Tuesday, May 06, 2008

• African Theology and the story of Joseph

  I certainly haven't gotten very far on my study of refugee texts.  I'm frozen at the story of Joseph after listening to a lecture given by Oscar Miriu, an African theologian from Nairobi.  In his message, he presented the powerful force that African Christianity has played in worldwide missions in the last century and how little attention they have received.  He argues that people say "Christianity is dying" because they refuse to  'look South' where you will find the church exploding and thriving.  It's disgusting how little value is placed on listening to African Christian leaders.  This continent is experiencing the biggest outbreak of God in history and we're still looking to the West, reading all the articles from Fuller, Yale, Princeton, and Dallas Theo Seminary.  Maybe we should be paying less attention to what scholars are saying where Christianity is dying and mroe attention to those where it is thriving?  (I think I'll get some comments on this post! ha)

  Miriu notes the vast difference between how Africans and Westerners interpret Scripture.  A group of Westerners got together to discuss the central theme of the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-42 and their conclusion was: "If you stay faithful to the Lord, God will raise you up."

  I don't think any of us would argue that this message is a central theme.

  What did the Africans conclude: "Never, ever forget your family." 

  Never forget your family.  I'm challenged by their conclusion.  What a wonderful perspective.  Can you imagine being in a family like Joseph's?  These are the patriarchs of the faith and the family straight up sells the most loved son into slavery.  They cover it up with a lie.  Daddy grieves and the brothers are forced to be sworn to secrecy for many, many years.  Everyday of their lives they know that they brother might still be out there somewhere.

  All the while, Joseph is duking it out in Egypt, eventually being "raised up" to become a man of great influence.  Despite all the pain, all the joys, all the supernatural breakthroughs - Joseph remembers his family.  He never forgets them and in the end treats them as such.  And you thought your family was messed up?

  I hear a lot of talk about community/sense of belonging but not much about family in the church in the West.  I want to be a learner, not a fix-er as a Western Christian.  While I believe the West still has a vital role to play in mission, I believe our days of fix-ers are over.  We can't "fix" Africa. We aren't smarter and we certainly aren't thriving in our making of disciples.  I know I've come alongside other cultures and acted as if I had all the answers.  Gross. I want to be a learner.   

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