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In a narrative built on groundbreaking research, David W. Sparks traces the history of African Baptists in North America, particularly Nova Scotia, in Reclaiming the Oral Tradition of the African Baptist Church. His goal is to recapture and reclaim the oral tradition that once shaped the theology and spiritual practices of the African Baptist Church in its earliest days.
Mr. Sparks defines "oral" as "the practices, customs, beliefs, and folkways of a people and community that are passed on by word-of-mouth over several generations." As opposed to a collection of items in a catechism of religious and doctrinal statements, oral tradition looks more to the heart and the conversion experience. For example, to obtain salvation, "candidates" are to withdraw to a quiet place to seek the Lord in prayer, and wait to hear from God. They're expected to persist until they see the blood of Jesus, which is central to salvation in the oral tradition.
Running throughout the text are various biblical passages, historical sources, and theological themes that give weight, substance, and relevance to a once dynamic tradition. Mr. Sparks makes the argument that the present moral and spiritual state of the African Baptist Church is the direct result of the loss and abandonment of its religious heritage and oral tradition. It calls, therefore, for a return to that tradition: a call to a renewed focus on salvation, revival, restoration, and hope!
