Post Election Kenya

I haven't mentioned the post-election chaos here in Kenya, except in passing. Part of that is because I'm just not sure what to say. There's the usual things: how tragic it is, how Kenya has gone back 50 years, why can't they just get along...

I still don't know what to say. The pastor at our church here has a similar problem, but unlike me he's expected to say something. My hat's off to the man, Charles Ondachi is his name, by the way. He has had a great deal to say, all of it very firmly grounded on scripture. Before I go on...the church's website can be found at www.nairobichapel.org Mamlaka Hills Chapel is one of the plants from Nairobi Chapel.

One of his first sermons (that I heard, we were up in Gatab for the first 2 weeks after the elections) he said, in effect, "Everyone has been crying for peace, truth, and justice. Be careful, you may get what you ask for." Pastor Ondachi particularly picked at the idea of clamoring and demonstrating and whatever else for justice. "Is God a just god? Absolutely. Then look at Genesis 15:13 'Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.' Is God just? Absolutely. Is what happened to the Israelites just? Well, no. But God is just...maybe we just don't get it?" He also pointed out that the middle class will be the ones to pay the most for man's idea of justice. "The poor have nothing to lose. The rich will take their riches and go somewhere else. But you and I will be stuck here watching our lives go up in flames." Especially, he noted, since many of those shouting for justice are guilty of being unjust to those around them. If God gave us justice we would be destroyed. We should be asking for mercy, Pastor Ondachi noted.

He also pointed at one of the main causes of the troubles: tribalism (hyphenated Kenyanism?).

Where is the church in all this? Sadly, one of the examples was what one lady told him happened near Eldoret, "I saw the pastor running to torch the next house."

No answers, only questions and sorrow.

The next week's sermon was drawn from Romans 12:9-21. Love what is good. Don't be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. Verse 9 reads "Let love be without hypocrisy." in the new king james. The NIV reads "Love must be sincere." Either translation will do. Pastor Ondachi pointed out that tribalism makes love insincere, and not really love at all.

This week? Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." I'll let you look up the reference.

I personally don't know what the answers are. The problem is political, legal (the government has been and is rife with corruption), there are property issues going back decades at least, there is tribalism. I'm sure there are other issues that I don't even know to guess at. All these things must be dealt with. Pastor Ondachi has said, and I think he's right, "What we had before was not peace, but calm." He asked the question, "has God allowed this so that there can be real peace?" Maybe. Hopefully.

God is just. He is in control. He is love. He loved us so much that Jesus died a horrible death on a cross for us. All things work together for the good of those who love God.

Don't believe that what you see in the news is the whole story of what's happening here in Kenya. Yes there are problems, no question and the situation of the country is far from good. But the people of Kenya are not what you see in the news.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.