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I and my country against the world
I and my clan against my country
I and my family against my clan
I and my brother against my family
I against my brother
I against the world
Traditional Somali poem
Somalia is fortunate in being a country where all the inhabitants are of the same ethnic origin, speak the same language, share the same culture and claim a common ancestor. But in spite of all the ingredients to make a unified nation, the country is now shattered by a chaotic civil war where clan fights against clan, sub-clan fights sub-clan and sub-sub-clan fights sub-sub-clan. The boundaries between the complex hierarchy of clans, sub-clans etc. are merely genealogical, and without any real differences between the people, it is only factionalism that fuels the ongoing fighting.
Disunity between Christian groups (which has been the cause of discussion in recent issues of Christis), likewise occurs because factionalism is so much part of our sinful nature (1 Corinthians 3:1–4). This is reflected here at the University of York, where in spite of Christians having so much in common, the body of Christ remains dismembered. Not once during this past academic year did all Christians gather together on campus to signify that we are all members of that one body (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). And yet are not all Christians one in the Spirit, in spite of our diversity of gifts, ministries and activities (1 Corinthians 12)? Did Jesus not forbid sectarianism (Mark 9:38–41; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17) and teach us to love our neighbours as ourselves under the commandment that was second only to the commandment to love God (Mark 12:28–34)? Does not loving God mean loving the whole of God’s Church (in spite of its faults and weaknesses)? But it seems that many of us have difficulty in loving our Christian neighbours as we should, because we find it difficult to accept Christians of other persuasions or traditions. Some even doubt whether certain churches really are part of the Church, though I am sure that if we were to look without prejudice and with love at each denomination/persuasion, then we would see the required fruit (Matthew 12:33) with which we would be able to recognise that each branch is from the same tree (John 15:1–8).
Please then strive for Christian unity in the coming academic year. Love all of your fellow Christians as brothers and sisters, for if you are against your brother then you are against the world.
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Last modified: 25th November 2005