaven, countless martyrs began spilling their blood in allegiance to Christ. Even while tortured, beaten and burned, they remained faithful until death. Just as the living God stood with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace, so He dwelled with the early believers in the flames and at the stake.

These martyrs possessed such devotion for Christ that the flames seemed cool to them. Polycarp was one of these martyrs. By remaining steadfast for Christ, Polycarp became one of the most prominent church heroes of the second century. 

Biblical Medicine for Moms & Miscarriages

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–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Miscarriages worldwide are quite common, occurring in nearly 20% of pregnancies. Most of the countries with the highest miscarriage rates are in Africa, such as Ethiopia, Niger, Mozambique, and Zambia. The majority of us know women who have experienced at least one miscarriage. 

A miscarriage, sometimes called a spontaneous abortion, refers to the premature death of the baby in the womb. As opposed to abortion, which actively murders the child in the womb, a miscarriage is the end of a pregnancy before 20 weeks’ gestation. The death of a baby after 20 weeks is called a stillbirth, whereby the family often holds a funeral. 

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Voices of Virtue: The Admonition of Clement (Ep.1)

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Voices of Virtue delves into the lives of historical Christian figures, focusing on the key values that marked each of their lives and uncovering profound lessons for today.

From the purity of Augustine to the courage of John Knox, and even the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, each narrative is a powerful testament to God’s grace working through ordinary men.

Video available here

Church history studies the gathering and growth of God’s people. It begins after the death of Christ and the dawn of the Spirit’s work through the New Testament church. Clement of Rome was the first apostolic father of the Church.

He was a contemporary with some of the apostles and, like most of Jesus’ disciples, he died for his faith. In present day, we revere Clement for the letter of admonition he wrote to the believers in Corinth, an epistle through which God used him to correct his beloved brothers.

Some African Traditions Must Die

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–– Lennox Kalifungwa

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

What would you do if embracing Christianity demanded the death of a cherished cultural tradition? Though posed as hypothetical, this is a pressing question that every Christian, sooner or later, must confront.

In the wake of British and European colonial withdrawal, many African nations turned enthusiastically to postcolonialism—a postmodern creed animated less by a hunger for self-determination than by a visceral loathing of Western thought and custom. What followed was an era obsessed with the preservation of all things deemed authentically African. In the fevered rush to cast off colonial vestiges, Africans began re-engineering every corner of their cultural landscape—from attire and rituals to language, politics, and ceremonial pomp.

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How Government Hurts Business and What to Do About It

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–– Charles Russell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The ANC has been in power for 31 years and makes several empty promises every 5 years. In fact, President Ramaphosa addressed the World Economic Forum in 2019 specifically on the topic of ease of doing business, promising change. 6 years later, there are no noticeable improvements. The party is simply not committed to growth and business-friendliness.

Recently, South Africa was ranked the most difficult place to do business according to the Daily Investor, the last of the 49 countries included. 

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