Today is the last day of the year. Perhaps the most notable topic of the day is the many church services on display tonight in the new year, variously called ‘Crossover’, ‘Leap Over’, ‘Jump Over’ all the way to ‘Fly Over’ and beyond. Interestingly enough,
I have yet to encounter ‘Crawl Over’, perhaps because everyone is rushing into the new year and tapping into God’s blessings.
In recent weeks, public posters and media advertisements have been clamoring for public attention, seeking a significant share of the lucrative New Year’s market of fervent worship, promising a wonderful evening of shedding the trials and tribulations of 2024 and welcoming 2025 with praise, hope and expectation led by Bishop this, Prophet that or Archbishop Dr. so-and-so.
Thanks to dark threats from IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare and his crew, prophecies about who will die next year are in short supply these days.
Naturally, concerned and hopeful worshipers will plant their seed in the house of God, bearing in mind, among other things, 2 Corinthians 9:6 (‘he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows sparingly will also reap bountifully’).
I understand that some wealthy Christians are sowing their seeds in US dollars, which should bring unbridled joy to their pastors.
’31st Night’ is indeed a busy ‘cocoa season’ in the house of God, both spiritually and financially.
God in Western society
Midnight church services are not on the New Year’s menu in Western countries and during my first few Christmases in Britain in the early 1990s, when I moved, there was quite a culture shock.
Outside of that, the Christmas season has nothing to do with Christ, Christianity or spirituality, but everything to do with families coming together and people celebrating and making merry.
Basically, they have decided to ignore the Biblical command in Mark 12:17 to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” and rather give everything to Caesar (as earthly pleasures in qualify to be so classified), which leaves God out of the picture.
In many major western cities the highlight of ’31st Night’ is huge, colorful, beautiful fireworks to ring in the New Year, with thousands of people gathering for the spectacle, and on the few occasions I went to see the London fireworks with lots of friends years ago it was a wonderful thing. Traditionally, Sydney, as the first major city to ring in the new year, usually sets the pace.
Religion is increasingly becoming a distant, foggy concept in Western countries. According to abcnews.com, only 45 percent of Americans today say they belong to a church, synagogue, mosque or temple, compared to nearly 80 percent in the late 1940s. According to the poll, only 32 percent of Americans say they worship God in a place of worship once a week.
I suspect that the majority of this 32 percent is made up of African Americans, whose communities still strongly adhere to Christianity.
Africans and Caribbeans who have migrated to Western countries also tend to export their Christian leanings there. I would not be surprised if in the near future, in a stunning role reversal, we see black Africans stomping through the streets of Europe preaching to the pagan natives to convert them to Christianity.
The flock of yesterday may well be the shepherd of tomorrow.
Between God and Caesar
What I find most remarkable about the Ghanaian version of ’31st Night’ is that despite the churches and other open spaces being overcrowded and bursting at the seams as midnight beckons, we tend to give full expression to the Biblical commandment that it was previously quoted in reference to God and Caesar.
For many, it is unthinkable that at midnight on December 31st they will be found anywhere other than church, thanking God for the year and seeking His face for the new year, even if they have been skipping school and struggling all year long. to follow the service. ritual or the hymns.
“As for the 31st evening, I have to be at church at midnight,” he said seriously. Annoyingly, these truants tend to take up the most important space in the busy churches that evening, while the regulars remain standing. But God is merciful.
Shortly after the service ends, the bars and clubs begin to fill, not with migrants from outer space, but as a result of a direct osmosis process from the church.
Once their conscience is assuaged by giving God His due (praise, thanksgiving, and worship), they fervently believe that it is Caesar’s turn, engaging in various hedonistic activities in the process.
Annoyingly, these truants tend to take up the main space in the busy churches that evening, leaving patrons standing around. But God is merciful.
New Year’s wishes
For most of us, this year has been a mixed bag of small triumphs and various setbacks.
On a personal level, perhaps the two highlights of my year were a trip to beautiful Cape Town, South Africa and the selection of my former boss Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the NPP’s running mate for the elections.
The bitter election defeat recently and the health problems a few months ago were the low points of my year.
As for my wallet, it’s taken several hits throughout the year, so there’s nothing new about that.
Dear reader, to the extent that you read this piece, you are alive. That’s the most important thing, no matter what challenges life has thrown at you over the past twelve months.
As the year fades away tonight, may your new year, whether you give exclusively to God, exclusively to Caesar or do a hybrid as many Ghanaians deftly do, be full of abundant blessings and bring peace to you and your families.
Afehyia dad!!
The writer is head of the Communications and Public Affairs Department of the Ministry of Energy.
Email: [email protected]