The theme for our reflection is “Preserving our root and identity” To preserve our root and identity means to ensure that the current generation and posterity do not lose sight or consciousness of where they come from and who they are in terms of family, ethnic, racial, national and religious identity. We shall reflect on the fact that marking special historical and religious-cultural events are ways of preserving our roots and identity.
Beloved in the Lord, during the sharing and demarcation of the promised land, some tribes were allocated land on the Eastern side of the Jordan. There was a physical barrier between them and the rest of the nation, who were situated on the Western side of the Jordan. The few tribes who were in the East were Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites. To preserve their Jewish root and identity, they built an altar to symbolise their religious and cultural link with the rest of the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan. Initially, the majority of Israelites from the other side misunderstood the building of the altar by Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites to be idol worship, so they sent a delegation to warn them. But the Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites explained, “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25 The LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the LORD.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. 26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future, your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD.’ (Joshua 22:24-27) In other words, the altar was built to preserve cultural and religious roots and identity with the rest of the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan. Beloved in the Lord, how are you preserving your root and identity as a Christian? Are you deliberate in preserving your root and identity as a Reformed Christian and Presbyterian by holding on to the Biblically sound doctrines? As we travel far away from home, are we conscious of preserving our cultural, ethnic and national identity and roots so that our children and the generations yet unborn will be proud of their native language, identity and roots.
To preserve our Christian roots and identity, we must ensure that our children own a Bible, and we must consistently pray and study the Scripture with them from their tender age. For instance, Joseph and Mary were deliberate in nurturing Jesus in the Jewish custom. “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” (Luke 2:41-42) We must admonish our children to attend worship services and participate. To preserve our cultural and ethnic roots and identity, we must speak and nurture our children with our mother tongue. We must dress and promote our history, food, dance, and be proud of skin colour and physical appearance as Africans, Asians or whatever our origins are.
In summary, we have discovered that marking special historical, religious and cultural event are ways of preserving our root and identity. May we continue to nurture our Children to preserve our Christian root and identity in Christ.
PRAYER
May the Holy Spirit empower us to hold on to practice and customs that preserve our root and identity as true believers.
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