well I did some reading on Ethiopia and found a good source or two. Here's a little Church history for those interested in African Christianity.
"HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia was well known to the ancient writers. It is mentioned in the Bible more than 38 times by both Old Testament and New Testament writers. So, in accordance with the Biblical traditions of the ancient Israel, Ethiopia is described as the land of "CUSH" which was located by the "RIVER NILE" (Gen. 2: 13). The Septuagint (The Greek Translation) also describes it after the name of "ETHIOPIA" which has the same location.
Apart from the Biblical traditions, many historians knew Ethiopia and described its geographical location, referring towards the south of Egypt, which was populated by both Hamitic and Semitic stocks of people. According to the ancient Egyptian tradition, it was known as the "LAND OF PUNT" located at the end of the World, and they said "Land of Ghost. "
Homer (Greek poet of the 8th century B.C.) knew of this historical land and its people, when he said "ETHIOPIA, THE LAND OF SUN BURNED FACE." He described inhabitants again, as "THE BLAMELESS RACE."
Herodotus (Greek historian, 485-25 B.C.) praised the nation of Ethiopia as ":THE MOST JUST MEN".
The legal Source of Ethiopia starts the introduction of Judaism to Ethiopia is recorded in the KEBRE NEGEST (The Glory of the Kings). This book reflects heavily its focal point upon two historical events:
A. The birth of Menilek, Son of Solomon, King of Israel and the Queen Sheba of Ethiopia. (970-33 B.C.)
B. The Ark of the Covenant which was brought to Axum from Jerusalem by the Levites. (946-B.C. ?)
Apart from the Kebre Negest, there are vast reliable written sources which describe that Ethiopia had good relationship with the Nation of Israel. According to Biblical Sources, the relationship began in the time of Moses, which continues perpetually throughout the time of the New Testament era. (Numbers 12:1; I Kings 10:1-13; 2 Chron. 9:1-12; Mt. 12:42; Acts 8:27-39).
These sources start that next to the nation of Israel only Ethiopia knew, and confessed the Almighty God (The God of Abraham) and worshiped Him regularly. For example, The psalmist said: ETHIOPIA SHALL SOON STRETCH OUT HER HANDS UNTO GOD'S. (Ps. 67:31 68).
This witness affirms the earnest prayer of Ethiopia, which was based on her impeccable faith in the Almighty God. Even among the people of Israel, the Ethiopians seem to be more dear to the Almighty God than they. For example, Amos, the Prophet, bears witness of this truth, when he says: "ARE YOU NOT LIKE THE ETHIOPIANS TO ME, O PEOPLE OF ISRAEL?" (AM. 9:7). "
Every time the government tries to organize the economy, the only thing that stays organized is crime.
thepeoplescube
Message #219882 - This was a reply to message #219421
Addai
Walks With God Total Posts: 12093
RE: Ethiopian Church History
Thursday August 18, 2005 11:25 PM
IN THE TIME OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
St. Luke assured us in his witness that the Ethiopian received the Good News first hand from St. Philip the Evangelist at the very beginning of the Christian era ( Acts 8:26-39)). Therefore, it is believed that the Church in Ethiopia was inspired, preached, guided and consolidated, not by any means of the human power; but it was simply by the revealing power of the Holy Spirit!
As the result of this supernatural event, the Christian Faith was deeply rooted in that land, beginning from the Imperial palace down to the grass-roots Community villagers, across the.. Horn cuff Africa
So, as soon as Christianity struck its first root and held the ground within the Communities, both paganism and Judaism lost their popularity and eventually diminished from the public sight. Then the pagan temples, as well as the Jewish Synagogues, were employed by Christian Communities to serve them as Church buildings. For example in this period of radical change of time, the Great Synagogue, Zion of Akusm, was dedicated to be the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Ethiopian kingdom and became the vital source of both Old Testament and New Testament Theological studies, as well as the center of cultural and political research about the ancient Ethiopian civilization. This Synagogue was the traditional Holy Shrine of the Ark of the Covenant, which had been brought to Ethiopia by Menilek I, Son of King Solomon of Israel and Queen Sheba of Ethiopia.
Origen, the Christian scholar; Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea; St. John Chrisostom, Patriarch of Constantinople; and St. Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria -- were all amazed to learn that Christianity in Ethiopia was enjoying freedom from the very beginning of Its era. During this time, the Apostolic Fathers were still struggling with the Roman Imperial power as well as with the believers of Judaism, Paganism, Gnosticism and the rest of ancestral religious bazaars across the Mediterranean world and throughout the entire world.
Particularly Eusebius, the great writer on Church history, is highly admiring in his compositions, of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Ethiopian Church, when he describes
" The Ethiopian, who was the first of the Gentiles to receive from Philip by revelation the Mysteries of the Divine Word and was the first to return to his native land and preach the Gospel of the knowledge of God of the Universe and the sojourn of our Savior which gives life to men, so that by him was actually fulfilled the prophecy which says,'Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands to God' "(Ps. 67:31 68).
In the second quarter of the Fourth Century, King Ezana of Ethiopia appeared to the leading figure of the Church organization. (352-359 A.D.) This was a period of time of the radical shift in Church life to establishing Christianity as the State Religion of Ethiopia declared by the king. The king himself initiated the historical link between Aksum and Alexandria when he sent out Frumentius to St. Athanasius, the patriarch, in order to send a bishop to his kingdom. Athanasius, on his part, after learning the need of spiritual leader to that land, consecrated Frumentius, the private secretary of the king, after the name "Abbe Selama" as the first Bishop of Ethiopia.
Every time the government tries to organize the economy, the only thing that stays organized is crime.
thepeoplescube
Message #219883 - This was a reply to message #219882
GinaInME
Walks With God Total Posts: 10431
RE: Ethiopian Church History
Friday August 19, 2005 6:20 AM
This reputation must have been known in Arabia, too, because when the early followers of Mohammed started to face persecution from pagans, he sent them to Ethiopia because it was a Christian country and they could take refuge there. They did so, until they were finally expelled for proselytizing their blasphemies and otherwise stirring up trouble.
But many religious practices in Islam are more or less direct copies from Orthodoxy. From the bowing, head-to-the-ground, like a metania; to prayer with palms up, as the Egyptians do during the Lord's Prayer; to, I suspect, the structure of a mosque, with square base and large, round, plain dome.
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. -C.S. Lewis
Message #219898 - This was a reply to message #219882
Addai
Walks With God Total Posts: 12093
RE: Ethiopian Church History
Friday August 19, 2005 7:14 AM
Yeah I use to bring up stuff like this in reference to earlier discussions on race and Christianity. Especially Malcom X's claim that Christianity "is a white man's religion, While Islam is the religion of the BLACK man". He himself seems to have not learned or factored in African Christianity.
Furthermore some of the evil's he put solely on the white Christians shoulders, like slavery was actually first practiced and established by the Moslem, Saracen's. And even to this day, Sudan (a Islamic country) still enslaves Christians from Ethiopia and other areas, with covert abduction, luring young women with false advertising (promising them lucrative jobs etc.), only to make them sex slaves, or house keepers etc.
Every time the government tries to organize the economy, the only thing that stays organized is crime.
thepeoplescube
Message #219908 - This was a reply to message #219898
marcdav
Lurker Total Posts: 6
RE: Black People in the Conversation
Friday August 19, 2005 11:26 PM
Hi Frank,
Yeah, I agree with the above, but I would also add that to do real cross cultural ministry means that you have to learn how to be comfortable always being uncomfortable. Usually the stretch only happens one way. Being vulnerable and real always helps.
www.branchinthevine.blogspot.com
Message #220152 - This was a reply to message #219627
marcdav
Lurker Total Posts: 6
RE: Black People in the Conversation
Friday August 19, 2005 11:33 PM
Thanks Gina. What campus ministry were you with btw?
www.branchinthevine.blogspot.com
Message #220154 - This was a reply to message #219566
GinaInME
Walks With God Total Posts: 10431
RE: Black People in the Conversation
Saturday August 20, 2005 1:38 PM
Campus Crusade
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. -C.S. Lewis
Message #220240 - This was a reply to message #220154
marcdav
Lurker Total Posts: 6
RE: Black People in the Conversation
Sunday August 21, 2005 1:22 AM
I am with IVCF myself. So what caused you to wander into this site (this question is not just for Gina btw)?
Another thing, my wife is uncomfortable with the label, er, name emergent. I am a bit put off too. It all seems a bit elitist to me in some aspects, but at the same time it is drawing me, I must admit that.
www.branchinthevine.blogspot.com
Message #220339 - This was a reply to message #220240
GinaInME
Walks With God Total Posts: 10431
RE: Black People in the Conversation
Sunday August 21, 2005 1:09 PM
Marc,
I was doing research on "postmodern evangelism" for a megacity staff training curriculum, and somehow linked over here looking for articles. Didn't see anything in particular that struck me so I decided to hang around the forums for some "underground research." The community was so eclectic and welcoming, and with me being in a transitional phase at that point, I decided to hang around. So I was never "emergent," though I flirted with the notion.
I imagine EC's would say the term is just descriptive- the church that is emerging out of ___ (fill in the blank).
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. -C.S. Lewis
Message #220360 - This was a reply to message #220339
Addai
Walks With God Total Posts: 12093
RE: Black People in the Conversation
Monday August 22, 2005 10:04 PM
I actually was doing a key word search on Yahoo. I was interested in articles that were referencing both "Orthodoxy" and "Charismatic". Since at the time, I was doing a lot of thinking, and teaching on things like the sacraments, and theology and had a charismatic background and often related the two together.
Anyway the ooze was one of the few places I found that had articles both by traditional eastern Orthodox writers, as well as Charismatic interest stuff. But they had no Orthodox people ever on the discussuion boards that I saw (and I studied/searched at the old archived threads at the time). So I found it interesting, and stayed on and became the first card carrying Orthodox person on the board.
That was a little over 3 years ago...
Every time the government tries to organize the economy, the only thing that stays organized is crime.
thepeoplescube
Message #220595 - This was a reply to message #220339
The community was so eclectic and welcoming, and with me being in a transitional phase at that point, I decided to hang around. So I was never "emergent," though I flirted with the notion.