Pray For Africa

It was a former British Prime Minister, Mr Harold Macmillan, who coined the phrase 'the wind of change' to describe imminent developments on the great African Continent. With statesmanlike foresight he recognized the transformation which would follow when imperial rule gave place to various independent administrations. In the event the 'wind' became a 'hurricane'. A new day dawned for Africa. But sadly, the struggle for power and the heavy pressures of independence brought conflict and disruption. At the present time no fewer than six civil wars are simmering.

In Southern Africa the situation is grave and has become a preoccupation of world statesmen to such a degree that it may divert attention from the urgency of a Middle East settlement. The Western Powers, Britain and America, are trying to help towards a peaceful transition to majority rule in Rhodesia. Failure to reach agreement at the Geneva Conference was a major setback. Whether this new initiative will succeed remains to be seen. At the time of writing the outlook is not encouraging.

Western influence on the African Continent appears to be on the wane and Soviet Russia and China are exploiting spheres of interest among various African States. This is all part of the global struggle between East and West. These developments and the continuing stalemate in the Middle East are a grave threat to world peace.

As Christians we must not close our eyes to the travails of mankind in this solemn phase of human history God forbid that we should be "at ease in Zion", unmoved by the sorrows of millions of our fellow-men. While waiting and longing for our Lord's return we are called to serve (1 Thess. 1:9,10),

and an important part of that service is intercession "for all men" (1 Tim. 2:1). This is not only a duty but also a privilege. The responsibility to pray for "all in high place" extends not only to rulers who uphold 'human rights' but also to those who have little regard for them. Those of us who live in lands where freedom to worship and witness is unrestricted tend to take our liberties for granted. We are inclined to forget that there are vast areas in the world where fellow-believers and other minorities are persecuted in varying degrees of severity by oppressive governments. This is why repeated emphasis is given to this matter in our reviews of current events in these pages.

To revert to the African situation. One feature of the conflict there is that there are many conflicting ideologies, not only secular but also religious. There is strong Moslem influence as well as deep-rooted idolatry. But in spite of these inveterate enemies of the gospel the story of the Cross has won the hearts of many. We can take courage from the assurance of final victory:

"The winds of hell have blown,

The world its hate hath shown,

Yet it is not o'erthrown.

Hallelujah for the Cross!

It shall never suffer loss!"

The Reconciling Cross

Further to what is said above, in this closing paragraph we comment briefly on the Cross of Christ as the reconciling instrument not only between God and man but also between man and man. The one is referred to in 2 Cor. 5:18,19; the other in Eph. 2:14-16. One definition of 'reconciliation' is "to make friendly after estrangement".

One of the tragic results of man's Fall is that it not only impaired his relationship with his Creator but also affected his capacity for pure fellowship with his fellows. There was an early manifestation of this in the implied complaint of Adam against Eve: "The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree". Instead of defending his wife he accuses her. And this trait was tragically demonstrated when Cain, moved with malice against his brother Abel, slew him. The apostle put his finger on the same ingrained corruption of mankind in his inspired analysis of human society (Titus 3:3).

While just laws are necessary and proper for ordering human relationships in society they cannot reach down to the root of our malady. The Cross of Christ alone can rectify my relationship with God and my neighbour.

unknown | Jun 1977
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