“The Kingdom of Heaven Beyond Evangelicalism” by Philip Kakungulu

For too long, the African church has been shackled by a colonial legacy that weaponized the “Kingdom of Heaven” to divide and dominate. From the 19th century, white missionary evangelicalism rated African belief systems as inferior, sowing discord across Uganda’s seven hills and beyond (Sanneh, 2009). This colonial evangelicalism birthed violent political games, from Uganda’s religious factions to the Rwandan genocide and the exploitation of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Such a legacy has left the church irrelevant to the eternal needs of Africa’s people, prioritizing power over dignity.

Yet, a new spirit is rising in Africa, rooted in a critical remembrance of the past and a passionate affirmation of African identity. As Lamin Sanneh notes, African Christianity has the moral and spiritual resources to shape a future of dignity and sustainable community (Sanneh, 2009). This awakening rejects the militant masculinity and intolerance of colonial evangelicalism, embracing instead Jesus’s Kingdom of Heaven—a vision of mystery, human flourishing, and service to the marginalized.

Jesus’s Kingdom prioritizes “power-under” rather than power-over, as seen in His promise to a dying rebel: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42). This radical inclusion, extended to the condemned, contrasts sharply with the exclusionary theology of colonial evangelicalism. As Andrew Decort writes, imagination is critical to human flourishing, and the church must move beyond theological correctness to ignite desire for justice (Decort, 2022). Keith Giles echoes this, stating, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty” (Giles, 2022), calling the church to embrace the beautiful uncertainty of God’s mystery.

Africa’s early Christian pioneers, like Tertullian and Augustine of Hippo, modeled a faith that honored equity and nonviolence before colonial distortions (Bediako, 1995). Today, the African church is called to reclaim this heritage, freeing scripture from the frozen dogmas that embarrass its witness. The Great Commission demands metanoia—a revolution of the mind (Matthew 28:19-20)—inviting Africans to dream with Jesus for a Kingdom where all belong. This is not the triumph of a new empire but a movement for human dignity, as seen in Desmond Tutu’s call to celebrate the oneness of the human family (Tutu, 1994).

Call to Action: Join the Pan African Peace Network to reclaim the Kingdom of Heaven as a vision of justice and inclusion. Engage in interfaith dialogue, advocate for the marginalized, and ignite Africa’s spiritual resources for a world aflame with Shalom.

Bediako, K. (1995). Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non-Western Religion. Edinburgh University Press.

Decort, A. (2022). Flourishing on the Edge of Faith: Seven Practices for a New We. Independently published.

Giles, K. (2022). Sola Mysterium: Celebrating the Beautiful Uncertainty of Everything. Quoir.

Sanneh, L. (2009). Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity. Oxford University Press.

Tutu, D. (1994). The Rainbow People of God: The Making of a Peaceful Revolution. Doubleday.

Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Luke 23:42, Matthew 28:19-20.