Fr Vincent Donovan's decision to get up close and personal with the Maasai and the Gospel proved revelatory for both sides - hence the title of the book, which goes on to tell the story of his fifteen years as a missionary in East Africa.
First published in 1978, Christianity Rediscovered begins at the point Fr Vincent decides that the established pattern of missionary activity in Tanzania (through schools, hospitals and permanent mission buildings), isn't working. He writes to his Bishop and tells him that instead of spending money servicing his car to bring children to the mission school, he will use the vehicle to go to visit the Maasai kraals and talk to the tribes about the gospel.
His approach as an evangelist evolved from the traditional methods taught in the seminary and develops further in response to his careful and contemplative observation of the Maasai culture. In the process it becomes more personal - more human - perhaps more incarnational?
For instance, he begins his first meeting with a Maasai tribe by talking about the book of Genesis; but soon finds that the references to land division and land ownership become a significant barrier to understanding for these nomadic people. After much thought, he decides to re-start his teaching not at the beginning of the Bible but at the beginning of the life of Jesus - a man whose lineage and ancestry could still be explained - (a fact which resonated with the Maasai) - but without the complicating factor of land. This meant that rather than starting to evangelize to the Maasai by talking about sin, he began with the concept of forgiveness of sins.
I wonder if the world would be a different place if all those charged with spreading the Good News adopted this approach?
This focus on Jesus the man - the Word of God Incarnate - resonated with my own, (albeit limited) experience of Africa, from where I had started to read the book, during my first experience of a southern hemisphere Christmas. Here I found I had to re-examine my engrained (western or northern hemisphere) imagery of Advent (darkness to light needs a bit more abstract thinking when it's bright by 3.30am!)
In the shops, multinational advertising campaigns meant seeing shimmering evergreen plastic trees displayed in 40 degree heat to the sound of "dashing through the snow". The comedy seemed to make it easier to dismiss many of the “trappings” we associate with the season in the northern hemisphere. Perhaps it was just the novelty factor, but hearing carols on the beach (rather than by candlelight) somehow made the words more present.
The disconnection between many of the symbols I have come to associate with Christmas seemed to make me more aware of the human (or incarnational) element. Every road was full of taxis and trailers piled (sometimes precariously) high with food and gifts en route to other parts of the country. People could be seen walking in the streets carrying huge boxes and bottles on their heads for their own Christmas celebrations. Even the animals in the Kruger park seemed to remind me of the journey of the Holy Family! From my limited experience in Africa (albeit a long way from the Maasai!) I can understand why Vincent Donovan’s approach to evangelism evolved into a more “human” method and why this worked.
Whilst written over 40 years ago, the book seems so fresh and relevant. The question posed at the start - what is the purpose of a Missionary? - opens up a debate about the balance between social action and evangelism which is still of relevance today - whether in East Africa or suburban London.
I found Fr Vincent’s occasional criticism of the structures of the church surprising but also refreshingly familiar - the fight between “good” and “bad” institutional practice will perhaps never be a battle won - and he acknowledges that this matter is not binary. He is perhaps more critical of the “Roman” elements than the “Catholic” (I wondered what would have happened if Constantine had had another dream that night!) This matter is brought to the fore when it becomes apparent that a talented potential priest from one of the new Christian kraals cannot be ordained (due to the unavailability of a bishop but mainly due to the lack of the candidate’s formal education, which proved to be a barrier for ministerial training). The book raises questions around lay discipleship and the nature of priesthood itself.
I finished reading the book during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, during which we celebrated the Feast of the Conversion of Paul - a wonderful coincidence, as so much of the book draws on parallels with St Paul’s approach as an evangelist. While Vincent Donovan adapts his method in in response to his growing understanding of the Maasai culture, one thing he doesn’t change is the Gospel! Like St Paul, he leaves the Maasai to contemplate the text and allows them to come to find Jesus in relation to their own lives and through their own culture, returning now and again to provide support when needed. Nothing added. Nothing embellished. In the process we see glimmers of a change in Maasai culture - the role and status of women in the kraals is one example. This raises questions about the development of a “sub-culture” - drawing comparisons with the early African missionaries and “empire” - but perhaps, in this case, the development of a “Christian culture” is a more fitting description and not something to be too squeamish about.
As Vincent Donovan walks alongside the Maasai in their journey to discover Jesus, he describes his own parallel journey of awakening - their faith enriches his own. I was particularly inspired by his description of the relationship between the public and private realm in Maasai culture and the way this influenced their emerging faith. In one case, Fr Vincent felt that not everyone should be baptised because some of the Maasai has not attended all of his study classes. The leaders of the kraal make clear that everyone in the tribe studied and responded in different ways - some learnt best by talking with others. They explain to Fr Vincent that either they were all baptised - or none of them would be. One body, many members. He baptised them all.
The strength of the Maasai community identity and its impact on their growing Christian faith is also apparent in the way in which they evolved the celebration of the Eucharist, drawing in dancing and music in the build up to the sacrament - the Maasai really know how to “give thanks” ! Fr Vincent explains that on some occasions, perhaps if someone was ill in bed or some earlier conflict between people had not been resolved, it was decided that it did not feel appropriate to receive the Eucharist at that time - so it was not celebrated. Humility at a community scale?
The overriding message of this book is one that fascinates me - the diversity and multiplicity of Christianity - the many faces of Jesus but the same God. Though we are many, we are one body.
This is an inspiring book which I was so fortunate to read after spending some time in Africa and during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The opportunity to discuss the book with a group of intelligent and engaging people also aided my understanding no end!
Christianity Rediscovered is published by SCM Presshttps://scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780334028550/christianity-rediscovered
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