“The Aroma Of Christ!”

“The Aroma Of Christ!”(II Cor.2:14-17).
For a new day, we thank you, LORD!
Antichristian Africans always have unkind words for Christian presence in Africa.
In the face of political tensions and the fight for autonomy as it is in Cameroon today, voices are raised against organised religions with statements like, “What has the church done?” Or, “The church has sided with government, “etc.!
Nobody is asking, “What has traditional religionists done?” Or have they too sided with government?
We have a freedom of choice: to be or not to be; to belong or not to belong. Joshua’s words resound in every generation: Choose ye this day whom you will serve. If the LORD is God, serve him or the gods your fathers served in Egypt…
Imagine the confidence we placed on the power of “Odeshi” some years ago! With Odeshi power, we were so confident that by now we will be riding on elephants, but we are yet to have even hares to ride on. The belief in the potency of Odeshi is part of African traditional religion.
When Christianity entered Ireland, the king in counsel asked their opinion about the new religion. It was the chief priest who first spoke that they should embrace the new religion. He argued that as priest, he prays for the success and prosperity of the people, but while they are succeeding and prospering, he was marching on the same spot with neither success nor prosperity.
Christianity has not brainwashed anybody – though brute force was being used by some missionaries. But not today! The choice is yours!
This challenge against Christianity is simply a response that Africa is entering her phase of the Renaissance. Yes, this is the period of Africa’s reawakening.
Coincidentally, the Renaissance is happening when Christianity has become one of Africa’s traditional religions and Africa is the present centre of Christian gravity. Africa is the heartland of contemporary Christianity, thanks to ATR that prepared the grounds.
For us who are convinced of the gospel and its saving power, we say, “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphant procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death, to the other, the fragrance of life.”
My friend, an aroma is “a distinctive, typically pleasant smell.” For you, is the aroma of Christ the fragrance of life or the smell of death? The answer is in your choice!
It has been said in different ways that “Christianity, as a religion, is a business, and Africans remain its strongest customers.”
To this, we parody Paul to say, “we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ, we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”
Prayer: Holy Spirit, make the aroma of Christ to be for me the fragrance of life. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang .
26/11/2025.