Can We Unite With Catholics & Mormons? Gospel Purity & Civic Duty

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Tim Cantrell

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

In preparation for November’s G20 Summit to be hosted in South Africa, an Interfaith Forum was recently held in Cape Town to unite religious leaders to “strengthen peace-making efforts” in global conflicts. The All Africa Council of Churches accounts for some “200 million Christians” across the continent. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder and a conservative resurgence in the USA, there are new calls for reconciling Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, and others (especially when both the 2^nd and 3^rd in command are devout Catholics—Vance & Rubio). Meanwhile, others are calling for believers to come out and be separate from any political alliances with unbelievers.

How do we resist the temptation of ecumenism yet remain engaged in society? We’ll look at legitimate and illegitimate cooperation with unbelievers, all hinging upon the purpose for which we are uniting.

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Ancestor Worship in the Church

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

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

Recently while preaching in Namibia, I visited a far-northern town near the border of Angola. I took my sons to a village cemetery to visit the grave of a famous missionary buried there. We looked through the overgrown grass and horizon of headstones and spotted two men kneeling before a grave, bent over in humility, lips moving silently in prayer. After some minutes they moved to the next grave marker, then the next, and the next. They confided later that they were praying to their ancestors.

Defining Ancestor Worship

This is not uncommon in Africa. Veneration of ancestral spirits permeates traditional African culture as commonly as drumming and dancing. In the thinking of Traditional African Religion (ATR), the ancestors demand respect and remembrance. Honouring them will lead to blessing. Neglecting them will cause misfortune.

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‘National Day of Prayer’ – True Piety or Tactful Politics?

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Chipita Sibale

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According to the 1996 Constitution, Zambia is officially a Christian nation, with 75% of the population having a Protestant attachment and 20% being Roman Catholic. This strong affiliation to Christianity has seen many declarations from political leaders. One such call is that of a “National Day of Prayer.” This holiday was established in Zambia in 2015 by former President Edgar Lungu. It has since become a national event and holiday, falling on the 18th of October.

It offers an opportunity for individuals, families, and communities to take some extra time to reflect and pray. In order to observe the National Day of Prayer, fasting, repentance, and reconciliation in a reverential manner, all activities of an entertainment nature are postponed. At the same time, bars and food outlets remain closed between 6 AM to 6 PM.

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Why African Churches Should Celebrate Reformation Sunday

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

– Paul Schlehlein

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Thirty-one October, 1517, is the day Martin Luther put hammer to nail and posted his 95 Theses upon the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Reformation Sunday is the day that thousands of churches worldwide celebrate that historic moment.

History of the Reformation

The Catholic Church in Luther’s day had become corrupt, promoting what Scripture rejects and denying what the Bible confirms. Luther was nurtured in the Catholic Church and had given his life to her as a monk. But as Luther dug deeper in the Scriptures—something Catholics were not supposed to do—the Holy Spirit began illuminating the sins of the Vatican.

Luther, as it were, had pulled up the floorboards of the Church, only to find the foundation infested with vermin. Down there were Hymenaeus and Alexander, Diotrephes and Elymas, eating away at the foundation of truth.

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