Pentecostal Churches in Africa from Holiness to Politics

Abstract:
 Pentecostalism is considered an African production, initiated by Americans of African descent, who shook the traditional ecclesiastical power and the hierarchy of the functional priesthood in the United States and the rest of the countries of the Americas, with the doctrines they carried that brought Christianity out of the strict clerical traditions, to the easy expressions of the common people, from the walls of churches to public squares and squares.  Then they transferred their broad influence from America to the rest of the continents, especially Africa, where Pentecostalism merged into the revolution of African Christians against the domination of the white churches, and they used its loose concepts to absorb the entire African pagan heritage and spiritualistic beliefs within their new Christianity, and to express that within the contexts of African Christianity that Pentecostal became one of its most important tributaries. After Pentecostalism won its battle within the walls of churches and in the hearts of African Christians, and became the most widespread current among African Christians, it tended to exploit its popular influence and wide spread, to extend its dominance in the other fields life, and to move from theology to politics.. so it exploited its influence and popularity to control the election game And raising presidents and decreasing others, That’s what made Christian politicians, even those who do not belong to Pentecostal churches, seek to flatter it and gain its approval, Thus, Pentecostalism presented the worst example of exploiting religion for political purposes.
 Pentecostalism fought its largest political battles with Islam in Africa, trying to reduce 
its natural expansion, even in Muslim-majority countries such as Nigeria. It opposed Islamic laws in states with Islamic weight, and opposed Nigeria’s accession to the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
 It also worked against the natural rights of Muslims in countries where they do not represent a majority, such as Kenya, where it sought with all its might to prevent the Kenyan constitution from including clauses that give Muslims the right to establish their own courts with regard to personal status.
 Pentecostalism sees the growing Islamic tide in Africa, and the spread of Islamic concepts on a wide base among African peoples, including non-Muslims, It sees in them a great threat to its  pneumatic influence, which it gained due to the Africans’ refusal to impose religious beliefs that suppress their cultural identity, which was represented in official Christianity, but as for Islam, it presents beliefs and perceptions that enhance the African cultural identity away from polytheism and sorcery, and at the same time provides logical solutions to problems Life.