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March 10, 2005
Charm offensive
My colleague Steve has been stirring things up as he continues with the work in Burkina.
He was recently engaged in conversation at Djibo market by a traditional healer. They were talking about the usefulness of the various animal parts he (the healer, not Steve!) sells for use as medicine, charms and curses. At the end of the discussion - and with the understandably fearful agreement of the seller - Steve burned the two most powerful charms, to demonstrate that the power of God is greater than that of such things. You can read the whole account here.
Now, among traditional medicines, there is a mix of the good, the bad, and the powdered chalk. Western missionaries have often unfairly written off all traditional African medicine as being "of the devil." In fact, pre-modern cultures in some ways have a more Biblically holistic perspective on life than the modern world. There are several PhDs to be gained looking into beneficial herbal remedies used locally. There is no doubt also that much of the power of the "medicine men" lies in fear, superstition, and exaggeration.
However, anyone who has lived for any length of time in Africa wouldn't doubt the reality and destructive effect of the "power world" of the spirits. Anthropologist Paul Stoller discovered this to his surprise and shock, and wrote about it in his book "In Sorcery's Shadow." The world of the spirits only leaves people in bondage and fear.
But Christ is greater. Any ministry in Africa is going to require confrontation with the spirit world at some point. In Christ there is freedom, deliverance, and protection. Burning charms, amulets, and other power paraphanlaia is a regular part of discipleship as people take steps to follow the way of Jesus.
Please pray for Steve as he continues to seek to bring the love and light of Christ to the Fulani.
Posted by Keith at March 10, 2005 09:30 AM
