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