Emerging Africa

Or AfrikaBurn: Why the church should be there...

The 2nd regional Burn (Burning Man event) will take place between the 16th and the 19th October near the Tankwa Karoo National Park, Northern Cape, South Africa. Theme: Power.

Last years event was genuinely life changing for several of us. I want to spell out why this was, and to give a few reasons why "the church" - or Christians who care about mission, community, creativity, and the sacred - should be there. See the "testimonies" here, as well as some serious evangelical scholarship on Burning Man.

• Your presence is "mission"
  There is a well worn saying, "For God so loved the world..". I forgot the rest of it. Oh yes - something about Jesus giving us Abundant Life. So, are you wanting to be involved in more than the usual holy huddle or theological fishtank? Here's a chance to show our willingness to be involved with those possibly unlike us. Or maybe more like us that we thought. At very least, an important and influential cultural demographic.
  


• Exploring the theme "power".
  2008 bears the theme "power". We believe in omnipotence, so have we got any to demonstrate?
  


• Have fun.
  "I will make myself all the more undignified", said a euphorically energised David, of his worship antics. I'd like to think that the afterlife, when all the suffering is over, will be fun. Who wants to be in an eternity without fun? Can I see that hand? You will be surrounded by hedonistic tribes who make it their business to have fun, in the same way you make it yours to pray. Oh yes ... you might experience some nudity. That's why you will need sunblock.
  


• The desert formed our tradition.
  Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Paul (don't forget Mohammed, too) - the desert is part and parcel of the Semitic traditions which we all cherish. On paper.
  


• We believe in "Fire", but hardly practice any burning.
  You don't have to believe in a punitive hell to acknowledge that fire is very central to Christian thinking. Fire not as a post-meeting braai, or wanton pyromania, but as love, purity, light, warmth, truth. Here is an opportunity to be part of several a consuming fires, (the meanings of which remain shrouded in mystery). I'm drawn towards the "Temple burn", and believe in its salvific potential.
  


• Risk your righteousness
  Can your Christian life survive away from a Christian subculture? I'd want to find out the answer to this question, and this is one such opportunity.
  


• Try an alternative "10 commandments".
  It's very refreshing. And nowhere near as heretical as you think. You are after all under grace, not law. Here they are: Radical Inclusion, Gifting, Decommodification, Radical Self-reliance, Radical Self-expression, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Leaving No Trace, Participation, and Immediacy. Click for more.
  


• Practice "Freely" Gifting.
  I can't think of 1 reason why Jesus would frown on this. Hang on - there’s one - no, nope, none.
  


• Have a holiday from authority structures.
  Experience beautiful anarchy, the so called Temporary Autonomous Zone. See if God is still there with no-one behind the pulpit. See whether the sinful nature or goodness come out first. Theologically, a very interesting experiment.
  


• Expand your environmental awareness.
  Lets be honest most of us Christians suck at caring for the earth, because we are so busy fretting over the transcendance-imminance debate, and we are so dead scared about finding ourselves inadvertently worshiping the creation. But new agers have once again just got on with it, loving mother earth!
  


• Realise that the "Earth is the Lords".
  Few Burners would consider themselves Christians, but the gathering shows how people crave the Divine. Paradoxically the church - that’s us folks - are often the reason why they don't find love or salvation there - all they see is hypocrisy, dishonesty, theory, exclusion, and a dogged hanging on to outmoded traditions.
  


• Experience postmodern community.
  Heard all the debates around the evils of the postmodern? Well it's time to actually mingle with it. If you hate it, then your arguments will be only be strengthened by experience.
  

Disclaimer
I must make it clear, that the AfrikaBurn experience may be offensive in some ways. But I am challenging the readership to take a risk, the upside of which I have tried to explain. I might be a little tongue-in-cheek in the above, but my sincere feeling is that G-d is active in this sphere. I am not advocating the traditional modus opperandi of evangelical Christian mission - preaching and trying to convert others. However I won't stop you doing it. But I believe in trust and friendship and honest exchange, which goes 2 ways.

Anyone who is prepared to take up the challenge does so entirely at their own risk, and "according to their faith". However, I am really hoping to be there, with my family, and would love to spend time with anyone else who makes it. In the meantime I would be happy to answer any questions, fears or objections.