Should Christians Participate in African Traditional Ritual Worship?

SHOULD CHRISTIANS PARTICIPATE IN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RITUAL WORSHIP?

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

I was recently invited by a friend into a forum hosting a group of Kalenjin people mainly from the Tugen community of Baringo County, Kenya. Upon joining the group, I shortly discovered that it was formed for the purpose of organizing some series of traditional cultural peace prayers for the nation during which animals will be sacrificed under the supervision of selected traditional elders from several Nilotic communities in Kenya. 

The group is led by, among others, a retired senior military officer from Baringo County and a leading clergyman from Mt Elgon area of Bungoma County. Some of the group members openly expressed their rejection of the Christian faith. They branded the African church as a colonial tool started by European missionaries in collaboration with colonialists for the purpose of oppressing African people.

Other members, including key group leaders were however accommodative and encouraged Christian believers and clergymen to join them during the upcoming prayers. 

I gathered from the conversation in the group that the organizers planned to raise funds towards a religious worship coming up in a month's time. The worship ceremonies would include animal sacrifices and the invocation of the spirits of departed ancestors! 

The clamor for a return to traditional African religious worship is an increasingly growing phenomenon in Kenya today. Several cultural religious groups have been revived in a number of regions of Kenya, especially within the Mt Kenya region. Should Christians participate in these traditional cultural prayers and ritual sacrifices? This is the million dollar question for which I will attempt to file a response below. 

There are three practical ways in which this question can be approached, in my view. 

First, is the universalist or accommodative approach. In this context, some would argue that African Christians are primarily African in their cultural orientation before they are Christian. They would say that observing the traditional cultural way of life is a natural thing for the African people and their participation in cultural religious worship should not offend one's secondary faith.

A second school of thought would approach the issue strictly from the biblical standpoint. They would insist that any religious worship outside the provisions of Scripture and Christian tradition amounts to religious syncretism, a concoction of two or more religious doctrines and practices. On that basis, they would refrain from participating in the traditional worship ceremonies.

The third approach is identified with a section of Christians who are not sure about which direction to take. They will hang in the middle. This group can fall into either side depending on the persuasion they receive at a given time but would still remain hesitant and unconvinced. 

I am persuaded by the second approach. After much reflection and soul-searching, I opted to sign out of the group forum. This was after I raised a spirited defense of the validity of the Christian faith among African people in particular and the historical roots of the African Church that can be traced to the advent of European missionaries who were distinct from European colonizers. 

My objections were greeted with ferocious fangs! A number of people in the forum engaged me in a theological battle. The rest went silent. Is Christianity a vector of Western imperialism? Musawenkosi Ntinga, a Lesotho pastor observes that the word of God should become our dominant identity and the lens through which we view and assess all our other identities and cultures that we fall under. [1]. I concur with the view advanced by this African clergyman. 

In as much as I appreciate the historical and educative significance of African cultural platforms, I was unable to reconcile my Christian convictions with the religious beliefs and objects of the above group. I am aware that my decision to exit the forum did not go down well with some of my friends and associates in the forum who would perhaps consider my approach to be radical. I was however compelled by the convictions of my Christian faith in departing from the group.

Upon leaving the forum, I took up the issue with a senior clergyman whom I consult on critical faith issues. After a long telephone conversation, we both arrived at the conclusion that whereas we should not cut ties with our cultural community people, there is a snapping limit on matters touching on the fundamental doctrines and practices of our Christian faith. Beyond this limit, a believer should exercise moral restraint and keep their focus on the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24). 

I truly sympathize with our Christian brothers who have chosen to take the cultural option on matters religion but I cannot join them in walking that direction. My considered view is that Christians should refrain from participating in religious worship and practices advanced by any sect or group whose doctrines are not founded on the revelation and authority of Scripture. 

I am persuaded that Christ's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary was final and sufficient. No other sacrifice or system of worship is required of believers except to worship and obey God in accordance with the teaching of Scripture. Besides, Jesus Christ must remain the person of interest in our worship. His atoning death and His shed blood marked the final offering for our redemption and reconciliation with God (see Hebrews 10:1-18). In His own words, Jesus proclaims "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). 

Scripture further proclaims in 1 Peter 2:9-10: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (cf. 1 Peter 1:17-19). 

The Bible warns believers against religious syncretism and moral pollution, saying, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?... " (2 Corinthians 6:14-16, NKJV)

It would therefore be sacrilegious and blasphemous, in my view, for born again or professing Christians to knowingly participate in traditional cultural worship rituals of any sorts while affirming the Christian faith at the same time. This approach would offend our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ, who purchased our liberty from sinful condemnation with His sinless blood (John 3:16-17; Acts 20:28-29).

Believers are holy people of God. They are His special community and a remnant in a fallen world that constitute His Church. They constitute His Bride that is betrothed to Him (John 3;29; Ephesians 5:22-29; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 22:17). Christians are the salt and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). We cannot afford to lose our saltiness or dim the gospel light at the altar of cultural expediency. We should remain faithful to our calling in Christ Jesus and look forward to His soon coming to take us to be with Him. 

Our prayers and worship should therefore be consistent with the revelation and authority of Scripture and our established Christian tradition. Any other doctrines and practices should be discarded. 

Keep it Christ!

Shalom

REFERENCES

[1] Musawenkosi Ntinga, "Is Christianity Compatible with African Traditional Religion?" in acts29.com, https://www.acts29.com/is-christianity-compatible-with-african-traditional-religion/ accessed 19 May 2023. 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2023