Mark7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” NIV
HOPE SHE’S NOT FROM ASABA?
During our courtship, we visited an elder prior to our wedding. My aim was to introduce my fiancée to him formally. I expected him to ask about my convictions and other important questions. Also, to counsel us but to my chagrin, in her presence, he asked, “I hope she’s not from Asaba”? He asked because I spent over a year in Asaba so he thought I’ll marry a wife from there. It was obvious he wasn’t in tune with inter tribal marriages for reasons best known to him.
I couldn’t imagine what he may have done If I had affirmed his suspicion. Would he have said I shouldn’t marry her If she were an indigene of Asaba? I don’t want to think about what may have happened there. Those that aren’t from Africa or third world countries where tribal differences isn’t a major concern may not understand the weight of this matter. Tribalism or say inter tribal hatred is an evil tradition bedeviling Africa. Unfortunately, it crept into the church and lives of some believers.
Most of the civil wars in Africa especially in the past were inter tribal.The Rwandan genocide was between the Hutus and Tutsis, Kanyarwandan War, Biafra war and other unrest in Africa were inter tribal. Evaluating fellow humans and even believers from human/tribal standpoint belittles God’s creation and it is a sin.
Apostle Paul said, “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!”( 2 Cor 5:16 NLT). Hallelujah!!!
Tradition of men says, “all men from that tribe are the same, don’t marry or do business with them.” To evaluate a believer and put him/her in a tribal class puts a question mark on your salvation. Paul said, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus”(Gal 3:28 NLT).
Some human tradition is full of hate and disdain for people. In some cultures, some are classified as descendants of slaves. The lineage of free born are forbidden from marrying the descendants of slaves and some Christians still hold on to this evil tradition. They inherited the hatred and dysfunctional world view of their progenitors. The Jews were like that in the days of Jesus. They do not want to have anything doing with Gentiles yet salvation is for both Jews and Gentiles.
God loves everyone equally without a bias for tribe. We’re meant to be loving like our heavenly father. Our love for humans should be without tribal preference.
Break free from tribal limitations, it can limit you in destiny.
PRAYER: Father, deliver me from the evil traditions of men in Jesus name.