Where Education Meets Reality

      The issue of eating meat is not a very hot topic in the US and Canada.  Most people only consider giving it up to become vegetarians.  They have no aversion to the meat itself, except perhaps the well-known health benefits that avoiding it brings.  In Africa, however, it is a much more sensitive issue than I first assumed.  The following is a scenario generated from personal research into a traditional Kenyan funeral service.  Pretend that you receive the phone call at the end of our story.  What advice can you offer?  This is where education meets reality.

     As the eldest son in his family, Ezra is faced with many responsibilities.  On top of his pastoral ministry, his wife and five children, and his post graduate studies, he must also attend to the family duties that are uniquely his.  Cultural expectations of the firstborn son are very significant among most Kenyan tribes.  During his first term of studies, he was informed one Tuesday morning that his mother was very sick.  He was told that she had contracted pneumonia, making her very weak and close to death.  He encouraged fellow classmates to pray for his mother and the rest of the family during this difficult time in their lives.  This was particularly important to Ezra because his family members are not believers, though they are “good” people.

     On Wednesday afternoon, Ezra and a friend from his congregation were on a bus to rural Kenya for the funeral.  Ezra’s mother had died earlier that morning and her death had been announced throughout the community.  After a long journey, the two travelers were thankful to have arrived safely.  The next morning, shortly after dawn, the family slaughtered a ram in keeping with tribal tradition.  The following morning, now Friday, a bull was slaughtered and that night a grave was prepared for the burial ceremony.  Of particular concern to Ezra was the communal meal that came each evening.  The animal that had been slaughtered in the morning was prepared and then eaten by the family each night.  Ezra was aware that their tradition demanded a sacrifice, but was unsure about the spiritual significance.  His father explained to the sons that it was important to make the spirit of their mother happy.  She would continue to bless the family in various ways even after her death.  The sacrifices were to ensure her ongoing blessing.  “Every meat has a meaning,” his father said.

     That night, Ezra lay awake in his bed, thinking about his father’s words.  He thought about the food that was prepared from the sacrificed animals.  He thought about his friend, a new believer from his church, who had accompanied him for the funeral.  Had they made a mistake in eating that meat?  Had they opened themselves up for demonic attack?  He wondered if he had compromised his allegiance to God.  If he continued, would he shake the faith of his friend?  And if he did not, what would he say to his father, brothers, and sisters?  Oh, how he longed for the advice of his brilliant classmates!  At least he could call his elder board for help, even though it was the middle of the night.