“We Are One…!”

“We Are One…!”(Gal.3:26-29).
There is this Mumgaka figurative expression: “I am not a child of the late Fon.” If you are the child of a late Fon you may be deprived of certain privileges enjoyed by children of the reigning Fon. No doubt it is said that no matter the gifts you shower on a widow, she’ll only think of her late husband.
I did my senior primary in RCM, Buea Rd, Mutengene. There was also the CBM school, Victoria Rd.
Each time a group of pupils of RCM met with pupils of CBM, they exchanged insults like, “CBM, Cameroon Bambeh Market” and “RCM, Rotten Cassa Mangoes.”
Even though there never was any tension, as kids we were already building barriers without knowing the impact of our childish antagonisms.
A flashback to the days of our theological formation in the then Presbyterian Theological College, Kumba. One of my female classmates while presenting her Practical Month Report told us how on one Sunday as she mounted the pulpit, some men in the congregation just walked out. They said they won’t sit down to listen to a woman preach to them.
In some local congregations men still sit seperately from women. In some modern congregations elitism is still a norm. Denominational-wise the fragmentation of the body of Christ into myriad segments is not a major concern. A cause for concern is the mockery, trading of insults and the superiority and inferiority complexes against each other – the same body of Christ!
Breakaways are welcomed. From an African perspective a grown up male is empowered by his father if he decides to settle on his own. What we share in common outnumber what makes for our differences.
Nevertheless, we can still caution, “Caveat Emptor!” – let the buyer beware!
We continue to challenge those who claim that the Bible is a Western/American tool for African domination. If that were true, what do we say about the homebred domination, oppression, suppression and exploitation we suffer from the hands of our own – even when we deceive ourselves that we are the ones who put them there through the farce we call democracy! We become what we want to become and cannot blame our woes on others!
Today we are reminded by Paul “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ. There is neither Jew not Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Baptism into Christ Jesus has put down all the barriers that separates us; tribal, racial, class distinctions and social statuses notwithstanding.
In Ancestology some African scholars argue that Abraham, a foreigner cannot be an ancestor to any African. Even in Africa, an ancestor is either through tribe or consangenuity.
All who have been baptized in Christ Jesus are Abraham’s descendants by adoption and qualify as heirs of the promise. Besides, since Abraham is the father of faith, all who walk in faith are his descendants. We are one Big family, either as descendants of Adam, wrapped in sin, or descendants of Noah, survivors of the flood and now children of God reconciled to him through faith in Christ Jesus and baptism into Christ.
Let us celebrate our unity in the midst of diversity!
We are one!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit help us to celebrate our oneness in Christ through baptism, despite our diversity. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Prayer point: Pray for the unity of the body of Christ.
Rev Babila Fochang.