Ryan Grebe

As a South African I can call myself an African. I am a white person of German descent (my forefathers landed here in 1750). I am not an German African, I am an African, born and raised.

I've been to Germany to see the "land of my heritage". It's a great country to visit but I love Africa and I don't struggle with my identity. My forefathers even fought against the Germans in the first and second world wars. They didn't identify with Germany, neither do I. Their food is great, and I identify with a great Bratwurst with mustard and saurkraut, but it doesn't make me a German.

Why do the black Americans consider themselves African-Americans, and not just plain ole Americans, as they're no longer slaves but are born and raised on American soil and principles? They have formed their own version of the dreaded and much hated Apartheid (South African speak for separate development) and this just fuels racism! What do their passports or identity documents call them? Are the Dutch and Irish descendants calling themselves Dutch-American or Irish-American? I don't believe so. They may identify with their heritage and culture at home or amongst friends but seemingly not to the extent of the African-Americans. 

I doubt if many of them have even been to Africa to see and experience what we do. Some may not even know where it actually is. My personal experience with an American Home Affairs official will strengthen my point.

Checking though customs at the airport I produced my passport and visa. She seriously asked me if South Africa was near Hawaii! I thought she was joking at first but then realised she was serious! I asked her where she was from because she looked Asian. She said she was a New Yorker and her Dad is a white American of Dutch descent but her Mother is a Chinese lady born in America. What does that make her? She is in my opinion the human form of M & M's.

Kwanzaa totally doesn't celebrate or honour Christ or what He came for, it fuels the separate development of a culture, community and business. Just read the 7 point manifesto. If they want to practice these "cultural African" things, come and immigrate back here to their so called African roots, then they can call themselves African. Here in Africa some African Christians still connect with the ancestors and practice traditional ancestral worship. Try and put that together with Biblical teaching! But, we are still to love them through this and pray for them.

Being a Christian isn't a "white" or "Black" thing. It's not an organisation or a religion or a cultural thing. Col 3:11 'Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all'.

It's a living relationship with the Saviour and lover of our soul. Even the Christmas holidays are to celebrate Jesus, not a culture or a community. It has many forms, (the red Santas with reindeers, trees, presents and lights are anathema due to the commercial aspect and reduced to "Happy Holidays") but the initial core of Christmas was and will always be Christ. Honour Him and then take that to the community, not a man made "kwansaa". 

My understanding of this is that you don't need prayer to sort that out, just plain Spiritual discernment. If it doesn't honour the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Romans 14:11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'"

No prayer needed, just don't do it. You don't need to reflect or pray about practicing a Satanic ritual or going to a Halloween "party"....just don't do it. If you must pray, then pray for the misguided people who do go and are caught up in ungodly practices and that the love of Christ will deliver them.

Matthew 10:14 'If anyone (culture, community or person) will not welcome you or listen to your words (the Gospel of Jesus Christ), leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet'.

February 26 2015 • 10 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of African Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Kwanzaa is celebrated from December...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Steven Scott Grader for the Ontario Jail Ministry

Maulana Ron Karenga, {born Ronald McKinley Everett on July 14. 1941}, created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African American holiday. Karenga said his goal was to "give blacks an alternative to the existing holiday. [Christmas]" He said that Jesus was psychotic, & that Christianity was a white religion that black people should shun. Observers of Kwanzaa avoided the mixing of the holiday or its symbols, values & practice with other holidays. He saw Christmas as a "white" holiday that blacks should reject. 

He was a convicted felon: kidnapper, rapist, assault & false imprisonment & for the torture Miss Gail Davis & Miss Deborah Jones. A hot soldering iron was put in Miss Davis' mouth & against her face. Police were told that one of Miss Jones' toes was placed in a small vice, which was then tightened. Detergent was put in their mouths & a water hose was turned full force on their faces. Karenga, holding a gun, threatened to shoot both of them. Deborah was whipped with an electrical cord & beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothing.

Should anyone want to celebrate Kwanzaa that this sick man created? NO.

October 05 2014 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Nicholas Kaponda

Kwanzaa and Christmas share one important thing: They both originate in non-Christ centered practices. If through the church efforts of inculturation Christmas is now part of Christianity, the same can be done with Kwanzaa. 

The racism that Africans experienced in the USA and the one that settlers inflicted on the native of Africa were different in form and in impact.
I will not go into details here, but just to say the Africans in the USA were denied identity as individuals and as a people group. The oppressed of South Africa remained with their identity even in separation and in segregation. American blacks didn't have that. Their cultures were completely erased except the parts that benefited the oppressors.

But that does not qualify the establishment of anything to compete with Christ and the work of the cross.

October 15 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report