Apologetic to African Traditional Religion

1. There is only one God:
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for
yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the
earth.” Exodus 20:3-4
God doesn’t want you to follow the devils false methods:
“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you,
you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There
shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his
daughter pass through the fire, or anyone who practices witchcraft, or is
a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a spiritist, or
one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an
abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations
the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”
Deuteronomy 18:9-12
History
People throughout history have erected memorial stones, monuments
etc for people that have passed on. Biblically, these ought to be used
as memorials only, as reminders of what God has done in the nation,
city, town or farm on a redemptive level in spite of the godly, ungodly
or godless government or rulers in power at the time.
Additionally, nowhere in the Bible is the grieving process for our loved
ones condemned. Ecclessiates 7:2 says “It is better to go to a house
of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny
of every man; the living should take this to heart.”
It is good to remember History:
1. Because true study of History reveals God’s redemptive acts
in the past.
2. We can learn and be encouraged by those that have gone
before.
3. We can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
TRADITIONAL
RELIGION and
JESUS Christ
TRADITIONAL RELIGION
There is only one God:
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for
yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the
earth.” Exodus 20:3-4
God doesn’t want you to follow the devils false methods:
“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you,
you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There
shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his
daughter pass through the fire, or anyone who practices witchcraft, or is
a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a spiritist, or
one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an
abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations
the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”
Deuteronomy 18:9-12
History
People throughout history have erected memorial stones, monuments
etc for people that have passed on. Biblically, these ought to be used
as memorials only, as reminders of what God has done in the nation,
city, town or farm on a redemptive level in spite of the godly, ungodly
or godless government or rulers in power at the time.
Additionally, nowhere in the Bible is the grieving process for our loved
ones condemned. Ecclessiates 7:2 says “It is better to go to a house
of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny
of every man; the living should take this to heart.”
It is good to remember History:
1. Because true study of History reveals God’s redemptive acts
in the past.
2. We can learn and be encouraged by those that have gone
before.
3. We can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
TRADITIONAL
RELIGION and
JESUS Christ
TRADITIONAL RELIGION

2. You can’t serve God and the devil:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24
You only live once, then you are judged:
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes
judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
You are consulting demons—not ancestors:
“No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to
God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot
drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of
the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:20-21
Some will teach the doctrines of demons:
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from
the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of
demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1
The problem of 1 Samuel 28
Saul consults a medium (witchdoctor) and calls up Samuel. He gets a
correct answer, and the prophesy comes true. Saul is severely judged.
Nowhere in scripture, Saul is condoned for doing what he did.
The Only Way
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one
comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6
God loves you
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son..." John 3:16a
But you must believe
"...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16b
Born of Water and and of the Spirit
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God'." John 3:5
True Freedom
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
All who are weary
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.” Matthew 11:28
No more condemnation
“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
John 8:11
Jesus Christ
You can’t serve God and the devil:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24
You only live once, then you are judged:
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes
judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
You are consulting demons—not ancestors:
“No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to
God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot
drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of
the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:20-21
Some will teach the doctrines of demons:
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from
the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of
demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1
The problem of 1 Samuel 28
Saul consults a medium (witchdoctor) and calls up Samuel. He gets a
correct answer, and the prophesy comes true. Saul is severely judged.
Nowhere in scripture, Saul is condoned for doing what he did.
The Only Way
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one
comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6
God loves you
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son..." John 3:16a
But you must believe
"...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16b
Born of Water and and of the Spirit
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God'." John 3:5
True Freedom
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
All who are weary
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.” Matthew 11:28
No more condemnation
“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."
John 8:11
Jesus Christ