Reconciliation... AND an extra 50 seconds!

Today is the day of reconciliation in South Africa. For many years the 16th of December was known as 'the day of the vow' in South Africa - it was a day that was used by the Apartheid government to twist faith in order to separate people according to racial lineage. In summary, the 'day of the vow' (Gelofte dag) was set aside to commemorate God's supposed saving of Boer 'frontier's men and women' who were engaged in a battle with Zulu warriors at what became known as the battle of blood river. It was believed that the Zulu outnumbered the Afrikaner frontier's people and were threatening to murder them - the leaders of the Boers made a covenant with God that because they were 'God's chosen people' if God saved them they would always remember that day with a special Church service. Some have suggested that they would have won the battle anyway since they had riffles. But, whatever the reasons they were spared. Sadly the Apartheid government twisted the message of this human tragedy to enforce the theological heresy that God somehow favoured the Boers over the Zulu, and that this proved that they were supposed to inhabit the land and subdue the native tribes.

With the end of Apartheid this day of separation was transformed into a day of reconciliation - it became a day on which the nation would remember that we are one nation, a nation in which all people have equal status and rights, regardless of our gender, age or race.

This morning during my prayer time I was convicted of how frequently we have allowed faith to be twisted to seperate and injur people, rather than bring them together and bless them. My friend Kevin Light wrote a magnificent little book some years ago entitled Right of admission NOT reserved. In it he considers how the Church (and Christians) have actively (and passively) excluded people form God's loving grace and mercy. He deals with some of the more contentious issues such as the manner in which culture, gender and sexual orientation have been used as weapons of seperation in the Church. But, he also discusses some of the more subtle forms of exclusion - such as intolerance of families with younger children (relegating them to 'cry rooms' - does that sound like the kind of place you want to take your family to be blessed!? A CRY room?).

Today is a day on which we are called to remember that ultimately the central thrust of the ministry of Jesus Christ is to bring about reconciliation (Col 1:16-23). Christ came to reconcile us to God, and in doing so to reconcile us to other persons and our true selves. In the little video reflection below I ask two questions:

1. What is your local Church doing to emulate the reconciling ministry of Christ? How has your Church engaged in a Christlike activity of bringing people together, breaking down the walls of hostility and division? Remember, that Christ said we would be known as the Children of God when we engage in 'peace making' activity (Matt 5:9). Is there anyone who does not feel welcome in your Church? Is there any group or person that is deliberately, or unknowingly, excluded from fellowship with you and God's blessing?

2. What can you do to bring about reconciliation in your sphere of influence? Is there a broken relationship among your family, friends, or colleagues, that you could help to repair?



Well, that's the video! Now, here's a little something extra...

I mistakenly forgot to switch off my camera (phone) at the end of the video for about the last 50 seconds or so... Ha ha! At least the video is not TOO embarrassing... It shows two things:

First, if you look carefully you'll see that I am driving under the speed limit! How cool is that!? Driving under the speed limit EVEN when nobody is watching! (/apply noddy badge /end application)

Second, you'll hear me giving a few rand to a person standing on the street corner who was asking for money (sure it was only my small change! But, it was an unconscious attempt at reconciliation on this day of reconciliation).

So, be blessed today, and let us never use our faith the separate and hurt people.