Points of Contrast between African Traditional Religion and Christianity

God

The understanding of God normally needs some refining when one comes from African Traditional Religion to be a Christian. Instead of God keeping his distance from man, He, throughout history and today reaches down in love to draw humans toward him. He is not only the covenant giver He gives the power to keep the covenant.

Eternal Rest of the Soul

Many forms of African Traditional Religion teach that after death, humans can be born back into the realm of the living. The Biblical teaching of a single judgment and then everlasting rest or punishment of the soul.

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

There are many forms of spirits that can live in people in various African Traditional Religions. None of them hold that the spirit of the Creator God indwells humans. This is not only the sign of being "sons of God" but a source of power and comfort to Christians.

Christianity is for All Ethnic Groups

The African Traditional Religion of one ethnic group does not motivate its believers to teach and convert people from another ethnic group. African Traditional Religions are specific to each ethnic group on the continent. The evangelistic mandate of Christianity and the very nature of Jehovah God encompasses all ethnic groups on the planet. The Christian message calls people out of earthly kingdoms into the Kingdom of God.

Christ is the Mediator between Humans and God

Ancestral spirits and lesser gods are usually the primary communicants with humans on earth. They often communicate, yet do not carry the desires of humans to the Creator God. Christ Jesus, God's own son, takes the "groaning" of humans to God. He was tempted in all the ways men were so is a sympathetic mediator.

Definition of Sin

Sin in African Traditional Religion is mostly concerned with transgression of morals or community norms. There is a difference in the severity of a sin if it is something done to someone of your same ethnic group and someone of another group. In the Christian reality sin is against and in rebellion to God.

Forgiveness

Sacrifices are offered in African Traditional Religion in order placate, appease, or ask favors of the spirits. They are often offered when a wrong is committed. The will of God, as revealed in the Bible, is that all people be forgiven and saved through the sacrifice of his son.