Confronting Christianity (Chapter 2)

Ice-Breaker:

Ask each person to share one thing about their background or heritage that they feel shaped who they are.

This could be a tradition, a story from their family, or a value they were raised with.

After everyone shares, you can ask the group to reflect on how their experiences might connect with the idea of Christianity being diverse and crossing cultural barriers, as discussed in your lesson.

Introduction:

“For many, the idea that Christianity is a white, western religion, intrisinically tied to cultural imperialism, stands as a major ethical barrier to considering Christ.”

Sengmei

Ribgneu tribe, India

Professor of English literature at Delhi University

Became a Christian as a teen

Husband is a pastor

“Sengmei’s story illustrates an uncomfortable truth: some of the people most affected by the wrongs of Western Christians are also some of biblical Christianity’s most ardent advocates.”

Tribal indians and racial discrimation

Kanato Chophi: “We must abandon this absurd idea that Christianity is a Western religion.”\

Is Literacy Western?

Christinaity had a molopoly on Western culture, but western culturew never held a monopoly on Christianity.

Illus. Literacy

Three reasons that literacy isn’t western

First, it didn’t orginate in the West

Second, most literate people today are not Westerners

Third, It is offensive to the majority of the world to suggest that they are literate only by appropriation.

The Bible’s Diversity Ethics

Q. How did Jesus tear through racial barriers?

The Good Samaritan

Today’s equivelant: White Christian, black Muslum

Samaritan woman (John 4)

Matt 28:19.

Acts: Different languages

Col. 3:11 & Gal. 3:28.

Also, sociioeconomic diversity

Not treating rich people better than poor people (James 2:8-9).

“The idea that Christianity is a diversity-resistant, white Western religion of privelege is utterly irreconcialable with the New Testament.

The First African Christian

Does anybody know who the first African Christian was?

Acts 8.

Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

The Christianization of Ethiopia and Eritea in the fourth century

From Egypt in first century to Tunisia, the Sudan, and other parts of Africa in the second century

Africa and Church Fathers (Augustine of Hippo)

“Over 60 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa identifies as Christian.”

40% of the world’s self-identifying Christian’s by 2050

The Middle East: Home to the World’s Oldest, Fastet Growing, and Most Perseuted Churches

Iraq

1.4 million Christians in 1987, but has greatly reduced since then

The Iranian Church is the fastest-growing Christian movement in the world.

Does Christianity Belong in India?

Hinduism is the least ethnically dispersed religion.

14 percent Hindu in India, 2 percent Christian (27 million)

Hindu-nationalist government

Thomas is believed to have brought the Gospel to south India in the first century

The Caste System (Brahma)

Priests and intellectuals: Brahma’s head

Warriors: Arms

Traders: thighs

Menial workers: feet

Below feet = Dalits, or untouchables

“Not allowed to live in villages,” etc.

Caste system no longer endorsed, but still relevant

The Bible: Equal value and dignity of all people

Many of India’s Christians are from the untouchable class

Ghandi: “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

China: The Largest Christian Country in the World?

Goes back to 8th century

Growth in China today is unprecendented

James Hudson Taylor: “I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”

Estimates from 2010: 68 million Christians

More Christians in China than in US by 2030; majority Christian nation by 2050

Reverse Traffic:

“But most of the world’s Christians are neither white nor Western, and Christianity is getting less white Western by the day.”

“South Korea exports the second largest number of missionaries of any country in the world.”

Black women are the most Christian demographic across the world

What About America?

Many people associate evangelicalism with racism

Martin Luther King on churches and segregation

Most immigrants to the US are Christians

The racial demographic that is eroding Christianity in America is white

The Most Diverse Movement in All of History

Rev 7:9.