Introduction to Kwanzaa

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa and I’ll use each day of Kwanzaa to write about each of the principles found in the Nguzo Saba. But first I’ll start with an introduction about Kwanzaa. The creator of Kwanzaa, Ron Karenga, posted on his website (pdf form) the 2006 Founder’s Message. This is something that he does every year. Some comments about this message before I get into the first principle.

The following is the introduction to the message:

"The season of Kwanzaa has come again, this celebration and season of joyous harvesting and sharing of good in the world. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the recovery and reconstruction of this ancient celebration which has found a valuable and enduring place in the hearts, homes and daily lives of over 28 million people throughout the world African community.

This year’s theme is, of necessity, focused on the Nguzo Saba as a vital source of principles and practices to bring increase and sustain good in the world. Indeed, they represent values and vital teachings of our ancestors about how we are to live good lives, rightfully relate to each other and the world, and teach our children by word and deed what it means to be an African man and woman in the world."

I immediately have problems with this introduction such as:

1. Kwanzaa is the recovery and reconstruction of an ancient celebration? What ancient celebration? His earlier books said he created this celebration as an African-American celebration not African.
   
   
2. Karenga says that the theme is focused on the Nguzo Saba, to bring increase and sustain good in the world. This is not just cultural. This is getting into a "way of life" like religions."
   
   
3. "What it means to be an African man and woman in the world." – This is still a racially inclusive celebration.

What many people don’t understand about culture is that it should be tied in to your way of life, your religion as many cultures do things differently, even within the same religion. But in Karenga’s opening paragraphs, we see that he’s using culture to define one’s entire world. The good they do, their principles of living and so on. I would ask Karenga at this point, what does one need God for if all of this "good" would be accomplished with just this cultural celebration and following the Nguzo Saba?

Next: UMOJA - Unity

Happy Birthday Jesus!

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

What a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God incarnate in the flesh of man! God loved us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary.

We don’t really know the exact day of Jesus’ birth, but we do know that He was born. Christians around the world take the time out to commemorate this most sacred birth and thank God for His infinite love and undeserving grace.

Wow! God is just too awesome! To think He’d suffer the indignation of putting Himself on our level, as a mere man – even through being born as a baby! To walk the earth among His creation, to be rejected, ridiculed and eventually suffer physical torture and death for a people who are so imperfect! But oh so wonderful is that He was resurrected and lives on forever!

This is just my personal moment here to publicly thank my Lord, my God for sacrificing His Son for me and all others!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Father!

Is Christmas Pagan?

That's the question most posed to me whenever I talk about Kwanzaa. It's usually goes like this: "Well, you better check out your Christmas before your start talking against Kwanzaa! It is pagan moreso than Kwanzaa!"

Is that so? Well, I'll share an article from Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute, who has researched Christmas and can shed some light on America's favorite holiday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IS CHRISTMAS CHRISTIAN?

Santa Claus. Christmas trees. Exchanging gifts with people you really don’t care about or even know. Office parties which involve drinking and immorality. Is Christmas really Christian or pagan?

The best arguments against Christmas are the pagan myths and practices that have attached themselves like so many barnacles to a ship. But just as you don’t abandon a ship simply because it’s got some barnacles on it, you don’t need to abandon Christmas because non-Christians abuse it.

The Bible neither commands nor condemns Christmas. Nor is there any biblical principle violated by the celebration of Christ’s birthday. Scripture clearly teaches that anything is permitted as long as it does not violate biblical principles, and as long as it is done in faith, with love, and in a manner that edifies (Rom. 13:10; 14:4-5, 23; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23; Col. 2:20-22).

Often we are told that celebrating Christ’s birthday on December 25th is very wrong, for two reasons. The first is that Christ was probably not even born on December 25th. That’s probably true, but so what? We don’t know on what day Jesus Christ was actually born, but what does it really matter? What matters is that we are commemorating the birth of the Savior of the world.

The second objection is more weighty — when Christmas was originally instituted, December 25th was a pagan festival which commemorated the birthday of a false god. While this is a historical fact, what is often overlooked by the church is its intent in choosing December 25th in the first place. The church was not Christianizing a pagan festival, but was establishing the celebration of the birth of Christ as a rival celebration. Today the world has all but forgotten about the pagan gods of Greece and Rome, but at least a billion people on planet earth today consider themselves to be followers of Jesus Christ.

Well, over the next few days I’m going to be discussing what Christians should think of such traditional aspects of Christmas as Santa Claus and Christmas trees. But remember, there is nothing wrong with celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world, I think it’s great. On Christmas, that’s the CRI perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

On the date of Christ’s birth we recommend Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ (Zondervan) by Harold W. Hoehner (SB540/$17), who argues that Christ may actually have been born in late December or early January after all. This resource is available through CRI. For shipping and handling information, please call CRI or refer to our Resource Listing. To place a credit card order, call toll-free (888) 7000-CRI. To receive a free copy of our Resource Listing, fax us at (714) 858-6111 or write us with your request at P.O. Box 7000, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-7000.

Responses to Cobb's Blog

I've always wanted to get a true understanding of those Christians whom after finding the truth about Kwanzaa, still insist upon supporting it. I've been participating in a debate with Cobb, who considers himself a conservative Christian. As I'm learning more about him, something he reveals to me helps me to understand even further the thought process of those who profess to know Christ, but would support the worship of man in this celebration called Kwanzaa.

In a closing statement he had made to me, Cobb said the following:

"I am thankful to live among people who recognize that there are multiple valid interpretations of holy works and that throughout history there have been many paths to the truth."

As a Christian who believes in the inspired word of God called the Bible, I see immediately a major contradiction. He's a Christian who believes in multiple interpretations of holy works and many paths to the truth. As a bible believing Christian, there is only one true word of God and only one path to God: through Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of mankind. If I've misunderstood Cobb, I'll welcome him here in "my house" to correct me.

Cobb goes on to say:

"It is an acknowledgment that human beings speak different languages and come to universal truths in different ways. More directly, we are fortunate that African Americans, at a crucial point in history decided to move beyond the same pulpits and the same messages, to confront restrictions on their liberties and minds from a new perspective. The best of that perspective embodied in works of the Black Consciousness, Black Nationalist, and Black Arts Movements, is still alive, and some part of that is carried forward in the spirit of Kwanzaa."

Those who love Kwanzaa, love the "black consciousness." Honestly, I'm still not sure what that's supposed to mean. But it appears that those who subscribe to this black consciousness, want ALL blacks to possess the same type of consciousness. I figure that I'm black and have a conscious, that's as far as my black consciousness goes. What shapes my mind is my own life experiences as dictated to me through the word of God. Perhaps I can hear from people as they explain what "black consciousness" means to them. My world isn't shape by the color of my skin. I do experience things because of my color at times, but my life's consciousness doesn't dwell on color. Maybe that's why I don't fit this black consciousness thing.

When one falls in love with God and his Word, you want to guard the sacredness of anything about Him with your life. The way to better living (an abundant life) is through God's word and anything else that attempts to imitate it we must expose. Thus my writings regarding Kwanzaa.

Though claiming to be a non-religious celebration, it imitates several religions. It has lighting of candles such as you see in the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, it has pouring of water and libations as in ancient African religions that practice ancestor worship, it has gift giving as in Christmas, the holiday is even spread through many days as the Jewish spread the days over in Hanukkah. And most strikingly, it is celebrated near the Jewish and Christian's seasonal holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas.

My world is Christ-centered, thus the name of my website Christocentric as opposed to afrocentric. Instead of my world being ruled by the color of my skin, it is ruled by the things of God as it relates to Christ.

More musings later.

Kwanzaa in Church - An Abomination?

Vision Statement of Kwanzaa Church (www.kwanzaachurch.org) - "Guided by God’s vision and the principles of the Nguzo Saba, Kwanzaa Community Church is a loving church, empowering its members to pray for and usher in the Kingdom of God."

Guided by God's vision and the principles of the Nguzo Saba? What happened to the Word of God - the Bible? I emailed this church before I decided to write this commentary. I gave them my website to examine Kwanzaa more closely. Sadly, I've had no response to my email to them dated 11/27 of this year.

My complaint all along about Kwanzaa is how people are using it as "self-esteem" builders, or as a way of life. If this was just a cultural celebration, then there would be no talk of principles, but talk of history, of past acts of honorable ancestors, appreciation of where we are from and where we are going. But no, Kwanzaa has not only become a way of life for people, now the church has jumped on the bandwagon, not wanting to be left out. This church is just an example of many. many churches that are using Kwanzaa in their services and like this church, for their ministries.

This church says that the, "Foundation of our purpose and vision - Focused on Jesus Christ." Is the focus truly on Jesus Christ? That is the question that not only needs to be posed to this church but to any church that attempts to mix culture and religion both as a way of life.

Another problem I have is the emphasis on African-American culture in the church. Is there a wonder why many churches are so segragrated? The emphasis of Kwanzaa for African-American unity was probably what has drawn this church to it because of their own desire to emphasize the black culture.

I don't see a problem with a predominantly black church or predominantly any ethnic church, as long as the message preached and taught is for all -- the way that God intended it to be! Emphasis needs to be on God's word as taught in the bible, and unity not just for one group, but for everyone!

Kwanzaa is black separatist and so is this church. No matter how much Jesus is talked about, if one trusts in their culture "plus" Jesus, then is God truly the object of their faith?

cm