Bro, that’s all silly and nothing but a “spirit of fear”. Right now as we speak African peoples are dancing in traditional garb once worn in their pagan culture, not dancing to honor their tribal spirits but to honor Christ. Yes, they are even playing instruments once used in those pagan celebrations and singing in their language. And yes…the cutting of the flesh is something that can be redeemed, not in practice, but in understanding. Every culture can testify that man can only be cleansed by the shedding of blood. Their ancestors lived in darkness shedding their own blood without a redeemer to shed his blood for them. But here’s the good news….the redeemer has come! They no longer have to walk in darkness shedding their own blood in the hopes that it will “somehow” purify them from their inner pain and sinfulness. They can rest now, knowing that Jesus shed his own blood for them and that they are now FREE! I pray they NEVER forget the darkness their ancestors practiced and how they mutilated themselves in vain efforts to please the creator. I pray whenever they hear of those practices they breathe a sigh of peace knowing that Jesus shed his own blood for them ONCE AND FOR ALL. It might even make a neat church sign logo, hands scared from cutting the flesh raised toward the cross. And as for worship fires, sure, raise that fire remembering how they longed for the fire of God’s presence in the days of their darkness…and testify around that fire that the real FIRE has FALLEN from HEAVEN upon them in the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST. If they want to dance a jig because of that fire baptism around that fire, I say go ahead! GET DOWN FOR JESUS. If they want to raise their children high in the congregation for the preacher to bless them with a prayer that brings life instead of a sacrificial knife that brings death, offering their child as an offering to God I say…PRAISE THE LORD!
Fake sacrifices and reenactments can be compared to Christmas pageants in an ethnic context. It might be alien to you and me….but it might speak so deeply to their hearts you and I have no way of knowing.
My first pastor would travel to Ethiopia on occasion. One day I was in his office and noticed that behind his desk in the corner was a wooden statue of an African tribal warrior. I asked him the story behind the statue. He said it was given to him by a tribal chieftain. He explained that it was a warrior spirit that was called upon to protect villages and crops. It was a gift to him because the chieftain said that my pastor had the spirit of a spirit warrior because he took a stand against Hell to protect villages, families, and the blessings God had given. My pastor cherished that gift until the day he died. Was it an idol? Technically yes. Was it a sin to own it and share its story? Nope.
I was talking to the Addingtons, missionaries to New Zealand. If I remember correctly they were serving the Maori people and they have this custom of distorting their faces by bugging out their eyes, bearing their teeth, sticking their tongues out, crouching, screaming, and dancing violently before battle, called a hacka. While Bro. Addington was preaching he touched on the subject of declaring war against Hell and fighting Satan through the power of Jesus Christ. He said it was terrifying, the entire group of men sitting in the front bounded to their feet and began a tribal hacka while cursing and binding Satan in the name of Jesus. Bro. Addington thought for a moment that they all had been possessed and were going to attack him! LOL But they ran around that meeting and it broke into a massive tribal hacka blowout service! And many Maori got the Holy Ghost. Give God praise!
Bro….you’re view of what’s “Christian” is filtered by what you know living in a Western culture heavily influenced by English customs, norms, and manners. I’m fully convinced that Heaven will see every tribe, nation, kindred and tongue praising God in their own language, with their own dance, with their own customs, with their own words of adoration, with their own music, and if our resurrected bodies ever wear anything other than white robes in eternity, I’m even convinced they’ll wear the garb of their culture in praise around the throne. I believe it will be a global praise of adoration that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Let the Irish river dance for Jesus, the Maori hacka for Jesus, let the Tutu throw spears after church for Jesus….
Oooo….I feel the Holy Ghost as I’m typing this….here’s a song running through my head right now…
There's a growing root of bitterness
In the world today
From the heart of Johannesburg
To the ghettos of L.A.
A swelling violent undertow
Has gripped the soul of man
But an integrated cry of hope
Echoes across the land
I hear my brothers say
Come, everybody, it's time to start
To let the love of Jesus
In your heart
Every tongue and every race
All of God's children seek His face
Praise the Lord, everybody, praise the Lord
Praise the Lord, everybody, praise the Lord
People of promise take your place
Tell of His mercy and His grace
Lift up your voice to the sky
All of God's children testify
Praise the Lord, everybody, praise the Lord
Praise the Lord, everybody, praise the Lord
We worship You because You are Lord and King
We magnify You because You are the One who reigns
We glorify You because You always remain the same
We worship You because You are Lord and King
We magnify You because You are the One who reigns
We glorify You because You always remain the same
Praise the Lord, everybody, praise the Lord
Praise the Lord, everybody, praise the Lord
We got no time for hit and miss
The world is full of prejudice
You know we just ain't down with this, so come on now
Everybody priase the Lord
He inhabits our praises
Sin He erases
He wants to amaze us, so say this
Everybody praise the Lord
Praise the Lord, everybody, praise the Lord (x4)
Everybody, praise the Lord (x6)
(Everybody Praise the Lord, performed by Carmen)
Bro….you need to open up, expand your vision, allow God to be BIGGER, and stop living life on the run, [B]stop living life in fear[/B]. Live life in victory, dominion, celebration, and worship unto the King of All Kings. If some had their way we’d be secluded Pentecostal monks in some monastery somewhere. Living for Jesus would be like living on some sanctified version of Gilligan’s Island; no phone, no light, no motor car, not a single luxury. Like Pentecostal ascetics, as primitive as can be. lol
Never.
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