Search this journal
View original page
Celebrating the Reformation Rightly: Remembrance, Repentance and Rejoicing
How is the Lutheran Church in Tanzania recognizing and rejoicing in the Reformation?
We have reasons for the Lutheran Church to rejoice in the Reformation. These reasons are the Church’s fast growth, Divine Service, harmony with the government and diaconal work. On the other hand, the Lutheran Church in Africa today is not what it used to be. In so many areas the traditional divine service is changing: technologically, educationally, politically and culturally. The development of these areas compels changes to the traditional ways the Lutheran Church functions. For this reason we have differences in responding to the joy from our Lord, Jesus Christ.
1. Baptism and Witness
The Christian Church in Africa is seeking to evangelize and disciple large multitudes of people in Africa today. A case study can be taken from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, South East of Lake Victoria Diocese, where the Church increases with thousands of new Christians per year. We are full of joy, the joy that comes from God (the means of grace). True joy comes through Baptism. This results in the rapid growth of the Church in Africa, specifically in Shinyanga, Tanzania. This rapid growth is an amazing act of God, making heaven and earth joyful. The most joy of all comes from our Lord, as it is written in Luke: “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven’” (Luke 10:17–20).
2. The Lord’s Supper and Koinonia
Christian worship is attended strongly by children, youth and adults. This is different from the other parts of the globe. The number of divine service participants is increasing day by day. This joy of the first Church and the Church of Reformation results in the same joy day by day: “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46–47).
3. The Word of God and Confession and Absolution
It is correct here to stress that the Word of God and Confession and Absolution are valued as God’s gifts for Africa. All truth and error must be judged by the written Word of God through faith, as Paul writes in Romans: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom. 15:13). The Gospel in its context is preached and taught every day in many ways. The Gospel is relevant to men and women in every society in Africa because God’s message is addressed to mankind in need. The people who receive the Word receive it with joy, singing and dancing. There is giant growth of the Gospel and the Church in Africa.
4. Harmony with the state
View original page
The churches are working in harmony with the State. In some areas there are religious conflicts and so they have challenges when the State is so closely associated with traditional religion. This brings big problems between the 95 Church and the State. An example is the practice by some members of sorcery in parliament meetings. The good news is that most of the leaders in Africa accept the Good News that the Savior and King of Kings was born for all people, as the angel said: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).
5. The response to our joy is diaconal work.
Inevitably churches in Africa accept the charge to serve the needy in their homes as an extended family. Christian families extend this service as a joy in serving Christ through works of mercy to their neighbors. The clear hope and motivation for works of mercy has its origin from the Scripture itself, which gives clear hope and promise: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you. Or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matt. 25:34–40).
In this joyful moment there are things that make it difficult for Africa and Tanzania to rejoice the Reformation celebration properly:
• African traditional religions
Missionaries who work in Africa almost inevitably hear, and some see, the practice of traditional religions. Some of them very recently saw a situation where newly converted Christians were wrestling with issues of charm after baptism. Witchcraft and sorcery are great temptations to African societies. Reliance upon the ancestors is a felt need during times of crisis. There are endless stories, told by young and old, of the effects of this unseen force. Examples of this are the killing of albinos to achieve riches and success, and the killing of older women with red eyes, in the belief that the red eyes are a sign of a witch. Africa is a part of the world that experiences the mystical powers of unseen forces. Pagan religious belief has been hard to eliminate in lands where the Gospel has been preached for centuries. These are examples from every part of Africa. African churches are still looking for these brothers who are still in the darkness, like lost sheep. As far as rejoicing is concerned, we need to look for these brothers and sisters who are lost so that our rejoicing can be in full. A vivid example Luke gives is Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15: 4–7).
• Pentecostalism and false teaching
Today there is a cry throughout Africa for a genuine Divine Service, which is truly rooted in the lives of the indigenous people and in the roots of our Lutheran Fathers. The problems of Pentecostalism are essentially the same all over Africa. The churches in Africa receive the gifts of Jesus with physical joy, through singing and dancing. However, many of them use the extremes of Pentecostalism, clinging to the Scriptures as the reason for doing so: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23). Apart from the grace of God found in Jesus Christ our Lord there is no hope, even though we sacrifice ourselves in a physical joy.
• Terrorists
View original page
The practice of terrorism is widespread all over the world, and this creates fear in African churches. The killing of pastors and those who witness to Jesus’ name has become more frequent throughout the world. Christians in Africa 96 still have no other word from anyone other than the Word of God, which, however, looks like a passive response: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:14-15), and from John: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20).
• Diseases
The HIV pandemic, malaria and ebola are some of the diseases that afflict Africa. They affect many of the Christians in our churches. The Church needs prayer and support to rescue some of our friends in Africa. We keep asking God’s mercy in Africa so as to rescue them from diseases, and we take comfort from the Scriptures: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:22–24).
• Homosexuality
Homosexuality is a trial in Africa. It is still illegal to put talking about homosexuality into an agenda in societies and especially in the Church. It is shame to mention it. We are very sorry to tell you that this is a difficult agenda to take to Africa. But it is a trial encroaching some of the churches in Africa. Peter writes: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perished though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6–9). The situation began to change in Africa in this last decade, as laws and public policies that discriminated on the basis of sexual preference were successfully challenged in the courts by gay-rights advocates and not from the Church itself. This is a difficult issue for the churches, to allow gay and lesbian rights in the churches in Africa. The stress of this comes from many directions, including money, power, different views and opinions, leaders and different interpretations of what the Bible says. This issue will take a long time to resolve.
We believe that The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the Lutheran Church in Africa need to identify the best work that can be contributed to Lutheran African churches so they may rejoice in this time of the need for another Reformation. Thank you for your attention.
The Rev. Emmanuel Joseph Makala is bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, South East of Lake Victoria Diocese.
Tip: use the ← and → keys to move between sections. Share any page with index.html?p=<page>.