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 The
faithful of religions the world over have for centuries worshiped their
gods at the seasonal transitions, especially at planting and harvest,
believing that their ritual would encourage their gods to give the land a
good crop. A bad crop has more often than not been associated with a god
or gods’ judgment. During biblical times, the various peoples who
inhabited the land that we know today as Israel worshiped a god called
Baal. They believed that if they made love with temple prostitutes during
the planting season that their god would be encouraged to make love to his
consort and much needed rain would fall on the land as a result. The
ancient Druids, on the other hand, would go house to house and offer
residents what amounted to the first trick or treat. Either give up their
virgin daughters for sacrifice or their houses would be burnt down and
their families killed. The Druids believed that if they sacrificed enough
virgins that Satan (or their version of him) would give back the sun in
the spring, ensuring a good crop. Because of these pagan celebrations,
many Christian Churches have been reticent to celebrate the changing
seasons lest they associate themselves too closely with pagan traditions.
But such reticence is nowhere to be found in Russia.
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The Russian harvest is called
Urozhaii and usually takes place in late August. But the Baptist church
here uses the biblical word for harvest – ZHATva, and celebrates the
occasion on the last Sunday in September. On
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| Pray that the 16 Baptist churches/Bible study groups and approximately 6,400 Christians (1,000 of which are Baptist) across Bashkortostan would be multiplied many times over. Pray for a Zhatva to end all Zhatvas, a Zhatva of souls. Pray for a revival, a stirring amongst God’s people here. Pray for a sense of urgency to take root amongst the brothers and sisters in Ufa. Pray for a Zhatva seeking church. |
Zhatva,
church members bring vegetables from their garden plots as a symbol of
God’s blessing in their lives. Speaker after speaker declares that a good
crop comes about only as a result of the One True God’s blessing of the
land. Some teach on how to walk with God in such a way that He will be
pleased with us and confer such a blessing. Children recite poems and sing
songs to the Almighty in gratitude for the harvest. And the normally two
hour worship service stretches to three. Russian Christians have been
celebrating Zhatva for centuries and it is a festive occasion indeed.
Still, while we acknowledge that it is proper for us to praise God for His
bountiful blessings and give Him the thanks that He so richly deserves,
we would that the celebration be not just over a harvest of carrots and
potatoes, but over a harvest of souls.