Top 10 Gospel Objections in Cape Town

This post comes on the back of this post by Jonathan Dodson, where he encourages us to:

“Identify the top 10 Obstacles to the Gospel in your Context. Don’t do this from the armchair, do it from anecdotes (conversations) and cultural exegesis (spending time in pockets of resistance or indifference).”

So here goes my initial attempt – a bit from the armchair and a bit from my regular conversations with unbelievers on campus and a bit from interactions with my non-Christian friends:

1. One city – many cultures – this was a slogan for a campaign run by a daily Cape Town newspaper a few years ago.  And it captures how many post-modern urban people feel about religion.  Everyone is free to choose what is right for them.  As a friend of mine has said – “as long as you believe that is enough.”  Cape Town in many ways is a very spiritual city.

2. Christianity is homophobic – this is a huge stumbling block in a city known as the “gay capital of Africa”.  Many unbelievers will be gay, have gay friends or family or be pro-gay.  This is perhaps less true in the black townships.  In some communities it may also be felt that Christianity oppresses woman.

3. Other religious beliefs – large Muslim community in Cape Town.  As well as many from more rural or traditional communities who hold to African traditional religions or a hybrid of ATR and Christianity – like the Zionists.

4. Immunized – had a bit of religion when young – just not interested now.  Prevalent particularly among Afrikaans speaking Capetonians – both white and coloured.

5. Cultural Christianity – what is perceived to be the Christian message is boxed off into a compartment that is relevant for Sunday but irrelevant for the rest of the week.  This exists in different forms but equally dangerous, in those Afrikaans speaking people who never abandoned their faith, black people and coloured (mixed race) people.

6. The Prosperity Gospel – this false gospel is for many synonymous with what it means to be a Christian, that true discipleship is lost in the search for blessings, motivational talk and material greed.  Whilst this may attract many it has also repelled many who have either seen the abuse in rural Africa or are simply put off by the crass greed displayed by so many.

7. The myth that humans are all intrinsically good.  That with the right education, opportunities and a just and fair government – we with all make a success out of life.  To talk about total depravity and original sin has the scent of apartheid and bantu education where the black man was led taught that he was of lesser worth than a white man.

8. Rampant materialism – particularly for young black people.  A generation who finally has access to all that was denied to their parents is going to make sure that they do not miss out on what is their by right.  The myth that this success and attaining of these dreams of nice cars, house in the suburbs, money etc will bring happiness.

9. In a city that is know for its love of pleasure (hedonism) and playing hard, is it no surprise that people perceive Christianity to be simply irrelevant to their dreams of success in career, chasing the maximum pleasure and the most amount of toys.  The timing of the most church gatherings on a Sunday morning may well be a barrier to many of these Capetonians.

10.  Linked to both 1. and 9. above there is the moral objection.  Capetonians are not willing to allow anything to get in the way of their enjoyment of life and achieving of goals, especially not some imposed religious principles. For many people their values and principles are determined by their morals.  Many students I talk to are very interested to talk about Jesus but do not want to commit to follow him because of how that would affect their morality. For some this may be even more antagonistic: “Who are you to tell me what is right for me?”

What do you think?  Do these ring true with any Capetonians reading?

What would you add? Change?  Clarify? Leave out?

~ by John on July 5, 2009.