You Can’t Have Your Cate and Edith Too: Scripture or Tradition

July 28, 2025

By Humphrey Kutosi

So, the renowned justice of the Supreme Court, George Kanyeihamba, has passed away. It’s been weeping-time for the country. And the judiciary is still wiping it’s tears. In recent days, the president visited the deceased's family to offer his condolences. He met with the family, including children and grandchildren and spoke to them. He then posted about this on X in a way that left me scratching my head harder than a dog with fleas. He said:

We, the people of this area, received a new idea with the arrival of Christianity: that when we die, we go to heaven. Before that concept, our belief was in eternity through our children. I was happy to see the resurrection through the children and grandchildren that Kanyeihamba has left behind.¹

What Did He Mean?

That sounds comforting and sweet, right? The idea that someone’s legacy carries on through their kids is great. But here is the problem: His comments about Christianity are misleading if not downrightly heretical. He has made this point before, like when he met “pastors” Kayanja and Benny Hinn, who stage miracles like peacocks²:

The value addition to Africa by Christianity was the message of resurrection…that one was really new. Our people knew God. We call him Katonda—the creator of things. We knew that. Our ancient people knew that. But the issue of resurrection was new.³

The president seemed to suggest that Christianity came along and just added a new ingredient to what we already believed. Like, our ancestors already had a good thing going, and the missionaries just spiced it up with the idea of personal bodily resurrection.

Why It’s More Than a New Roof

Push the pause button. I don’t think Christianity is just a shiny upgrade to African traditional religion. It’s not like swapping out a grass roof for iron sheets. No. It’s like building a whole new house from the foundation up. The Bible doesn’t describe its doctrine as a tweak or an improvement to what came before. It's a total shift. Take 1 Corinthians 10:20, for example, it says that what people worshipped as idols were actually demons. That’s not a “dim light” versus “bright light” situation. It’s darkness versus light.

I get it, the president wasn’t trying to dismiss Christianity. He identifies as a Christian and was probably just trying to give credit where credit is due. . But I think we need to be careful about mixing our African culture and Christianity in a way that whittles down what Jesus taught. Christ didn’t come to polish up African traditional religion (or any religion, for that matter). He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). That’s not, “I’m a slightly better option.” It’s “I’m the only way.” He also said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), meaning outside Him, it’s all darkness.

Sugarcane Scraps and Groundnut Husks

This mix of traditional beliefs and Christianity comes up a lot, doesn’t it? I’ve seen it when I visit the village. People will say things like, “Don’t throw sugarcane scraps around. Someone might pick them up and use them to bewitch you.” Or, “Be careful with those groundnut husks. They could be used against you.” That’s African traditional religion talking, not Christianity. Trust me, I’m all in for respecting our culture and our ancestors, but we’ve got to bring our traditions under the scrutiny of Scripture. And where they don’t hold up, we’ve got to chuck them.

This reminds me of Joshua in the Bible, when he challenged the Israelites: “Choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). That’s the challenge for us too. God won’t share an inch with your demons. As African Christians, we’ve got to make a choice: stick with traditions that clash with Scripture or let the Bible alone be our supreme guide.

This One’s For You

I know the president probably won’t stumble across this post, let alone read it. He’s probably off in a meeting with the followers of self-proclaimed god Owobushobozi Bisaka. But I’m writing this for you. Stop looking around, I mean YOU! Are you letting Scripture run the show in your life? Or are you smuggling in some spiritual contraband? Maybe it’s not even African traditional religion for you. It could be the “man of God” you’re blindingly following, your pastor, apostle, or prophet. Or maybe you’re not one of those quacky charismatics, you are the buttoned-up reformed type. But you’re clinging to your favorite creed more than the Bible itself. Someone once put it very nicely: “You can’t have your Cate and Edith too.” You’ve got to choose one. Scripture or tradition!

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