For Followers of African Traditional Religions: Who Has Authority Over the Spirit World?

Truth has nothing to fear from honest examination.

Thank you for taking the time to read this page.

You may come from a family that acknowledges a Supreme Being while also honoring ancestors, divinities, spirits, or traditional guardians.

You may believe that deceased family members continue to influence the lives of their descendants.

You may have participated in:

• Libations
• Offerings to ancestors
• Animal sacrifices
• Traditional healing ceremonies
• Divination
• Consultation with a spiritual specialist
• Protective rituals
• Initiation ceremonies
• Festivals honoring deities or ancestors
• Rites surrounding birth, marriage, adulthood, and death

You may believe that spiritual power can be used for:

• Healing
• Protection
• Fertility
• Prosperity
• Success
• Justice
• Revenge
• Discovering hidden causes of suffering
• Breaking curses
• Preserving harmony within the community

You may also identify as Christian or Muslim while continuing certain family practices because they feel culturally necessary or spiritually protective.

You may fear that abandoning those practices could result in:

• Angering the ancestors
• Breaking family unity
• Inviting sickness
• Losing protection
• Becoming vulnerable to witchcraft
• Dishonoring your people
• Bringing misfortune upon your children

These fears can be very powerful.

But the most important questions are:

Who is the Supreme God?

Does He require us to approach Him through ancestors or lesser divinities?

Can the dead protect or punish the living?

Can divination reveal God’s will?

Do sacrifices offered to spirits remove sin?

Can charms and rituals protect us from spiritual evil?

Who has final authority over every spirit, curse, power, and principality?

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Timothy 2:5, KJV

There Is No Single African Traditional Religion

The phrase African Traditional Religions describes many different Indigenous belief systems rather than one organized religion with a universal creed.

Examples include traditions associated with:

• Yoruba peoples
• Akan peoples
• Igbo peoples
• Ewe and Fon peoples
• Serer peoples
• Dinka peoples
• Shona peoples
• Zulu peoples
• Maasai peoples
• Kongo peoples
• Numerous other African communities

These traditions differ concerning:

• The name and nature of the Supreme Being
• The identity and number of divinities
• The role of ancestors
• The meaning of sacrifice
• The work of priests, diviners, mediums, and healers
• The nature of destiny
• The condition of the dead
• Ideas concerning reincarnation or ancestral return
• The causes of sickness and misfortune
• The meaning of spiritual power

Some traditions place great emphasis upon a Supreme Creator.

Others focus more directly upon divinities, spirits, ancestors, and forces believed to operate within ordinary life.

Some traditions are preserved primarily through oral teaching, proverbs, songs, rituals, family memory, and community ceremonies rather than through one written scripture.

Therefore, this page will not claim that every African traditionalist believes everything discussed here.

Instead, it examines recurring themes found in many Indigenous African spiritual systems.

Important Areas of Agreement

Many African traditional traditions recognize truths and moral concerns that also appear in the Bible.

These may include:

• Belief in a Supreme Being or Creator
• Recognition that the visible world is not the whole of reality
• Belief that spiritual beings exist
• Respect for parents and elders
• Strong family and community responsibility
• Concern for moral conduct
• Recognition that wrongdoing brings consequences
• Hospitality
• Generosity
• Respect for creation
• Concern for justice and social harmony
• Awareness that human beings need spiritual protection

The Bible likewise teaches that God created both visible and invisible realities:

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible…”
— Colossians 1:16, KJV

It commands honor for parents:

“Honour thy father and thy mother…”
— Exodus 20:12, KJV

It emphasizes responsibility toward family:

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith…”
— 1 Timothy 5:8, KJV

It values hospitality:

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers…”
— Hebrews 13:2, KJV

It also teaches that spiritual warfare is real:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers… against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
— Ephesians 6:12, KJV

These areas of agreement are meaningful.

But agreement that God and spirits exist does not answer which spirits should be trusted, how God must be approached, or who can save us.

Is There One Supreme Creator?

Yes.

Many African traditions acknowledge a Supreme Being who created heaven, earth, humanity, or the spiritual order.

Different peoples use different names for the Supreme Being.

The Bible also teaches one Creator:

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1, KJV

God declares:

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me…”
— Isaiah 45:5, KJV

And:

“Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
— Isaiah 43:10, KJV

The Supreme Creator is not merely the highest member of a community of gods.

He alone is eternal.

Every other being—human, angelic, ancestral, or spiritual—is created.

Is the Supreme God Too Distant to Approach Directly?

Some traditional systems regard the Supreme Being as transcendent, distant, or ordinarily approached through:

• Ancestors
• Divinities
• Priests
• Spiritual specialists
• Sacrifices
• Community rituals

The Bible teaches that God is infinitely exalted:

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways…”
— Isaiah 55:9, KJV

But He is not inaccessible.

He knows us personally:

“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.”
— Psalm 139:1, KJV

He invites us to seek Him:

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
— Isaiah 55:6, KJV

Through Jesus Christ, believers may approach God directly:

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace…”
— Hebrews 4:16, KJV

You do not need an ancestor, divinity, spirit, traditional priest, or human mediator to bring you to the Creator.

Jesus is the one Mediator.

Who Are the Divinities?

Some African traditions teach that a Supreme Being works through lesser divinities associated with matters such as:

• Rain
• Thunder
• Rivers
• Fertility
• Iron
• War
• Justice
• Healing
• Agriculture
• Prosperity
• Destiny

These beings may be regarded as:

• Children or servants of the Supreme Being
• Manifestations of divine attributes
• Mediators between God and humanity
• Spiritual rulers over particular areas of life

The Bible acknowledges that spiritual beings and authorities exist.

But created beings must not receive worship or trust belonging to God.

When John bowed before an angel, the angel said:

“See thou do it not… worship God.”
— Revelation 22:9, KJV

Even a holy angel refuses religious devotion.

Any being that accepts prayer, sacrifice, worship, or dependence belonging to God is not leading people faithfully to the Creator.

Can a Spiritual Being Be Powerful Without Being Good?

Yes.

Spiritual power does not prove holiness.

The Bible teaches that some powerful spiritual beings rebelled against God.

Satan can perform deceptive works and appear attractive:

“For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14, KJV

Jesus warned that false spiritual signs could deceive:

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders…”
— Matthew 24:24, KJV

A spirit may appear to provide:

• Healing
• Information
• Protection
• Prosperity
• Revenge
• Power

while gradually drawing a person into fear, bondage, sacrifice, and dependence.

The question is not merely:

“Does this power seem to work?”

The question is:

“Does this spirit submit to Jesus Christ and agree with God’s Word?”

Who Are the Ancestors?

Many African traditions distinguish ordinary dead persons from respected ancestors.

An ancestor may be understood as a deceased family or community member who:

• Lived honorably
• Had descendants
• Received proper funeral rites
• Continues to participate in family life
• Protects or disciplines descendants
• Carries family concerns into the spiritual world

Ancestors may be honored through:

• Libations
• Offerings
• Prayers
• Invocations
• Family ceremonies
• Maintenance of shrines
• Consultation through diviners or mediums

The Bible commands respect for parents, elders, and family history.

But honoring deceased relatives does not mean addressing them spiritually.

Scripture never instructs believers to pray to ancestors or request their protection.

Can the Dead Hear and Help Their Descendants?

The Bible teaches conscious existence after death and future resurrection.

But it does not teach that deceased family members remain available to guide and protect the household.

Ecclesiastes says concerning ordinary earthly affairs:

“Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”
— Ecclesiastes 9:6, KJV

Human beings are not instructed to seek messages from the dead.

God forbids:

“A consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”
— Deuteronomy 18:11, KJV

Attempted contact with an ancestor may open the door to a deceiving spirit pretending to be that family member.

Bring every family need directly to God through Jesus Christ.

Does Rejecting Ancestor Rituals Dishonor the Family?

No.

You can honor your parents, grandparents, and family history without performing religious acts toward the dead.

True honor includes:

• Caring for living relatives
• Remembering family sacrifices truthfully
• Preserving valuable history
• Providing for parents and children
• Living honorably
• Rejecting hatred and shame toward your people

But no ancestor is infallible.

Every ancestor was also a human being who needed God’s mercy.

Jesus said:

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…”
— Matthew 10:37, KJV

Placing God above inherited religion is not hatred toward your family.

What Are Libations?

A libation may involve pouring water, wine, beer, or another liquid upon the ground while:

• Calling upon God
• Addressing ancestors
• Remembering the dead
• Requesting blessing
• Opening a community ceremony
• Seeking spiritual approval

Pouring a liquid is not inherently sinful.

The spiritual meaning of the act matters.

If the act involves prayer or devotion to ancestors, spirits, or divinities, it conflicts with Jesus’ command:

“Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
— Matthew 4:10, KJV

Gratitude for previous generations should be expressed to God—not through communication with the dead.

Can Ancestors Punish Their Descendants?

People may interpret sickness, infertility, repeated misfortune, dreams, accidents, or family conflict as evidence that an ancestor has been offended.

This belief can produce deep fear and pressure to perform rituals.

The Bible does teach that family sins may have consequences across generations.

Children may suffer because of:

• Abuse
• Addiction
• Poverty
• Hatred
• False teaching
• Violence
• Destructive family patterns

But Scripture also teaches personal accountability:

“The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father… the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
— Ezekiel 18:20, KJV

A departed ancestor does not possess sovereign authority over your destiny.

Jesus does.

What Is a Curse?

A curse may involve spoken words, rituals, objects, spiritual agreements, or appeals to spirits intended to bring harm.

The Bible recognizes that words, occult practices, and demonic powers can be spiritually serious.

But no curse is greater than Jesus Christ.

God turned Balaam’s attempted curse into blessing:

“Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee…”
— Deuteronomy 23:5, KJV

For those who belong to Christ:

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…”
— Galatians 3:13, KJV

You do not need a stronger traditional specialist to defeat another specialist.

You need Jesus Christ.

Can Charms, Amulets, or Protective Objects Keep Us Safe?

People may use:

• Necklaces
• Bracelets
• Written charms
• Animal parts
• Herbs
• Powders
• Objects placed near homes or businesses
• Items prepared by a spiritual specialist

Some objects may have ordinary medicinal, artistic, or cultural uses.

But no created object possesses spiritual authority capable of replacing God’s protection.

David said:

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer…”
— Psalm 18:2, KJV

Trusting an object for spiritual protection transfers confidence from the Creator to a created thing.

A Christian should not keep an object because he fears what may happen if it is removed.

What About Traditional Medicine?

Not everything called traditional medicine is spiritually wrong.

Plants may possess real medicinal properties.

Communities may preserve valuable knowledge concerning:

• Nutrition
• Childbirth
• Wound care
• Herbal remedies
• Community support
• Practical health practices

God created plants and allowed humanity to discover beneficial uses for them.

However, healing practices become spiritually dangerous when combined with:

• Invocation of spirits
• Divination
• Spells
• Spirit possession
• Blood covenants
• Charms
• Appeals to ancestors
• Secret spiritual powers

Medical value and spiritual ritual should not be confused.

Seek qualified medical care while refusing occult practices.

Can a Traditional Healer Receive Genuine Spiritual Information?

A healer or diviner may sometimes reveal information that seems impossible to know naturally.

This does not prove the information came from God.

In Acts, a young woman possessed by a spirit of divination spoke accurate words about Paul and Silas:

“These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.”
— Acts 16:17, KJV

The statement was true.

But the spirit was evil.

Paul commanded it to leave:

“I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”
— Acts 16:18, KJV

Accurate supernatural information does not prove a holy source.

Should We Use Divination to Discover Hidden Causes?

Divination may be used to determine:

• Why someone is sick
• Which ancestor is offended
• Who caused a curse
• Which spirit must be appeased
• What sacrifice is required
• Which direction a person should take
• What destiny has been assigned

The Bible forbids divination:

“There shall not be found among you… one that useth divination…”
— Deuteronomy 18:10, KJV

God’s people are instructed to seek wisdom from Him:

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…”
— James 1:5, KJV

We do not need secret knowledge from unknown spirits.

God has given Scripture, prayer, wisdom, responsible investigation, and godly counsel.

Are Dreams Always Spiritual Messages?

God sometimes communicated through dreams in Scripture.

But not every dream comes from God.

Dreams may arise from:

• Daily experiences
• Fear
• Grief
• Physical illness
• Memories
• Stress
• Imagination
• Spiritual deception

Ecclesiastes says:

“For a dream cometh through the multitude of business…”
— Ecclesiastes 5:3, KJV

A dream about an ancestor does not establish that the ancestor visited you.

Every message must be tested by Scripture.

What About Spirit Possession?

The Bible records genuine demonic possession and oppression.

Jesus encountered people tormented by unclean spirits.

He did not negotiate with those spirits or appease them through offerings.

He commanded them to leave:

“Hold thy peace, and come out of him.”
— Mark 1:25, KJV

The people were amazed:

“For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.”
— Mark 1:27, KJV

Jesus possesses direct authority over spirits.

He does not need permission from ancestors, deities, or traditional guardians.

Who Has Authority Over Witchcraft?

Jesus Christ has authority over every spiritual power.

Paul says that Christ:

“Spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them…”
— Colossians 2:15, KJV

Believers have been delivered:

“From the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
— Colossians 1:13, KJV

This does not mean Christians will never experience spiritual attack.

It means no demonic power owns the believer.

Jesus is greater.

“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
— 1 John 4:4, KJV

Should Christians Fear Retaliation From Spirits?

No.

Fear may continue emotionally for a time, especially when someone has been taught from childhood that abandoning rituals will bring punishment.

But Christ has not given His people a spirit of bondage:

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear…”
— Romans 8:15, KJV

God has given:

“The spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7, KJV

Do not attempt to maintain peace with both Jesus and traditional spirits.

Complete allegiance belongs to Christ.

Can a Person Follow Jesus and Continue Traditional Spiritual Practices?

No—not when those practices involve worship, sacrifice, divination, spirit consultation, occult protection, or dependence upon ancestors.

Paul wrote:

“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils…”
— 1 Corinthians 10:21, KJV

Some people may say:

“I attend church, but I visit the traditional healer only for protection.”

Or:

“I believe in Jesus, but I must honor the ancestors so that my family will remain safe.”

This divides spiritual allegiance.

Jesus said:

“No man can serve two masters…”
— Matthew 6:24, KJV

Jesus must not be added to an existing group of spiritual protectors.

He must be received as Lord over all.

What Is Sacrifice?

Animal sacrifice may appear in African traditions as a way to:

• Honor a deity
• Appease a spirit
• Restore harmony
• Remove impurity
• Seal a covenant
• Seek protection
• Give thanks
• Address wrongdoing

The Bible also contains animal sacrifices.

God commanded them under the Old Covenant.

But those sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus Christ.

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
— Hebrews 10:4, KJV

Animal blood could symbolize cleansing.

It could not finally remove human guilt.

Why Did Jesus Become the Final Sacrifice?

Jesus is the sinless Lamb of God.

John the Baptist said:

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
— John 1:29, KJV

Jesus bore our sins:

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…”
— 1 Peter 2:24, KJV

His sacrifice was offered once:

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God…”
— 1 Peter 3:18, KJV

No further animal, ancestral, or spiritual sacrifice is needed.

Jesus said:

“It is finished.”
— John 19:30, KJV

Can Sacrifices to Spirits Bring Protection?

A spirit that demands continuing sacrifice in exchange for protection is not offering freedom.

It is establishing bondage.

God’s protection is not purchased through fear.

Jesus gave Himself for us:

“The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
— John 10:11, KJV

False spiritual powers demand that people sacrifice for them.

Jesus sacrificed Himself for us.

This difference reveals His love.

Can Blood Covenants Bind Families?

Traditional covenants may be sealed through:

• Blood
• Oaths
• Shared sacrifices
• Initiation rites
• Objects
• Spiritual agreements

These agreements can create strong fear, loyalty, and spiritual bondage.

But Jesus established a greater covenant:

“This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
— Luke 22:20, KJV

Christ’s blood provides:

• Forgiveness
• Cleansing
• Reconciliation
• Freedom
• Access to God

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
— 1 John 1:7, KJV

No older family or spiritual covenant is greater than the New Covenant established by Jesus.

Can We Inherit Spiritual Guilt From Our Ancestors?

We may inherit consequences, habits, wounds, false beliefs, and social conditions from previous generations.

But each person is morally accountable before God.

“The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father…”
— Ezekiel 18:20, KJV

You are not condemned merely because an ancestor practiced idolatry or occultism.

However, you must personally reject those practices rather than continue them.

Peter wrote that believers were redeemed:

“From your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ…”
— 1 Peter 1:18–19, KJV

Jesus can free you from spiritually destructive traditions inherited from previous generations.

What Determines a Person’s Destiny?

Some traditions teach that destiny may be:

• Chosen before birth
• Revealed through divination
• Influenced by ancestors
• Changed through rituals
• Blocked by enemies or witchcraft
• Restored through sacrifice

The Bible teaches that God is sovereign:

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”
— Proverbs 16:9, KJV

Human choices also matter.

We are responsible for whether we repent, believe, obey, and pursue righteousness.

No diviner possesses final authority over your future.

No ancestor controls your eternal destiny.

God does.

Do We Return Through Reincarnation?

Some African traditions include beliefs resembling reincarnation, ancestral return, or a deceased family member appearing again within a later generation.

Other traditions do not.

The Bible teaches:

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
— Hebrews 9:27, KJV

We live once.

We die once.

Then we face God.

Jesus taught resurrection—not ancestral return through another child.

“The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth…”
— John 5:28–29, KJV

Can Funeral Rituals Change the Condition of the Dead?

Funerals are important for grieving, remembrance, family support, and respectful burial.

But rituals performed after death cannot change a person’s relationship with God.

No living relative can:

• Repent for the dead
• Believe on behalf of the dead
• Purchase peace for the dead
• Give the dead a better spiritual status
• Reverse divine judgment through offerings

Each person gives account personally:

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
— Romans 14:12, KJV

The time to be reconciled to God is now.

What Is Humanity’s Deepest Problem?

Traditional religious systems may describe humanity’s problems in terms of:

• Broken harmony
• Offended ancestors
• Spiritual attack
• Violation of taboos
• Witchcraft
• Impurity
• Broken community relationships
• Failure to perform necessary rituals

Some of these conditions may involve genuine consequences.

But the Bible identifies the deepest problem:

We have sinned against God.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
— Romans 3:23, KJV

Sin includes:

• Idolatry
• Occult practice
• Pride
• Hatred
• Dishonesty
• Sexual immorality
• Greed
• Unforgiveness
• Injustice
• Failure to love God
• Failure to love others

Our deepest need is not merely better spiritual protection.

We need forgiveness and reconciliation with our Creator.

Can Good Character Remove Sin?

Good character matters.

Respect, courage, generosity, hospitality, family faithfulness, and community service are valuable.

But later goodness cannot erase earlier guilt.

A person who commits a crime does not become innocent merely by performing good deeds afterward.

The Bible says:

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”
— Titus 3:5, KJV

We need more than moral improvement.

We need mercy grounded in a sufficient sacrifice.

Who Is Jesus Christ?

Jesus is not a European tribal god.

He was born in the Middle East into a Jewish family.

He belongs to no one race, nation, or empire.

He is the Creator of every people:

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
— John 1:3, KJV

Paul writes:

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible…”
— Colossians 1:16, KJV

Jesus created:

• Every nation
• Every human being
• Every angel
• Every principality
• Every spiritual power

He is not one spiritual force competing with African divinities.

He is their Creator and Lord.

Did Jesus Become an Ancestor?

Some people may describe Jesus as the greatest ancestor, supreme ancestor, or divine elder who mediates between God and humanity.

This language may attempt to explain Jesus through familiar cultural categories.

But Jesus is greater than an ancestor.

Human ancestors began to exist.

Jesus existed before creation:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
— John 1:1, KJV

He said:

“Before Abraham was, I am.”
— John 8:58, KJV

Jesus did not become spiritually powerful after death.

He possessed divine authority before His human birth.

Why Did Jesus Become Human?

Jesus came to rescue humanity:

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
— Luke 19:10, KJV

He also said:

“The Son of man came… to give his life a ransom for many.”
— Mark 10:45, KJV

He became human so that He could:

• Represent humanity
• Live without sin
• Bear our guilt
• Defeat Satan
• Die in our place
• Rise from the dead
• Bring us to God

Did Jesus Defeat the Spirit World?

Yes.

Jesus repeatedly demonstrated authority over demons.

They recognized Him:

“I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
— Mark 1:24, KJV

Jesus commanded them, and they obeyed.

At the cross and resurrection, He defeated the powers of darkness:

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them…”
— Colossians 2:15, KJV

No ancestor, divinity, witch, curse, spirit, or demonic power is equal to Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus Bodily Rise From the Dead?

Yes.

Jesus predicted the resurrection of His body:

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
— John 2:19, KJV

John explains:

“But he spake of the temple of his body.”
— John 2:21, KJV

After His resurrection, Jesus said:

“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”
— Luke 24:39, KJV

Jesus is not merely a powerful spirit of the dead.

He bodily conquered death.

Why Does the Resurrection Matter?

Because Jesus rose:

• Death is defeated.
• His claims are confirmed.
• His sacrifice was accepted.
• Every spiritual power is under His authority.
• Believers will also be raised.
• Eternal life is available.

Jesus said:

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
— John 11:25, KJV

You do not need to become an ancestor, spirit, or reincarnated family member.

Jesus offers resurrection and eternal life.

Is Jesus the Only Mediator?

Yes.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Timothy 2:5, KJV

Jesus does not merely stand at the top of a long chain involving:

• Ancestors
• Divinities
• Spirits
• Priests
• Healers
• Mediums

He personally brings believers to God.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him…”
— Hebrews 7:25, KJV

Can Jesus Save Someone Deeply Involved in Traditional Spirituality?

Yes.

No one is beyond His mercy.

In Ephesus, people who practiced occult arts turned to Christ:

“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men…”
— Acts 19:19, KJV

They did not keep their occult materials for cultural balance or emergency protection.

They renounced them because Jesus is Lord.

Christ receives everyone who genuinely comes:

“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
— John 6:37, KJV

Must You Destroy Objects Connected With Occult Practices?

Objects used specifically for:

• Divination
• Spirit invocation
• Occult protection
• Blood covenants
• Charms
• Sacrifices
• Witchcraft
• Ancestor communication

should not be kept as spiritual safeguards.

The object itself may be physically ordinary.

But retaining it from fear or trust preserves divided allegiance.

Acts 19 shows believers publicly removing objects connected with occult practice.

Do not sell spiritually harmful objects to someone else.

Remove them and place your trust completely in Jesus.

Does Becoming a Christian Mean Rejecting African Culture?

No.

The gospel does not require African people to become culturally European or American.

Jesus Christ belongs to every nation.

Heaven will include people:

“Of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues…”
— Revelation 7:9, KJV

A follower of Jesus may continue valuing:

• African languages
• Family responsibility
• Respect for elders
• Hospitality
• Community cooperation
• Music
• Art
• Clothing
• History
• Nonreligious cultural celebrations

But every spiritual practice must be tested by Scripture.

Culture should not be confused with worship.

Did European Abuses Make Christianity False?

European colonizers and people claiming Christianity committed terrible sins in Africa, including:

• Slavery
• Racism
• Violence
• Land theft
• Cultural arrogance
• Political exploitation
• Religious hypocrisy

These evils should be acknowledged and condemned.

But they did not originate in the teaching of Jesus.

Jesus commanded:

“Love your enemies…”
— Matthew 5:44, KJV

The Bible teaches that all nations descend from one human family:

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men…”
— Acts 17:26, KJV

People who used Christianity to justify oppression disobeyed Christ.

Their hypocrisy does not change His identity or resurrection.

Is Christianity a White Person’s Religion?

No.

Jesus was a Middle Eastern Jew.

Christianity was present in Africa from its earliest centuries.

An African man from Ethiopia received the gospel in Acts 8.

Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus’ cross.

Prominent early Christian communities and teachers arose in Egypt and North Africa.

But the gospel’s truth does not depend upon which culture received it first.

Jesus is the Creator of all humanity and Savior of people from every nation.

What Must You Do?

1. Seek the Supreme Creator Directly

Pray:

“God who created heaven and earth, reveal Yourself to me and lead me into truth.”

2. Renounce Every Competing Spiritual Power

Turn from:

• Ancestor invocation
• Divination
• Charms
• Spirit consultation
• Occult protection
• Sacrifices to divinities
• Blood covenants
• Witchcraft

“Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
— Matthew 4:10, KJV

3. Recognize Your Sin

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
— Romans 3:23, KJV

Your deepest problem is not merely an offended ancestor or spiritual enemy.

You need reconciliation with God.

4. Repent

Turn from sin, idolatry, occult practice, self-righteousness, and divided spiritual allegiance.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…”
— Acts 3:19, KJV

5. Believe the Gospel

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, KJV

6. Receive Jesus Christ

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…”
— John 1:12, KJV

7. Trust Him Completely

Do not trust partly in Jesus and partly in:

• Ancestors
• Divinities
• Traditional healers
• Charms
• Sacrifices
• Protective rituals

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
— Acts 16:31, KJV

8. Follow Jesus as Lord

Jesus calls those He saves to obey His Word, love their families, reject spiritual deception, and walk in holiness.

“If any man serve me, let him follow me…”
— John 12:26, KJV

A Prayer From an Honest Heart

Repeating a prayer cannot save you. Jesus Christ saves. But you may express sincere repentance and faith in words such as these:

God who created heaven and earth, I want to know You as You truly are. I confess that I have sinned against You and cannot save or protect myself through ancestors, divinities, sacrifices, charms, divination, traditional spirits, blood covenants, rituals, or good works. I renounce every spiritual power, agreement, object, and practice that competes with You. I believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Lord and Creator who became man, died for my sins, defeated the powers of darkness, and bodily rose from the dead. I place my complete trust in Jesus Christ as my only Lord, Savior, Protector, High Priest, and Mediator. Forgive me, give me a new heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, free me from fear and bondage, and teach me to follow Your Word whatever it costs. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The saving power is not in repeating these exact words.

The question is whether you have genuinely turned from every competing spiritual power to the living God through Jesus Christ.

What If Your Family Opposes Your Decision?

Continue loving your family.

Do not mock your culture.

Do not insult your ancestors.

Do not become proud.

Continue honoring living parents and elders.

But respectfully refuse participation in:

• Prayers to ancestors
• Offerings to spirits
• Divination
• Protective rituals
• Blood covenants
• Sacrifices to divinities
• Occult ceremonies

You may say gently:

“I love our family and honor those who came before us, but I now worship the Creator through Jesus Christ and cannot seek spiritual protection or guidance from anyone else.”

Peter wrote:

“Be ready always to give an answer… with meekness and fear.”
— 1 Peter 3:15, KJV

What Should You Read Next?

Begin with the Gospel of John.

As you read, ask:

Who does Jesus claim to be?

Is He one spiritual power among many—or the Creator of every power?

Why do demons obey Him?

Why does He forgive sins?

Why does He call Himself the only way to the Father?

Did He bodily rise from the dead?

Continue with:

• Genesis 1–3
• Exodus 20
• Deuteronomy 13 and 18
• Psalm 18, 23, 27, and 91
• Isaiah 40–46
• Isaiah 53
• The Gospel of Mark
• The Gospel of John
• Acts 8, 16, 17, and 19
• Romans 1–8
• 1 Corinthians 8, 10, and 15
• Ephesians 1–2 and 6
• Colossians 1–2
• Hebrews 1 and 7–10
• 1 Peter 1–3
• 1 John

As you study, ask:

Does God require ancestors and divinities as mediators?

Does Scripture authorize communication with the dead?

Can spiritual accuracy prove that a diviner’s power comes from God?

Can animal sacrifice finally remove human guilt?

Can charms protect someone more completely than Jesus?

Can a believer serve Christ while continuing rituals offered to spirits?

Who has authority over curses, witchcraft, demons, death, and judgment?

Our Purpose

Our purpose is not to insult Africa, reject African culture, mock traditional communities, or defend the abuses committed by people claiming Christianity.

Many church members also combine Christian language with:

• Charms
• Fortune telling
• Fear of curses
• Ancestor rituals
• False prophets
• Prosperity rituals
• Occult protection
• Superstition

Every person must examine the foundation.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV

Our purpose is to help every person make sure they are going to Heaven by comparing every belief with the Holy Bible.

There is one Supreme Creator.

He is not too distant to hear you.

Ancestors are not necessary mediators.

Divinities must not receive worship.

Spiritual power does not prove holiness.

Divination cannot safely reveal God’s will.

Charms cannot secure the soul.

Animal sacrifices cannot remove sin.

Blood covenants cannot overrule Christ’s blood.

Witchcraft cannot defeat Jesus.

Curses cannot rule those whom Christ has redeemed.

Jesus is not a foreign tribal deity.

He is the eternal Creator of every nation and spiritual power.

He became human.

He lived without sin.

He bore our guilt.

He offered the final sacrifice.

He defeated principalities and powers.

He bodily rose from the dead.

He is the one Mediator.

He gives forgiveness, freedom, protection, new birth, resurrection, and everlasting life.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Timothy 2:5, KJV

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
— Acts 4:12, KJV

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
— 1 John 5:11–12, KJV

Do not merely add Jesus to ancestors, divinities, spirits, and traditional protection. Turn from every competing spiritual power and come completely to Jesus Christ—the Creator, final sacrifice, risen Lord, only Mediator, and conqueror of the spirit world.