I recently got into an argument with a co-worker about Christianity being colonialist because of what Portugal and Spain did in the 16th and following centuries.
Colonialism is of course good, but I see no reason to bring that up with someone so far left. As Christ said, "I fed you with milk not wine, for ye were not ready. Ye still are not ready."
This brought me to a strange line of thought. Ethiopia was surrounded by Muslims on three sides and Pagans one one since the 7th century. By the 10th it was just Muslims.
They were fought by Muslims for over 1200 years, and did not break.
So, what were the other Christian Kingdoms in Africa doing?
Well, I've not heard of any, so perhaps they were none. Thus, if all of Africa refused Christ, and attacked the noble Ethiopia since it had received the good news in Acts 8, then the Portuguese and Spanish invasion were thus rightful rebuke for over a thousand and four hundred years of Pagan and Muslim invasion.
Acts 8:26-38
King James Version
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
The Portuguese colonised Africa, starting with Morocco in 1415.
The Second Christian country, not just a country with Christians in it, but a country which had Christianity as it's official religion, was the Kongo, in 1491, 76 years afterwards.
www.metmuseum.org
So, the very colonisation of Africa can be seen as rightful judgement from God for over 1400 years of invasions upon Ethiopia and Christian persecution.
The Legends of the King Prester John, who is believed to have been an Ethiopian King claimed his Kingdom was lost to Pagans.
en.wikipedia.org
King Tewodros II of Ethiopia suffered invasions from Somalia and rebellions in the 19th century, because he ended slavery. The only people to send him aid were the British. Queen Victoria for reasons I have yet to uncover, sent limited aid, leading to him holding the Diplomat Cameron as a prisoner, but she was so upset over the outcome that she took his son Alemayehu and raised him as her own.
en.wikipedia.org
My conclusion from this is that unlike England, which became Christian when King Æthelberht of Kent searched for salvation, or Óengus mac Nad Froích, or Clovis I, ot Constantine I...
All of Africa clung to Paganism and Islam both for 1400 years except for Ethiopia alone, which had Christian blood from Moses who married an Ethiopian wife.
Colonialism is of course good, but I see no reason to bring that up with someone so far left. As Christ said, "I fed you with milk not wine, for ye were not ready. Ye still are not ready."
This brought me to a strange line of thought. Ethiopia was surrounded by Muslims on three sides and Pagans one one since the 7th century. By the 10th it was just Muslims.
They were fought by Muslims for over 1200 years, and did not break.
So, what were the other Christian Kingdoms in Africa doing?
Well, I've not heard of any, so perhaps they were none. Thus, if all of Africa refused Christ, and attacked the noble Ethiopia since it had received the good news in Acts 8, then the Portuguese and Spanish invasion were thus rightful rebuke for over a thousand and four hundred years of Pagan and Muslim invasion.
Acts 8:26-38
King James Version
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
The Portuguese colonised Africa, starting with Morocco in 1415.
The Second Christian country, not just a country with Christians in it, but a country which had Christianity as it's official religion, was the Kongo, in 1491, 76 years afterwards.
African Christianity in Kongo - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
In parts of Kongo, Christianity was accepted not as a new religion that would replace the old, but rather as a new syncretic cult that was fully compatible with existing structures.
So, the very colonisation of Africa can be seen as rightful judgement from God for over 1400 years of invasions upon Ethiopia and Christian persecution.
The Legends of the King Prester John, who is believed to have been an Ethiopian King claimed his Kingdom was lost to Pagans.
Prester John - Wikipedia
King Tewodros II of Ethiopia suffered invasions from Somalia and rebellions in the 19th century, because he ended slavery. The only people to send him aid were the British. Queen Victoria for reasons I have yet to uncover, sent limited aid, leading to him holding the Diplomat Cameron as a prisoner, but she was so upset over the outcome that she took his son Alemayehu and raised him as her own.
Christianity in Africa - Wikipedia
My conclusion from this is that unlike England, which became Christian when King Æthelberht of Kent searched for salvation, or Óengus mac Nad Froích, or Clovis I, ot Constantine I...
All of Africa clung to Paganism and Islam both for 1400 years except for Ethiopia alone, which had Christian blood from Moses who married an Ethiopian wife.
