Zambia has known of Christianity since David Livingstone's time; so why would a Chief ask us to come and teach his people about Christ? As I was taught by my missionary uncle, Wayne Davis, and the church in Southern India, knowing about Christianity doesn't change a worldview from pagan concepts of reality to understanding reality as the Kingdom of God. This requires a worldview shift. Much of Christianized Africa has a thin veneer of Christianity (words and ceremonies) coating an old animistic worldview. Gailyn Van Rheenan - one of our missions mentors - defines this worldview as: "the belief that personal spiritual beings and impersonal spiritual forces have power over human affairs and, consequently, that human beings must discover what beings and forces are influencing them in order to determine future action and, frequently, to manipulate their power." As ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, we must teach the Spirit revealed view of reality. One point of common ground that gives us a starting point is the Chieftaincy, itself. As the people are used to relating to His Royal Highness, Chief Mumena, many of the concepts of Kingdom are already inherently understood within the Kaonde tribe's culture.
"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God."
Acts 19:8 KJV
Shifting some grinding gears,
Brian, Sondra, Noah, and Bryson
Pictured below:
1) Their Royal Highnesses Chief and Mrs. Mumena
2) Animism symbols still very much present
No comments:
Post a Comment