Easter Is About Conviction
Dumi Mmualefe | Monday April 14, 2014 14:02
On the other hand, some churches are planning to go on pilgrimages; the Zion Christian Church members heading for Moria in South Africa, the International Pentecostal Church members heading for Shilo, while the Spiritual Healing Church members are preparing for a pilgrimage the north of the country.
Amidst all the excitement, the important question is how much of all this is about the death and resurrection of Christ? The focus, once more is on those things that make us happy and excited, it is about our plans to pass time and recover from the stress of school and work. During this time lives are lost as people drive recklessly, many under the influence. It is not only bars, bottle stores and food outlets that make a monetary killing but more importantly churches, or some at least. I say churches when I should be saying some pastors, prophets, evangelist... the titles abound!
This is not about making merry or money, it should not be about passing time. Easter holidays are holy days. These are days that point us to the meaning of conviction. Many people, especially in Botswana live as people without conviction. Many of us do not have anything we believe in to be prepared to die for. It is often said that we forget easily but that is an understatement if not an excuse. Batswana do not forget easily. If you doubt this wait until someone ho never eats at people’s funerals loses a loved one; see how they will come in numbers but not eat the food!
The problem we seem to have is a weak spine: lack of commitment to any conviction. Batswana have become so individualistic and egocentric. Many of us are always focusing on self-gain even at the cost of the common good. Political parties across the board have become such a circus due to this endemic disease. Why would people trip over one another over the eye and the ear of the president as Hon. Nasha reveal? These are supposed to be people who are in concert conviction and mission wise. The drum-major instinct has taken over our being! Most of us would okay and sponsor whatever pleases the powerful if only to gain from it.
What of the sickening standoff in the Botswana National Front? Is it about conviction? Do people in this war have any respect for democratic processes? Yet, in all these things, as the country nosedives at the speed of lightning many would rather wait and see “gore mmu wa sekara o tla wela kae!
We have become so desperately self-centered that ga o sa tlhole o fisa baoori. We have mastered the art of burning and still looking comfortable.
The church is probably the main culprit having adopted the ga di nkame, di ama lenkerile lepodisi la Palapye as we grew up hearing. To date the church seems oblivious to topical issues in this country. We have chosen the easy route of hiding in our sanc- tuaries and engaging in word-smith prac- tice: “praying, praising and preaching.” In the midst of oppression and corruption we have opted to “see no evil, hear no evil!” Our focus on heaven when earth is burning is a focus on oblivion.
The church is probably the main culprit having adopted the ga di nkame, di ama lenkerile lepodisi la Palapye as we grew up hearing. To date the church seems oblivious to topical issues in this country. We have chosen the easy route of hiding in our sanctuaries and engaging in word-smith practice: “praying, praising and preaching.” In the midst of oppression and corruption we have opted to “see no evil, hear no evil!” Our focus on heaven when earth is burning is a focus on oblivion.
Jesus the Christ died because he had a conviction. He would rather die as a criminal for righteousness than live as a saint in injustice. The church continues its silence while “the world” engages on serious matters in courts like the LeGaBiBo case be- fore the High Court. The church has preferred to defer any discussion on the matter when the same people who are in court are our children, brothers and sisters. We do not need to agree with their position but we cannot pretend there is nothing to engage in. Being ignored is worse that being discriminated against; at least that latter says you are noticed!
Without conviction there cannot be any vision. Jesus had a choice to let go of the cup of suffering. That is what we learn from martyrs after him. They were always given a choice to denounce the Lord for their lives to be spared.
That is all that was required of them, this is all that was required of him. Jesus stood against the Roman Empire, he refused to be co-opted. Yet for us co-option by the powerful is the way to go. To be co-opted is to embrace the mark of the beast! When we pull others down so as to go up we gladly receive the mark of the beast. With it we can purchase power and seem powerful.
What conviction do you have? Do you have anything you can live and die for? Be- ing Christian is about carrying the uncomfortable cross of Calvary; it is about soiling our hands not about the cleanliness code, it is about engagement and not avoiding involvement. It is about being ready to lay one’s life down, not for the self but for the sake of righteousness, and most importantly, for the sake of the other!
As we approach national elections let us register in numbers and vote out of conviction; conviction that you cast a vote for someone who will be a servant of all. As we walk around this beautiful country, let us serve out of conviction not merely for money but as ministers in the mould of Jesus. Those who teach, in schools, in churches and other organisations let conviction for justice be paramount! Let the teachers, disgruntled as they may be, remember the need to raise out of our children what the current system could have failed to raise out of us.
Our children deserve more than what we have. Only conviction that we all deserve justice can drive us to do justice to those at our mercy even as we feel injustice is meted to us! To God be the glory! (REPEAT)