Page 80 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 3

ISSUE THREE | NOV/DEC
I am just

SAYING THE APPROVAL SYNDROME
By: Chioma Phillips
evil.” (See Genesis 3).
What the serpent said to the
Approval (endorsement, consent, approval from God, their Maker, woman has spread and become
support, agreement, authorization, to the serpent and to each other, like a cancer, devouring man’s
appreciation, say-so) is the green diverting all of it away from the soul through adulterous wisdom
light that men seek in order to be One Who made them. Man was passed down from generation to
able to become and/or to do. The originally created to receive all generation, in a world that doesn’t
only challenge with this is that of his approval from God, alone, seek to know God or do His will,
this has become consent and and to draw all of his strength but rather seeks the things of the
endorsement that is sought man- and confidence from the One True flesh, to satisfy themselves with
to-man, and it has led to absolute King and to spread that abroad. and to drown out the sound of God
chaos on earth because it is not as This meant that, hearing the voice walking in the Garden in the cool
it is in Heaven. of God, one would understand His of the day calling out their names
The nucleus of a society is the heart, know His will and enact it and asking, “Where are you?”
family unit: the individual, the as His faithful servant for all to But man is so drunk with people
spouse, their child or children. see and know God in all things. pleasing and fear of man, that he
In Afrika and some other parts The Kingdom on earth, as it is in won’t tell his president that one
of the world, it also includes the Heaven. Sweet. Simple. Beautiful. of his prized projects is failing,
extended family (grandparents, Clean. but would rather conceal this
aunts, uncles and cousins). That’s But now, chaos and confusion failure through deception… that a
where individuals are socialized, reigned. Fathers and mothers, president would rather imprison
where they learn in their most lacking in understanding wanted children who draw on a picture
intimate spaces who they are, how the worship and adoration of their of him, as a threat and a warning
to operate in society, how to stand. children and to wield control over to his citizens, than admit that
It is also where they practice the them to determine who they would he has lost the favor of God and
values that they stand for and become. People were no longer support of the people and should
prepare to be exposed to the wider seeking God to know His will rather repent and step down… that
society, and where they return to concerning either theirs or their a mother and a father would rather
in order to heal and regroup or children’s lives, therefore no longer force their child into an identity
rejuvenate after encounters with nudging their children to seek to or an education that their friends
the society outside of their home. know God and to do His will alone will approve of, than allow them
The training and reinforcement over theirs. to rise up on wings as eagles and
that they receive in these nuclei, What was and is now being raised become who God wants… that a
determines who they will identify is a/are being(s) that give(s) child would rather play along for
with outside of them, who they worship to fellow man in order the sake of not losing favor with
will be drawn to, repelled by, to gain praise, acceptance and an adult and a rather unforgiving
admire, reject and how they will authorization so as to advance society, instead of following the
interact with and navigate their towards their desired goal. This voice and calling of God that
wider world. It also defines how goal could be friendship, academic speaks to them night and day.
they influence and impact their achievement, job placement, And society rots on, and on.
environment. career advancement, awards Meanwhile there is hope. But will
This has been an on-going reality and medals, status, title, money, you take it?
since Adam and Eve in the Garden. government tenders. The trade John 5:41-44 (NJV)
In their case, their All – Inclusive off is always approval. No longer “I do not receive honor from men.
reference was The Father, before set in their own identities, fathers, But I know you, that you do not have
the voice of the deceiver entered mothers and children wander the the love of God in you. I have come
in. After that, everything went earth all the days of their lives in My Father’s name, and you do
haywire and darkness really took seeking to gain validation from not receive Me; if another comes in
off running with its agenda to another man. It’s devastating. his own name, him you will receive.
corrupt and deceive and destroy. “You will not surely die. For God How can you believe, who receive
One critical aspect of relationship knows that in the day you eat of it honor from one another, and do not
that darkness stole was Approval. your eyes will be opened, and you seek the honor that comes from
Shifting man’s desire for will be like God, knowing good and the only God?

80 HEALING - RESTORING - REBIRTHING - AFRICA