Nkhoma V Livingstonia: The gospel is the winner
It’s been an age old ferocious ecclesiastical battle of two synods, Livingstonia and Nkhoma. For many years now, they clamoured with uncharacteristic zeal over administrative boundaries for their so called “synod territories.” All manner of weapons: pangas, stones, unpalatable words, “illegal” land occupations, anger, hatred, including (surprisingly) prayers, flew as part of a flurry of strategies intended to resolve the never ending feud.
I can’t tell the number of physical and spiritual casualties that have fallen by the way side so far as a result of the battle but I bet there must be some, what with all the burning intensity of the offensive commitment offered by the two feuding combatants.
Like many others, I stood anxiously as an active witness in the entire fracas, pondering the difficult reality that was unfolding just in front of my eyes involving renowned men of the white collar. I asked, what and whose war are they fighting? To benefit who? Are they trying to help God? Which God? The same loving, caring, patient, forgiving and powerful one I know? Will there be any more energy for them to preach the gospel after laboring tirelessly and endlessly in the “holy” war?
Going by recent events, I am relieved to see that the hot air seems to be simmering away, what with the Nkhoma synod declaring unilaterally the new “no boundary policy”, not just with their erstwhile “enemy” but across the country and beyond, meanwhile bringing Blantyre and other international synods into the fray.
Some may be asking, who has therefore won the battle this far? Certainly, none of the warring synods but God and the sweet Gospel of Jesus Christ. You ask how? It’s because the Gospel will now be preached to the ends of the earth without any boundary restrictions as espoused by the book of Acts 1v8 of the bible “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
Mark 16v15 also says, “Go into the entire world and preach the good news to all creation.” Do these verses not sound any familiar to you? Let me tell you, those little kingdoms called “synod boundaries” have been broken and for sure, God has prevailed over man’s pride.
See what, when God desired to promote the gospel, others may have been busy promoting their little “synod kingdoms”, leaving the work of God aside. Some of these “synod kingdoms” even turned into quasi-ethnic groups promoting their cultural traditions and languages instead of promoting the gospel of truth, which is the very mission of the church.
For once, I yearn to see missionaries from the synods working tirelessly side by side in love, going to unreached areas of the other synods, preaching the gospel and bringing souls to the Lord and discipling them especially in these end times for this is the will of God.
Do I seem to undermine the role of administrative structures in helping to propagate the gospel? Certainly not. But where administrative arrangements are seen to constrain the very mission of the church, to spread the gospel, I would rather do away with them or review them for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Who needs any more evidence to show the extent of the increasing hunger for the gospel among God’s people with all the numerous marital problems around, immorality, fighting, corruption, homosexuality, hopelessness, and hatred outside and even inside the church? Jesus in Mathew 9v37 says, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
And if the workers are busy fighting over boundaries, who will do the work of harvesting the crop that Jesus has worked tirelessly to bring to readiness for harvest? For those belonging to Blantyre synod, why should you get any worried with the unfolding events? If I was part of you, I would start praising God for opening more doors to reach out with the gospel while working side by side with brethren in the other synods for that is exactly what you were called for by God if all of you carry that calling.
All you would need to do is open your spiritual eyes, reflect prayerfully on the challenge before you and grab the opportunity to take the gospel through your missionaries in far places as Nthalire in Chitipa, Lundazi in Zambia and Wimbe in Kasungu district etc. I mean preaching the true gospel of salvation and peace not merely building and filling prayer houses with people without God’s presence in urban or related areas.
You will discover that in most of these rural places, there are many “Christians” yearning to have a deep and personal relationship with God. They go to church religiously without any commitment to the values of God and life of genuine faith in Christ. Their leaders serve the pulpit during the day and gule wankulu or witchcraft during the night. They are dying for the gospel.
In fact the Nkhoma Synod General Secretary, Rev David Chifungo (pictured) sums it all in the nation newspaper saying they made the decision to adopt the “no boundary policy” to ensure peace, forgiveness and reconciliation between the two synods.
I trust he really meant his word for these are the very Christian virtues that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to yield the world over so that the world may once again become a better place to live in as originally desired by the creator, a world ruled by love, righteousness and heart fellowship.
By the way, is the General Synod also hearing this voice?
Email: pjjere@globemw.net
THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS TRIBALISM. ATUMBUKA ARE VERY SELFISH PEOPLE AND THEY TRY TO DO ANYTHING TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.THE SAD THING IS THAT THEY DONT EVEN CARE EVEN WHEN THEY ARE THINGS THAT DEAL WITH GOD. THANK GOD FOR THE NEW SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Atumbuka have ‘turned into quasi-ethnic groups promoting their cultural traditions and languages instead of promoting the gospel of truth’ Atumbuka atubvuta guys, I just do not know.
Pliz you accuse Bingu of Mulakho, while your Mulakho is more dangerous – religious? Why? Kudzikonda kumeneko. Sindinalankhule nthawi yonseyi, I was waiting for this time. Nkhoma mwaonetsa chauzimu, asiyeni awa abapanga NEPOTISM yawoyo.
Can you see what Nkhoma has done? Previously many pple were labelling Livingstonia as the trouble maker. You needed to find the origins of this. In fact, it was Nkhoma in late 1990s which began encrouching into the land of Livingstonia especially in Kasungu and Nkhota-kota probably with an intention of making a political boundary also be a religious boundary. When the livingstonia complained to the general synod, Nkhoma challenged it that it was following its people who are not able to understand Chitumbuka. That was the initial response of Nkhoma without subtraction. So Livingstonia moved to Lilongwe on that understanding where it also argued that it was also following its members in the capital city. But Livingstonia’s act earned them a wrath from many people and were labelled all sorts of names. But now you have heard that Nkhoma will not observe any administrative boundary which means even Blantyre Synod will be affected. So who is a trouble maker? Judge yourselves.
Let us stop the wreckelss and hurt-intended use of words just because we hold the platform. Keep focus and comment on the article or keep quiet. From the wealth of the heart the mouth speaketh. You can’t live in a glass house and throw stones! This article is good and forthright and stands apart from the tirades against Atumbuka which are hitting targets like stray bullets. You can’t carry hot coals in your lap and not be burnt with them.
I dont think the issue here is about Atumbuka or Achewa.
No-one can justify here that Achewa or Atumbuka are right. Dig deep Chatsitsa dzaye ndi cahni kuti Njobvu ithyoke n yanga?
Anayamba za encriachment ndani? Nde Pagona nkhani pamenepo dont just stereotype issues/pple.
Ngati anayamba ndi anzathu aku mpoto encroaching mu Lilongwe anarakwa ndiwowo Ngatinso anayamba ndi anzathu aku Central-Chewas to encroach mu KU and NKhota1/4 then analakwitsa ndiwowo.
Now the article articulates the ultimate winner is the Gospel of Jesus, boundaries set up by Achewa/Atumbuka have been broken in JESUS Name,,,HALLELUJA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant Agree More,,,,panopa aja okonda kularika ali ndi ufulu kupita paliponse kukararika,,,,Isnt this in line with our Constitution? Freedom of Association, of Worship etc.
Zama Boundary anakuikirani ndi Azungu inu mukumenyanamenyana za ziiii!! ooooooh! Atumbuka ndiozikonda zachani?
Who put these stupid boundaries? Follow history. Its may be hate between the Church of Scotland (BT/LV Synods and the Dutch Reformed church(nKHOMA), you can’t see this?
The devil has blinded all of you commenting on Tribal Lines Here, May the Lord Jesus open your EARS and EYES to Understand and Perceive!!!
I would not want to glorify this un – christian concept. Two wrongs will never make a right. It is a sham that Nkhoma you do not want to apologise the arrogance you have committed to ignite the boundary mess. Livingstonia please you will never score a single blessing by wrapping Jesus’ Gospel in revenge for the wrongs of Nkhoma who had been stubborn for the past 50 years also. If you continued with the spirit of patience like you did in the past 50 years of Nkhoma’s encroachment in your territory God would have answered on your behalf not the way things are becoming now. The boarder boundary has reached wafa wafa scenario and let me urge the faithfuls to pray and fast for this selfish motif. The faithful should also stand up to pump sense in these Synod Leaders who are taking a revenge in theor hands instead of waiting for God’s answer in this problem. My eateemed countrymen, we can not afford to sit back and watch Livingstonia and Nkhoma deviding us at the time when we have DDP Govt that does not seem to do any better in promoting unity in our country.
God I earnestly pray that you grant our dear counntry peace and unity. As for Blantyre Synod let me urge you not to endorse a no boarder policy, even if Nkhoma and Livingstonia want to follow their so called children in the Southern part of our small country. Let me also appeal to Blantyre Synod to stop thinking along ethnic groups singling out some tribes as not good to lead the Synod. I believe that we needed a neutral Synod at this time because I can not literally endorse the article that suggest God has warn – ouch! thats a heresy to suggest that this boarder solution is doing God any good. Please nyasa time post my views it seems you only post views of the same people not some of us
Kudzikonda kulipo atumbuka anzanga, tiyeni tiwone momwe tichitira mu zintchitomu. Ndi angati sadapeze ntchito chifukwa si a ku BOMA!-a SIBWENI
WHY DO U TALK ABOUT ATUMBUKA KUDZIKONDA.THIS SHOWS YOUR EVIL THOUGHTS AGAINST YOUR FELLOW HUMAN . WE ARE ALL ONE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD . THESE ARE TEMPTATIONS . LETS NOT ALLOW SATAN TO COME IN OUR HEARTS. WHETHER TUMBUKA , CHEWA , YAO ETC IT IS OF NO IMPORTANCE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD , BUT YOUR DOING .WAKEUP OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE WHAT DO U SEE.