Religion that is pure and blameless in the eyes of God, the Father, is this: to visit widows and orphans in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
I suppose it is quite explainable that we would discover issues with “religion” in a country that has been a slave to tradition and rituals and pagan practices for generation after generation. But for some reason it never really crossed my mind to find it so heavily in the Christian African Church. I struggle to realize that we are all the same. African, American, Indian or Chinese we all wrestle with the same stuff and no peole group has got it more together than any other; no matter what front they put up. Would I rather be affiliated with a people who are open with the fact that they have problems or with those who need to convinced that they are sick? Really in the end I suppose it’s not about the people at all but the God they serve. I keep thinking that maybe someday we will love our God enough to look like Him. I know that sounds extreme but sometimes I am severely convicted of my passive mentality thinking that what I’ve surrenderd in love is enough. I am American and often seek to feel satisfied by His love before finding ways to love God in the way I live for others. If our religion fulfilled James 1:27 perhaps we’d hear more comments like, “I can’t deny what the church does, but I don’t believe in their GOd.” At least then they’d address their rejection of God rather us just giving them another reason not to put their faith in Christ.” (As Francis CHan puts it in his book Crazy Love) It can be assumed that religion is everyones struggle no matter where you come from. Satan would love nothing more than to have those loyal to Christ planting seeds of doubt and bitterness. There is a wonderful saying here in Africa, it is very cheesy but then again no one loves cheese more than Africans. It goes “God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. Because it is His nature.” Though we have had a very real battle with religion during our stay in Africa we’ve learned God always has a greater good in mind. Romans 5 talks about how we are justified by faith through grace and therefore we have hope. I find the whole chapter very promising especially the very end as it says “the more sin increased, grace abounds all the more.” We have been called to put on a new self that looks less like the a life enslaved to the law and more like Christ who offers a life that abounds in love (Colossians 3); a love that is selfless and humble. I have seen a great example of people who are seeking to be obedient in their call to love. SEEK (Suba Environmental Education of Kenya) is the base where we live. They teach the community about preserving the beautiful country God has given them. There are many projects at work but one that I find to worthy of praise. It is simply called “The Goat Project.” It has been discovered that if a baby who is HIV positive is fed goats milk within the first year, the condition can be reversed and they have a chance to become HIV negative. The process is simple. The base buys a goat and allows her to become pregnant. The goat is then given to a widow and her children. Once the goat gives birth the widow repeats the process. This way they have goats for milk and also for meat. If they wish they are permited to bring a goat back to SEEK so the male goat can service her females. There is a community of widows who have formed a network -they take care of each other, check in with one another and just share life. A widow who is given a goat then passes on another empregnated goat to another widow and so on. We are not called to personally to eleviate poverty or solve injustice but to respond; to do something.
There is a lot wrong in the world what are we doing about it?. I was struck by a story from Bill Hynnes book “Holy Discontent” of a a family that responded to a need. They saw a “whole generation of over-entertained and under-challenged young people drifting further and further away from God,” namedly their own and decided to do something. It was endless frustration and constant “pulling teeth” to get the kids motivated. The father took notice of the young life group they voiced interest in and his response was “If their fired up about a group that meets three counties from here, then it looks like we’ll be road tripping it for a while.” He told his boys, “get all your friends torgether and tell them to meet in our front yard Wednesday at five o’clock. And tell them not to be late! I’ll be chauferring, and I’ll give you one guess as to where we’re going.” You’re not serious the son said. ‘Yep and I don’t want any empty seats come Wednesday night. The boy was grinning but overheard a discussion involving the cost of the rented bus and knew he’d better fill the bus. Wednesday came and what a party it was for those kids! The three hour trip was one that those kids would never forget. Two and a half years later the dad is still moonlighting as a bus driver every Wednesday night for about six dozen kids who otherwise would have remained spiritually sidelined for a long, long time.” The father didn’t do much he just responded. It makes me think that I just want to live life for Chirst in an ordinary place doing ordinary things that change the world that I’m living in. God doesn’t necessarily call us to sacrifice but calls for obedience. The goat project is simple and still in the early stages but it is a response, and act of obedience and is making a difference. I am greatly encouraged.
–jenessa lynn
