
How to count Kenyan Christians
There is a famous statistic that is always bandied around about a country of 80% Christians but with evil that competes with the devil’s kingdom. When you identify yourself as a Christian and choose to work as a Christian, following the biblical principles, you will get such thrown at you daily.
But that is not why I am writing. Two reasons have prompted me to write this article. One, a colleague asked me what type of Christian I am, “Are you a Christian or a Christian-Christian?” Immediately, I recognized the kind of honest distinction he was making. Second, once in a while, I have caught a glimpse of hell in the eyes of some Christians, and I have found myself asking our Lord, Jesus Christ, some questions.
In countries where other religions are predominant, those who identify themselves as Christians do so by choice. Not so in Kenya as I will illustrate below. There are many ways of classifying Christians but we stick with the legal one; the government census.
- Name
This is a basic classification and not necessary. However, it can be used to test the data collection instruments and to create some humour during the census. It is a category for all whose name is ‘Christian’. To be inclusive, it should include the name ‘Christine’ and variations such as ‘Christina.’
- Cultural Christian
Those brought up as Christians. They do not know what it means to be a Christian except that it is a religious classification that is passed on from one generation to the other – one is Christian because their parents told them they are Christians.
- Legal
The common one and the source of all those statistics. Churches misguidedly quote it. According to the last census, Christianity is the main religion adopted in Kenya. Over 85 percent of the population identified as Christians, among which 33.4 percent were Protestants, 20.6 percent Catholics, 20.4 percent Evangelicals, and seven percent from African Instituted Churches. Last, nearly 11 percent of Kenyans were Muslim. The 85% is a mongrel classification of Christians, but then you have to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.
- Born-Again Christians or Believers
According to my friend’s classification, this is the category of Christian-Christian. One identifies as a believer through a confession that Jesus is Lord and Saviour. However, even false teachers and antichrists do so. That is why Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
It is only the Lord who knows the true number of believers.
It is not our work to count the number of Believers. Our work is to do the Lord’s will – to be obedient sheep.