How should Christians respond to racism?
We do need to talk about it.
The topic is obviously very sensitive at present in South Africa. (When I use the word Black it includes Indians and Coloureds who equally suffered under apartheid).
The Heart Issue
Racism has been bubbling in South Africa for the last couple of years culminating in an explosion at the beginning of 2016.
Penny Sparrow, Justin Van Vuuren, Velaphi Khumalo – all have apologised, but I wonder whether what they said doesn’t reflect what they really think.
We are all sinners, we are all racist – some are worse than others, but by and large we are all racist because we are all sinners. We all in one way or the other think our ”people” are superior to others. It’s across the world and in all our hearts. I need to start and say I’m a racist, I have racist thoughts from time-to-time and I need to repent. Unless we come to this point we will not be able to begin to deal with the problem.
The Real Issue
There have been millions of social media comments. Some people are trying to get 15 minutes of fame, others have been sucked into the tyranny of social media.
In my opinion, speaking as a white Christian, underlying this recent outburst of anger is a deep seated anger and frustration of black people which says that white people don’t understand and don’t care about the dreadful injustices, suffering and inequalities of almost 400 years of racism and apartheid. It seems to me that black people quite rightly feel that after 21 years, whites just don’t get it.
I totally agree with journalist Max du Preez: “Here’s the bottom line: we whites didn’t honour the pact we made with the rest of the nation in 1994. We only honoured those parts of our constitution that were in our interest”.
I totally agree with journalist Justice Malala who is no respecter of persons: “Many whites ask: what do you want us to do? Actually nothing. Just don’t denigrate the pain, or try to make the good old days seem better than they were. They were worse than you can imagine”.
The Real History
It is wrong for me as a white man to say I understand the ravages of apartheid. I don’t. Take education. At times during the apartheid years R644 per annum was spent by the State per white child, but only R42 per black child. In 1950, most black children got 4 years of education with only 2.6% going to high school. Can you imagine what all that has done to our country? Some black children would only see their fathers once a year, because they stayed in the rural areas and their fathers worked in the cities. Families were prohibited from living with a husband or father because of the Group Areas Act. Can you imagine what that has done to marriages and family life in our country?
The fact of the matter is that we lived in a parallel universe; two peoples in one country; two nations in one country. And by and large, us whites have never really understood those injustices and inequalities. By and large, we don’t get it and that’s why many black people are so angry when they are called “monkeys”.
The Real Antidote
This blog is for Christians. I cannot speak for non-Christians or expect them to act like Christians. The antidote is found in the Bible, it’s found in Christ, it’s found in facing the truth.
Two principles:
a) Why should Christians deal with race?
Matthew 5: 13 – We are salt and light – some say that the church should not deal with politics. However, politics has to do with people, with society, with how we govern ourselves as a nation. The Bible is, and should be, deeply concerned with all of life. Jesus in Matthew 5 is talking to Christians, we are in the world, we are to be involved in the world, we are to make a difference in the world. We can never say these are not our concerns. Where there is darkness, we are meant to be the light, to dissipate the darkness. That’s why we need Christians to be Christians in every area of life – politics, education, business, the arts etc. Where there is exploitation, injustice, we need to stand up for the truth and justice.
Salt in the times of Jesus was used to prevent things from putrefying. We are to prevent things from going bad. Be it in the classroom or the boardroom or the bedroom.
Matthew 22: 34 – What is the greatest commandment – Love the Lord your God… and the second is like it, love your neighbour as yourself. We are to love our neighbour. In fact, Jesus commands us to love our enemies. That is a tough one. As Biblical Christians our fundamental job description to others is to love them.
We can’t expect non-Christians to act like Christians, but as Christians we have a duty to love our neighbour. However, you can only love if you understand the life of your neighbour. We need to build relationships with our neighbour. Our neighbours are black, white, Indian, coloured, Chinese, Eritrean, Nigerian. I would think to love your neighbour you need to know who they are, find out their background, their struggles, their hopes and dreams. Learn from them, listen to them.
b) What does the bible say about it?
Gen 1: 26, 27 – God created man in his own image. Though we have different races, languages, people groups, we are all equally made in the image of God. Strictly speaking there is only one race, the human race. Though we have some ethnic, cultural differences, we are all descended from Adam and Eve – there is only one human race. This means when I see another person, my attitude ought not to be, that’s a coloured person, that’s a black person etc. No. What I need to say:
He’s created in the image of God, just like me.
He’s descended from Adam just like me.
He is a sinner just like me.
He needs a saviour, just like me
If the other person is a Christian, what I need to say is:
She’s a sinner saved by grace, just like me
She’s a precious child of God, just like me
She’s a member of God’s family, just like me.
Colossians 3:11. The church in Colossi had Jews, Greeks, circumcised, uncircumcised, barbarian Scythians, yet all of that was eclipsed by their unity in Christ, “but Christ is all and is in all”. In the church of Jesus Christ there ought to be no discrimination, as our primary identity is not whether we are married or single, doctor or teacher, black or white. No our primary identity and our primary unity is that whatever race or colour or language we are, we are all “in Christ”. Our ethnic, cultural differences are temporary, but our identity in Christ is permanent and eternal.
Ephesians 2:14. Christ came to destroy the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, black and white, Hutu and Tutsi, Serbs and Croats, Poles and Russians, Turks and Greeks.
Only Christ can ultimately destroy the racial barriers, because only Christ can deal with the fallen human heart. You see, racism is ultimately a problem of the heart and only Christ can change our hearts.
Some say, if only there were no blacks in SA we’d be fine. Others say, if only there were no whites in SA we’d be fine. Nonsense. It’s a problem of the heart. As Alexander Solzhenitzen was spot on: “If only it were as simple as there being good people and bad people. However, the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being”. We all need new hearts which only Christ can provide.
Eph. 2:13. We were far away from God, we were far away from one another. Christ has brought us near to God and each other through his blood.
Eph.2:14. The cross of Christ has destroyed the barrier of discrimination. The cross has broken the wall of hatred and hostility.
Eph. 2:18. Because of the cross of Christ, Gentile and Jew; Black and white; Turk and Greek; Serb and Croat all have equal access to the Father by one Spirit.
Revelation 7:9 – 10. In John’s vision of heaven, there will be people of every nation, tribe, people and language all in heaven because of the substitutionary death of Christ on the Cross. Our differences will be totally irrelevant as our combined focus will be on the Lamb seated on the throne. All one in Christ.
Real Practical Suggestions
This blog does not address the issues of land, capital, party politics or other such important matters. It is primarily speaking to Christians and how we ought to relate to one another in the body of Christ in this diverse country of South Africa.
a) We all need to repent of our sin. Whites in particular need to repent of their racism, their indifference, their unconcern for the well-being of their black neighbours. Blacks need to repent of anger or hatred. We all need to repent of our grudges and prejudices.
b) Whites in particular need to affirm in principle and in practise the fact that all people are made in the image of God and therefore have dignity, worth and eternal value.
– Do you know whether your employees have kids, their ages, their names, their grades?
– Do you know where your employees live, how long it takes for them to get to work?
– Do you know whether your employees are Christians, have you shared the Gospel with them?
c) Respect people of other races.
– At least learn the greetings of people of other races with whom you work.
– Learn the proper names of the people with whom you work. My name is Martin. I would prefer not to be called Martha or Moira. Surely I should show the same respect for other races in terms of their names.
– have you ever had a person of another race come for dinner at your home? Build relationships with people of other races by inviting them into your home.
The Real End
I agree with Ian von Memerty: “I am a recovering racist. I’ve been relatively clean for 30 years, but sometimes I slip up. When I do, I need to repent and remind myself that we are all made in the image of God and have intrinsic value, dignity and worth. I need to remind myself that we are all sinners. I need to remind myself that we all need a Saviour. Every day, as a white man, I need to take some small steps to bring healing and wholeness to our fractured, hurting world. Every day, I need to remind myself that without Christ, there is no ultimate answer to the injustices and suffering of our world. Without Christ, I am alienated from those around me and alienated from the God who created me.”
Written by Martin Morrison. Original article can be found here.
How to Sing Better with the Church
What started as an ordinary Sunday at Christ Church Midrand, with relatively eager congregational involvement in the first and second song, suddenly changed. The third song had a good introduction, the lead singer inhaled, ready to start and after the first two words, had to stop.
All the singers in the band held back too as the sound of the congregation rose above the amplifiers and a choir of voices could be heard declaring their belief in Jesus. It hit us like a wave. It was stunning. Moving. It was a taste of what Heaven will be like, with all the multitudes praising God. The band was not leading the church. The church was leading. It was great!
It’s every church band’s dream to have that kind of congregational response at every service. This was one of those rare occassions when our loudspeakers – and they’re strong loudspeakers – were just not enough for the roar of voices in our auditorium. We rehearse and rehearse, week-in, week-out and generally, the singing is good and then, out of the blue there is this wonderful response.
Sometimes, however, when we are most prepared the singing is flat and the team feels disappointed. Was it that God was not present, or that we were not relying enough on God’s Spirit? Absolutely not! I believe on the occasion where this song just worked, there was a practical reality at play.
Our church band recorded that song last year and for sure, the congregation had been listening to it. The majority of people knew it well. It also happened to be a really great congregational song. There are amazing Christian songs out there, but they’re hopeless for congregational singing. This one was just right. (Because He Lives (Amen) – Matt Maher).
Here are some things you can do to contribute towards great congregational singing:
1. Learn the songs
If you’re not really a fan of singing, let’s use a sports analogy. I’m no sportswoman, but I think I’m right in saying we most enjoy watching the sports we play ourselves. After a much-anticipated Premier League game, a Rugby tournament, after Wimbledon or the Comrades, people hit the courts, the track, a field, their back garden and feel inspired.
When your favourite band comes to town, you listen to their albums for weeks leading up to the big night and you wait for the whole concert, hoping they’re going to “do” your favourite song.
Singing in church can be the same. Fortunately for me, the Bible does not instruct us to play tennis or soccer or to run, but we are instructed to sing; to encourage one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19 and Col 3:16). The best way to do it and do it well, is to take note of the names of the songs we sing in church, buy the albums and internalise the lyrics.
2. Meditate on God’s Word in song
In the old days, when churches sang from hymnbooks, everyone knew the songs. There was a limit to the number of new songs that could possibly be introduced.
Today, Christian music has found its voice in almost every possible genre. Rock, Pop, Hip-hop, Jazz, Gospel (yes, there are non-Christian gospel artists – loads of them) and Rn’B all have Christian representatives.
As Christians, our hearts should be committed to Jesus and to meditating on His words day and night. (Psalm 1:2). God-honouring music is a helpful tool.
With so many online platforms now available for accessing new music, we should be feasting all week on lyrics that are pure, lovely and admirable. (Philippians 4:8). It is a healthier alternative to some of the lyrics on popular radio, which can easily lead our hearts astray.
Stuart Townend (In Christ Alone) once said that a congregation is more likely to leave the service remembering the words of the songs they sing than the words of the sermon. If this is true, then, as long as the songs we sing in church are rich in theological truth, it is a wonderful way to allow our hearts and minds to be transformed. (Rom 12.2).
3. Be prepared to sing
Music can be an idol. Some people refuse to sing in church if they can’t have their favoured musical style. This is self-centred and idolatrous. It’s difficult in a church like ours, which is rich in diversity, to cater for everyone’s tastes. Remembering that church is not just all about us, and that it is our responsibility to encourage each other, it is important that we support our musicians; encourage them too – it’s not as glamorous as it looks, being at rehearsals through the holidays and arriving at church while everyone else is still waking up. The best thing a congregation can do for their musician brothers and sisters, apart from praying for them, is to sing.
Church musicians also need to be constantly reminded that music-making is never for themselves; it is to draw the rest of the congregation in to admiring and exalting God. When the band plays well and the congregation responds well, the temptation to develop a big head is huge. “It’s a bit like those who begin by admiring the sunset and soon begin to admire themselves admiring the sunset.” (Worship by the Book, 31).
4. Start listening
If, up to now, you have limited your musical exposure to talk radio, here is a list of some congregational Christian songwriters with YouTube song links, to get you started. This list is not exhaustive and there are many other Christian artists worth listening to. In my opinion, these writers’ songs are most often rich in Biblical truths – worth singing and internalising – and while I am by no means a groupie, their posts on Facebook and elsewhere are more often helpful quotes from Scripture than selfies:
1. Matt Redman (Dove award winner for “Blessed Be Your Name”, Grammy Award nominated for “Our God” and two-time Grammy Award Winner for “10 000 Reasons”) for “Abide with me” and “Father’s Song”.
2. Christy Nockels for “Freedom song” and “Let it be Jesus”.
3. Chris Tomlin (He is a prolific writer of popular congregational songs) for “At the cross (Love Ran Red)”.
4. Life Worship – UK for “Dance Again”.
5. Passion ft. Kristian Stanfill for “Even so come”
6. Hillsong for “Man of Sorrows” (Brooke Ligterwood and Matt Crocker) and for “O Praise the Name” (Marty Sampson, Dean Ussher and Benjamin Hastings)
7. Kari Jobe for her adaptation of “Be still my soul” and “I am not alone”. Also worth dropping in at 6’30” to see the poet she included in “Forever”.
8. Brenton Brown (Grammy Award Nominated and a South African) for “Soul on Fire” as sung by Third Day.
9. Newsboys for “We believe”
10. Also try Israel Houghton, Toby Mac, Casting Crowns, Lauren Daigle, Brandon Heath, Laura Storey and Paul Baloche.
Written by Bronwen Anderson. Original Article can be found here.
Virtually Human (Book Review)
Ed Brooks & Pete Nicholas
2015 IVP
Technology – some love it; others loathe it, we certainly can’t escape it. It shapes the way we interact and relate with each other. It shapes our commerce, our entertainment and our work. We live in a world of increasingly interconnected devices; a world where data is silently collected about our every activity; a world where words like the cloud and drone take on new meanings; a world where information is just a ‘google’ or a ‘Siri’ away.
With technology comes fear as new ways of doing evil appear but technology also brings joy and good as new cures happen and new delights are created. The questions that all of us face are, do we embrace technology, how much do we embrace technology, or do we bury our heads in an Amish style retreat into the safe and the familiar.
Brooks and Nicholas have written a book that will help us to grapple with these questions in the context of the Christian story. The book has two parts. In the first part the authors seek to outline the story of technology within a much bigger and more important story. They show us that the story of technology takes place within the story of God’s story and interactions with human history. In this section they seek to explore technology as a part of life where our experience is now both right and wrong, good and evil all at the same time.
Having set the scene in part 1 the authors seek to explore some specific areas where technology has introduced dramatic changes into life. They explore.
- Human identity where lives are exposed and public – lived online.
- Social media, community, loneliness and our need for love.
- Busyness, the future, time, anxiety, reflection and rest.
- Sexuality, sexting, liberty, commitment and freedom.
- Knowledge, data, Google, search engines and information.
This book is for anyone wanting to think about technology and its place in God’s story. It is for parents grappling with how to guide and influence their children through the morass of issues that technology presents. It is for people struggling with the quantity of time that technology takes. It is for anyone seeking to live a Christ filled life in a world of smartphones and cloud computing. The book is a helpful read and will stimulate good conversation. After each chapter there are questions for further conversation so that the book could be used in a small group setting about these matters.
Highly Recommended
Article written by Geoff Gertzen.
Responding to Trials
“Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything..…Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because that person, when they have stood the test, will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:2-4,12)
One of the important and very precious things about the Bible is the honesty and reality with which it views daily life. False religion trades on untruth and on empty promises, Biblical Christianity speaks into the world as it actually is and enables God’s people to live in the real world with integrity and in a way that honours God.
Nowhere is this contrast between Biblical Christianity and false religion more evident than in the matter of the daily trials of life. In false religion trials are either denied (as in Christian Science) or glorified (as in extremist religion), or, as in works based religion such as the prosperity gospel, trials are blamed on a lack of faith or obedience. All of this means that the followers of such religions end up trapped either in a form of spiritual make-believe or in guilt or, most often, in both. In Biblical Christianity, the reality of the trials that occur in daily life is openly acknowledged, but trials are also seen in relation to God’s rule over the world and His good purposes at work in the lives of His people. This view of daily trials is very evident within the New Testament as a whole, and particularly in the verses above taken from James’ letter. Several things are worth noting from these important verses.
First, we note that James is talking to Christian brothers and sisters in these verses. There is no presumption in these verses or anywhere else in the New Testament that believers will be exempt from the trials of life. On the contrary there is the assumption that every believer will experience many kinds of trials, some of them such as sickness or financial challenges, just the ordinary trials that come from living in a fallen world, others such as opposition or persecution, the specific trials that result from our faith in the Lord Jesus.
Second, we note that the experience of trials in the Christian’s life is not evidence of a lack of faith, but rather an opportunity for our faith to grow to maturity. The word that James uses and which is translated ‘testing’ (vs2) and ‘test’ (vs12) has to do with the process of refining something precious, like gold, in order to remove impurities and to bring the true precious metal to light (cf 1 Peter 1:7). The point that is being made by James (and Peter) is that testing brings that true nature of our faith to light and that it is precisely through trials that the Lord refines and matures our faith.
Third, we note that it is this knowledge that all believers face trials and that God uses trials to refine and mature our faith that enables us to rejoice in the midst of trials with what James calls ‘pure joy’ (vs2). James is not advocating a kind of fanaticism that rejoices because of trials for that is surely against common sense and by no means a mark of true spirituality. But he is calling upon believers to see life’s trials as being under the providential rule of God and thus as subject to God’s power and purpose in our lives. The ‘pure joy’ he refers to here is not the same thing as happiness which is circumstantial, but rather an inner contentment and trust that the Lord is indeed at work in our lives and for our good, not just in the short term but for eternity. It is this latter aspect of eternity that is captured in verse 12.
Fourth, we note that while it is quite natural for us to want the time of trial and testing to end and indeed to take steps to resolve the issue, it is important for us to see that God will allow trials to continue for as long as He sees fit. James reminds us that we must let ‘perseverance finish its work’, that is, that we must persevere in faith, until the trial is at an end and for as long as it lasts. Because we don’t enjoy times of trials, we naturally want them removed as soon as possible and when they are not removed in answer to our prayers, we begin to doubt God’s care and love for us. James 1:5 reminds us though that while we can pray for an end to the trial our primary prayer should be for the wisdom to see the trial as part of God’s process to bring us to maturity.
Fifth, and finally, we note that though trials may linger in this life, they will be brought to an end by the Lord either when we go to be with Him or when He returns. At the end of the road we find not just mature faith, but a crown of life which God will give to each and every one of His people. It is this knowledge as well which enables us to keep going and to look with joyful expectation to the time, as CS Lewis put it, when the term with its tests are over and the unending holidays begin!
Written by Mervyn Eloff. Original article can be found here.
A Clear Conscience
“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” Acts 24:16
I recently had the very great privilege of reading Christopher Ash’s excellent book “Pure Joy”. The book’s subtitle is Rediscover your conscience and that is exactly what the book is designed to do – to help the reader think through what the Bible has to say about the conscience and its importance in our daily walk with the Lord. I can certainly recommend it as a challenging and deeply encouraging book.
The above text, taken from Paul’s address before Felix, is picked up by Christopher in the final chapter of the book under the heading ‘The Clear Conscience’ and served to remind me that Paul, the great preacher of grace and justification by faith, knew the importance of keeping short accounts with both God and people as far as his conscience was concerned. And this was certainly a challenge to me in my own walk with God and my dealing with others. For the truth of the matter is that even the wisest and most Christ-like believer, even the person who could write words like “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Phil 1:21), knew that we all fail in many ways, both in word and deed, failing to do the things we want to do and doing the things that we do not want to do (Romans 7:14-23). He knew the wretchedness of living with a sinful nature, even though a believer in Christ! And he knew the wonderful truth that in Christ, even the worst of sinners, could stand free from condemnation, not because of his efforts, but because of what Christ has done for us (Romans 7:24-8:1).
In terms of the great truth of the gospel, Paul knew that in Jesus, God has chosen us to be ‘holy and blameless in His sight’ (Ephesians 1:4) and that this status of being right with God is ours from the moment we trust in Christ (Romans 5:1,2). So what could he possibly mean by the words “I strive to keep a clear conscience before both God and man”? Christopher Ash’s answer (and I am sure he is correct in this) is that Paul is saying that as a sinner, he regularly acts to apply the gospel truth about what Jesus has done for him, to his own conscience, not by pretending that sin is not sin or that it is not serious, but by coming to God on the basis of the death of Christ each and every time he is aware of sin in his own mind, heart or life. This is surely precisely what the apostle John was referring to when he wrote “If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8,9). These words are addressed by John to believers in the context of teaching about fellowship with God and assurance of our relationship with God. To speak to God regularly and openly about our sins is thus not to doubt His love for us or to deny the reality of what Christ has done for us, but rather to come to Him precisely on the basis of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and thus to “keep a clear conscience before God”.
This realization of full and free forgiveness through Christ also enables us to be honest with others in our relationships with them, not denying the fact that we may have wronged them in some way, but rather being quick to confess our sins to one another and where necessary to offer and receive forgiveness so that we can know the healing and peace that open and honest relationships with other people bring. This may well be what James is talking about in that hard to understand passage “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:15). There is surely nothing more toxic to our personal well-being than bitter, unresolved relationships especially with those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
So back to Paul and his striking comment. In its context it was part of his defence against the false accusations levelled against him by the Jewish leaders. But in speaking these words Paul reminds each of us that we should strive at all times to keep short accounts with God and with others, and wherever we fail to be quick to confess and repent, not to keep on the right side of God but precisely because in Christ we are holy and blameless in His sight. Despite the words of Jiminy Cricket in Disney’s Pinocchio, it is God’s word not conscience which should be our guide. But conscience, when informed by the gospel, is our friend, and we should treat it with the respect and care it deserves, not ignoring it, but striving daily to keep it clear, both in the sight of God and people.
Written by Mervyn Eloff. Original article can be found here.
Ascension Day Resources
Ascension Day takes place forty days after Resurrection Sunday. Jesus did not rise from the dead to die again. He rose from the dead to sit at God's right hand in all power and majesty—as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is now the ruler of the world, sending out his messengers to gather his people into his kingdom. From those few who were left standing watching Jesus leave until today there are now millions around the world drawn from nearly every nation who recognize Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
Below is a collection of resources that may be useful to use during ascension week...
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9BFxNI17s0
Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQvJ1k5CZVI
A better quality audio only version is available here
The sheet music and chords are available here
Collect
Ascension Day
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as we believe your only begotten Son to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Bible Readings: Acts 1:1-11 and Mark 16:14-20
Sunday after Ascension
God , the king of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven; leave us not comfortless, but send to us your Holy Spirit to comfort us, and exalt us, unto the same place where our Saviour Christ has gone before, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Bible Readings: 1 Peter 4:7-11 and John 15:26-16:4
Call to Worship or Introductory Sentences
Phil 2 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Heb 4 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Leaders Lead
In 2011 Manyangana High School in Mpumalanga had a pass rate of 32%. By 2012 the pass rate had soared to 91% and a year later in 2013, it went to 99%. The reason was simple, the reason was leadership. School principal, Elvis Siwela inherited a school where teachers were unmotivated, learners were uncooperative and absenteeism was rife. This was compounded by social and environmental problems in the dusty village of Utah near the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
With financial assistance from the Buffelshoek Trust, a group of Grade 11 learners, teachers and the principal attended a six-day Columba Leadership Academy in 2012. Principal Siwela said,
“After coming out of the Columba Academy, I made a promise to myself, that in five years’ time, I would be the best principal this school had ever had.”
At the same time, the learners began leading by example and started making changes too. One of the group’s first projects was to clean and paint the school’s toilets – a simple task that instilled pride in all the learners. “This boosted confidence, morale and cleanliness of the learners,” he says. The learners continue to clean the school environment two years on.
The group also planted a garden, with support from the Buffelshoek Trust. “We have the most wonderful garden that any school around can only dream about,” says Siwela, “not only do we supplement the school nutrition programme, but we are now able to earn some extra income to plough back into getting the resources our teachers and learners need.” He says the local game lodges have become regular customers of the Manyangana food garden, picking up a fresh supply of vegetables every week.
South Africa is full of remarkable stories like that which illustrate the importance of leadership. This is especially true in Christian Ministry. Most ministers feel ill-equipped when thinking about leadership. Pastors sign up to be theologians. They love teaching God’s word, they are committed to God’s word and they spend a lot of time in the preparation of sermons but there is more to pastoral ministry than simply the production of quality sermons. Pastors need to train themselves in leadership. Pastoral ministry is especially complex. Pastors lead volunteers, they lead staff, they lead trainees, they lead their families and they lead their own sinful hearts.
The first lesson of leadership is the realisation that leaders lead. Leaders set direction, they take risks, they become an agent of change and they set a vision of hope. Sadly, many a minister occupies a position where they are expected to lead but then they don’t exercise leadership. This leaves those that follow frustrated, disillusioned, disheartened and aimless. Leaders lead firstly by having and setting a vision for the future.
A. Set a vision
A leader sees what there is now but also sees what the future might become. A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte
The first essential component of leadership is realising that the leader needs to have a vision of what the future can look like. Leaders need a clear idea of how things can be better from what they are at the present time. Leaders give themselves time to think and to dream about the future. Pastors need to give themselves permission and space to think. We will need to stop preparing sermons and simply think! It will require fierce will to stop and contemplate what is and visualise what could be. Pastors need to cultivate a sense of disquiet and a godly dissatisfaction with how things are. Leaders don’t sit back and congratulate themselves that their buildings are full, instead they always want more. They want to see something more, because the great commission has not been completed.
In order to aid this process a leader needs to understand the distinction between vision and goals.
- Vision answers the question - Where are we going?
- Goals answer the question - How are we going to get there?
The leader has a clear idea of where the ministry is going. A great danger in ministry is to simply tread water; to simply continue doing what has been done since the great years of the past.
B. Beware of Brain Fog – strive for clarity
Fog prevents leaders from having clarity. A person can’t see where they are going when the fog descends. Most leaders have some idea of how the future could/might look…but that vision needs to be clarified and quantified in order to be achieved. Many leaders have a vague intuitive sense of possible future scenarios that they could create but no real sense of where they are actually headed. It is this vision that needs to be crystalized so that it can be achieved.
The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet. —Reverend Theodore Hesburgh
At St Stephens we have formulated that vision in three words - Love, Grow and Share.
We have a vision of a community of people that loves God and loves people. In addition we want St Stephens to be a church that is growing numerically by obedience to the great commission, as people are brought to repentance and faith. We also want people to be growing to maturity as they become more Christ-like. And finally we dream that we will be a community that shares Christ with those we come into contact with all the time. Finally, mindful of God’s financial blessings to us and the levels of poverty in our world we also want to be a community that shares our possessions with others.
That is our vision. The parts are interconnected. This vision sets the agenda for our activity and provides the roadmap for the future.
C. Communicate that vision
Having set the vision the leader is then able to begin the process of communicating that vision. This is an ongoing process and the leader needs to find ways to communicate the vision so that people remember it, use it and the vision influences the activity of the church.
Do this by
- Breaking the vision into manageable and achievable parts; these parts then become the goals to be achieved (more about this in the next article).
- Keep reminding yourself and them of the vision.
- Put your vision in your prayers – privately and publically.
- Put your vision in your diary; give time to it and then - start: Get the machine moving, albeit slowly in the direction of the vision.
- Don’t be in a rush…more is achieved by sheer grit and by patient perseverance than is achieved by frantic effort.
- Leaders are optimistic about the vision. They don’t stumble when their vision faces obstacles. Instead they learn from them, perhaps even adapt the vision and then keep on going.
- Seek to inspire others with your vision of what things might be. Tell them what is coming and thank them when they help you achieve your goals.
- You might need to change the vision at times. Be willing and humble enough to alter course when it is not working.
- Don’t be discouraged when all do not go with you. You don’t need them all to come with you…you just need a bunch of motivated and excited people…
In summary here are some applications for those leading Christian ministries:
- If you are in leadership lead…or let someone else do it. Don’t occupy and not lead. If you can’t lead get some training so that you can.
- Have a vision of where you want your church/ministry to be in a year from today. Think about it. Give yourself permission to lead.
- Pray about it and for it, get others to pray about it.
- Communicate that vision…and then do it again and again.
- Train other leaders to lead…don’t be afraid to let others help you achieve your vision.
- Break your vision up into smaller achievable parts that are measurable and specific. This will be covered in the next article.
- Take some concrete steps to bring it about (start a fund, start a small group, train a leader, do something)…and then when that step is finished take the next step…and the next.
Article written by Geoff Gertzen
The Rejected King
These days there seems to be a lot of disgruntlement with our country's leaders. Not a single day goes by without some sort of media or public outcry against the elected rulers of our country. Our president seems to be particularly in the firing line. We should certainly pray for our leaders as the Bible calls us to do.
Without commenting on the validity or otherwise of the disgruntled voices, the rejection of the president pales into insignificance compared to the level of rejection Jesus endured on that first Good Friday.
The Jesus of the Bible is not welcome in this world, he is a rejected Leader, but for a completely different set of reasons. Mark 15 gives a thorough picture of who rejects Jesus.
Firstly Jesus was rejected by Religious Leaders
The Religious leaders, ironically, were not the ones who welcomed Jesus with open arms. At best it was suspicion. . . at its worst it was murder. Just look at who the ringleaders are in the plot to kill Jesus.
Mark 15:1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.
These are the priests and bishops of the first century. They were at the very core of the plot. Throughout the Gospels you see them conspiring against Jesus. They talk against him, plot together to arrest him and pay off Judas to betray him. They Orchestrated a trial at the most opportune time, and manipulated the fickle crowds to call for his crucifixion.
Religion so often falls on the wrong side of Jesus. The very ones who should have recognized and worshipped Him. Reject and kill Him. Why? Because Jesus gets in the way of human religion.
He does not play the game. He doesn’t do pomp and ceremony, hierarchy and church politics. He makes religious people uncomfortable. He has dinner with criminals and turns down high society invitations. He gives no audience to the high priest, but lets prostitutes kiss his feet. He does not visit the homes of the rich and famous, but sits in the dust with the homeless. Jesus is more at home in an informal settlement than in a palace.
Good, fine, decent upstanding religious people do not like that. They want a pliable Jesus, a quiet Jesus, a manageable Jesus. A Jesus who ticks off your good deeds and ignores your bad ones. A Jesus who helps keep things as they are. Does not rock the boat. Does not put his finger on our hypocrisy, selfishness, racism, greed, ignorance of the poor.
Jesus makes religious people uncomfortable - he’s far too real for us - that is why The real Jesus is an unwelcome guest at many church services. Even today.
If Jesus came to earth today it would be priests and pastors who would crucify him And the United Nations and the world bank would gladly pay for and supply the nails
Secondly Jesus was rejected by Worldly Leaders
Pilate is no hero on Good Friday. Some movies portray him as someone who tried to save Jesus. But really the only person he wanted to save was himself. He was selfish and brutal. He was not compassionate at all – in the end he was a typical politician.
He needed the crowds favour to stay in power. So He gave the people what they wanted.
MK 15:15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Barabbas, a political prisoner who murdered someone in a failed rebellion, is preferred by the crowd to Jesus. On the day when amnesty is given to one prisoner – they literally say, ‘anyone but Jesus’
The people’s wishes sway political and worldly leaders. And no political leaders of the day stepped in to save Jesus. Not Pilate, Not King Herod, nobody.
This still holds true today. It is virtually impossible to be a Christian leader on the world’s stage today. the whole system runs contrary to Christ’s call, not according to it.
But its not just the Priests and Politicians who reject Jesus. It’s the people too. All the people.
Thirdly Jesus was Rejected by Jews
Mar 15:6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.
7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" 13 And they cried out again, "Crucify him."
The fickle crowd. Many of this crowd would have been the same people who only a week ago were welcoming Jesus into the city waving palms and shouting ‘hail the Messiah’. Now they shout ‘crucify him, crucify him’. The king of Israel, rejected by his own subjects.
“he came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” John 1:11
Why? He didn’t do what they wanted him to do. Make more free bread. Heal their illnesses. Drive out the Romans.
The selfish follower of Jesus – will quickly turn against Jesus when he doesn’t give us what we want. Didn’t make me rich. Didn’t heal my cancer. Didn’t give me the job. Didn’t help me pass the exam
He’s a lucky charm Jesus, not the real Jesus. I meet many people who claim to be Christian, but its clear they don’t follow the Jesus of the Bible. They have a puppy dog Jesus. A Jesus on a leash. “‘Oh I’ve got my little domesticated Jesus, here to do my bidding’ fetch !”
When you come to Christ. You follow Jesus, He does not follow you
You would be surprised how many people get that wrong. And of course, Jesus is rejected not just by the Jews, but by the Gentiles too.
Fourthly Jesus was rejected by Gentiles
A terrible travesty has been committed in centuries gone by, by many who claimed to be Christian calling Jews “Christ Killers”. The Gentiles were just as guilty as the Jews who rejected Jesus. You see it here with the Roman soldiers. No compassion on Jesus there.
MK 15:16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company [ battalion / cohort ] of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Peter says in Acts 2:23
“This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
“you with the help of wicked / lawless men – lit. ‘those not having the law’ i.e. Gentiles” - Roman rulers and soldiers (Acts 2:23)
Jews and Gentiles rejected and crucified Jesus. And that is still the case. We don’t by nature receive Jesus – we reject Him. Jew and Gentile. Except for a miracle by God's own intervention, we would never receive him.
And here’s the biggest shocker of all.
Fifthly Jesus was rejected by God
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"n
And that certainly is what happened. Jesus on the cross – was abandoned by God – even more than that, he was stricken by Him. Punished by God . . . in our place. As the prophecy said:
ISA 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ISA 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. ISA 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
God, turned against His own Son, punished Him on the Cross – for OUR SIN. FOR THE SAKE OF THE VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO REJECTED HIS SON.
Mar 15:38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
This means that God has opened the door for you to enter into a relationship with him – through the death of His Son. The way is open. God has not rejected you!
But . . . have you rejected Him.
That is the only rejection left, for you to reject what God did for you on the cross. And so the question that the Cross of Christ asks of you this Easter is will you reject or receive him?
Written by Bishop Glenn Lyons
Easter Video Resources for Children
"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old - what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done." These are the words from Psalm 78:2-4 and with the Easter weekend just a few days away there is a wonderful opportunity to do exactly what this Psalm says as we remember Jesus' death and resurrection, especially at this time in the year.
Below are some videos resources specifically for children that you might find useful in your family devotions or children's ministry...
https://youtu.be/Nfnhv5h0k4M?list=PLhilNbrjbAZil0fQWRJWUXXBzPw59I-Np
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY_NhvD6sMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq-NhRUIejo
https://vimeo.com/39716113
https://youtu.be/muygjHVdtUY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PSgoPdKQFQ
The Sunday Next Before Easter
The following article was published by Phillip Jensen in 2007 and originally appeared here.
When Christianity dominated society, the Church Year controlled the calendar. Feast days and fast days and seasons such Advent, Lent and Trinity were the basis of community and church activity.
Today we have a much more secular calendar, celebrating national days like Australia and Anzac Day, or family days like Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day. But Australia still retains some religious days such as Christmas, Good Friday and Easter.
Within the church some people have continued the traditions of celebrating the ancient calendar, but this has generally been pared down to the major events.
At the time of the Reformation decisions had to be made about retaining or jettisoning the holy days and their observation. Some Protestants felt that the whole system was corrupt idolatry and so abandoned it. Others tried to weed out the bad and preserve the good. This was the policy followed by the Church of England under the leadership of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. In the 1549 Prayer Book he wrote two important essays explaining why some ceremonies were to be retained and others removed.
This morning starts the week that Church calendar marked out for us to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. Cranmer's Prayer Book directed us to read each of the Gospel accounts of the death of Jesus during the course of the daily readings of this week.
Many people call today “Palm Sunday”, though the Prayer Book calls it “The Sunday Next Before Easter”. The title “Palm Sunday” reflects the widespread practice of the pre-reformation church of blessing the palms, distributing them amongst the people and conducting processions both outside and inside the churches. Cranmer abolished all these in the 1540's. For him the focus should be placed on Jesus’ coming death and resurrection.
He adapted the pre-reformation Collect (prayer for the day), which takes our attention away from the entry into Jerusalem and turns our mind rather to Jesus' death and resurrection. But the adaptation was more than translating it from Latin into English and reminding us of God's tender love towards us.He seriously changed the meaning of the prayer.
The old Latin prayer can be translated as:
Almighty and Eternal God, You Who had Your Son, our Saviour, take on human flesh and undergo the Cross, in order to offer to the human race an example of humility to be imitated, kindly grant, that we might deserve both to possess the teachings of His patience and share in His Resurrection. Amen.
Whereas Cranmer's prayer was:
Almighty and everlasting God, who, of they tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Instead of praying that we may deserve anything Cranmer prayed that we follow Jesus' example of suffering and share in his resurrection. Cranmer knew that we can never deserve anything but are saved only by grace. No religious performance could ever make us acceptable to God. We do not enter into the Easter experience by re-enacting the events but by accepting with gratitude and faith the benefits that he has won for us.
The arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem is recorded in each of the Gospels. But the rest of the New Testament makes no reference to it. Like his miraculous birth, the significance of his entry is limited to the fulfilment of the Old Testament. We are not taught that it is of any particular significance in our salvation or in our Christian living. The focus is always on what happened at the end of the week in Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified for our sins and rose to new life.
Written by Phillip Jensen. Original article can be viewed here.