Every year, the Reformed Baptist pastors in Zambia try to meet, away from everyone else, to deal with issues that need to be handled in a context where the basics of Reformed theology are not in question. Whereas we meet during other forums, we find that “outsiders” tend to raise questions at a level that we passed aeons ago. Hence, this is a meeting you only attend by invitation. This year, for the first time, I missed it because I was double-booked. I really regretted it.
The Parson’s Diet (as it is popularly known) took place in March this year and the challenge was to redeem our culture. It was meant to help us deal with the syncretism that was invading popular Christianity. Pastor Kabwe Kabwe of Grace Reformed Baptist Church spoke on the African worldview and thus gave a backdrop to all the other subjects that were to follow. Ronald Kalifungwa of Lusaka Baptist Church spoke on Animism, which was largely the form of religion that Christianity found in these parts of Africa—and which is still alive and well all around us.
Dr Grave Singogo of Evangel Baptist Church spoke on questionable medical practices in the African culture so that the pastors could understand where to draw the line between herbal medicine and witchcraft. Pastor Isaac Makashinyi of Emmasdale Baptist Church spoke on the recent phenomenon of generational curses, which has enveloped especially the Pentecostal/Charismatic wing of the church. And finally, Pastor Choolwe Mwetwa of Central Baptist Church in Chingola spoke on the many abuses that African women have to endure in the name of culture.
In order to give our Reformation Zambia readers a sample of these papers, we have tried to summarise the last two of these lectures into this special edition of the magazine. Pardon the length of the second one, but every effort was made to make it shorter. To do so beyond its present length was going to rob you of vital information. So, I suggest you make yourself a strong cup of coffee and put your thinking cap on as you sit back and read this issue of Reformation Zambia. You will find enough food for thought in the issues that are tackled in its pages. We trust that you will also find truths that will help you to redeem the culture into which you have been raised in Africa.
