Spiritual Warfare

Our last two meetings have taken some time to discuss spiritual warfare in Uganda. As I mentioned in the post about animism, since many in America haven't seen clear evidence of evil spirits, we discount it and neglect to approach it with appropriate amount of solemnity and prayer. Friends, it is real. It is real in America and it is real in Uganda. We may hide it under the label of "spiritual warfare," but it is human sacrifice, evil spirits, demon-possessed people, and plenty of other things I'll never even know.

A couple of our team members experienced some of these things last year on the trip and have shared a bit with us already. One of the clear problems in Kiburara, where we are going, is the power that the witch doctor has in the village. Most of the children have terrible scars on them, many up and down their chests. Apparently, when babies are born, their parents take them to the witch doctor so that they can be cut to satisfy the spirits and bless the family. It took a couple years for our team members to learn what the scars meant, because the children are ashamed of them. To me, this shame is just further evidence of the evil of this practice. Nearly every child has the scars, yet they are still embarrassing. If it truly did bring blessings upon their families, shouldn't the scars represent something good and therefore a source of pride? It doesn't because it is evil.

Apparently the witch doctor is consulted frequently and is even a problem within the church.

Our team leaders handed out these articles (Where Child Sacrifice is a Business and Battling Uganda's Witch-Doctors) at the last meeting. When I started the first one I assumed it was probably several years old. I was shocked when I saw that it was only several days old and child sacrifice is a still, now, today, a major problem in Uganda. It is hard for me to even fathom this as a reality in today's world.

The thing that stuck out to me the most about the article is that child sacrifice has "re-emerged, seemingly alongside a boom in the country's economy." People sacrifice children to secure wealth and good fortune. As Uganda's economy has grown, so has the number of child sacrifices. I can hardly get beyond the sadness of this to dwell on my sheer disgust at what greed can do in our sinful world.

These children are kidnapped, buried alive, cut apart, and all kinds of other horrible things, and the government all but turns its head.

"...As a rule, we are told to respect people's beliefs, and that these beliefs are not to be subjected to critical scrutiny. But it is this protection from scrutiny we accord our various beliefs that allows many of these dangerous superstitions, like child sacrifice, to flourish."

I'll finish off this heavy post with the reminder that our God is stronger than these evil spirits. Pray that God would work through our team as we minister to the people of Kiburara. I have no idea how I'll relate to a little girl who has scars all over because her parents took her to a witch doctor, but I trust that God will give me the words. It may start with a couple of people in one village, but Lord-willing someday this belief will be trampled by the Truth.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." - Ephesians 6:10-18

Animism

Our team leaders have assigned several readings to help us prepare for this trip. The ones this week were heavy and sobering. Like many tribal cultures, Uganda has many animistic beliefs. While I'll never fully comprehend what this all entails, I do know that it leads to beliefs that involve, among other horrid things, child sacrifice.

Before reading the first article, entitled, Animism: The Religion of the Tribal World (International Journal of Frontier Missions Vol. 15:2), I thought animism referred to something having to do with animals being sacred. I was off by quite a bit.

"The term "animism" comes from the Latin word anima, which empowers or gives life to something. It follows, then, that animism is the religion that sees the physical world as interpenetrated by spiritual forces-both personal and impersonal-to the extent that objects carry spiritual significance and events have spiritual causes."

You don't have to be going to Uganda for a mission's trip for this to be an important topic of study. This is a persuasive religion that is appealing to many. While religions can make God out to be a distant and abstract being up in the sky, animism brings it down to earth in a way that can fill a "spiritual void that calls out to be filled."

Attractions of Animism:

1. It infuses the sacred into a reality that has been emptied of anything spiritual by the scientific/evolutionary perspective.

2. It offers a way to cope with everyday needs: healing, jobs, excelling in school, restoring relationships, finding a mate, and gaining guidance for the future.

"We have all experienced those times when God seemed silent and distant and when His apparent lack of action leaves us feeling helpless. The feeling that God is distant and that He does not care what might overtake us after hearing the news that one has cancer, or after experiencing the death of a child, or being laid off from a job. At such times we become desperate, and we are tempted to grab for something that works--anything that will give us the power to get us out of our suffering or to fix what is wrong. Animism promises such power...To the extent that we seek to manipulate spiritual powers-including seeking God for the "quick fix" or for our personal benefit-we are coming from an animistic rather than a biblical perspective. In that sense, we all have animistic tendencies."

Animistic Beliefs and Practices:

1. One God and the Many Spirits: For animists, their supreme being is so far removed from their earthly lives, that it uses intermediate spirits to do his will and serve as his representatives, but the supreme being himself cannot be known directly.

2. The Ultimate/Immediate Division: Animists view Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc. as religions dealing with the ultimate questions of life and death. However, when it comes to every day life, they turn to their animist beliefs. Therefore, people can be a practicing Catholic, but still consulting a shaman (an animistic priest) for healing, etc.

3. The Spiritual Realm: According to animism, the spiritual realm consists of personal spirit-beings and an impersonal spiritual energy.

4. Personal Spirit-Beings: There are two kinds of spirit-beings, thoat that have been embodied (such as deceased ancestors) and those that have not (spirits and gods).

5. Impersonal Spiritual Force: "...An impersonal spiritual energy infuses special objects, words, and rituals. Such energy gives these objects the power that people need to accomplish their desires."

6. Concept of Sin: Cause and effect. Animists certainly don't want to offend local spirits. "Animists live in contiunal fear of these spiritual powers."

After giving this brief overview of the animistic beliefs, the article went on to share some important way Christians, missionaries in particular, should respond. I think the number 1 warning is to not scoff at their beliefs. Some parts of Western Christianity nearly dismiss the entire idea of the spirit world and this is unbiblical. The chart below helps point out some of the simililarities/differences of animism and Christianity and may be a helpful starting point:

Bottom line: Christ sent His son to Earth, a man, living in the flesh, to give His life for us. A "one and for all" type deal. Not something we continuously have to live in fear of losing or have to sacrifice in order to maintain. A free gift of grace.

Suggestions for Missions:

1. Be sensitive to the Animists' Perspective

2. Be aware of the influence of secularistic thinking in our lives

3. Find common ground

4. Highlight the differences

5. Trusting in God alone

6. God works in mighty ways--seek guidance from the Holy Spirit!

7. In relationship with God

8. Address their fears: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) and "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

9. Who is Christ and who are we to Him: Jesus triumphs over demons over and over in the Bible

10. The deceptive nature of the spirits

"In conclusion...Satan will not let go of those in his kingdom without a struggle. So be prepared in your own life to do spiritual battle when witnessing to animists. Have others pray for you and with you."

I hope this gave you a small understanding of what animism entails. My next post I'll talk a bit more about the way they carry out these beliefs.