The Polemics of Christianity

The concept of religion has long been a polemical one, and Christianity has been at the center of that debate. As the origin and the supreme authority of that concept, Christianity dominates both semantic and institutional space. “Global spiritual warfare” combines apocalyptic visions, violent language, and an obsession with enemies to produce polemical examples of Christian supersessionism and expansionism. Interestingly, these polemical instances of Christian thought are related.

Africans read the Bible in a tangible way, seeing God at work in miracles. They also see the power of God through healings and other heavenly manifestations. African Christians have witnessed miracles and have experienced miracles themselves. African initiated churches began as a reaction to resistance they encountered from missionaries. Many of these indigenous churches were precursors of modern Pentecostal movements in Africa. In fact, the African-established churches of today were initiated by the indigenous African population.

The fundamentalist movement responded to these criticisms by publishing a statement on spiritual warfare based on discussions of its official working group. Although this statement appeared to warn against the misuse of demonic spirits, it arguably subverts the civilizing mission’s debt to Western modernism. In addition, the statement suggests a new role for evangelicals from the global south. This view, in turn, has led to a slew of other controversies.

While Jesus gathered his followers in his hometown, the apostles were dispatched by him to spread his message. These men were charged with authority over unclean spirits. Jesus also charged them with bringing no food to eat or money in their belts. The apostles also wore sandals, and Jesus told them to shake off the dust when they departed from an unfriendly place. Judas betrayed Jesus, but this episode has also helped define what Christian faith is all about.