TEACHING SERMON – SEPARATING CULTURE FROM CHRISTIANITY

For the purpose of this study, let us first examine the dictionary definitions of culture.

1. The arts, customs, life styles, background and habits that characterize a particular society or nation.
2. The beliefs, values, behaviour and material objects, that constitute a people’s way of life.
3. The language and peculiarities of a geographical location.
4. A culture is the combination of the language that you speak and geographical location you belong to. The way you represent dates and times.

No doubt, before Africa was colonized and consequent influence of Western culture and before the influence of “imported religions” the people had their way of life, even before the advent of modern technology, Africans produced their food, their tools and weapons.  They had their own calendar.  They had their way of counting days, weeks, months and years.  They had their market days and so they observed seasons.

They performed ceremonies for different occasions such as marriages, burials, harvests, New Years, namings, historic days etc.

They meticulously observed “dos” and “don’ts” of their societies.  They were uncompromising in keeping the norms and values of their societies.  They had kings or rulers; they had age long, rancor-free methods of choosing their leaders.  Succession or transition of power was so organized that makes mockery of the present so-called democracy.  They chose their representatives freely and happily.  They organized armies and police for security and orderliness.

They worshipped.  Though they were polytheists, yet Africans believed in one supreme God, Olodumare, Chukwu or Chi  ukwu (supreme God).

It must be emphasized here that our fore bearers were not pagans, they were not heathens – By grace and intuition they knew and worshipped the God of Abraham.

(Romans 1:20, Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – God’s eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, because they are understood through the things God made, so humans have no excuse).

African Traditional Religion is the only religion without a known founder but with such alarming uniformity and influence throughout the region.

They deny they worshipped idols, rather they claim that the woods, stones and sticks in their religion were mere symbols as in other religions.

However, this religion is full of some obnoxious and inhuman practices such as human sacrifices, sacrifices to several gods, killing of twins, polygamy, ill treatment of widows, veneration of animals, the caste system, castration of some categories of domestic servants, early and forced marriages, slavery  and worship of ancestors, masquerades, endless ritualistic burials, consultations of mediums, witch craft, magic etc.  This religion majorly influenced the people’s culture before Christianity came.  With the advent of Christianity and its dominant influence in the society, many Africans were converted and many of the obnoxious practices in the society dropped.

However there is no denying the fact that syncretism (the reconciliation or fusion of different systems or beliefs)  became the other of the day among those who claim to be Christians.

Christians” encourage and participate actively in some of these ungodly practices (sometimes openly and sometimes secretly).

However, there are some aspects of the African culture which should be preserved, such as family values, extended family system, respect for elders, community living, hospitality, reward for hard work with the award of titles and ostracizing of criminals etc.

Today many Christians have compromised their faith in the name of “preserving their heritage”.  They have found solace in syncretism as against total submission and loyalty to the Christian faith and teachings.

In our teaching on contemporary issues today, we will attempt to draw a line between “preserving our heritage” and our Christian faith.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. Name and discuss any cultural practice in your place of birth or generally in Nigeria that you would advocate for its abolition.
2. Compare the stand of the early church in Nigeria against some bad cultures with what is on ground today.

TALK BACK:

CONCLUSION:

In the midst of the conflict between culture and Christianity, let the word of God remain our standard, our compass and the lamp to illuminate our paths.