Church falling apart with the Country altogether
By Reech Manual-Akumrich, Juba, South Sudan
May 24, 2016 (SSB) — Church falling apart with the Country altogether is to me a worst case scenario, in which we are stacked and will hardly find a way out. With a notable non-acceptable nastiness, South Sudanese have become more divisive and intolerant to each other in all events. Country of groups specialised in ethno-politics and not even a little space left for patriotism as done by nations who would love peace and security for themselves and not for their children to live a wayward life as current.
No one would dispute my point that mostly IG SPLM faction have Dinka as Dominant, though there are other ethnicities and so is Nuer dominant in the IO camp with a political presence of other tribes, the only fair camp is the Former Detainees’ branch of the SPLM in terms of regional and tribal presentation but may be their unity evolved from the detention and not a true love to/for themselves.
Our names are changing from Dinka to Zenge, Jenge and lately to ‘’Dinkat’’ then followed by the name ‘’MTN’’ for target roads killings and from Equatorians to Door/Duor, and Nyamnyam amongst other mocky names that we have maliciously initiated against our horrible tribes. I am calling us horrible because we are really terrible to ourselves, having forgotten where we emerged, why? And how we struggled to get this Country [South Sudan]?, the pain caused by the old Sudan to us and our quest for stable liveable conditions, before this very independent tribal South Sudan; where respect to identity and humanity is based on whether my tribe is the majority, just as the same applies to opinions on politics.
Whether members of IG, FDs, and or IO; all of them have struggled during SPLM/A to give Southern Sudanese a free, democratic, and prosperous state; where humanity is a king and equity, a queen but has turned off to following an ethno-channelling and regionology others call it regionalism as the only methodologies used by President Kiir, FVP. Machar, and VP Igga. e.g. the three are well focused in getting support by their tribe’s men and women in most events leaving no space for any political interactions by other politicians coming from minority ethnic groups. Ethno-channelling political approach has been widely used by the SPLM leaders to stay in, or get back to power.
As stated above, prosperity was one of the promises before the CPA in 2005 and now South Sudanese citizens find it hard to get a bread to eat, we were lied to, as to be living free and peaceful atmospheres but it’s now tribal pulling of robes, we were always promised to have no wars any more but now mass graves around the country is at reach. I think every citizen leaves and sleeps in fear of losing his life at nights or days by any person from a tribe rival to his. The most pressing is that all of us at certain, support the downfall of our country [by this I mean leaders or supporters to IG, IO, or FDs] because none of them is free of tribal spirits of doom and yolks of the social evil.
Coming to the Church falling apart with the Country altogether as the worst case scenario, some of us are aware that church is a heavenly place on earth, church leaders are God’s representatives on earth, they preach, evangelise and teach the word to faithful/people on how to live a heavenly life full of good, forgiveness, peace, love, and comprehensively a life full of wisdom followed by the grace.
And very unfortunately; church itself is becoming like South Sudan where rule of law is not having any room, instead we are the real jungle occupiers.
This is because of the reactions against mother of Nation; Nyandeng De Mabior at the Episcopal Church of the Sudan and South Sudan ECSS & S’ Emmanuel parish Church at Hai Cinema in Juba earlier, and worse enough in the same church last Sunday, this has also happened to FVP president Dr. Riek Machar in his efforts of reconciling with any of the people aggrieved by his actions or the actions of his subordinates. I was not in the church but on the social media, many unnecessary commentaries and fabrications were seen on tweeter and Face-book from the said faithful or believers who think they are following God/ saviour Christ. Some comments accused the pastor in charge to be a collaborator with IO and some were saying they want to quit the church because people against their political stance are being invited or allowed to attend church services.
The sayings of these said believers are wicked and a disgrace to the Episcopal Church of the Sudan & South Sudan because a church doesn’t belong to anybody it’s a church of God, and who is god among the congregants who envy Riek’s move to pray in an ethnic church to say we want/do not want Dr. Dhuorgon in the church or Mama Rebecca Nyandeng, President Kiir or any other person interest in praying in Emmanuel parish.
Why is this consistently happening in the church? Is it because pastors may not be doing/executing their duties as assigned or as stated in Bible, preaching may be inadequate, may be they preach fearing to hurt believers who pay ties/10% and offerings but where is the fate of ECSSS with God and why is the preaching result is negative just as Jewish’s that Jesus was against in biblical oldies. Are we not being preached with Dinka traditions and mocky stories of disgrace instead of the true word, or with what will make us return to the church next Sunday and not what will let us think to whether leave or repent and follow the true Shepherd.
I am of an opinion that ECSSS is not preaching the right word because it employs who has stayed longer in the church and not who has struggled to get a degree in religious studies.
Now what’s the difference between the church and President Kiir’s army; A said believer can commit himself to church service for a year and become a deacon and then in two months a full pastor, whereas in President Kiir’s army a cattle keeper/farmer can commit himself to a militia service for less or more than a year by killing uncared for citizens of South Sudan and become a Major General above poor and long-suffering professional soldiers.
I was having hope in the church to help ease between peoples following factions of SPLM and reconcile but it’s even growing divisive as SPLM party. Church leaders should safe church first before getting into country’s peace and reconciliation. ‘’ you are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. [Matthew 5:13]
However the initiative by FVP D. Riek is good but I am of a suggestion that parties to the agreement should come together to form a delegation comprised of IG, IO, and FDs to spearhead reconciliation process as to talk to congregants as that and visit camps for internally displaced people.
The writer is reachable at reechm@rocketmail.com /+211-955-660-611
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