Once upon a long ago, there was a mighty prophet who was zealous for the Lord God Almighty. But his soul was downcast. He lamented, “The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:10).  

The Lord told the prophet to go and stand on a mountain because he was going to reveal himself. There was a mighty wind, then an earthquake, and then a fire, but God was not in them. Then there was a gentle whisper, and the Lord asked the prophet, “What are you doing here?” The prophet repeated his lament, “The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (v. 14).  

Then the Lord told him to get back to work with the assurance: “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him” (v. 18). 

Many generations later, there was a mediocre theologian who was zealous for rightly handling the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15). But his soul was downcast, for he lamented that theologians in Africa were betraying His Word, placing culture over Scripture, and selling out to reader-response criticisms that distrust and distort God’s Word.  

The Lord sent this discouraged theologian to the Back to the Bible: Biblical Hermeneutics in the Global South conference (11–13 March 2025). For three days scholars and saints from almost 40 nations gathered only to discuss Scripture, its proper interpretation, and its application to the African continent. 

The theologian listened with new hope and strength as one African theologian after another declared their confidence in Scripture and their commitment to author-intended meaning, demonstrating a deep and nuanced understanding of the dangerous currents pulling leaders away from those safe shores.  

The concerned theologian’s courage returned as he realised that God has reserved thousands of faithful brothers and sisters who have not bowed their knees to feminist or decolonial hermeneutics. 

Why, my soul, were you so downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for we will yet praise him, our Saviour and our God (Ps. 43:5). 

Short Bio: Kevin, who is the Principal of SATS, obtained his first doctorate from Stellenbosch University and his Ph.D. from SATS. He has a deeply insightful approach to theology and has already made a significant contribution in his relatively short career.