My visit to Adamawa State, Nigeria, last November gave me the opportunity to ask about the Koma people. They live on the mountainous part of the state. I understand that quite a trasnformation is going on there now. Thanks to the missionaries who staked their all to show the light. Before now, they went about almost naked. They merely covered their lower parts with leaves. I once watched a little documentary about them, showcasing some aspects of their culture. The young ladies that were paraded had their two upper teeth removed. The belief was that without that they would not be able to bear children! That implies until you had your teeth removed as a young lady you cannot dream of having a suitor, as the young men would consider you infertile! If you deem that incredible, you only to be reminded that children born as twins were once anathema in Calabar area before the redemptive work of Mary Slessor. These cases only prove what a hold culture has on people’s mind.

“Every culture must be examined against the backdrop of at least two things; not inflicting bodily or emotional injury on people; and …it must not contradict the written word of God.”

The Pharisees had running battles with Jesus over culture and the traditions of the elders. On one occasion, they challenged Him because His disciples ate with “defiled hands”. Jesus rebuked them for breaking the laws of God in a bid to keeping their tradition. One thing we notice about this group is that they love to cling to the irrelevant things and neglect the major issues. That’s why Jesus never gave them a chance. Every culture must be examined against the backdrop of at least two things. One, it should not be anything that inflicts bodily or emotional injury on people; otherwise we are no better than beasts in the field. More importantly, it must not contradict the written word of God. Outside of these, let God be true and every culture a liar.