|
Frontline
Newsletter: Islamisation or Reformation
Malawi
was one of the great success stories of the 19th Century
missionary movement. Starting with David Livingstone (whose
birthday was for many years honoured as a national holiday
in Malawi), missionaries succeeded in evangelising and discipling
this nation so effectively that what was once the killing
fields of Muslim slave traders became one of the most Protestant
nations of Africa.
However,
by 1994 Malawian voters (80% of whom profess to be Christians),
voted in a Muslim, Bakili Muluzi, as their President. Apparently
the Christian voters had accepted the claim that the religious
beliefs of the political candidates was not important. However,
despite promises of prosperity, government policies since
1994 have resulted in devastating inflation which has destroyed
the savings of the average family.
Laying
foundations for Reformation - one of the 8 Biblical
Worldview Seminars conducted on this 3 month 3 nation
mission. |
Muslim
propagation agencies then flooded the country with the
message of Islam. The Islamic Zakaat Fund (IZF), overseen
by Gaddafi’s son, reportedly has an annual budget
of US$40 million. The IZF is building 30 high schools
throughout Malawi. Their goal is to Islamise the next
generation. Gifted Malawian students are being offered
scholarships to study in Islamic countries such as Pakistan.
In
the government schools, the long established "Bible
Knowledge" courses have been scraped and replaced
with "Moral and Religious Studies" which
emphasise Islam. The Bible Society is now denied access
to public schools. Now many Malawians are realising
with dismay that they have allowed a Muslim minority
to sieze control of their country. Some observed that
this was the hand of God in judgement against a lukewarm
and complacent church.
|
"If
you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments
... those who hate you shall reign over you..." Leviticus
26: 14,17
The
Church in Malawi had fallen victim to the myth of neutrality.
One Malawian commented that they had neglected to effectively
"disciple the nations ... teaching them to obey all
that Christ has commanded" Matt 28:19 and failed to
preserve Biblical principles in the public sphere. "...
if the salt loses its flavour ... It is then good for nothing
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."
Matthew
5:13
It
was therefore most timely that Frontline Fellowship sent
up a team to conduct Leadership Training Seminars in Malawi.
"Malawi
is at a crossroads!" declared one delegate. The current
crisis has aroused many Christians out of their complacency.
Our team leader observed:
"For
people living in an environment characterized by peace and
security, the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:71 may
seem a bit perplexing: "It is good for me that I have
been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The Law
of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of
gold and silver." As a result of his affliction the
Psalmist was humbled and became teachable and responsive
to God’s Law-Word. This condition of the heart was
observed among the delegates at our courses in Malawi.
"During
the Frontline Fellowship leadership training seminars, Malawian
Christian leaders were particularly encouraged by the testimonies
of the Protestant Reformers: John Wycliffe, John Hus, Martin
Luther, and William Tyndale. That these early Reformers
took a bold stand for the truth of God’s Word, continues
to be a great encouragement to Christians today.
"Pray
that Malawian Christians would be faithful to Jesus Christ,
and obedient to carry out the Great Commission in that land,
to be salt and light and to apply God’s Word in all
areas of life. Pray that they would withstand the pressures
(both from within and outside of the Church) to compromise
the truth of God’s Word. Pray that they would be bold
even in the face of opposition and persecution."
"I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life that you and your children may live."
Deuteronomy.
30:19
top
|
