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January 25, 2005

Philip and the Cultural Question

Our first objective was to reach the Tausi people and preach the gospel. Godfrey, IAS field worker and partner for the journey, traveled briefly in this area last year so he knew the place to start our trek to the Tausi was New Cush.

(TAUSI MEN)
We rambled on through the dry rocky lands of the Torit region until we came to a village called Natinga. At Natinga we stopped for a bit and chatted with authorities (SPLA) and then picked up a 30-year old man named Philip who would be our interpreter to the Tausi.

(PHILIP AND ME)
Philip, we would discover, was filled with sincere and hilarious conceptions of the outside world, and in quite a perdicament with his married life. Philip loved to make us laugh; he was like a comedian doing a long set. Comments like: “When the shooting stops and the elephants come back to Sudan, we will kill all the elephants and sell the ivory. There is good money in ivory; the mazungus (white people) pay 1000 shillings ($13USD) for a bracelet in Nairobi. Good business I tell you.” Or his thoughts on marriage that would break the silence as we waited at a rocky inclines or rested at a dry riverbed, “I want three wives.”
“Why?” we would ask know something completely comical was coming.
“Because I want to be seen as rich. If you have many wives people see you as rich and your business will do well.”
“How many do you have now?” we asked.
“Two. But I tell you it is difficult. I am Dinka and married a Dinka girl. She was good at first, but when I married my second wife, who was Toposa—problem! Brother I tell you problem! The Dinka one hated the Toposa (Toposa are a tribal group who are know for their cattle and fierce tribal ways) . The Dinka wouldn’t fix my food right or prepare bath and I paid many cows for her, 30!”

(TOPOSA WOMAN)
“How many cows did you pay for the Toposa?” we asked as a question of economics.
“No cows. That is great. I paid two sacks of tobacco to the brother and he said, ‘take her away’. The Toposa like me very much.”
“Did the Toposa girl like you?” we asked in a matter of fact way.
“Yes, very much. And I like her too. She fixes food every evening and always prepares my bath. She ask me to get more wives also.” We all laugh at this for a minute, Philip most of all.
“She, she…(laughter), asks you to get more wives? And what does the Dinka think about this?” We can hardly speak as we ask this, and my side hurts like fire from the laughter.
“She is angry. One day she come after me with a knife.”
Nervously laughing now, “She tried to stab you? And what did you do?”
“I laughed at her. Also she said she wanted to fight the Toposa, and the Toposa was there, so I said fight.”
“And who won?” Can’t even believe at this point that we are speaking of a real story.
“The Toposa. Toposa are very tough.”
“So why do you want three wives if you have all this trouble?” we ask quizzically.
“Because I will look very rich.”
“Your house must be full of arguing.” We attempt to prod more of life with Philip and wives.
“No my tuku (Mud home) is queit. My wives live together in a tuku and I live by myself a bit away. I tell them not to enter my home unless they want another baby.”

And on and on the domestic stories went.

Now before you judge Philip too harshly, realize this, he is from a place where wealth, love and relationships have different forms. Women have very little rights, and for that matter desire none as well, it isn’t a case of oppression, but a case of culture taking advantage of basic human rights. Philip, believe it or not, is a deacon in the ESM church and a gentle man. He doesn’t beat his wives or cause physical harm, but the mental strain on his wives must cause terrible damage, but this is the way of things in Sudan. When we addressed Philip on the issue we told him that a leader in the church should only have one wife, and for obvious reasons considering his case. We also told him about laying his life down for his wives as Christ did for the church. These are the common issues one must face in the field and this brings out one of the most important questions of all—will the gospel change cultural beliefs? The answer is: most certainly, YES—and for the good of things. This is a touchy issue in the church today, but only to those who are ignorant and do not have understanding, or experience for that matter. Cultural changes happen when the gospel is preached and believed, because, “Old things have passed away and behold new things have come.” Now I am not talking about how people style their hair, wear their clothes, or play their instruments to the Lord, but what I am saying is that cultural beliefs that harm others and violate the word of God will be lost. This has hindered many missionaries from the Western world that have been brought up in a politically correct culture that preaches, “Leave them the way they are and deliver a gospel that will fit their cultural beliefs.” There is one gospel and one truth. Believe in him and you shall not perish. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Faith attains righteousness, not works. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. We are messengers of truth not the authors of our own faith; therefore we preach the word as we received the word. In the same way the Apostles of old preached the word and people who didn’t like it killed them or tried stop them; Paul at Ephesus, Peter at Pentecost, Christ with the Pharisees, and all the rest of the heroes of faith. They spoke an untarnished message and did not give regard for things of this earth, but gave regard to the lost souls of men. The true gospel cannot be altered to fit Islam, Hinduism, Buddhist, humanist, evolutionist, animist, or any other form of worship or belief that is in conflict with the word of God. Now with this message one must also realize that bashing people of these beliefs in anger will attain nothing but an enemy, so we move in love. Be kind and the hearts of men will open before you. Love and you will find many friends. Listen and the one who speak will desire to hear your words.

In the end Philip listened to our words for a long time and was impacted as he stated to us a week later at our goodbye, “Tim and Willy (Everyone loves to call Will ‘Willy’ in Africa) thanks for your words, I have learned many things.” Things always have a way of working out.

Posted by Admin at January 25, 2005 07:24 PM