Kujichagulia
Ephesians 1:3-14
Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah)
When Rev. Robyn and I were planning the worship services that followed Christmas we decided to dedicate two Sundays to observe the traditions of Kwanzaa, even though Kwanzaa technically ended Friday this past week. We were keenly aware of how dominant cultures and religions often subjugate and appropriate customs, holidays and practices of less dominant cultures and religions. For example, Christianity has a long history of stealing items from other religions and cultures and baptizing them to make them Christian. Celebrating Christmas on December 25th is a perfect example. Many religions before the advent of Christianity noted the winter solstice as an important day of the year when the light of day begins to lengthen. When the Christian church began to build a liturgical calendar around the life and message of Jesus the winter solstice became a good fit to talk about Christ (the light of the world) being born into the world. As time would evolve some Christians began to think that it was really their idea from the beginning and so we have some sectors of Christianity getting very possessive of Christmas, even though the birthday of Jesus was set arbitrarily and the holiday wasn’t just ours originally. Rev. Robyn and I have attempted to be very aware of this propensity in how we have highlighted and celebrated the contributions of Kwanzaa to our world and not continue the subjugation of other traditions. You may remember last year we tried to be similarly honoring of Judaism in the series where we looked at our Jewish roots. Our hope in honoring Kwanzaa these last two weeks is to draw from the wisdom of the Kwanzaa traditions and to recognize how it can speak to our Christian experience without requiring that Kwanzaa be swallowed up by Christian interpretation.
As I was reflecting on the various aspects of Kwanzaa I have to admit that I was really drawn to one of the principles. Of course, in the divinely ironic, it would not be the easiest principle to say – not imani or nia – no, I had to be drawn to kujichagulia (self-determination). It was the principle that spoke most profoundly to my heart. One of the resources I read noted that kujichagulia is important because it encouraged participants to define common interests and make decisions that are in the best interest of one’s family and community. Another said kujichagulia is important to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. This is one of the points of commonality that the African American and the GLBTQ communities share. Both of our communities have endured times when someone else defined who we were, what we called ourselves and spoke for us. This outside entity in both cases was not only paternalistic but often hostile to the interests, worth, value and decisions of our peoples.
It might surprise some people that this concept of self-determination as an important principle of health for any community is just as important for we who call ourselves Christian as it is for those who follow Kwanzaa. Out text from Ephesians today gives us a Christian perspective on this concept.
When we read passages like this from the Bible they can seem incredibly complex and theologically dense. That is because this passage is both. To give you an idea of how complex and dense this particular text is, consider this: verses 3-14 are one sentence in Greek. Is it any wonder that we have trouble understanding the Bible at times! Do you remember elementary school grammar where you had to diagram sentences? Can you imagine diagramming a sentence that stretched eleven verses in the Bible?
Here is how self-determination in community is lived out, according to Ephesians:
Redeemed (restoration/wholeness)
The first step toward self-determination is that we understand that we are redeemed. Usually when we hear the word “redeemed” we think of something having a cost – something was bought. We redeem coupons for a prize, for example. We redeem purchases with cash. But the greater sense of this concept in the biblical tradition is the idea of restoration or wholeness. To be redeemed is to be made whole – to have one’s integrity restored. It is about so much more than simply being washed in the blood of the lamb. Only those who have a sense of their own worth, their own capacity, their own abilities can make healthy choices for their lives and world. The call of God is a call to wholeness. The call of God brings restoration as healthy individuals and communities.
Inheritance (traditions, culture, wisdom from those who went before us)
The second step toward self-determination is that we remember that we have an inheritance. I’m not talking about a pot of money that some relative left you in their will. I’m talking about something much more valuable. None of us exists in a vacuum. We bring with us into any situation our histories, our assumptions, our traditions, our wisdom and our ancestry. They do not have to be the only defining characteristic of our lives, but not to recognize their gifts and challenges is dangerous. When we are able to honor the wisdom of those who went before us while still being open to new possibilities from God, then we are well on our way to healthy self-determination.
Sealed with Holy Spirit (grace)
And finally, Ephesians tells us that the mark of self-determination – the evidence of living and functioning in this more holy and enlightened state – is that we are sealed with Holy Spirit. How do we know we are sealed with Holy Spirit? It’s actually fairly simple. We know our lives are sealed with Holy Spirit when they exhibit the evidence of grace. Grace only occurs in a life mature enough to hold multiple layers of reality in tandem – knowing that knee-jerk reactions may not be the most helpful, most holy or wisest. Grace filters all of our encounters with a sense that God’s presence is a part of everything we do and are. As a result, we try to see as God sees, to respond as God would respond, to sense as we believe God senses. When the world gives you a lemon, grace is what gives you the ability to make lemonade.
The traditions and principles of Kwanzaa have much to teach communities beyond the African American community for which it was created. It would be wise for all of us who desire to grow to consider these principles – both from scripture and the traditions we bring with us. How to make good decisions around self-determination: Do your decisions come out of a sense of wholeness, drawing from the wisdom of the resources of your inheritance and offering grace? Then you have found a deeper appreciation for kujichagulia.
Sources:
www.homileticsonline.com The Best Lemonade Stand Ever, January 2009.
http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/NguzoSaba.shtml