An African Mother

Let’s say you’re an African mother living in the jungle in the year 1694. You’ve been with your man 17 years and have 4 children. You work hard and are 48 years old. Not easy raising 4 children and a sometimes-childish husband in this sweltering hot environment. All in all, life is good for you, and you laugh much more than you cry. 

One day, some white folks come into your village who are missionaries. They seem like nice people who have great food and smile a lot.They begin explaining about some man named Jesus who lived thousands of years ago. They tell you he walked on water, the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the paralyzed could walk, he raised the dead, and after he was hung on a cross to die, he raised himself 3 days later. Now these well-meaning people tell you he died for your sins, and you must believe this, or you’re going to eternal hell. You ask, “What is sin?” They tell you. “What is hell?” They tell you. You go to bed that night thinking this newfound information is a little absurd. This whole stuff sounds pretty out there to you. Who on earth came up with all this? You’ve lived a hard life but a good one. You have no enemies, many friends, loving children and a good hardworking and caring husband. Why on earth did these people tell you about this Jesus person? You’ve made some mistakes but now you’ve been informed these are sins. When you had asked what this sin stuff is about, they informed you that you’ve sinned against God. You asked, “What’s God?” They explain God had made you. You had thought all this time that your parents had made you. Also, this God who you have never seen is furious with you and is going to send you to a place of unending pain and misery. Forever. However, you’ve been told some good news. All you have to do is believe in Jesus, who died for the sin you didn’t know you had done. So, now you’re thinking, this God sent His only son to earth and commanded him to endure torture, suffering, and death? You don’t want anything to do with any of this nonsense. You had even begun to feel guilty about mistakes you were informed were sins. You had never felt guilty before and certainly do not appreciate the feeling. You truly like these kind-hearted missionaries and are a good judge of character. You never lie and always tell the truth. The minister asks you if you believe in Jesus. You tell him you’d rather not, as you were doing better before thinking about their so-called truths. They left. 

For several years you had been somewhat angry with the missionaries because they had disrupted your peaceful mind. You had started discussing this issue with their God after they had taught you how to pray. You understood the concept of forgiveness because you’d certainly forgiven your husband and children countless times over the years. To your astonishment when you told God you’d forgiven these folks, a feeling of amazing joy and peace briefly enveloped you and vanished. Over the next decade you and God became quite close, and you considered Him your best friend. You knew God understands your unchanged feelings about the sin issue and the death of Jesus. Years later, you reach the nice old age of 94 and die in your sleep. 

Where are you now? Atheists will say “in the dirt”. Born again Christians, “Eternal Hell.” I  feel the atheists have a much better response. A third glorious answer, “Enjoying the magnificent perfection and love of Heaven, forever.” Bob