“God Is Not in the Habit”

Abstract This article examines Steve Biko’s theology of human and divine agency, centred on his remark, “God is not in the habit of coming down from heaven to solve people’s problems on earth.” Engaging John D. Caputo’s radical theology and its relational model of the chiasm, it explores the interdependence of divine insistence and human responsibility. Highlighting Biko’s critique of apartheid-era Christianity and his call for Black self-liberation, the article emphasises his theology as a call to responsibility. The dialogue with Caputo’s framework opens a deeper understanding of Biko’s theological vision, offering a relational approach to agency that redefines divine-human interaction in the struggle for justice and liberation.