By Anthony:
As a teacher, you have to be ready to deviate from
your notes sometimes. With my class on
mission and evangelism, we had a tangent that amounted to a four hour class
discussion over two days, not counting the time spent discussing outside of
class. What began as a simple discussion
about whether God uses dreams or visions to call people to missions, culminated
in a few students questioning whether Jesus is really necessary as a Savior, whether
they should write a new Bible that doesn’t challenge their beliefs, and a couple students boldly declaring that we must obey our culture before obeying Christ
if the two contradict. Let me tell you
what happened. Have no fear, this story
ends well, making it one of the most serious and disturbing class discussions
I’ve ever had, yet one of the most delightful at the same time because God used
my teaching.
The heart of the discussion was the relationship
between culture and Christianity. I
suggest that one of the greatest challenges facing Africa today is that
Christians have not had a truly transformed worldview, based on the Bible. Instead there are many Africans who are still
abiding by the beliefs and practices of traditional religion and culture, while
at the same time attending church on Sundays.
So there are very many Africans claiming to be Christian, but very few
who have actually had a transformation of their mind, to believe and to act
according to the truth of God’s revelation to us (Romans 12:2). (Perhaps this is still a problem in America as well!). Our class discussion is evidence of this
reality in Africa. This is why I’m a missionary
teaching in a country that is already reached with the Gospel.
I had already spent two hours discussing the
relationship between Christianity and culture. Most my students are from the Kikuyu tribe, but there many tribes in Kenya, and our class had several other tribes represented as well. We talked about how every culture has things that fit with the Christian
faith and can be enjoyed and celebrated, and every culture has things which are
fallen. All people need to be
transformed when coming to Christ. We
talked about contextualization and the Christian faith finding a home in each
culture. We talked about how
Christianity is not about Western culture, and is not a white man’s
religion. We talked about the ways that
Christianity could look different in Africa versus the USA. We talked about the tension between how we
remain a part of our culture even as a Christian, but yet you are also somewhat
of a stranger to your culture as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. We talked about the uniqueness of African
Christianity and celebrated aspects of African culture. The students were tracking with me and
understanding, and I thought we were all on the same page. But it must have been going over their head
and not truly connecting to their lives and reality.
When we came to a later topic about dreams, I found
out that in their culture, if they have a person (even a Christian) who has been having a lot
of dreams, they offer a sacrifice to “cleanse” the person and purify them so they no
longer have dreams. Yet the
sacrifice is not being offered to God. In this post, it’s not necessary to get into a discussion about this particular ritual,
or our later conversations about witchcraft and curses. I was not trying to teach them that their
cultural beliefs and practices were wrong. I was actually trying to learn more about
these things from them. But I did
challenge them to think about their beliefs and if they really fit with the
Bible or not. I tried to make them think
through why they believe in the power of witchcraft, or uttering curses. Where does the power come from? The discussion was not about whether their
cultural beliefs and practices regarding these things are good or bad. That’s not the point. The point was rather what we should use to
determine whether they are good or bad.
I taught them that we should only continue in such traditional beliefs
and practices if they fit with what the Bible teaches us. But a few students argued that it does not matter so
much what the Bible says. They told me
they have to continue in such beliefs and rituals for two reasons:
1. They know from experience and stories
people tell that the rituals work when prayer to God doesn’t work.
2.
They cannot go against their culture or there will be consequences, notably other people being unhappy with them.
So we talked long, vigorously, and intensely about the
relationship between culture and Christianity.
I pushed them really hard, challenging them and asking difficult
questions. I made them deeply think
through what they believed and why. I so
very much appreciate how honest they were willing to be with me. They trusted me enough to be open, and I
think this was one of the first times that they were honest with themselves
about this. They understood that I did
not want them to embrace Western culture, and that I was not against their African
culture. But the crux of the issue was what
to do if our culture requires something different from what God requires. Though they probably would never have dared
utter such a thing before this class discussion, after forcing them to really
examine their beliefs, at the end they were willing to be honest and say that
culture comes first, and Christ comes second, and they will only take what
Christ says in so far as it fits with their culture. It wasn’t all of the students who said this. Most of the students agreed with me, and some weren’t
sure what to think.
At points in the long conversation:
-
Some claimed that Christianity is a white
man’s religion (even though they know from church history that Christianity was in
Africa first). Some of the students were
really considering that their tribe should write their own Bible, and not have
this one from the Jews. So we had to
review the biblical teaching of how God revealed himself first to the Jews but always
had a plan and heart for all the nations.
-
Some students, while wondering and trying
to put their thoughts into words, tried to articulate that maybe Jesus is our
savior and our help in some ways but in other ways we find salvation and help
through the traditional culture.
-
Some claimed that their culture, before
the missionaries came to Africa, was already perfect. They already worshiped God, they were
already saved. Basically, they had no
sin, and didn’t need a Savior. I said, “you have freedom to believe this, and I will
still love you, but then are you saying that Jesus is not really the Savior,
and that those people did not need to hear about him?” It shook me to my core to hear some of these
pastors-to-be wonder out loud, “no, they
did not need Jesus, maybe he is not the savior for all people.” I trust that God continues to give grace in such experiences of learning and wrestling through such doubts and issues.
-
One student suggested what amounts to
modern day pluralism, that each religion finds its own way to God, its own path
of salvation. And God will judge each person
according to the beliefs and standards of their religion. So I had to teach about the logical problems
with a pluralistic view.
- Many of the students said they would do whatever
is practical to meet their needs. “If prayer to God doesn’t solve my problem, I
will do the traditional rituals.”
This is really common in African Christianity. People do what works, not what is right. If prayer doesn’t work, do a sacrifice. If the sacrifice doesn’t work, go to the
witch doctor. Whatever works to get me healing
and to get more money, that is what I will do.
-
The main reason the students gave for not
going against the culture was that there are consequences for not following the
culture. I said, “But Jesus called us to do what is right, even if it means that we will
suffer, to deny ourselves and follow him.”
But they kept insisting that you have to follow the culture to avoid
causing a problem and being criticized by others. So we discussed how the early Christians in
the Roman Empire suffered for going against the culture, how American Christians
have to go against parts of our culture today, how Indian Christians have to go
against parts of their culture, etc.
Some of the students were really getting it and were ready to suffer for
Christ, but some still could not fathom suffering by going against the
culture. I explained that that is the
challenge of being a follower of Christ.
“Jesus said to count the cost, and
we cannot be one of his followers if we are not willing to suffer for him.”
-
Some students tried to argue a middle
approach, trying to reconcile what I was teaching and what some of the students
were teaching. They said we need to
accept both Christianity but also the culture, and that they go hand in hand,
fitting together perfectly. They had
trouble accepting that there are fallen aspects to every
culture. It seems they only want to
focus on the good aspects of their various cultures, because when I tried to
point out that corruption is a huge part of the culture in Kenya, they agreed
that corruption is wrong, but didn’t want to say that it was part of the
culture. (Only 1% of all the money spent
by the government of Kenya is spent according to the law, according to how it
was supposed to be spent – see this video).
(Another example of confusion between culture and Christianity, perhaps part of what my students are reacting against. In East Africa, a Christian wedding is not only a wedding that is done in church before God, but a wedding with a white dress, tuxes, and a cake. And "Christian names" are Western names like William and Harriet that aren't even in the Bible)
After the 4 hours of discussion, everyone could
clearly see and understand all these issues, facing this dilemma honestly perhaps
for the first time in their lives. But
about 3 or 4 of the 13 students were stubbornly insisting that their first
allegiance is to the culture, and secondly to Christ and the Bible. I challenged them seriously, but also in
love, that to be true Christians we must put Christ above all other gods,
including our own cultures. We must die
to self, be born again, and find new life and identity in Christ. I said if they want be followers of the
culture, and only follow some of Christ’s teachings, that they should be honest
and not call themselves Christians. And
that I could not recommend anyone to be a pastor who is not willing to put
Christ before their culture. It was
tense, serious, and I spoke very slowly and carefully and in love. This might have seemed harsh to some of them,
but it is the truth.
Outside of class, I checked on the students who
disagreed with me. I was relieved that
they had loved the discussion. They said
it was the very best way to learn and appreciated me so much for allowing them
to honestly discuss. They did not feel
offended at all. It was one of the most helpful classes they have had.
Reflecting later, I know that part of the problem is
that people are trying to value their tribal cultures that were so strongly put
down by Westerners in the past. Some of
these tribes went through awful things during the colonial period. Many of the tribes started to lose their
identity and traditional practices and beliefs, many of which were good. Many of the colonials and missionaries of the
past preached Western culture right alongside the Gospel. And some actively preached against traditional African culture, again, some of which was very good. So I understand that now these African
Christians, my students, are trying to hold on to their cultural identity and celebrate what is
good in their cultures. I’m not against
that and told the students so. I had
even told them I appreciate their cultures more than my own in many ways. But it’s ironic or at least interesting that the
Kenyans today are emulating what they saw of Western missionaries in the past. If the Western missionaries could preach
their culture along with the Gospel, why can’t Kenyans do so today as well? If the Western missionaries put their culture
before Christ at times, why can’t Kenyans do so at times as well?
It’s hard for any of us not to put our cultures
first. I’m thankful that I have been a
part of so many different cultures and known so many people from around the
world. It has helped me to better see
(though not perfectly of course) what is really the core of the Gospel, what the Bible really
teaches, and then the cultural periphery that changes from culture to culture.
I felt like the class discussion was a huge success,
even though I couldn’t convince all the students to put Christ before their
culture. Most Americans or Kenyans or
any Christians who do put their culture over Christ, don’t realize they are
doing it, or aren’t honest that they are doing it. At least these few students are able to
recognize clearly what they were doing and articulate it.
But the best part came later! After we agreed to disagree, the students
themselves continued the discussion, all of them together, outside of
class. And the rest of the class was
able to convince some more of the students that Christ comes before
culture. One who had initially disagreed
even came to tell me of his heart/mind change, that he is putting Christ first, and
that he is now going to work on convincing the last of the hold-outs. I’m so grateful for this class of students,
to wrestle through hard topics like this together, and support one another in
figuring out the truth. And I’m thankful
for God using me to help them think through these things.
How about you? Do you put culture before Christ? You might quickly say "no." But are you sure?Are you willing to suffer by putting the truth of God's Word first in forming your beliefs? Are you willing to be called a bigot for believing what God says even if it radically goes against the culture's ideas? Are you willing to go against your political party because you put Christ first? Do you get your identity first and foremost as a Christian, rather than as a conservative, or as a Baptist, or as a Dutch person, or as a Democrat? I'm proud of my students for admitting what they were really doing. Can we be courageous enough to also admit if we are forming our beliefs and opinions about controversial issues based on our culture's ideas first rather than God's Word?
