A LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

To my brothers and sisters in the faith of Christ Jesus. Grace and peace be yours in abundance from Christ Jesus our Loving Lord and Savior and from God the father.

Brethren, bear with me to write on an issue that has disturbed me for a couple of weeks now. On tuning to some leading vernacular Radio stations that air in kikuyu, i have heard people featured in attempts to "Gucokia ruui mukaro" i.e. taking the river back to its course. in these shows, the elderly people have been consistently advocating that the Kikuyu community ought to go back to its indigenous worship, traditions and way of life. They authoritatively present this as the only way to "heal" our society. Some are even so bold to correct some teachings which they describe as "Ndeto cia muthungu" i.e. the teachings of the white man, referring to the doctrine of Christianity. It is in this line that i write this short discourse.

Given the constitutional freedom of expression and association enshrined in our constitution, these forums and discussions are not illegal. My objection to them is that they are not what we believe as the body of Christ Jesus. It is true that every community in Kenya had its form of worship before the arrival of the gospel through the missionaries in 18th century. in them they met the human in-built instinct of worship. This said brethren, the bible authoritatively has strong words that summarizes all the "traditional form of meeting God";

Eph 2:11-13
Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. 

This is the truth! we were separate from Christ, without God and having no hope in the world. Whether you are a kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luo, Luhyia, Maasai............, even the best practice of your traditional worship leaves you as hopeless and far from God. It is Christ Jesus who has brought us to God for real. He is our peace through Hid blood, through the redemption in His blood i.e. the forgiveness of our sins.

Colossians Chapter 3 warns us not to allow any nice sounding philosophies from enslaving us. Let us not be friendly to this teachings from traditionalists especially when it comes to faith and worship. They talk for hours without even mentioning Christ Jesus! without drawing men to Him as the light of the world and the community! Apostle John wrote;

1Jn 4:1-6
 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 
 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already. Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 

Lets be wise and know these are the last days and scoffers will arise trying to draw men's hearts to other philosophies and away from Christ Jesus. This is my heart's cry today.

May God's peace and grace keep us growing in Him, amen amen.

Yours in Christ,

Brother Joseph