“THE PROCESS IS THE END. FOR IT IS THE PROCESS THAT IS GLORIFYING TO GOD.” --Oswald Chambers

"This life therefore, is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health but getting well, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way. The process is not yet finished, but it is actively going on. This is not the goal, but it is the right road. At present, everything does not gleam and sparkle, but everything is being cleansed." --Martin Luther

Friday, January 11, 2008

Culture & Christ

In doing research this week I began to understand some of the African (Zambian) culture. Spiritually the Zambians seem to focus more on evangelism (getting people saved) than on discipleship and training. I was wondering why? Here are some statistics: Zambia is approximately the size of Texas with a population of just over 11 million. A million of them are estimated to have HIV/AIDS, approx. 90,000 die every year from AIDS. That is just AIDS; that is not including anything else. Life expectancy had dropped from 44yrs. old to 33yrs. old, now it is back to 38. The median age is 16 yrs. old. Just think about those numbers for a minute. I know for me it is hard to comprehend, especially living in this country in rural Minnesota. Can you even imagine what would be done/ what the outcry would be if this was taking place in a state in this country? Most of us feel we are not going to die any time soon, so what is the hurry in sharing Christ? I’m 34 yrs. old, I’ve almost reached the life expectance of a Zambian. You think if you knew that a lot of the people around you were not going to live that long that you would be more intentional about sharing Christ? This is the reality of the pastors and evangelists in Zambia. Now ask yourself what will increase the life expectance? What will combat the AIDS epidemic? The answer is NOT the U.N. delegation handing out condoms. I’ll tell you what the answer is and a lot of people in this country don’t like it. Answer: the Word of God (aka. The Bible) and Jesus Christ. How? Think about it from just strictly a common sense point of view. What does the Bible teach? How to live a holy and upright life (live morally). Your chances of living longer greatly increase. Jesus came to bring life and life abundant. But that does not come without learning/discipleship in the Truths of our Father. We as a people (no matter where we are) need to know (learn, meditate on, live out) those Truths. The culture in Zambia (as well as U.S.) needs to change and know that the Kingdom culture surpasses all cultures.
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