May 27th 1994 is the first memory i have of the word ‘apartheid’. It was of course the day that Nelson Mandela was sworn in as president of the Republic of South Africa. The proudest day in this countries history. When the images of people lining up to vote were shown on tv-the thought for me was: ‘that is the way it should always have been…’ and anything else seems perverse in retrospect. How is it possible that one people group can achieve total domination over another, on the premise that they are in some way inferior? The sort of division that South Africa endured…and is still recovering from-is one based purely on pride.
You see, there is actually one thing that binds every single person together with an undeniable tether: all of us are bad. No-one can turn around to anyone else, least of all themselves, and say: ‘i have wronged no person’, for that is a blind statement with no chance of holding water. Once we have been levelled by this truth-we have to ask ourselves…where to? What happens next? The conclusion is fairly hopeless-one can try and live morally from that point on-and try and forget that, firstly, there is no hope of achieving even this goal…and secondly-we are tarnished by our previous behaviour. These questions have led me to ask more questions, and i can honestly say that i have found answers in the bible-because it describes the world in terms that i can see around me-everyone falls short…i can agree. We live in a world tarnished and marred by our short falls, and there is no hope within the human race itself.
Where is hope? Only in the King, Jesus…he offers hope in abundance. Why? Because he doesn’t say-here is the road map, go and do it yourself. No, he agrees with me, and says ‘you are completely unworthy, there is no hope within you…i will do it for you!’ I would find it impossible to read another religious manuscript that describes life in one way, and then when i enter the world i see nothing that is the same-the bible is different, and our response to it needs to be different, you see-i can read about reality, and then go and live in reality. I do not need to read one thing and have to live in another. It would be like playing football under the instruction of a cricket manual! I see hopelessness, and the bible tells me the world has no hope…
Jesus died for us, because he knows this, and loves you.
I do see people trying to convince themselves that there is still hope…how can there be? There isn’t.
One thing that apartheid has left for us here in South Africa, is a plethora of opportunities to serve others and show them love! There are deep scar, and wide racial and economic barriers-but if we are all sinners saved only by grace…then we are in a position to be humble and serve. We need to be involved in these ministries of mercy. Christian should be at the forefront of social action, why? because we are the one’s that truly have a reason to reach out.
The church in South Africa needs to be separate. Together. Jesus calls us out of this world to live lives that are holy, set apart, separate…the context? Within a united and indivisible church body regardless of race, economic standing or education background. There is nothing else that will unite a country, any country-nothing that can break the devides between slave and freeman…
Because of the saving work of Christ Jesus on the cross, the South African church should be separate. Together.
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