Money, Materialism and the World

"19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John 15:19

If the bible clearly tells us we DO NOT belong to this world why do we try harder to be part of the world than be part of the eternal City that is Heavenly Jerusalem. Today I saw a video that blew me away; an English man who in his previous life worked as a DJ(a musician type) now serves as a Deacon in Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church, he is studying and working on some translation such as; Tselot Zewtre, Melkea Maryam and Melkea Eyesus all prayer books essential in the Orthodox Church. In his interview he states that he came to Ethiopia as a Rastafarian as he followed the movement for some times and even had dreadlocks which is an integral part of Rastafarianism (who believe King Haile Selassie is the savior). He cut his hair also shaved it bold and burnt the remains and says he did it according to the book of numbers.

one thing that struck me in the video is how far we have become detached from our culture and religion. when the presenter asked the Deacon what his baptismal given name was, he replied "yes, i have one it is Tesfa Mikael". As we all know that our Baptismal Ge'ez names of both Ethiopian and Eritrean are not used everyday nor are they encouraged simply because it is not popular. In fact, the name Tesfa Mikeal mean the hope of Saint Mikeal , like many different name we are not encouraged to use in society such as female Baptismal name starting Welete meaning 'the daughter of' and followed by name of the given celebrated day; for example a girl baptized on Trinity would be 'welete Silassie ' meaning daughter of the Trinity or similarly Welde Silassie means Son of the Trinity.

It is mainly our ignorant to the meaning of our religion and the mystery behind it which makes us become shy or embarrassed by our very own culture and religion. If we knew exactly why things are done from cultural to religious perspective we would be proud and could even teach our non- religious friends about the beauty of our culture instead of conforming to their culture and believes. Nowadays, we see more and more Ethiopian or Eritrean people taking the cultural forms of the west it is even taking over our countries. My recent visit to Eritrea showed me that the is a rise in crime and I felt unsafe walking late at home as I've heard too many news about murder of young men and women. I felt the country had changed and it dawned on me that it is really near to the end when  once a fearing country can change it's ways. I have also recently heard that there is a Homosexual community in Ethiopia which is very shocking to hear as Ethiopia is a very religious country but as the population increase and the country becomes more westernized the some people are actually being pushed into something they do not want to do simply because of poverty.(of the people involved not the whole country)

i leave you with this quotes for the day

"In the same way, people who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.'" Mathew 20:16

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Mathew 25 :10-13