More than a century and a half ago, Christian missionaries from the West brought the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Africa. One of the weaknesses inherent in this evangelization process was the imposition of Western beliefs and ideas on God’s people in Africa. However, every church is its own missionary and cannot practice its faith by proxy (see Ad Gentes, Decree on the Missionary Activities of the Church, § 22). This is why St. Pope Paul VI, during his visit to Kampala in July 1969, called upon us: “Africans, be your own missionaries.”
Fifty-five years later, Paul VI’s exhortation is even more relevant today. It is the evangelization of Africa by Africans and for Africans. This requires a real shift in mission.
Shift to mission
At the level of each local church, we must assess the extent to which our practices are truly missional and modify them accordingly. The tendency of many African bishops is to perpetuate the status quo, rather than encouraging a shift from a logic of mere reproduction to a logic of innovation and creativity. This also explains the pastoral ineffectiveness of inculturation theology. A community that cares too much about its image inevitably loses its dynamism. “I do not want to be distracted by the centrality of the Church and become trapped in a web of obsessions and procedures,” Pope Francis says (Evangelical Gaudium, Article 49). ).
“At the level of each local church, we must assess how truly missional our practices are and modify them accordingly.”
Each baptized person must renew his or her understanding of the mission. It’s not just about traveling to the ends of the earth. Everyone, everywhere, is a missionary. In this sense, Pope Francis speaks of “missionary disciples.” It is important to further deepen Paul’s principle that one cannot be a disciple of Christ without being a missionary (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16).
encounter and testimony
Mission, therefore, is not limited to the physical sending out of the Gospel or the formal proclamation of the Gospel. It is a testament to life, a conference that requires dialogue and respect for others and their cultures.
“All true and deep encounters involve mutual communication for the benefit and gift of both parties.Evangelists are committed to sharing what they have given, not only on a human level, but also in terms of understanding the Gospel. We receive the same amount,” the late Archbishop Isidore de Sousa of Cotonou said in the article “What Happens When Africa Evangelizes Europe?” (Savanes-Forêts No. 12, 1977).
The dynamics of mission are rooted in God who is love. God invites us to testify to His love for the people of Africa by preaching the gospel of salvation.
Father Serge Bidouzot is a priest in the Archdiocese of Cotonou (Benin) and a former director of La Croix du Benin (no relation to La Croix International).
