Newsletter August 6, 2008
From the Senior Pastor. . .
“The Fate of Africa” is a book I’m reading in preparation for journeying with Dan Steere to Nigeria and Ghana. Having always loved maps, I have some idea about African geography. But like many of you, I have little sense of Africa’s history.
It’s a sad history. The European powers that colonized Africa during the nineteenth century, arbitrarily divided it into “countries,” unconcerned about tribal, linguistic and cultural differences. In Nigeria, for example, three major tribes, along with the hundreds of minorities living in their territories, suddenly were expected to think of themselves as Nigerians. They didn’t.
The colonial power kept things together by force. But when these “nations” were granted independence, the scramble for power among the tribes became bloody with victory achieved by armed might instead of political agreement.
Americans struggled for decades to think of themselves as “united states.” But during the process we were blessed to have in place a constitution which reflected at least some appreciation for biblical truth. For example, our founding fathers understood the consequences of original sin. They understood that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Which is why they put into place a government of checks and balances. Our executive, judiciary and legislative branches are intended to prevent anyone from gaining absolute power. It hasn’t worked perfectly, but it’s worked better than most other forms of government established by men.
Africa, in the wake of the withdrawal of European powers, has been ruled by “strong men” exercising absolute power. They have proven to be absolutely corrupt. Some have even taken for themselves the title of “Messiah.” Their messages have been similar: “Believe in me and I will lead you into the Promised Land.” Ruling with an iron fist, they have stolen their nation’s wealth and impoverished their people. Their “reigns” have been characterized by terror almost unimaginable.
Meanwhile, the Gospel has been preached and many have come to faith. But the Gospel has been viewed as primarily a matter of personal salvation. There has been little understanding of how biblical truth informs all of life, including the structure of families, tribes, cultures, the arts, politics and economics.
In America, we struggle to learn these same lessons. Some of us are passionately concerned about personal morality. Others are passionate about social justice. As believers, our challenge is to live and preach the Gospel, praying that God will not treat us as we deserve, but will pour out His Spirit, change our hearts, so we will strive in His strength, both individually and corporately, to bring all of life into conformity with God’s revealed Word.
This is the message that Dan and I hope to teach to a handful of Christian leaders in both Nigeria and Ghana. By faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord we are rescued from sin’s curse and delivered from sin’s power. The grace that saves is the grace that equips, empowers and enables us to bring all of life into conformity with His good purposes.
I don’t believe in fate. I believe in a sovereign God Who works all things together for His good purposes. May His purpose be that our humble efforts will help to establish in the hearts of the men we teach, and those they teach, that Jesus is both Lord of all as well as Lord over all.
Pastor Caines