There are over 100
queries about topic posted on social media titled “Equatorians Curse”. I came
across one posting of great interest and d’ like to provide following responses
to writer of below query.
I’d like to response to
writer from OT & NT Exegesis; Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics apologetic
and church history. My approach defines
the concept of church and its mission in both OT & NT, church history, the
usage of phrase Rubuna fi in linga frank of Juba Arabic, and cross reference with the initial article and false claims brought
forward by writer about “blaming believers of Ngun Kata” … “popular religious
expression coined by the Kakwas of Yei.”
The concept of church in both OT, NT,
church history and Principles of Biblical Hermeneutics was a place for worship and
teaching see Amos. In the
classic the word “ekklésia” means the following:
1.
An assembly,
congregation, church. An assembly, congregation, church.
2.
The Church, the
whole body of Christian believers.
3.
The synonymous
of “ekklésia” in Hebrew is “Kahal.”
4. The word “church”
comes from the classic word kyriakos, means “belonging to
the Lord” (kyrios). ekklēsía ("church") is the root of
the terms "ecclesiology" and "ecclesiastical”.
Again, the history of defending
the faith (apologetics) remained us that “church” is not only place for worship
and teaching, but also, place for both believers, nominal Christian (church
goers) and non-believers-why? Because God’s message is for Christian believers
to encourage them to stay firmed in faith, and on another hand, Preacher presents
message of salvation to nominal Christians and non-believers to accept God in
Three Persons and have personal relationship with Him. Thus, why you hear salvation
message at the end of each Sunday’s sermons. The preacher offers call for
1.
Repentance;
2.
Acceptance of God in Three Persons,
develop personal relationship with creator;
3.
Baptism;
4.
Confirmation;
5.
Daily prayer and meditations;
6.
Reading scripture and
7.
Confession.
8.
Ask forgiveness-this is the process
for believers who follow God in Three Persons.
So,
if you think your faith is being attack you better understand the concept of church
in OT, NT, principles of Biblical apologetics, hermeneutics. The church belongs
to God and He alone can defend His body of Christ. He did through the history. Otherwise
you classify yourself as “NIF-Fanatic” which lack Biblical reasoning.
Today, some churches
have deviated from its original meaning and mission. Church supposed to be a picture
for society, unfortunately, it became picture of a society. Not only that, some
churches became Christian social club and business centres-money making forgot
to follow instruction of God recorded in Matt 25: 35-39.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me
in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you
looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then
the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or
needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or
in prison and go to visit you?’
You know that, the Bible
was brought to us on donkey back, but today, on private jets, BMWs and Benz-this
is the realities of some churches and its nominal Christians who are not Christian
believers. Read below. This is just one out of many examples of those who claimed
more Christian then others.
“A senior member of the Catholic Church known
as the "luxury bishop" has been suspended from his diocese in Germany
while the Vatican investigates a house refurbishment that reportedly ran into
the millions of dollars.”
Thanks to Pope Francis for
cleaning up the messes created by some Archbishops, bishops and priests. May
God gives him health and many years to come.
Therefore, not every Christian
is a believer, but every believer is a Christian. You can go to church, but it does
not make you believer and follower of Jesus who can carry His cross every day. See
Luke 14:27 “And whoever does not carry their cross and
follow me cannot be my disciple.”
For instance,
you go church to show off your new African attires, car, new hairstyle, meet
friends and other, but your heart full of evils act. Kiir and some of his ministers
attend Sunday prayers through the year and see their actions towards others in
the country-opposite God’s teaching. So, going to church does not make believers
who carry cross of God in Three Persons. Now, I’d like to move to my responses
to writer of “Kakwas of Yei”
PLEASE,
BELOW ARE MY RESPONSES TO WRITER AT EACH PARAGRAPH.
I wish to make a brief
comment on the article which was
forwarded to this forum and in it's
contents, a great deal is devoted
to blaming believers of Ngun Kata, which is a popular religious expression
coined by the Kakwas of Yei before it became a kind of a slagon for the
religious groups in Equatoria.
RESPONSES
The article never devoted
to put blame on the failures of Equatorians on a small group of religious followers,
rather than it stated this, there are some pastors promoting the phrase Ngun kata/
Rubuna fi and there is no anywhere in the article mentioned of “failures of
Equatorians put on religious follower” I stand to be corrected.
The phrase Ngun
kata/ Rubuna fi is commonly used by all nominal Christians (church goers),
believers, Muslims, and traditionalists across former Sudan and South Sudan. Some
Karo members do speak, write and understand the phrase. However, most Karo
members only speak and few can write Karo languages. Again, I stand to be
corrected.
Other phrases has equal
meaning to Rubuna fi:
1.
Seebu la Rubuna;
2.
Rubuna be Ayanu;
3.
Allah be Ayanu; and
4.
Huwa bi ligo tawo min Rubuna
All these phrases are
derived from classical Arabic and only Arabic speakers know the root of these phrases.
These phrases are not only used by nominal Christians / church goers, believers,
but also by Muslims, traditionalist, and others. If you think otherwise, you’re
not living the realities of South Sudan and out of touch with what’s happening
in the country.
Rubuna fi/ Seebu la
Rubuna/ Rubuna be Ayanu/ Allah be Ayanu/ Huwa bi ligo tawo min Rubuna and its synonymous
means the following:
1.
If person sees herself/himself unable
to face aggressor;
2.
Things become difficult cannot solve
it;
3.
Situation(s)/problem(s) overcome persons’
ability to deal it;
4.
Weak to get her/his rights he/she says
I left my case to Allah and let Allah be the judge because God Has Supreme power
to claim my rights from aggressors or villains
and by invoking God’s name creates fear to villains to do justice or do right
act;
5.
It is petition to God’s intervention on
behalf of victims; and
6.
When victims surround her/his rights
to oppressors and throw everything to God’s shoulders. In Arabic called Allah
is hanger.
So, it is not
correct to claim that only Christians are using these phrases. These phrases
are common in ling frank across former Sudan and South Sudan.
My question is how can
this learned writer of this article blame the failures of Equatorians on a
small group of religious people? Some of us who believe in God and Jesus Christ
feel uncomfortable and offended about this alleged wrongdoing of those who love
God.
RESPONSES
You’re not the only believer
of God in Three Persons in the world who felt uncomfortable and offended by the
opinion and viewpoint of writer.
As stated in article in
1515, Dr. Luther challenged the corrupted catholic church leaders. The challenge
made most church leaders uncomfortable and felt offended. The Bible on your
hand, was a result of challenge to early church leaders who felt challenged by
the truth of Word of God. The best Bible transitions of English, Kakwa and other
transitions from Greek and Hebrew was result of uncomfortable writings that offended
many church goers and believers including Pope Leo X, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests.
Thanks to Dr. Luther who
made catholic church leaders uncomfortable and offended-this is very natural feelings
to those who are afraid of challenge and bounced back to defense mode. If you
read debates between Luther, Calvin, and Menno Simons on one hand and catholic church
on other, you’ll find it was very enriching and empowered many believers to
build personal relationship with God in Three Persons and non-believer accepted
God’s message. See church history in middle ages.
Side note: Menno Simons
the Mennonites (MCC), members of a Protestant sect founded by Menno
Simons in the 16th century, were widely persecuted in Europe. God used
them with their uncomfortable writings to bring the Good News to you.
I wonder whether the
author of this article knows why we the
Equatorians have failed and caused our
oppression, subjugation, and being relegated to perhaps no class citizens, grabbing of
Equatorian land, mistreatment and shame
brought on ud. How can the entire Equatorians from West to East and entire region that's bigger than East Africa, be a failure because
simply a group of religious people have
believe d that Ngun Kata?
RESPONSES
The article does not generalize
a group of religious people-they could be religious but not believers, but it
focuses on the usage of the word Ngun Kata/ Rubuna fi. Additionally, the
article focuses on the psychological effect of the word Ngun Kata, Rubuna fi/ Rubuna
be Ayanu/ Ana Seebu la Rubuna in the minds of Equatorians result in complicit.
The author of this
article did not bother to inform his readers of other factors that have made Equatorians
to be failures. If the writer is familiar with biblical concepts of war and
peace, then the story of David defeating Goliath the Giant should have helped
him. That war was fought through God helping David because the Israelites army
trusted in a victory led by God. There are many examples in the Bible. In order to inform them, it is a popular fact
here in SS that, we the Equatorians, are dead divisionists, worse tribalistic himitites. That we are known for our cowerdice
and empty pride.
RESPONSES
The thesis of article was
not intended for factors that have made Equatorians to be failures and concept
of war and peace in OT. See para 1, last line where thesis was clearly stated. Focus
on thesis.
I have taken the
liberty to provide you with references of David and Goliath events as recorded
in the Bible and never assumed that you’re the only good Christian or enough Christian
and the only one can defend the faith more than others. God judges’ people by
faith and believing in Scripture.
However, I concur with
your point “are dead diversionists, worse tribalistic himitites. That we are known for our cowardice
and empty pride.”
1 Samuel 17:4 NIV
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the
Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.
1 Samuel 17:8 NIV
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you
come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the
servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.
1 Samuel 17:23 NIV
As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion
from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David
heard it.
1 Samuel 21:9 NIV
The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom
you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the
ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.” David
said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
1 Samuel 22:10 NIV
Ahimelek inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him
provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
2 Samuel 21:19 NIV
In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of
Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a
spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.
1 Chronicles 20:5 NIV
In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair
killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft
like a weaver’s rod.
Latin:
Tantum
sit gratia Dei et credere scripturam hanc gratiam et praeter te non est de
opera tua, et donum ex Deo.
Above
is the Latin line Dr. Luther used against corrupted catholic church in Rome-Translation:
You’re save only by Grace of God and you’re knowledge in the scripture. The God’s
Grace is a gift from God and not of your work. See Ephesians 2:8 “For it is
by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God:
Side note:
God’s grace is like sun rays which shines on both believers and non-believers,
church goers without exception. See liberation Theology-The act of cross.
They say Equatorians are
known for lack of a strong will, innovation, craftiness and strategy of how to
survive as a region under the hawkish eyes of the dominant forces lurking
around. We are very lukewarm in the affairs of this nation.
For example, we do not feature highly in the media. We don't respond intellectually
and effectively on issues. That concern us. We do not appear as South Sudanese
but rather like spectators. Our meritocracy is hidden perhaps under our
inferiority complex I don't know and we do not struggle for the best . We are
like accompanying those who pose as successful
on the journey while we are at the rear. Do why blame it on the church?
RESPONSES
There is nowhere in the
initial article mentioned of “They say Equatorians are known for lack of a
strong will, innovation, craftiness and strategy of how to survive as a region
under the hawkish eyes of the dominant forces lurking around.” Please, double
check the initial article and cross reference your facts.
Again, I concur with
your below lines: “That concern us. We do not appear as South Sudanese but
rather like spectators. Our meritocracy is hidden perhaps under our inferiority
complex I don't know, and we do not struggle for the best. We are like
accompanying those who pose as successful on the journey while we are at the
rear.”
Again, there is nowhere
in the article mentioned “blame it on the church”. Again, please, check your
facts by reading the initial posting.
The Israelites
succeeded in those devastating wars because they realised they had offered God
and when they sorted out issues of their relationship with God and reconciled to
him, they established s series of succeeded in the wars with their enemies. Do
how do you see the Israelites today? Those in the diaspora, those at home,
everywhere on the face of the Earth....Do they have divisions among themselves? What are they seeking? Meritocracy, innovation,
excellence, always the best on the top in everything.
Yes, Israelites
succeeded because of THE HIGH DEGREE of FAITH as well as SERVANT LEADERSHIP MOSES.
I worked in Israel and have a Rabbi for many years who helped me understand Jewish
culture and differences between Jewish from Eastern and Western Europe and North
America. When I was in Israel, witnessed fight among the Jewish of different
backgrounds, but the only different between Jewish and Equatorians is that-they
fight inside the room and keep their differences inside the room and never
expose it to their enemies. Also, what unites them is the concept of State
of Israel and Holocaust. these are two symbol of unity and they identify
themselves with.
Question: What is the degree
of Equatorains faith? Can it move the mountains? How do you measure person’s faith?
Yes, most Equatorains do pray, are their prayers acceptable to God and answered?
I would like to share
with you below prayers, which I found very inspirational
The
power of prayers
When
you pray
If
the request is wrong, God says No
(Red
light);
When
you pray
If
the time is wrong, God says slow
(Yellow
light);
When
you pray
If we
are wrong, God says grow.
But
If
the request; the time; and we are right
God
says Go====>
(Green
light)
Do Equatorians have
great servant leader who leader them to land of honey and milk? I don’t claim
to know everything but learning every day.
Similarly, the concept
of unity of Equatorians in 1960s,1970s,1980s and 1990s was Awulad Juba/ NAS ta
Juba/ Ja’am ta Juba. That was unified logo for unite of Equatorians. SOSSA was
great example-every Southern Sudanese in Cairo and other parts of the world identifies
by SOSSA even nonstudents. It became linga frank or symbol of unite among
Southern Sudanese oversees.
Please
do not blame the church for the failures of Equatorians. Whosoever wrote it,
this article is provocative and disheartening. However, remain safe and
blessed.
RESPONSE
Once
again, never in the initial posting blame was put on church for failures of
Equatorains. Remember our Lord provoked the Roman Empire and have disheartening
many Rabbis of OT and NT. Provocation of Dr. Luther in 1530 empowered the early
church faith and it was disheartening to corrupted catholic church leaders for
failing to understand the main argument Luther put before the church to self-correct
itself-self regulate, but refused to do so and church division was the end
result. But it was God’s works to advance His message through provocation words
and messages. Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus’s act of driving sellers and buyers from Father’s house provoked
the Rabbis, sellers, buyers and Rome authorities. See John 2:16 “To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop
turning my Father’s house into a market!”
Are the Equatorians church goers, nominal Christians and
believers are the only one in church history to be provoke for self-correction?
In nutshell, you missed the main point presented in the initial article.
I am to state the facts, and shed light on the facts in the initial article. I took
liberty to provide you with answers from OT, NT hermeneutics, apologetics,
church history and classic Arabic.
Annex:
I reread the initial article several times and drew below summary
of each paragraph to show writer intention as presented. Also, I did count
important words in the initial article and cross reference them with writer’s claim
(Kakwas’ claims) that “so much was devoted on blaming church goers” which is
not true based on words count and summary of each paragraph.
SUMMARY
OF EACH PARAGRAPH
para 1: Thesis is the last line of para one
para 2: reinforced
thesis
para 3: provides Talib’s essays on governance
para 4: provides example of promotion of word
Rubuna fi, “SOME EQUATORIAN CHURCH LEADERS are prompting this curse-Rubuna fi”.
IT USES WORD SOME of Equatorian church leaders but does not generalized.
Para 5: provides usage of God’s names in Jewish culture
Para 6: provides historical background to reformation
movement and corruption in the catholic church.
Para 7: provides strategy for Equatorian to fight injustice
“To develop
strategies to fight injustice in whatever forms and God will be in agreement
with the victims’ efforts to free themselves” It also, validated Equatorians’
competency.
Para 8: posed question: “The million question is:
Are Equatorians using their competencies, skills, and knowledge to deliver federalism
and save themselves from all forms of evil?”
Para 9: provide concept of liberation Theology:
how to activate God’s blessings and power for God to works his miracles
Para 10: provides villains taking
advantage
“The take
home message is, the villains are taking the advantage of Rubuna fi mindsets of
Equatorian and keep occupying more lands, dumping
more cattle” … ‘villains’ culture of stealing”
Para 11: provides villains’ strategy to starve… hunger…
Para 12: provides action plan-the way forward in 9 points
Para 13: Equatorians should not put their hopes on
rubber stamp SS Parliament and if not careful might be refugees in their own
land.
“This is
the last call for Equatorians to wake up and act before assuming situation of
Palestinian in occupying land.
If Equatorian are not careful they will end up refugees in their own land.”
Way forward
1. To revisit self-serving interests
of local Chiefs and some community members who are selling lands to the villains. The strategy
should be land leasing
as oppose to selling. Consult “Land Law, by Judith-Anne Mackenzie & Mary
Phillips)
2. To lead and put an end to the
mindset of been followers of misleading leaders.
Usage of important
Words in initial article:
1. Rubuna
fi appears
10 times
2. Ngun
kata appears
3 times
3. Curse
appears
4 times
4. Land
grabs appears
16 times
5. Dumping
appears
7times
6. Injustice
appears
6 times
7. Victim/victimization
appears
8. church leaders
appear (EQ) 1
time
9. churches in
Great Equatoria appears 1 time
1. church
leaders (Rome) appears
1 time
1. Church appears 2 times
1. Church reformation
movement appears 1 time
1. catholic church
appears
1 time
1. unity appears 1
1. purpose appears
