Great scholars and philosophers in history often challenged societal norms. Today, our social systems operate in consideration of such sideways thinking, but with little change. It took only a few noble people to rise up and challenge the norms that were legal but inhumane. Who decides what is legal and what is not? Even though we question other systems, we can at least agree that we are able to read and write because of changes influenced by those unsung heroes.
In the Saabali (Patience) song, Damian Marley and Nas ask whether we are growing wiser or just growing taller. They ask this while acknowledging that we are born without the knowledge we possess when the society fashions into us as we grow older. As important as this question is—we should try to understand how the song relates to our communities. It talks about colonialists, the self-appeasing lifestyle of politicians, and the cruelty done by some journalists and religious leaders.
In my early years as a young citizen of a civilised Malawi, I
noticed a trend where some communities often boycott funerals and weddings. The
most vocal community being Christians (Old Traditional churches) followed by
traditional chiefs. Let me ignore the traditional chiefs for a moment—my
focus is on Christian community, especially their designated leaders. Growing
up in a Christian family, I was often pushed hard to attend Sunday schools and
church. Later, Christianity and religion in general, were never my favourite
cup of tea. I only denounced religion in private, but kept going to church—I was too young to make independent decisions under Malawian laws and
family expectations. Of course, I rejoined it later, but that is reserved for another
day.
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| A preacher's affirmation of only preaching to the sinless | Credits: @RufaroAfrika |
As a young member of the church, I went through different lessons
about love, Ten Commandments and creation — concluding with Jesus Christ
Himself. I never had the courage to question decisions by churches when I
heard they had refused to conduct funeral services. I was always shocked when I
heard of such decisions. Maybe I often got shocked because Christ said children
are innocent in the eyes of God—that innocence triggered such reactions.
Further enhancing my logic, I later understood that Christian groups
often rely more on their own constitutions than on the Bible. Some use the
Bible only when they want to be heard through a single verse, which may often
give a different meaning to their claims when the whole chapter is read out.
Some churches have the tendency of collecting tithes from congregants
like loan sharks, and congregants happily pay—yet they go on to ignore God’s
commands. They neglect the love for God and justice like how Jesus Christ
criticises them as quoted in Matthew chapter 23. Congregants may be struggling
financially, but they are pushed to pay. Some happily pay, then commute back to
violate God’s commandments. Congregants who fall behind on tithe payments risk
having their funeral or a child’s being boycotted by the church. I often
wonder, is this the love Christ asked people to preach around the world before
He departed for heaven?
How will they spread the gospel if they cannot preach God’s
word to the broken-hearted? Christ never despised people’s situations; He saved a woman who was on the verge of being stoned to death by people
in accordance to the Mosaic laws as recorded in John 8:2-11. The
woman who was caught in adultery deserved death for the sin, but Christ asked
the mob to stone the woman if they were holy—none of them could withstand such
scrutiny. This relates well to the behavioural patterns of the religious
groupings, who act all mighty and holy simply because they have not been
caught. They boycott funerals which is one of the very important places where
the gospel of Christ should be proclaimed.
A modern depiction of Christ's stance on love | Credits: Random Facebook Theology Communities
I recall the story of the good Samaritan which Christ used to teach about loving a neighbour as oneself (Ref. Luke 10:25-33). A quick reflection; a man was beaten by robbers, stripped of his clothes, and left half dead. A priest who was passing by, neglected him. A Levite did not care about him either. The man’s safety was guaranteed later when a Samaritan took pity on him by taking him to an inn and treating his wounds. This was Christ’s response to an expert of the law who was not sure of who his neighbour was. As you can note in the parable, people who were deemed religious failed to help a person in need. Unfortunately, this is how religious communities operate nowadays as well. They ignore people in need of Christ’s gospel for the sake of their church’s image, disregarding the assigned purpose like the two religious men.
Similarly; there was a rich man who ignored a beggar
(Lazarus) until they both died. After dying, the beggar was comforted while the rich man faced torment. He asked Abraham for the chance to have Lazarus
resurrected, and let him tell his siblings to repent. His request was denied;
Abraham cited other living preachers as the responsible individuals for
that—else they were going to perish like him for not listening (Ref. Luke
16:19-31). In this parable Christ was enlightening those with bad intentions
that God is not about money or poverty, but how we treat people and respond to
Him.
God is not pleased with religious people who mistreat people in need of His message. It may be the deceased’s family, friends, community members or others within the church setup. In this parable it is clear that those who are dead have no effect of this life, unlike the living. In Christian settings, where will people get the courage to spread Christ’s gospel if the senior teachers are not filling this gap? Judgement is God’s no matter how we view the sinful nature of others. It happened with the woman caught in adultery and one of the criminals nailed to the cross beside Him. He also forgave a woman who was merely branded sinful, who wet his feet with tears, dried them with hair before pouring expensive perfume on them. He alone has authority of condemning and washing away the sins. No preacher should undermine God’s command to show love—to proclaim His kingdom and show compassion to one another.
As people who follow, and have knowledge of Christ’s teachings; Why have literate congregants not condemned this false portrayal of God’s ministry?
Christ Himself condemned Pharisees, Levites, the rich and others for living lives of false pretence. Perhaps you agree with atheists that religion is just a
business, and they simply lacked
the opportunity to revise the Bible for commercial gains?
I will go back to Sabali by Damian Marley and Nas; some lines
in the first verse criticise evangelists who instead of helping, use visuals of
suffering children to earn more through donations etc.
Evangelists
making a living on the videos
Of ribs of the little kids
Stereotyping the image of the images
And this is what the image is
As I go, I should leave you with a question for your mind; Are you
ready to confront these bad acts of those in authority of the church? If not,
then you may be in the same class as the priest and Levite who ignored the
traveller —worse, the robbers who initially inflicted pain on the traveller. Yes, if you
smile when evangelism’s mandate is not being fulfilled, you are in the same
boat with the angry mob that wanted an adulterous woman stoned to death.
We are born without knowledge until society feeds us various
data. Reading and listening are the skills that have proved to be vital in day-to-day lives. Do we learn from reading and listening? Have we managed to use
logic on things affecting our lives? If funerals are for the living, why do
some evangelists show bitterness towards the dead?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 NIV
[7] and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit
returns to God who gave it.
“It does not matter how you are buried. What matters most is your
relationship with God.” – Anonymous pastor said.
"Love the Lord, your God with everything you have,
but
Examine the churches!" - I said it
