This is Part 2 of an article titled 'AFRICAN TRADITIONS Vs SCRIPTURES.' It is done by Pastor Sam Oluoch of Grace Baptist Church - Kisumu, Kenya.
- Case study of Colossian.
By the year A.D. 60 the church in
Colossae was already established. Though it was progressing steadily in its
Christian faith and doctrines, heresies began to drift into its ranks in all
its kinds and forms. One top in the list was ascetism (life of self denial and
punishment of the body) which came in the form of ‘do and not do’ (Col.2:
21-23). Buttressing this was also dependence on wisdom of man and traditions
(2:4, 8). These things did not go well with the Apostle and they drove him to
go to his study room to write the letter in question in order to combat these
heresies. To this end he exalts the supremacy of Christ Jesus over all- the
very image of God. Christ is exalted as head of the church (1:18) to be
worshiped and obeyed at all cost. He alone is adequate to receive our worship
and adoration. Chapter 2: 4, 8 and 21-23, is Paul’s telescope focussing to the
world of the twenty first century as well addressing similar situation we find
ourselves in today. Our elders’ fine sounding arguments and reasons for men to
bow down to some of our traditions sound convincing and very scary at its best
leaving no alternative but to bend the knee to these idols. One may ask: Is
this right before God?
Imagine you standing before the
Lord of glory on that great day of assize and you have to give reason for your
idolatrous life in worshiping traditions and your reason goes something like
this: ‘Oh, you know God, this old man Mr.
Kamau (or my dad or mum or aunty or uncle) gave me such a fine sounding and
convincing reason that I could not help but bend your laws to follow them in
obeying the ungodly traditions.’ May be Mr. Kamau counted to you some
deaths which have purportedly resulted from the disobedience (we will see more
on death threats under the portion dealing with ‘fear’ in due time). Or he
recites to you the names of some Christians who are older than you in faith and
have succumbed to the traditions without any qualms. Here, listen to Paul
speaking in Colossians 2:4-5. I tell you
this so that no one may deceive you by fine sounding arguments. For though I am
absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how
orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. These might as well
be the words of Christ to you and me when we are tempted by the fine sounding
convincing arguments. Alternatively compare the wisdom of such men with that of
Christ Jesus in Colossians 2:3, the one in
whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. My beloved see to it that no one takes you captive
through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human traditions and
the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (2:8). These
practices, whether done in the context of knowing God more (as Colossians
purported) or as in traditional observances of ancestral beliefs are all summed
up in one word, idolatry, and is not worship of the supreme God whose full
image is present in Christ Jesus. See the break in Colossians 2:20-23. The
Apostle sums this up in a wonderful way that I feel if I added my words to it I
may blur the gist of it. He says: Since
you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you
still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules? Do not handle! Do not taste!
Do not touch”. These are all destined to perish with use, because they are
based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an
appearance of wisdom, with their self imposed worship, their false humility and
their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining
sensual indulgence. It is interesting to note that the Apostle attributes
such rules as rules of the world. In other words, these are the very things
that are propagated and observed by the unconverted mind that has not
experienced any saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. If you do them, you tell the
every one watching that you are not a believer in Christ. The fact that you
profess it does not matter. Action carries the fact not words. You will be
telling the world that Christ does not satisfy you, he is not the exact image
of God and in fact not the only God you know of.
Pain in idolatry.
It has always been deduced from
the Bible that Christianity is indeed a free religion yet it is not free to God
the Father because it cost Him His dear beloved Son. God does not therefore
expect us to in any way pay our way to salvation (not even by good works) save
to trust in His Son Jesus Christ our sin bearer (Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). On the
other hand, cults expect their followers to give for their ‘salvation’. Their
god is a task master seeking to inflict pain in the followers’ bodies and
souls. Some people even go the painful extra mile of sacrificing their loved
ones to these gods. You may read this and say, ‘that is very strange and
extreme’. Extreme it may be, but have you, as Paul says above, imagined the
pains traditionalists go through? In my ethnic group, when one is widowed, in
spite of the pain she goes through, she is expected to sleep in the cold (not
in the warmth of her bedroom) supposedly with the spirit of her dead husband.
Meanwhile she is not to sweep the house nor even take a bath. Not only this, a
male inheritor at this time is ready for the kill. Add to this, the bereaved is
expected to produce a bull to be slaughtered to appease the spirits. Such are
the practises Paul calls in verse 23 regulations
that indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self imposed worship,
their false humility and their hash
treatment of the body. Take Baal worship as an example also. Priests of Baal at the contest in Mt. Carmel,
on account of the fact that their prayers were not being answered resorted to
inflicting pain to their bodies to receive favour from a sleeping none existent
god (1Kings 18:28-29). These pains inflicted are as a result of self delusion,
pity and seeking for sympathy from a none existing being. Idolatry is costly.
God Almighty does not require this. Some Christians today have assumed such
postures in praying to God by hoping that they will in a way arm-twist God to
answer their prayers in accordance to their own prescription. Do not be misled;
self infliction of pain if done for the purposes of seeking favour from God is synonyms
with idolatry and ancestral worship. Christian, be warned, uphold no one else
as God in your life save God the Father the son and the Holy Spirit who is
humble, loving and caring. The worship of other forces in life is abhorred for
they have no place in the adoration of the God Christians worship. Paul says in
1 Corinthians 10:20-22 as he warns the Corinthian church of idolatry (a
discussion worth following from 1 Cor. Chap. 8-Chap. 10 when he under took to
answer some questions on idolatry in the Corinthian church): but
sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you
to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the
cup of the demons too; you cannot have apart in both the Lord’s Table and the
table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger
than He? The apostle’s argument here is that any Christian who sits to take
the Lord’s Table with other believers shows by doing so that they agree
together that Christ is their God and Lord worthy of worship-it is a family
table. In the same way, any traditionalists (or a Christian who veers to join
with them) in their sacrifices tell everyone that they actually belong to the
people who worship these spirits. Such a person sits with them as a family
member, identified together in the sacrifices they offer to demons!
- There is more to it.
Several factors underline the
desire to synchronise Christian faith and ancestral worship (or spiritism). In
the following pages I will be looking at some of these factors as I seek to
present suggestions on how to navigate our way through them as believers in
Jesus Christ.
a)
Anxiety about tomorrow. Every normal
human being is conditioned by the way God created us to have just one day at a
time. This is how God knows us and He even promises to provide for us our daily
need in that way (the Israelites depended on Manna from heaven daily and no one
was allowed to store any for the next day). However, there is always this
strange instinct in man that seems discontent until it somehow peers into
events of tomorrow in spite of the inaccuracy that such peering brings to us.
There comes a time in our lives when such necessary anxieties weigh us down
bogging us to non productive, scared individuals. Take a situation where a
young lady is widowed and left to fend for her children. Her needs will be more
than just providing food for the children but also to provide a roof over her
head and probably school fees. Questions like; who will inherit her with the
two or more children she is left with
and take care of them as their late father would have. Who will be willing to
bequeath his wealth to her and the foster children when his time on earth is
over? Christians are not exempt from such cares; the object of their hope is
where they differ with the world. Traditionalists purport to provide answers in
these matters through the avenue of ancestral worship and observation of many
traditional rites.
Because these
are real concerns in one’s life, Christians at this point need very close
pastoral care, fellowship and support from other believers lest the bereaved is
led to succumb. It is important also to let the word of God (the Bible) play in
your mind. For example the Lord Jesus Christ who sympathises with our feeble
nature exhorts His followers not to worry about tomorrow, about food, clothing
and shelter for all this should be left to His care, not us who have no control
at all of tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34). The folly of worrying about tomorrow lies
in the fact that we totally do not have any power over it. Even the richest men
on earth, the Bill Gates of this world still have no control of tomorrow. They
better leave it in the hands of He that created the heavens and the earth and
controls it fully. By worrying one can neither change tomorrow’s lot for him
whatever the matter. In fact, many times Christians assume that they can change
God’s will for them by changing, through fervent prayers what has been
predestined by God to suit their circumstances and will. Prayer in its self
does not change God but prepares us, empowers us, and enables us to face the
Lord’s will for us in life’s circumstances. That is the beauty of prayer. It
changes the supplicant but not God. In situations when we are bent to be bogged
in worrying about tomorrow, let us leave things in the hands of God and his
peace that surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus (Phil. 4: 6-7). Peter adds: ‘Cast ALL your cares on the Lord’ (1Pet.
5:6-7). It therefore resonates that when a Christian turns around and succumbs
to traditionalists’ pressures due to the fear of tomorrow, he/she openly
declares that the above Scriptures have no meaning and at best, presents God in
his/her eyes as a liar.
b)
Fear
Fear is closely
related to the anxiety discussed above but it has its own place in this
subject. In the context of bowing to other gods fear has been brought to play
in that stories which are often coined up and scary are used to outwit our
defences. Things like: ‘Oh, your cousin (or grandfather) refused to do this
thing we are asking you to do now see what has befallen his family.’ ‘Oh, you say
you are a Christian? For your information, we have seen many Christians who
have been at it longer than you and stronger than you joining us in these
rituals, in fact, even pastor so and so has done this before. Do you think your
case is so special’? Friends, if it is true that a so called Christian has
succumbed and continues to, make it clear to your adversaries that it appears
the god that that ‘Christian’ purports to worship is different from the one you
worship and that is why you are standing firm in not bending the knee to other
gods. Yours is a jealous God while his is an adulterous one who does not care
sharing his bride with others. The ‘Christian’ should not therefore tell the
‘wazees’ that he is a believer in Christ who is the Lord God almighty but
declare openly that he is polytheist after all. Be warned, primers to fear will
come in many forms but remember Apostle Peter’s words: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give
an answer to every one who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect.’ (1 Pet 3: 15).
May I share a
personal experience here. In the year 1992, my wife and I attended a funeral
function at our rural home. I remember that we arrived on a Friday evening
because the function was to be held the following day a Saturday and I had
planned to travel back to my work station that same Saturday since I had church
service to attend to. Things ended well on Saturday at 5pm leaving me ample
time to get back to town which is 30 Km away. As we were innocently parking our
bags to leave, hardly did we know that our action had attracted the attention
of elders within home who were sitting by some shade tree. We were not aware of
some rituals relating to the order of leaving the homestead. Apparently my
elder brother was expected to leave first then the rest of us would be free to
leave. An emissary was sent to call me to appear before this little ‘Sanhedrin’
to give reasons why I wanted to leave before my elder brother who was any way,
planning to leave the following Monday. Their enquiry shocked me but all the
same, after summoning all the respect due them, I explained my case. It became
clear to me that the verdict had been long arrived at even before I appeared
before them and they were not interested in my reasons for leaving, after all,
they were, in their own eyes, protecting me from the calamities of curses that
come with my intended action. The verdict was quickly given and I was ordered
to take back my bag (which was on my back) to the house and cool my heels. It
went something like this: ‘Sam, we have been informed that you and your wife
are preparing to leave to town now. Is that true?’ ‘Yes’ I answered. ‘Take back
your bag and wait until such a time that your elder brother Paul leaves this
homestead and he is the one to first step out of that gate.’ Meanwhile, my dad
who was also in the ‘Sanhedrin’ listened to the proceedings with his eyes glued
to the ground between his knees, probably praying that I will listen to the
elders or waiting to see if I will obey this one today. I gently refused this
verdict giving my reasons as being a Christian who is not bound by their
beliefs and secondly my involvement in the church the following day. As is
expected they were determined to have their way. I was asked if I knew that I
am not the first person to have ever professed faith in Christ in the village
(by the way my parents claim to be Christians). Examples of the fate that
befell some Christians who once refused to listen to traditions were paraded
before me intended to scare me to submission. I also remember one ‘mzee’ asking
if my God is different from theirs meaning to say that we serve the same God
yet they also bend their knees to extra gods. In my heart I was convinced that
their god is very different from the one I was standing for and almost blurted
this to their face but God helped to keep my cool. I did an about turn (all
this time I was standing like a culprit before them with my luggage on my
back-an evidence that they were not judging from hear say) and walked from the
‘court’ straight to the gate, beckoned at my wife who was watching from a
distance and off we left to town. On this day, my sister Jane whom I follow and
truly love tried to dissuade us from our action all the way to the bus stop;
she was convinced that we were not going to arrive safely.
These were days
when mobile phones were real novelty and if I am not wrong non-existent in
Kenya. The only way our family could confirm our safe arrival was to send
someone to our house Monday morning which Jane did willingly only to find us
alive and safe with our hearts intact and beating well to any cardiologists
satisfaction. To prove to her that she was not seeing some ghosts we served her
tea and chatted about the Saturday incident warmly. I am still alive today and
this is proved by my writing about it twenty years later and my elder brother
Paul and sister Jane (who literally cried when she saw us defy the elders to
our own ‘death’) have unfortunately both left this world before my wife and I.
This is just one
of the incidents that have pitted me against traditionalists and elders of the
land and I have always chosen consciously to side with my God. In Kikuyu land
in Kenya I was once a best man to a dear friend. In this, it meant that I was
to be his spokesman in the dowry negotiations. To my surprise, the last shot of
demands from the bride’s side came in the form demanding us to do a ‘ngurario.’
This was hard. They made it clear that it was either ‘ngurario’ or if we are
not interested their daughter goes nowhere. This is some blood spilling
ceremony to ancestors by groom’s party by slaughtering a goat in the bride’s
home. Being the spokesman I quickly said no giving reason as our Christian beliefs.
Again the ‘wazees’ were not going to take this lying down. It was the mother of
all negotiations that marked the day. Meanwhile I was receiving calls
clandestinely from the bride who was hidden somewhere in her mum’s room (we
were now in the era of cell phones) urging us not to give in and that she was
praying for us. The Lord prevailed and today the couple still love the Lord and
have been blessed with two lovely children. The threat was, no ‘ngurario’ no
blessing of the marriage by ancestors and therefore no children in that
marriage. What do we see today? A peaceful marriage with two lovely children!
Again remember
Apostle’s words ‘stand firm let nothing move you.’ What I have proved over the
years is that when we stand firm and not send double messages by sometimes
succumbing then another time standing firm, the people will not understand the
message clearly and they continue to bother you. When the message is constant
and clear, it reaches a point when the ‘wazees’ and friends will not bother with
you in these rites. Today I still join with both my family and clan members in
funerals and other things but when it comes to these rites, I have self
appointed advocates who just tell the instigators that, ‘you know, leave Sam
out of this, he will not join you.’ Stand firm and the Lord will fight your
battles.
May I invite you
to journey with me a little while as I encourage you to stand firm and do not
let fear ground you in to submitting your good faith to the whims of spiritism.
In as far as
intimidation of fear is concerned, I invite you to rest in Jesus words in
Matthew 10: 28. Do not be afraid of those
who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who
can destroy both soul and body in hell. This exhortation was given in the
context of persecution and the need to stand firm in the midst of such. With
the same voice it exhorts us to stand with Christ in the choice of unbiblical
traditions even when death is threatened. Many stories that are designed to be
points of reference to make Christians cringe at the thought of not obeying
traditions have their rider and pillar in the promise of death or any form of
calamity in case they are violated. In Matthew, Christ in a way is saying that;
even if for a moment we assume that such stories are true and our ancestors
have truly descended on uncompromising Christians with death, you still have to
make a choice. Which one is a better choice? To save your body by escaping
their death threat and lose your precious soul in hell or to let that death
come but stand with Christ who is able to keep your precious soul safe in
eternity with a glorified body? Christian wisdom chooses the latter. See
similar calls in Romans 8:15; Psalm 56:3-4, 10-11 and Hebrews 13:5-6 among
others. If anything a believer in Christ who has his hopes in being with Christ
in glory should always be praying ‘Lord take me home’ and with sincerity of
love and not fear the means of going to that great paradise promised to
triumphant saints. See Apostle Paul’s attitude to death which we should all
have in Philippians 1:20-26. Here he declares that had it not been for his love
for opportunity to press on with gospel work, he would rather die and go to
heaven. How about you? Do you fear death? Do you fear going to heaven?
