First Afrikan Theological Statement

THE FIRST AFRIKAN THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT

Birth/Creation

We believe in the living Creator, who fashioned the Universe,

The one who gave life to this galaxy, solar system and planet, more specifically life here on mother earth, and the most ancient presence of humanity that originated within our Mother, Africa. We were formed in the image of our Creator, male and female. And “This is very good.”

 Life/New Life

We believe that the living Creator, who was called by many powerful names in Africa and throughout the world, is not only the source of life, but also the one that sustains and liberates humanity and all of creation from the destructive powers of oppression and death.

Consequently, at a specific time and place in history our Creator became human. Our Redeemer was born on the peninsula of Northeast Africa as Jesus of Nazareth, the Black Messiah.

He appeared among the poorest, most wretched, and despised people within the Roman Empire.

This African Messiah was born in a dirty manger because there was no other place for him. As our Elder Brother he grew in wisdom, knowledge and in his determination to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and battle against all principalities and powers.

Our African Messiah was arrested, tried, beaten, and lynched under the Roman Empire and with the sanction of the Jewish Sanhedrin.

Our African Messiah died and descended into the bowels of the earth.

But the grave could not hold him. Our mighty African Messiah rose again, conquering the final enemy of life.

Our triumphant African Messiah returned to the heavens as the king of kings and lord of lords, leaving the promise of new life to all who follow the Way he himself had prepared.

Transformation/Victorious Living

We believe in the life giving, anointing Holy Spirit. It is the power of the Holy Spirit as the Sustainer of life that brings the new birth and multidimensional sanctification. This breath of life pervades the universe, sustains it and fills our lives as we dedicate ourselves to participate in the work that Jesus, the Christ, began.

Through the Holy Spirit, we are transformed from a deadly state of indifference toward the oppression and death we see around us into the living, anointed and committed disciples. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we think, speak and act in ways that demonstrate the victorious living of a chosen people who know from whence we have come and to where we are going.

We believe in the importance of remembering our ancestors and celebrating those saints throughout our ancient and contemporary histories who have become our cloud of witnesses to the reality that “God is a way out of no way.”

We honor our ancestors and follow their examples of victorious living as we continue to struggle for the complete liberation of our people, knowing that the living Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer goes before us, works in us, and will meet us on the path of liberation.

Ashe and Amen!

SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES FOR THE THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT

I         Birth/Creation

Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalms 8; 139:13-18 (Creation of the universe, earth life and humanity).

Genesis 2:10-14 (African rivers of origin).

II        Life/New Life

Para. 1       Exodus 3:13-15 (no argument with Moses regarding other    African/Kemetic names for Creator/Liberator)

Para. 2       Matthew 1:18-25 (birth narrative); 2:13-23 (flight into Egypt/Kemit).

Para. 3-4    Luke 2:1-7 (birth narrative, angel, naming, manger scene); 2:22-28  (temple appearance, “grew in knowledge,” etc.); all of Mark’s   gospel is an example of the might acts of Jesus.

Para. 5       Matthew 26:47-68; 27:1-2, 11-13, 24-44, 45-56 (arrest, trial,         crucifixion and death [includes witness of women disciples at the  cross]).

Para. 6       Ephesians 4:8-10 (ascent to heavens and descent into hell); 1 Peter 4:5-6 (descent into hell, preaching to the dead).

Para. 7       1 Corinthians 15:55 (grave could not hold him); Luke 24:13-35 (post-resurrection Emmaus road experience).

Para. 8       Acts 1:9-11 (ascension and promised return).

III      Transformation/Victorious Living

Para. 1       Acts 1:8; 2:1-12; John 3:1-10 (new birth, multidimensional sanctification).

Para. 2       Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 2:7 (creation of human being, breath of life); Acts 2:13-42 (Peter preachers, souls added to the church).

Para. 3       Acts 3:1-10 (Peter’s witness); 4:1-22 (Peter and John’s witness); 21:37-40 (witness of Paul the Egyptian).

Para. 4       Hebrews 11:1; 12:2 (ancestors of faith and Jesus as the object of faith).

Para. 5       Revelation 1:8; 21-22 (Creator/Liberator as “Alpha and Omega”).