Often, in my own reflection, I have always wondered if God really hears the Africans when they pray. This appears very strange given that I am an African and one who prays to God, who I believe is my creator and the sovereign of the universe. No one exists without him.
My wonder is because scriptures inform us that salvation is of the Jews. To me this means true connection to God should be based on what God, through the Jews, has given the world. The major religions of the world claim to be rooted in Abraham. Through Abraham the sovereign of the universe planned to bless the world. That blessing was fulfilled through one called Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, Israel as a nation rejected Jesus Christ. According to the scriptures Jesus Christ is the light and the prince of peace. Rejecting him, therefore, means rejecting the light and settling for war. By implication those who rejected him chose darkness over light and war over peace. To me, this explains the reality we see in the world today.
The unfortunate Africans were first enslaved by Arabs and Europeans. The consequences of the slave trade era can still be seen today in certain circles and societies. To add insult to injury, the Africans were further and deeply colonized by the Europeans politically, economically and mentally. To make matters worse when the Africans received the so-called gospel, they received it from the Romans instead of the Jews. Emphatically the scriptures say salvation is of the Jews, not the Romans. Much of the world and indeed much of Africa, however, lives life according to the Romans and not according to the Jews. I often think, if God is particular about how people worship him, and his desire was that people worship him according to the Jews, and above all, in spirit and truth, then likely he does not hear anyone that worships him according to the gospel of the Romans. Did the Romans really give the world the truth?
By the way, Romans crucified the Lord Jesus Christ! By the way, Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple. Could these people really bring Africa the gospel?
Although the nation of Israel rejected Jesus Christ, there were those individuals among them that accepted Jesus Christ. Africans, if they cared, should consider and look to such individuals in an effort to draw God’s attention and favor. In this vein my favorite character is Peter. Peter was a Jew who worked as a fisherman. When Christ invited Peter to follow him, he gave it a try. And he got to know Jesus Christ well. When tough times came, however, he forsook Jesus Christ. But later realized he had made a mistake. So, he repented of his weakness and wrong decision and returned to Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ died and resurrected and ascended to heaven Peter continued believing in Jesus Christ and shared with others that which he had seen his Lord do. Out of his effort many people have been blessed. How Peter related to Jesus Christ is how every Jew was supposed to relate to Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, even though the Romans claimed to stand on Peter, they did not carry Peter’s gospel when they went out to evangelize the world, especially Africa. The gospel the Romans took when they went to evangelize the world was not the same as Peter shared. I am very afraid that Africans were given a different gospel than that of Peter and other disciples most notable being John. In my estimation this is one reason I doubt if God hears the Africans when they pray.
From the beginning God meant Africans to be blessed. This is why he put them on a very rich continent. But because they were given an erroneous gospel, they continue to politically and economically struggle to this day. Their foundation as a people is not rooted in the truth.
But we cannot be such dull people. We have received much education, but somehow, we have not learned to think independently and critically analyze issues looking for and following the thread of truth. At TwCN it is our duty and aim to search for truth and to share the truth without fear or favor. We do know that truth, often hurts. So let it be, when the only thing that lasts forever is truth, we better tell it because no one will destroy it. It will last forever. And by knowledge of the truth Africa may eventually be truly liberated. The good Lord admonished us saying “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free!”
When will I have confidence that God hears the Africans when they pray? There is only one way. At one time the English worshipped the Sovereign according to the way the Romans told them. But they realized very quickly that God was not hearing their prayers. So, they decided to establish themselves as a nation with direct connection to God. They connected their monarch directly with God and called themselves the Anglican, The Church of England.
Africans may have to do the same and do it even better. African intellectuals and politicians need to diligently read the scriptures and follow what the scriptures say. When you have God only and nothing else to fear, you need to directly connect yourself to him. Africans can be lest assured that God would hear them when they speak to him because they are precisely following his instructions.
I long to see the days when I will hear of The Church of Nigeria, The Church of Zambia, The Church of Niger, The Church of Zimbabwe, The Church of Ghana, The Church of Sudan, The Church of Kenya, etc. directly connected to God holding high and precisely following what the Scriptures say. At that time the African will be truly liberated and will have only God to fear and to pay homage to. Away with European and American deceitful intermediaries. They never tell us the truth! TwCN.
