I recently watched Wayne Grudem’s talk on his 2013 book Poverty of Nations. Later on I picked up the book to read, because I found Grudem’s confidence in the ‘free market economy’ intriguing—something I’ll have to unpack in the future. Grudem and Barry, a co-author of the book, propose 78 factors that determine whether the economy of a nation will move towards greater wealth or regress into poverty.
Is Africa cursed? Why is Africa so poor?
In the foreword, Grudem captures the inspiration, or quandary, that led him to co-author the book with Barry: “‘Why is Africa so poor?’ asked the woman from Kenya. ‘Are we under a curse?’ She and her husband were successful business owners in Nairobi, but the continuing poverty in their nation troubled them deeply. I (Wayne Grudem) had no answer. After a stunned silence, I had to say , ‘I am sorry, I don’t know.’ But the question continued to trouble me.”
Over a decade after it was published, that question still haunts me. Is Africa cursed? Why is Africa so poor?
Kenya’s Economic Crisis
2024 will be remembered in my country, Kenya, as one of the most tumultuous times in our history. A proposed taxation plan by the government to save the country from defaulting on its enormous debt became the sharp pointed needle that burst open an abscess of deep seated grievances among the populace. The unaffordable cost of living, high unemployment rates, brazen corruption in local and national government, and dysfunctional public systems, including disempowered government watch dogs, were just the tip of the iceberg.
2024 will be remembered as one of the most tumultuous times in Kenya’s history.
A Gen-Z led protest against the Kenyan government in June 2024 has triggered knee-jerk responses from the government that at its present height, has allegedly resorted to broad daylight abductions and the disappearance of public critics. Watching a recently aired interview with young Kenyans giving voice to their frustrations in the present crisis, it seems appropriate to reflect on what it means to have living faith in Christ while living through a socio-economic crisis. I propose that trusting God in times of crisis is the expression of living faith in Christ.
Trust God Through Lament
One dictionary defines lament as to ‘mourn aloud’ or to ‘cry out in grief’. Lamentations is not only a book in the Bible, it is also a major theme that cuts across it. An early depiction of this theme is found in Israel’s exodus from Egypt; we observe lament as an expression of mistrust in God (Numbers 11:1-11; 14:1-10). The nation of Israel lament their plight in the desert, in a way that fails to recognise God’s faithfulness in the past. We are discouraged from this kind of lament.
The Psalms, on the other hand, paint an alternative image of lament. The psalmists are painfully aware of untenable circumstances surrounding them (see Psalm 3; 4; 5; 27; 28; and others). With poetic flow they express utter desperation to God, confidence that is broken to bits by what they perceive around them.
There is grave disappointment weaved in with the strand of hope in God’s covenant love.
Consider Psalm 10. The writer asks: “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (Psalm 10:1). For the wicked seem to prosper, even as they persecute the poor (Psalm 10:2). There appears to be no justice, no response from God to evil (Psalm 10:8-10). The oppressor tells himself, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it” (Psalm 10:11). Yet the psalmist goes on. “Arise, O Lord,” he prays (Psalm 10:12). “O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.”
In this lament, above, and others like it, we observe grave disappointment weaved in with the strand of hope in God’s covenant love. And God invites us to emulate this model of faith in crisis.
In Kenya, and I imagine many other African cultures and contexts, the invitation to lament before God can feel counterintuitive. It runs against our engrained customs around respecting elders. To come across as challenging the elders of your tribe, let alone the Great Elder, is somewhat unnatural, if not outright inappropriate. These cultural norms can hinder or obscure life-giving encounters with the God. Through Christ we encounter the God who never leaves nor abandons his children; we learn that nothing can separate us from his love.
So lament isn’t always a faithless or disrespectful act. It can instead be an expression of both passionate disappointment in our circumstances and our confidence in God’s unquenchable love. Furthermore, it daringly reaffirms our conviction that God is sovereign over all spheres of life, even when public transport is unaffordable and rent is due.
Trust God Through Recognition
Flowing on from lament that is anchored in, and fueled by, God’s love, is recognising God’s presence and activity around us as a way of trusting God in times of crisis. Put another way, things in Kenya aren’t as bad as they could be. Not just because of determined activism from an alert and aggrieved populace, but because God primarily sustains his creation, including restraining the power of evil over it. This is called common grace; to recognise that God is always sustaining his creation and caring for it, in both visible and invisible ways.
Things in Kenya aren’t as bad as they could be.
Consider the following about Kenya: reasonable food security due to a fairly stable climate; public-private partnerships serving needs in remote communities; undercover security intelligence foiling imminent terrorism plans; government accountability through international community; resilient investigative journalism through freedom of the press; a hardworking informal sector; open schools for both boys and girls, in most parts of the country; conscientious legal firms patiently litigating for justice; whistleblowers risking their well-being to shed the light of truth; faithful churches proclaiming the gospel; Christians in obscure government offices being led by the Spirit of God; people coming to faith; and so forth.
Is this a ‘glass half full’ way of thinking? Maybe. But it would be simplistic to leave it at that. A ‘glass half full’ view tends to offer hollow platitudes, designed to merely get you through Monday morning. But in the Psalms we find a theme of thanksgiving and praise, that’s meant to be authentic. A healthy understanding of God’s common grace helps us recognise that God is ever-present and always at work in our world. It also awakens authentic thanksgiving, pointing us to God in Christ and seeking to answer the question ‘where is God inviting me to partner with Him in my context?’
Pursuing the change you desire to see can be an expression of trust in God.
You see, recognition of God’s work in your context supports your ability to trust and depend on him. It is a posture of the heart that acknowledges your feelings and frustrations; however, legitimate as they are, they aren’t primary but secondary to God’s plan and activity. “Man shall not live by bread alone,” Jesus said (Matthew 4:4). “But by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The extent to which you depend in faith on God during crisis is the degree that you’ll be open to him directing your energies and maximising your usefulness for your generation.
Trust God Through Prayer, Humility and Patience
Finally, the above point is a call to action. Stepping out to pursue the change you desire to see can be an expression of trust in God. What could this look like?
First, pray. Commit your concerns and ideas to God to discern his perspective and leading. Prayer offers a place to clarify your motives. It opens a place for you to confess your contribution to the societal malaise you’re looking to address. It is an opportunity to pray with compassion for those in leadership as they too are human in need of God’s grace, corrupt as they may be.
Second, practice humility. Consult with those who have been involved with activism. It may be tempting to push ahead with a maverick complex. But a quick online share here, an unthoughtful comment there, could come back to bite you; or hurt others. Proverbs has lots to say about hastiness its dangers (Proverbs 21:5; 19:2; 29:20).
Empires rise and fall. Governments come and go. But the word of God remains.
Third, be patient. Rarely does change come overnight. Your input may feel like a drop in the ocean. But, cumulatively and in the long run, it will have the impact God intends. As you partner with God he’ll steer you, so remain soft and open towards him and his words. Resist invitations to dishonour God through your words, conduct or online posts. Empires rise and fall. Governments come and go. Cultures emerge and disappear. But the word of God remains.
