Why Africa Needs God

Much has been made of an article written in the London Times Online on December 27th last year. Probably you’ve heard of the opinion piece written by Matthew Parris, who grew up in Malawi. He had just returned from a visit there (I wonder if our paths crossed in December?) and he stated: “As an atheist, I am truly convinced that Africa needs God.” Here's the link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

We couldn’t help but agree, but why in the world would an atheist say this? Why doesn’t he just say, like many do, that we just need better funding, more rigorously-administered projects, more education, more schoolteachers and orphanages and agricultural workers and solar cookers? We need trees planted, wheelchairs built, food aid distributed, AIDS education. The list is seemingly endless of what Africa needs.

Well, we would not disagree that any of those things are needed. And we would not disagree with the idea that Christians should be the hands and feet of Jesus, helping the orphan and the widow, serving the poor. Indeed, Christians should be the first in line to help the needy.

However, during our time here, we have watched those who are involved in trying to provide those things become very frustrated with lack of progress. Wherever there is push to change, without corresponding "heart work", we don't see progress. A friend of ours, who works with the government, estimates that over 90% of development projects fail. We were shocked to hear this. Now, this is not to say that projects don't bring some relief. Medical work, in particular, eases the suffering of the, well, suffering. What I am talking about is local projects, designed to change communities, change people's attitudes and practices, designed to alleviate poverty permanently. The West's efforts to "fix" Africa don't seem to making the progress we expect. Don't even get me started on that idea!

Often they fail because although they change people’s circumstances, they do not change people’s hearts. Take a look at the opinion piece I referenced above. He goes so far to say that the societies he has seen impede personal progress. Well, yes. I think in the West we put too much emphasis on individualism, but there are aspects of the "group think" here that I'd like to see change. Specifically, we see the evidence of selfishness and fear destroying hopes for change. The AIDS workers who were trained by the NGO don't care about their patients, and don't follow up. They were glad for the jobs, but do them sloppily and the AIDS rates don't go down. The agricultural workers steal as much as they can because they are afraid the jobs are temporary. Local farmers are afraid to change their environmentally destructive practices because they might offend the ancestors. When someone becomes ill, they are sure they shouldn't follow these new ways. The NGO comes in to help a poor village improve health, sanitation, and agricultural practices. "How should we start?", they ask the people. "Buy us a mill so we can make some money" comes the reply. The mill is purchased, and after the foreigners leave, it is sold by the chief and he buys a car, which then breaks. 3 years down the road, nothing has changed for the village. The young mother who tries to get her microbusiness going finds that her relatives come and ask for money whenever she makes a profit. Culturally, she is unable to refuse for fear they will become angry and curse her or spread lies about her. She never gets ahead.

What will end corruption, bigotry, cruelty, greed and selfishness, and most of all, FEAR? We believe the answer is a change in the human heart, done only by the Holy Spirit. It doesn't surprise us when people act like - people. It is not that people here are more sinful than they are in America, it is that this sin comes out in different ways. We don't believe real change will happen widely until people's hearts are changed.

When we are affected by his presence, we start to change. Then and only then can we be the instruments the Holy Spirit can use to change the hearts of others. We begin to understand the power and goodness of His plan, even in the midst of this suffering. We gain power over the curses of our neighbors and begin to love our enemies. And together we see bits of the kingdom of God here on earth. We see it in kindness and sacrifice, in believers standing up to traditional practices which operate in fear of the ancestors, we see it in families being united in the desire to know God, not simply act out what is expected.

This atheist has seen it, the difference in the Christians. We see it here. We hope you see it there, in your self, in your family, in your neighborhood. Christians SHOULD make a difference in the communities in which they live. It is a struggle here to equip the Christians to live as salt and light - they face many obstacles, and one of those obstacles is lack of understanding of who God really is and who THEY are in Christ. That is powerful knowledge and we continue to hope more and more people will grasp it. - Cami