Christianity vs Tradition
DEAR editor, recent sensational comments by ELCIN, especially the letter by Reverend Dr Abisai Shejavali’s on Olufuko (The Namibian 23 November 2012), faith and cultural matters have reference.
I will try and use elementary simple language to convey complex concepts. Before the arrival of Christian faith from the Western world, our foreparents already had faith in a higher authority best described in the Book of Hebrews as the “unknown God.” Different societies have had different names for this same supernatural being. In a nutshell, people had already possessed religious faith although not by Christian faith standards.
Within the Nama culture we refer to KHARU-OMS when referring to practices taking place under Olufuko. The traditional preparation of young boys and girls are not anti-Christian since nothing contradictory to Christian faith is being taught herein. We ALL believe in the Christian Theology that God is the giver of all good things, that all of Salvation is not earned but by unmerited Grace of God for we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. These cultural practices are not anti-Christian but merely introduces young unmarried women to challenges of womanhood, adult life, marriage and household matters.
The Church of God has always operated in hostile environments, because sin has infiltrated every new generation in new ways we are blind to. One is institutional sins, whereby the Church does not impact society having lost influence with unnecessary pronouncements on such trivial matters and is shaped by the world. I am convinced that the Church of God has this golden opportunity to partner such traditional practises to ensure nothing contradictory to our wholistic positive views are taking place here. Church must influence and be convincing with our doctrine and never try and enforce it on others.
I am encouraging Christian and church leaders every where, to be involved in all issues affecting our communities, and be the present, inside conscience and voice of the people. Distancing and criticising positive interventions aimed at restoring the traditional and cultural practices lost through colonialism and apartheid racism is not the right thing to do for church and community leaders. Forward we shall march with the Khaure-Oms!
Rev Willem Simon Hanse (Writing in personal capacity)
Mariental