Some people think that it is totally a sin or it is considered as politics for a Christian to care and talk about Ethiopia and/or our beloved prime minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali.
I am not really sure how they see or understand that spiritually, biblically or logically. And some of you wrote me letter saying, “But some people tell us it is a sin for a born again Christian to talk about Ethiopia’s situation and about our elected officials, like our prime minister.”
So, I decide to write this (and make this video) to share with you how I see this issue.
It is God who chose for me my country, my parents, siblings and relatives/neighbors. I didn’t have any say when God gave me as a child to an Ethiopian couple, nor did I choose a place of my birth. It is God who decided that for me. It is God who gave me my beautiful skin color, my hair, look and everything else. And I love and care for what God has given me.
You know what that means? It means “faithfulness.”
If I neglect and purposely starve myself to give love to others, it is not acceptable before God because the word of God says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mark 12:31NIV.
In the same way, if I love God while I hate my own brother, God says this to me:
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ” 1 John 4:20 NIV
Wow! Did you see that?
What are we given by God?
For example, our families, our country, our people, so on and so forth.
The word of God says, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 ESV
Luke gives us a conclusive concept:
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?” Luke 16:10-11 NASB
“True riches” are the ones which are ours forever and ever. They are eternal riches. “Unrighteous wealth” is temporal, here today and gone tomorrow, just like our lives.
Yes, what we have today including our lives have eternal values and worth.
So, my beloved Christian brothers and sisters, it is NOT a sin for Ethiopian Christians to love their country, Ethiopia, their people, Ethiopians, and their prime minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali and to do everything they can to protect their country, people and officials, even up to going to the battlefield.
May God protect Ethiopia, our people, the men and women soldiers who are giving away their lives as we speak so we can continue having a sovereign country to call our own and our beloved prime minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, who joined the army few days ago and has been directing and leading the army! Oh, LORD, please be with them. ///