God Is Gracious  

From an Africa Study Bible touch point:

In the Krou tribe in Cote d’Ivoire, when a woman has lost several children in childbirth, she should name her next child Koukougnon, which means “a being fit for death” with hope that death would have mercy and let the child live. Other cultures give names such as “Trouble” so that spirits will not bother to harm the child. In the Kikuyu culture in Kenya, couples are supposed to name their children after certain relatives according to traditional customs. However, sometimes the relative was an immoral example or the name has a negative meaning. 

At the ceremony where Zechariah and Elizabeth would name their baby, a disagreement arose among the family members. They wanted to name the baby Zechariah after his father, according to the custom. Zechariah and Elizabeth spoke out against their relatives and their culture’s custom. They named their son John, “God has been gracious”, as the angel had instructed Zechariah (Luke 1:13). What an appropriate name! For this childless and elderly couple, their son’s birth was a testimony that God was gracious beyond what they could imagine. 

While many naming traditions can be a way of showing honour and pride, Christian couples in Africa do not have to be bound to negative customs or live in fear of spirits. Many African couples choose positive names for their children such as “Blessing” or “Gift” in their local language. Others name them after a godly role model in their family, community, or the Bible. Even in the way we choose to follow or transform our cultural customs, we can find opportunities to testify to our faith in God. 

Today: 

Whether you are from Africa or elsewhere, what customs have you found that are positive and helpful in your Christian faith? Is there a practice in your culture that Christians may need to adapt to testify to your faith in God?