The story of Garden of Eden. Peace and Justice is paramount for sustainable
development and transformation governance.
My hope is we can spur
hope, reconciliation and intensify need for fair and more inclusive world as
pattern in the Garden of Eden story. We can speak boldly and freely toward a
conversation of PEACE, RECONCILIATION & RECONSTRUCTION for an inclusive
society
Peace
is something that has
been talked all over the world and from South Africa to North Africa the
song
is the same. Peace and security is paramount for sustainable development
and transformation governance. And hence we don’t have choices in
promoting and
advancing conversations of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction, if
we ever
dream of just and more fairer world where prosperity and progress is
possible. In
genesis 3;1-24 we seen the starting point of human conflicts and strive
In Biblical narrative the lack
of peace between man and God has direct effect on man and creation and creation
with humanity and hence need to rebuild the damage relationship and restore the
trust, friendship and support that the picture as envisaged in the biblical
garden of Eden. In the absence of security there is war, conflicts and tensions
that part people from people, community from community and nations from
nations. The torn apart national fabric of cohesion and coexistence breed mistrust
and hypocrisy deeply.
The process of
reconciliation is complex and complicated. Its complex due to often resistance
from the architecture of the violence and wars. Just as the Old Testament story
of Adam, Eve and God was quite complex and intrigue so is our story today
though different in contexts the struggles and cause is still the same. It would
be prudent to say that indeed sin has permeated all components of human beings.
Sin is in us, sin is with
us and sin beyond us. Hence there is so much evil in a world that was
originally characterized by the goodness of God and his perfectionism in
artistic design. In our own generation its seem hate is the alternate for love,
darkness for light and death for life. We must gather courage to redirect
course of events in Kenya
When there is no peace, everything
is groaning due to the coming of sin which destabilized the creation that was
originally well ordered and embodied goodness as depicted in the genesis story.
And in the state of lawlessness nothing can be orderly and efficient. Theologically,
though the image and likeness of God was marred, it wasn’t completely destroyed.
The conversation and search
for justice and peace should not ignore the nature of mankind on his original
state as shown by biblical story of creation. The biblical concept of man in
genesis offers glimpse of who mankind; one who possess goodness in moral,
emotion. If these components are not looked with seriousness then all other
conversations on peace and justice become invalid and moving toward wrong path.
Traditionally we have
blamed lack of resources, marginalization, exclusive governance and geographical
location for increase in insecurity and instability in our modern world. To seek
long-term solution we must seek to understand the world as it was in the
biblical story of creation;
With the ever growing world,
reconciliation can only happen when all actors take their positions seriously
in seeking and finding justice, forgiveness and ability to move forward. In
admission sin must take the central stage in any meaningful conversations that
are aimed to tackle lack of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction in our
modern world.
The faith movements must
gather courage and address the effects of sin in reference to all components of
humanity. Sin has infiltrated all components of humanity. When these
conversations begin on sin, then meaningful engagement and discussion of
security, peace and cohesiveness will take place and bear much awaited fruits
of unity and purpose. Toward reconciliation God takes central place. A theology
of hope and tranquility must be seed among in the country. They desire peace
that will affect their livestock, water, children and women.
God has called us humanity
to be ambassadors of peace in world torn by strife, greed, selfishness amongst others.
The faith movement must seriously play its sacred role as a channel of God toward
making our world just and more fairer. Though often divided on its prophecies
voice, it can still earn respect and admiration if it can speak against all
forms of oppression and injustices without fear, favor or exclusion based on
political and tribal inclination. The story of garden of even is the story of
the Church.
