By Peter Madoda Bungane
FAITH does not suddenly appear out of the blue. Faith belongs right at the heart of our life experience, and relevant theology can also only be drawn out of that lived experience. Otherwise, it not only risks becoming irrelevant, but it ought to be seen as irrelevant.
Likewise, building peace and reconciliation in this wounded country does not come out of the blue, but arises from the heart of this wounded community. ‘Reconciliation’ is a word we have become almost too used to. Maybe we need to rediscover its meaning. It comes from Latin and the word consists of four parts: ‘re’, meaning ‘again’; ‘con’, meaning ‘with’; ‘cili’ is the Latin word for ‘eyelash’; and ‘ation’ denotes an action.
Reconciliation, then, literally means ‘the act of bringing back into eyelash contact’ – the ability to touch eyelashes with another person, to look into another person’s eyes without barriers or obstacles. For me, that is a very new, different and dynamic understanding of reconciliation. It calls us to something new that goes further than we ever dared to think or imagine.
In the book of the prophet Habakkuk we read: “God, how long will I cry for help while you pay no attention? I denounce oppression and yet you do not save. Why do you make us see injustice everywhere? Are you pleased to look on tyranny? All we see is outrage, violence, quarrels, wars.” Those words of Habakkuk came 600 years before Jesus, but they could almost be read from our newspapers today.??
It is a pity – scandal, even – that an explicit commitment to work for peace and reconciliation is missing from the pastoral plans of our churches, dioceses and parishes. But what would be happening in our churches if we not only took up that task, but made it our priority? What if all our churches’ plans, visions and missions were measured against the barometer of advancing healing and reconciliation in our Mother Zambia? For me, the government of the republic of Zambia, opposition parties, civil society, the Church, foreigners and residents and the citizenry of Zambia this is a call to all. We must check ourselves spiritually using the scriptures before we call for reconciliation. Check ourselves before we go on our knees and pray for our land.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Luke 17:3-4 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Religion has taken away the rational thinking of Africans
Money-hungry and sex-crazed perverted men of God don’t even actually believe in God..Look around the world we are the only people holding on to this belief that Jesus is coming to take us to heaven where the streets are painted with Gold because bibles were written by our slave master Gutenburg, and King James say that. While we are busy praying and waiting for those Golden streets they are living in “Golden homes” now. . Africans should wake up and reject these Scammers.
Sorry but they are just to blind and brainwashed….
I hear there was a roll call for civil servants, is true?
I have not even read this useless article. How can this be a headline and yet hh who is leader of biggest opposition party was not given headline status on his statement. This website is a pf conduit of uselessness and that is why they always block me out of fear of my truth. They kill a student, sell your country and run down the economy and then call for national prayer. I challenge you to point me to any incident where food has magically appeared following prayer and please o don’t mean those phony stories in that made up book called bible
I find whoever brought this day of prayer and reconciliation a ridiculous man. A corrupt man and a man/ woman who will not go to heaven but hell. I am sure he/she knows what I mean. Just how do you talk of reconciliation when you have stolen from the very people you are asking to reconcile with you. Take back the loot to the people and ask for reconciliation kwasila. A thief ati reconciliation and he is still enjoying what he has stolen – takwaba. Indeed Religion is the opium of the people and Zambians we know how to sleep. Someone slaps you, steals from you and next day ati lets pray – what nonsense is this kashi. Bafikili!!!! Wake up!!!!
Your are the worst devils!!!!!! Hiding behind the bible!!!!
Disaster!!!!
Yes, reconciliation must be practical not theoretical as it has been since it was politically coined.It have made sense if the people in power,intra party reconciliation, could have made a move and bring back those thy expelled unconditionally. But what we see is that after attending the national prayers, what comes out the same leaders is the opposite. Forget about seeing been done the opposition. They didn’t come up with this idea but the ruling party did The clergy close to the ruling party leadership must candid when talking to these leaders I call these reconciliation gathering as religious entertainment. They don’t reflect Christian reconciliation!!