From Rev. Nyasulu in Malawi, in answer to questions about John 7 & 8 (see below).
(1) Are there persecuted groups in Malawi?
Christians in Malawi have not faced persecutions directly like other places like in west Africa and China. But there are certain conditions where by one may easily argue that here and there persecution is taking place. For example there are certain situations when politicians do not want to give chance to clergy or christians to exercise their right in terms of preaching and teaching against political situation which is inhuman. In 2010 Rev Levi Nyondo the General Secretary on Synod of Livingstonia of the CCAP was put in custody because he had commented on bad political situation in Malawi. To most of us, he was only fulfilling his prophetic duty as a pastor. But to those in leadership he was a rebel.
(2) What is the place of women in Malawi and the Presbyterian Church? Equal to men, struggling for recognition? The place of women in Malawi has improved greatly. We cannopt yet say it is equal. The church is attempting to teach people to treat women as equals to men. It is a struggle. Out of 170 ministers in the Synod of Livingstonia, only five are women pastors. You can imagine how far we are from saying than men and women are equal. Sexism is also playing a role in marginalizing women in some societies. The situation of John 8 is very interesting. There are certain societies or ethnic groups where women are conspicuously second class in the sense that women’s participation in decision making discussions is limited and minimal. Any mistake or sin committed by a woman will be regarded “because she is a woman.”
(3) When Jesus says I am the light and talks about living waters, he is drawing upon the light imagery and use of water at the festival of booths- using preset religious images but redefining them in himself. Are there any images/cultural metaphors in Malawi that the church used or does use to help explain God and Jesus? In Tumbuka God is called CHIUTA. Chiuta means “a very big bow”. When people looked at the sky horizons they likened it to Uta (bow). Because it looks so big it was a big bow. To them Something that covers the whole universe must be a big bow which cannot be made by man but someone who is a supreme being. The Supreme Being is Chiuta- God. When the early missionaries introduced God to Malawi, they introduced someone close to Chiuta that they already knew. Our ancestors used to worship this Chiuta through ancestral spirits under very Huge tress and Rivers, and Mountains. They believed thie is where the ancestral spirits live after this life. They were called the living dead. In big trees and thick forest or moutain rivers would be places where people could speak to Chiuta. When Malawians read texts like Psalm 121, they easily connect to what they know that a Supreme being lives in thick forest, trees, and mountains. A place of revelation.
(4) Finally, some of the religious leaders get it and some of the guards, others do not understand Jesus. But he “speaks with authority” which impresses some. Has the church been able to speak with authority during the crisis over the past year and how has that been received by the government and the wider country? The church has spoken with authority although not every time. To say specifically about CCAP church, the Livingstonia Synod is very prophetic. It has for several times held talks with politicians where they have seen they are losing truck. During one party system of Government, it was difficult. There were threats against any opposer and critical comment against the government. Whoever talked against government mulpractices was put to jail.