I've been asked why my blog is called "The Emerging Bracken." On face-value it seems to be a wordplay on the emerging church movement. It isn't.
As seen in the photo-logo of my site the symbolism of a small fern sprouting from a tree, that was cut off or burnt down, is the driving force behind my blog's name:
First of all, my hometown is named after an indigenous fern that only grows in this area. It made sense to associate with Brackenfell in this way. As scarce indigenous bracken go, they easily die out and become extinct. In a similar way we should nurture our relationship with Christ as it guides us through life for, if we don't constantly seek the will of God, our ability to put our whole trust in Him will diminish and eventually become extinct as well.
Secondly, as I am a student of the church, and we find ourselves in a transitional era, caught between world views and technological developments, the challenge to be church for a new generation of seeking people is greater than before. I am privileged to be called into ministry in such an era. Therefore, I associate with the symbolism of the emerging character of our combined testimony about Christ towards a new generation. It is a generation that lives with the Internet, cell phone technology, the avalanche of information and the demise of the Christendom Paradigm where the church was the protector of all morality. Now, we are called to look at God, through Christ, and rediscover what it meant to be church in the time when the church was not an institutional and cultural behemoth, but a local community of believers (the time of the early church). It is just such a time we are moving towards again.
Any association with the Emerging Church Movement on an institutional level is purely co-incidental. If you think I'm philosophically related to the ECM, that's also co-incidental. I'm also related to Calvinist reformed theology, evangelicalism, the prophetic calling of the church toward addressing social injustice and poverty, and life in general.
If you want to put a box around this blog,then use the word missional - as in working with God towards the completion of his redemptive work on earth. We especially live in a time where it is unwise to try and characterise a person based on a name alone.
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2011-01-27
If Nelson Mandela dies
Ninety two year old South African leader, former president Nelson Mandela, was hospitalised yesterday. This created a traffic frenzy at the hospital as journalists flocked to the clinic. The media frenzy accompanying this is actually expected.
Mr Mandela is one of the greatest statesmen and leaders the continent of Africa has produced. Even if he actively participated in an armed struggle, promoting violence against innocent people to liberate South Africa from apartheid, as president he embodied peace and forgiveness. What he lacked in administrative skills, he made up for by his leading South African through a difficult transition period, showing that things can be done differently.
At his age even a simple cold is cause for concern: It is, after all, only a matter of time before we will see the biggest state funeral this continent has ever hosted.
I happen to have family who is preparing for a flight into the South African Bushveld when mr Mandela dies. They bought to the rumors about the "Night of the Long Knives" when all white South Africans will be killed by black people in the event Mandela dies. This will be an orchestrated mass genocide and a group called "Die Suidlanders" (Southlanders) has started to mobilize fearful whites to stock up on bully beef and ammunition.
With mr Mandela's hospitalisation our country seems to have moved into the direction of fear yet again.
Personally, I do not believe the rumor of a mass racist killing. I am convinced white people are creating their own fears and prejudices. Many of us could not escape from the racist doctrines brought to us with compliments of Afrikaner nationalism a la the National Party. Make no mistake, I am a very proud Afrikaner. My identity as African starts with the acknowledgement of my cultural and racial roots.
But I intentionally chose not to be a pseudo-racist. A pseudo-racist is a white person who lives in the new SA and still believes his/her white skin makes him/her better than the rest of the people in this country. They live with the conviction that black people are barbaric, double crossing thieves and they unintentionally interpret every altercation with a black person as evidence that black people has to be mistrusted.
To be honest: There are black racists in our country. I view the way Julius Malema is providing leadership in the name of African nationalism as a new form of racism. Not only is the blatant discrimination against anyone else than ethnic Africans racist, the evidence of black people who believes him starting to actively discriminate against white people and other minorities is mounting. We've read too much of poor white families being driven from squatter camps because they are white, of white people with knowledge and skills being refused promotions or job opportunities on the basis of the whiteness of their skin colour - even if the position is subsequently left vacant.
In my humble opinion there are more white racists than black racists. We have become victims of our own prejudice and history. We need to re script our own stories. We need to actively participate in the move towards intentional non-racism.
If mr Mandela should pass away, a mass outpouring of grief will follow. One of the heroes of our country will be dead, after all. People will probably take to the streets to show their sorrow. The criminal element will try to capitalise on this by common thievery. The police will struggle to restore order, and eventually succeed. The government will most probably show uncharacteristic leadership and (as it was the case with the murder on Eugene Terreblanche) succeed in steering the country through this difficult time. Right-wing groups will rant and rave and predict the genocide they are talking about since 19-who knows. Some families will pack up and flee. Julius Malema will either be kept quiet (I hope) or try to get political points for himself by ranting and raving against white people in general and rich people in particular (to promote his latest get-rich-quick scheme - nationalisation). The rest of us will live in uncertainty and fear until after the state funeral.
Perhaps we, as white Christians, could reach out to black people in this time with condolences and sympathy? We could talk to our black co-workers and colleagues about this sad moment, offering to pray for them and provide comfort in their sorrow. And among ourselves, we could openly choose to not believe the false stories. After all, the rumor of white people being killed en masse (kill all white men, rape the women and strangle the children) has circulated as long ago as 1986. And then mr Mandela wasn't part of the rumor, as he was still in jail at the time. This one really is as old as it gets.
And if we are wrong and our country sinks to a Rwanda scenario of intentional genocide ... this actually isn't even an option to consider.
Mr Mandela is one of the greatest statesmen and leaders the continent of Africa has produced. Even if he actively participated in an armed struggle, promoting violence against innocent people to liberate South Africa from apartheid, as president he embodied peace and forgiveness. What he lacked in administrative skills, he made up for by his leading South African through a difficult transition period, showing that things can be done differently.
At his age even a simple cold is cause for concern: It is, after all, only a matter of time before we will see the biggest state funeral this continent has ever hosted.
I happen to have family who is preparing for a flight into the South African Bushveld when mr Mandela dies. They bought to the rumors about the "Night of the Long Knives" when all white South Africans will be killed by black people in the event Mandela dies. This will be an orchestrated mass genocide and a group called "Die Suidlanders" (Southlanders) has started to mobilize fearful whites to stock up on bully beef and ammunition.
With mr Mandela's hospitalisation our country seems to have moved into the direction of fear yet again.
Personally, I do not believe the rumor of a mass racist killing. I am convinced white people are creating their own fears and prejudices. Many of us could not escape from the racist doctrines brought to us with compliments of Afrikaner nationalism a la the National Party. Make no mistake, I am a very proud Afrikaner. My identity as African starts with the acknowledgement of my cultural and racial roots.
But I intentionally chose not to be a pseudo-racist. A pseudo-racist is a white person who lives in the new SA and still believes his/her white skin makes him/her better than the rest of the people in this country. They live with the conviction that black people are barbaric, double crossing thieves and they unintentionally interpret every altercation with a black person as evidence that black people has to be mistrusted.
To be honest: There are black racists in our country. I view the way Julius Malema is providing leadership in the name of African nationalism as a new form of racism. Not only is the blatant discrimination against anyone else than ethnic Africans racist, the evidence of black people who believes him starting to actively discriminate against white people and other minorities is mounting. We've read too much of poor white families being driven from squatter camps because they are white, of white people with knowledge and skills being refused promotions or job opportunities on the basis of the whiteness of their skin colour - even if the position is subsequently left vacant.
In my humble opinion there are more white racists than black racists. We have become victims of our own prejudice and history. We need to re script our own stories. We need to actively participate in the move towards intentional non-racism.
If mr Mandela should pass away, a mass outpouring of grief will follow. One of the heroes of our country will be dead, after all. People will probably take to the streets to show their sorrow. The criminal element will try to capitalise on this by common thievery. The police will struggle to restore order, and eventually succeed. The government will most probably show uncharacteristic leadership and (as it was the case with the murder on Eugene Terreblanche) succeed in steering the country through this difficult time. Right-wing groups will rant and rave and predict the genocide they are talking about since 19-who knows. Some families will pack up and flee. Julius Malema will either be kept quiet (I hope) or try to get political points for himself by ranting and raving against white people in general and rich people in particular (to promote his latest get-rich-quick scheme - nationalisation). The rest of us will live in uncertainty and fear until after the state funeral.
Perhaps we, as white Christians, could reach out to black people in this time with condolences and sympathy? We could talk to our black co-workers and colleagues about this sad moment, offering to pray for them and provide comfort in their sorrow. And among ourselves, we could openly choose to not believe the false stories. After all, the rumor of white people being killed en masse (kill all white men, rape the women and strangle the children) has circulated as long ago as 1986. And then mr Mandela wasn't part of the rumor, as he was still in jail at the time. This one really is as old as it gets.
We should also refrain from repeating racist jokes about mr Mandela in particular or black people in general.
And if we are wrong and our country sinks to a Rwanda scenario of intentional genocide ... this actually isn't even an option to consider.
2011-01-25
A Video Clip of a recent Excorcism in South Africa
The following video clip was posted on Youtube. I stumbled onto it through the comments that were solicited by last week's news paper altercation between supporters of a pastor who practices the ministry of deliverance and the supporters of a prominent South African religious affairs journalist who viciously attacked the pastor for this ministry.
After watching the clip, I have the following questions:
* On what Scriptural basis does the people doing the so-called excorcism build their claim of the different spirits that was driven from the young man? They claim that the spirits of Belial, addiction, defamation and religion were driven out of the boy.
* They did not film the events immediately preceding the exorcism. I would like to know how much (and if) suggestive manipulation went on between the man and his wife and the teenager. In other words, did they lead him to believe he has evil spirits in him? Did they in any way make it possible that the young man was influenced by what they said to him to enable the manifestation we see in the clip?
* Why does the women pray from notes? Why does she call Jesus "Yeshua?" If, as I am deducing, this is because the practice of deliverance dictates this and they adhere to a strange new theology that calls Jesus by his Hebrew name (which incidentally, wasn't the case when Jesus Himself was alive - he was known as Iesous), I get the impression that they are somewhat superstitious: To believe the way you say things, and to use specific phrases is superstition and not religion.
* The notes accompanying the clip on YouTube states the fellow got under the influence of demons by listening to the music of Cradle of Filth. What is the basis of their claim?
* Was the gospel of Christ explained to the guy? Did he choose to commit his life to Christ?
[View the original YouTube posting HERE.]
After watching the clip, I have the following questions:
* On what Scriptural basis does the people doing the so-called excorcism build their claim of the different spirits that was driven from the young man? They claim that the spirits of Belial, addiction, defamation and religion were driven out of the boy.
* They did not film the events immediately preceding the exorcism. I would like to know how much (and if) suggestive manipulation went on between the man and his wife and the teenager. In other words, did they lead him to believe he has evil spirits in him? Did they in any way make it possible that the young man was influenced by what they said to him to enable the manifestation we see in the clip?
* Why does the women pray from notes? Why does she call Jesus "Yeshua?" If, as I am deducing, this is because the practice of deliverance dictates this and they adhere to a strange new theology that calls Jesus by his Hebrew name (which incidentally, wasn't the case when Jesus Himself was alive - he was known as Iesous), I get the impression that they are somewhat superstitious: To believe the way you say things, and to use specific phrases is superstition and not religion.
* The notes accompanying the clip on YouTube states the fellow got under the influence of demons by listening to the music of Cradle of Filth. What is the basis of their claim?
* Was the gospel of Christ explained to the guy? Did he choose to commit his life to Christ?
[View the original YouTube posting HERE.]
I'd really like it if anyone join this conversation.
2011-01-24
How Thomas Edison predicted the Kindle
On June 23, 1911 the Miami Metropolis published predictions about the year 2011 from famed inventor Thomas Alva Edison. As we are now in this year's infancy, let's see what he wrote (I'm reposting only the original writing ascribed to Edison, you can read the original article HERE).
From my observer's perspective, it would seem that mr Edison anticipated the invention of the following:
Edison did get the gold thing wrong, though. It still is a precious metal and cannot be artificially created as he predicted
From my observer's perspective, it would seem that mr Edison anticipated the invention of the following:
- High speed bullet trains.
- Aeroplanes as we know it today (his prediction comes a mere 8 year after the Wright Brothers' first flight).
- The Kindle.
- The widespread household use of a substance like plastic (although he thought it would be very light weight steel).
- The discontinuation of gold as monetary standard.
Edison did get the gold thing wrong, though. It still is a precious metal and cannot be artificially created as he predicted
"What will the world be a hundred years hence?
"None but a wizard dare raise the curtain and disclose the secrets of the future; and what wizard can do it with so sure a hand as Mr. Thomas Alva Edison, who has wrested so many secrets from jealous Nature? He alone of all men who live has the necessary courage and gift of foresight, and he has not shrunk from the venture.
"Already, Mr. Edison tells us, the steam engine is emitting its last gasps. A century hence it will be as remote as antiquity as the lumbering coach of Tudor days, which took a week to travel from Yorkshire to London. In the year 2011 such railway trains as survive will be driven at incredible speed by electricity (which will also be the motive force of all the world's machinery), generated by "hydraulic" wheels.
"But the traveler of the future, says a writer in Answers, will largely scorn such earth crawling. He will fly through the air, swifter than any swallow, at a speed of two hundred miles an hour, in colossal machines, which will enable him to breakfast in London, transact business in Paris and eat his luncheon in Cheapside.
"The house of the next century will be furnished from basement to attic with steel, at a sixth of the present cost — of steel so light that it will be as easy to move a sideboard as it is today to lift a drawing room chair. The baby of the twenty-first century will be rocked in a steel cradle; his father will sit in a steel chair at a steel dining table, and his mother's boudoir will be sumptuously equipped with steel furnishings, converted by cunning varnishes to the semblance of rosewood, or mahogany, or any other wood her ladyship fancies.
"Books of the coming century will all be printed leaves of nickel, so light to hold that the reader can enjoy a small library in a single volume. A book two inches thick will contain forty thousand pages, the equivalent of a hundred volumes; six inches in aggregate thickness, it would suffice for all the contents of the Encyclopedia Britannica. And each volume would weigh less than a pound
"Already Mr. Edison can produce a pound weight of these nickel leaves, more flexible than paper and ten times as durable, at a cost of five shillings. In a hundred years' time the cost will probably be reduced to a tenth.
"More amazing still, this American wizard sounds the death knell of gold as a precious metal. "Gold," he says, "has even now but a few years to live. The day is near when bars of it will be as common and as cheap as bars of iron or blocks of steel.
'We are already on the verge of discovering the secret of transmuting metals, which are all substantially the same in matter, though combined in different proportions.'
"Before long it will be an easy matter to convert a truck load of iron bars into as many bars of virgin gold. In the magical days to come there is no reason why our great liners should not be of solid gold from stem to stern; why we should not ride in golden taxicabs, or substituted gold for steel in our drawing room suites. Only steel will be the more durable, and thus the cheaper in the long run."
 |
| The Miami Metropolis, March 1908 |
2011-01-21
Happy Birthday, Heidelberg Catechism
http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/2009/01/19/today-is-the-heidelberg-catechisms-446th-birthday/This article is taken over from Fred Sanders and can be seen HERE in its original place.
The first edition of the Heidelberg Catechism was published on January 19, 1563. If you know this little book well, then this reminder is enough to make you call to mind some of the best passages. If you know it less well, let this reminder move you to pull it from the shelf and refresh your memory. If you don’t know the book at all, then I get to be the first to tell you about a treasure, one of the best pieces of theology ever written.
It was written in the sixteenth century by a couple of young hot shot theologian-pastors named Zacharias Ursinus (1534-1583) and Caspar Olevianus (1536-1587). They did it at the bidding of Elector Frederick III, known as Frederick the Pious ( 1515-1560). Frederick had it published with a preface by himself: “My catechism, word for word, is drawn, not from human, but from divine sources, the references that stand in the margin will show. …If anyone of whatever age, station or class he may be, even the humblest, can teach me something better from the Holy Scriptures, I will thank him from the bottom of my heart and be readily obedient to the divine truth.â€
It was published in German and Latin. Within 25 years it was available in Dutch, Hebrew, Greek, French, Italian, Polish, English, Lithuanian, Bohemian, and Romanian. After 1700 it really took off, and was translated into Indonesian, Singhalese, Tamil, Arabic, Tiv, Hausa… you name it, the Heidelberg Catechism has been made available.
What’s so great about the Heidelberg Catechism? Here are ten characteristics for you:
It’s Personal. “What is YOUR only comfort in life and death?” It also contains the great objective truths of Christian revelation, things that are true whether you believe them or not. But as a Reformation document written in interrogative form, it puts the question to you: What about you?
It’s Devotional. It is designed not simply to instruct you or exhort you, but to set you before the face of God, confessing to him who you are, what you need, who he is, and what he has promised.
It’s Biblical. The Heidelberg Catechism draws together biblical truth in very helpful summaries. Get an edition with the original scripture references in the margin, or if possible, get an edition that prints the text of those references at the bottom of the page for you.
It’s Ecumenical. Let me qualify that claim: Within the house of the Reformation, it was intended to be a document that Calvinists and Lutherans would both agree on. That “big tent” strategy really pays off throughout. As a sixteenth-century text, it certainly was not written to emphasize what Catholics and Protestants have in common; rather it was written to equip people to withstand the errors of Roman Catholicism. But most of the 129 questions cover the solid ground of “mere Christianity,” the great common central truths. I’m a free church, John Wesley kind of guy, so I have to demur from a few of the judgments of the Catechism, most notably in the sacraments section. But it remains a solid and usable piece of work.
It’s Irenic. As opposed to polemical: Lovey, not fighty. Zacky Bear and C.O. … I mean, Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus were not out to pick a fight. They want the calm, strong light of Christian truth more than the flame of controversy, whenever possible.
It’s Pastoral. Of course every Christian needs a real pastor in a real church, but this book provides the kind of counsel that is directly pastoral.
It’s Didactic. It is so well structured and carefully composed that it can teach you some serious theology. It would be hard to find a better theological education experience than simply working your way through these 129 questions intelligently, memorizing the key answers.
It’s Confident. Have you ever been asked a direct question about Christianity by an alert, inquisitive person, and found yourself drowning in a torrent of your own “ummms” and “uhhhhhs,” making weak and tentative statements hedged around with “like” and “sort of” on all sides? The voice of the Heidelberg Catechism is solid stuff. It knows things and says them confidently, giving clear and distinct answers to the questions: what is true comfort, what is faith, what do you believe, how do you know this, why do you say this?
It’s Dense. That makes it worth your time to memorize. Ursinus and Olevianus packed a lot of truth into a few words.
It’s Free. Public domain. Help yourself by helping yourself to it.
The Heidelberg Catechism has 129 question-and-answer exchanges. In my opinion, about two-thirds of them are astonishingly good, but none are better than the very first answer:
The first edition of the Heidelberg Catechism was published on January 19, 1563. If you know this little book well, then this reminder is enough to make you call to mind some of the best passages. If you know it less well, let this reminder move you to pull it from the shelf and refresh your memory. If you don’t know the book at all, then I get to be the first to tell you about a treasure, one of the best pieces of theology ever written.
It was written in the sixteenth century by a couple of young hot shot theologian-pastors named Zacharias Ursinus (1534-1583) and Caspar Olevianus (1536-1587). They did it at the bidding of Elector Frederick III, known as Frederick the Pious ( 1515-1560). Frederick had it published with a preface by himself: “My catechism, word for word, is drawn, not from human, but from divine sources, the references that stand in the margin will show. …If anyone of whatever age, station or class he may be, even the humblest, can teach me something better from the Holy Scriptures, I will thank him from the bottom of my heart and be readily obedient to the divine truth.â€
It was published in German and Latin. Within 25 years it was available in Dutch, Hebrew, Greek, French, Italian, Polish, English, Lithuanian, Bohemian, and Romanian. After 1700 it really took off, and was translated into Indonesian, Singhalese, Tamil, Arabic, Tiv, Hausa… you name it, the Heidelberg Catechism has been made available.
What’s so great about the Heidelberg Catechism? Here are ten characteristics for you:
It’s Personal. “What is YOUR only comfort in life and death?” It also contains the great objective truths of Christian revelation, things that are true whether you believe them or not. But as a Reformation document written in interrogative form, it puts the question to you: What about you?
It’s Devotional. It is designed not simply to instruct you or exhort you, but to set you before the face of God, confessing to him who you are, what you need, who he is, and what he has promised.
It’s Biblical. The Heidelberg Catechism draws together biblical truth in very helpful summaries. Get an edition with the original scripture references in the margin, or if possible, get an edition that prints the text of those references at the bottom of the page for you.
It’s Ecumenical. Let me qualify that claim: Within the house of the Reformation, it was intended to be a document that Calvinists and Lutherans would both agree on. That “big tent” strategy really pays off throughout. As a sixteenth-century text, it certainly was not written to emphasize what Catholics and Protestants have in common; rather it was written to equip people to withstand the errors of Roman Catholicism. But most of the 129 questions cover the solid ground of “mere Christianity,” the great common central truths. I’m a free church, John Wesley kind of guy, so I have to demur from a few of the judgments of the Catechism, most notably in the sacraments section. But it remains a solid and usable piece of work.
It’s Irenic. As opposed to polemical: Lovey, not fighty. Zacky Bear and C.O. … I mean, Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus were not out to pick a fight. They want the calm, strong light of Christian truth more than the flame of controversy, whenever possible.
It’s Pastoral. Of course every Christian needs a real pastor in a real church, but this book provides the kind of counsel that is directly pastoral.
It’s Didactic. It is so well structured and carefully composed that it can teach you some serious theology. It would be hard to find a better theological education experience than simply working your way through these 129 questions intelligently, memorizing the key answers.
It’s Confident. Have you ever been asked a direct question about Christianity by an alert, inquisitive person, and found yourself drowning in a torrent of your own “ummms” and “uhhhhhs,” making weak and tentative statements hedged around with “like” and “sort of” on all sides? The voice of the Heidelberg Catechism is solid stuff. It knows things and says them confidently, giving clear and distinct answers to the questions: what is true comfort, what is faith, what do you believe, how do you know this, why do you say this?
It’s Dense. That makes it worth your time to memorize. Ursinus and Olevianus packed a lot of truth into a few words.
It’s Free. Public domain. Help yourself by helping yourself to it.
The Heidelberg Catechism has 129 question-and-answer exchanges. In my opinion, about two-thirds of them are astonishingly good, but none are better than the very first answer:
Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?
A: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.
AFRIKAANS: Demons in the Old Near East and New Testament
This article was written in Afrikaans by Johan van der Merwe. It is the first of a three-part series, and I'll repost it when he finished parts 2 and 3.
'N WÊRELD VOL GODE EN DEMONE
Baie demone was onsigbaar, maar nie almal nie. Hulle het in die dorpe ook voorgekom, maar veral in die veld, tussen ruïnes en in die woestyn. Meesal het ‘n bepaalde demoon sy eie territoriale gebied gehad.
Daar was nie veel wat jy kon doen om jou teen al die gevare te beskerm nie. Slegte towenaars is so ver moontlik doodgemaak. Vir die gode kon jy offers bring om hulle te paai. Dan kon jy amulette dra of ‘n goeie demoon probeer oorreed om jou teen sy slegte [en talryker] kollegas te beskerm. Daar was ook nog in baie gemeenskappe die priester met sy lang opleiding in demonebeswering. Hy kon soms daarin slaag om ‘n demoon of twee uit mense te dryf. Goeie demone was egter redelik skaars en amulette en towerformules dikwels oneffektief. Dus was die antieke mens maar uitgelewer aan die grille van die gode, die aanvalle van demone en die sluheid van slegte towenaars. ‘n Wêreld vol donker gevare en boosheid.
"n Baie groot aantal antieke amulette van die Ou Nabye Ooste is al deur argeologiese ograwings ontdek. Sulke amulette is gedra as gelukbringers, maar veral as beskerming teen demone. In die Hellenistiese tydperk was dit ook onder baie Jode gewild.
Soms is dit ook in die Ou Testament – soos ook in die dokumente en verhale van ander Ou Nabye Oosterse volkere - onduidelik of die bonatuurlike wese wat ter sprake is ‘n engel of ‘n duiwel is. Partykeer is dit ook moeilik om te onderskei tussen ‘n demoon en ‘n god. Wanneer, volgens Miga in 1 Kon. 22, ‘n gees in die hemelsaal homself aanbied om as leungees na Agab te gaan, word die betrokke Hebreeuse woord bv. in sommige vertalings weergegee met “’n engel”, in ander met “’n gees” en in nog ander met “die [Heilige] Gees”. Die 1983 Afrikaanse vertaling laat dit bv. klink asof die “gees” wat in 1 Kon. 22:19-23 ter sprake is die Heilige Gees is, maar dit gaan klaarbyklik om “’n sekere gees”, soos tereg in Die Lewende Bybel en ‘n hele paar ander Bybelvertalings weergegee. In Griekse verhale het die woord daimon [demoon] oorspronklik ook nie noodwendig op ‘n duiwel of bose gees gedui nie, maar op ‘n bonatuurlike wese wat goed of sleg kon wees. Gode [so is gemeen] het dikwels slegte demone ingespan om die mense te teister. So stuur God by geleentheid ‘n “boosaardige gees” [oftewel ‘n demoon wat ‘n slegte, afbrekende effek op mense het] om Saul kranksinnig te maak.
Saul probeer Dawid vermoor [Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld, ongeveer 1850].
Demone, so is wyd in die Ou Nabye Ooste geglo, kan jou veral waar jy alleen is sleg bykom. Sommige demone het kinders gesteel, mense kranksinnig gemaak, ens. Alle teenspoed, siektes en rampe wat ‘n mens kon tref, is gewoonlik herlei na die werk van slegte demone. Party demone [“veldduiwels”] het mense veral in die veld aangeval en doodgemaak of vermink.
Collin de Plancy se voorstelling van Asasel in die Dictionnaire Infernal [Parys, 1825].
John Collier se ietwat vleiende voorstelling [1892] van Lilith.
Wildcats and hyenas will hunt together,
demons and devils dance through the night.
The night-demon Lilith, evil and rapacious,
will establish permanent quarters.
Scavenging carion birds will breed and brood,
infestations of ominous evil.
Volgens 'n antieke Sumeriese uitbeelding van Lilith was daar goeie rede waarom sy maar moes kaalvoet loop ...
Vir ons as moderne Westerse mense is dit baie moeilik om ons in te dink waarom God die nag voordat Jakob sy broer Esau ná so baie jare weer sou sien, hom aanval en met hom stoei tot dagbreek toe. Aanvanklik sou Jakob miskien kon dink dat hy aangeval word deur een van Esau se verkenners. Maar die verhaal gee vir diegene wat destyds met groot oë daarna sou geluister het leidrade om te kan weet: Jakob worstel met ‘n bonatuurlike wese. Want die Hebreeuse woord vir [op die heup] “slaan” word gewoonlik gebruik vir “met ‘n plaag tref”. Dan hoor ons ook dat die man / wese wat met Jakob stoei naderhand voorstel dat hulle die geveg staak omdat die dag besig is om te breek. Demone, het almal geweet, is wesens van die nag. Dat dit in werklikheid God is wat met Jakob stoei, word eers ietwat later in die teks duidelik.
Jakob se worsteling met "'n man" digby die Jabbokdrif. Volgens hierdie uitbeelding van Epstein [1940-41] word Jakob orent gehou terwyl hy veg.
Dit lyk asof twee groepe demone in die Ou Testament vermeld word: die se’irim [= “hareriges” = velddemone wat sterk verband hou met onreinheid, soos waarskynlik o a Asasel] en die shedim = magtiger demone wat groter skade kon aanrig. Die shedim is waarskynlik afgelei van Shedu = Mesopotamiese mitologiese stormgode, deur die Chaldeërs voorgestel as kolossale gevleuelde bulle. Ook hierdie shedim kon “neutrale” bonatuurlike wesens wees wat ‘n vernietigende oordeel van God / ‘n god moes uitvoer. Wanneer ons lees dat die Here met die laaste, allerverskriklike, plaag deur Egipte gaan, word Hy vergesel van [en in sekere sin gelykgestel met] “die verderwer” [1933-vertaling]. Ons ontmoet “die verderwer” / “die verwoester” weer in 2 Sam. 24:15-24 / 1Kron. 21:11-30, asook in Jes. 37:36-37 en moontlik ook in die gedaante van die 6 manne van verwoesting in Eseg. 9. Die afmaai van groot getalle mense, veral deur ‘n pes / plaag, is naamlik in die antieke tyd baie dikwels toegeskryf aan die optrede van ‘n demoon. In die Ou Testamentiese geskrifte is so ‘n “verderwer” in diens van die Here en is sy verwoestende werk uitdrukking van die toorn van God.
Hier kry ons 'n goeie idee hoe die Mesopotamiese "shedu" in die antieke tyd voorgestel is. Die Assiriese Lammasu-beeld van 40 ton in die Oriental Institute Museum by die Universiteit van Chicago is een van twee sulke beelde wat die ingang na die troonsaal van koning Sargon II bewaak het.
JAHWE ALLEEN IS GOD
Ons kry die name van gode en demone in die Ou Testament. Dit skep die indruk asof sulke wesens werklik bestaan het, maar dan tog ook weer dat die Here magtiger as enigeen van hulle was. Die 10 plae waardeur die Israeliete uit Egipte verlos is, was tegelyk Jahwe se oorwinning oor die Egiptiese gode [Eks. 10:2; 12:12; 15:11]. Met elke plaag is waarskynlik telkens ‘n ander god / gode getref. Altyd word daar op so ‘n manier na hulle verwys dat dit duidelik word: Net Jahwe [ die Here] alleen is op die wêreldtroon. Net Hy is God.
Veral die verhale oor demone wat in diens van God gestaan het, maak vrae by ons los. Die belangrike punt is egter: hierdie verhale beklemtoon dat daar nie naas God goeie of slegte demone is wat onafhanklik van Hom ‘n invloed op die mens het nie. Hierdie vertroue dat God alleen regeer , dat alle magte aan Hom ondergeskik is en die opdragte dat Israel nie gode of demone mag vereer nie, het die gelowiges in Israel gaandeweg al hoe meer van hul vrees vir demone bevry.
SATAN
Voor die Babiloniese ballingskap het Israel klaarblyklik nooit gedink aan die moontlikheid dat daar ‘n intelligente, bose bonatuurlike figuur aan die hoof van ‘n bose, bonatuurlike, goed georganiseerde leërmag kan wees, dat hy met God in ‘n geestelike oorlog gewikkel kan wees en dat hy en sy handlangers mense tot sonde verlei nie.
Maar wat dan van Satan?
“Satan” is ‘n Hebreeuse woord. Die werkwoord “satan” beteken om iemand se teenstander of vyand te wees of om hom te beskinder/te belaster/aan te kla. Daar was oorspronklik niks duiwels of bonatuurliks aan die woord nie. In net drie gevalle in die Ou Testament dui die woord “satan” wel op ‘n bonatuurlike wese: Sag 3:1-2; Job 1-2 en 1 Kron. 21:1. Al drie hierdie boeke het waarskynlik juis ná die ballingskap ontstaan. [Ons kan nie die verhaal van Gen . 3 onder die verwysings na Satan inreken nie. In Gen. 3 is die slang net ‘n slang.]
In Job en Sagaria is die satan doodgewoon ‘n lid van die hemelpersoneel, ‘n soort geestelike staatsaanklaer in God se diens. Sy werk is klaarblyklik om skuld by mense aan te wys. Hoewel hy sy werk miskien sonder meegevoel uitvoer, word hy beslis nie as ‘n bose, duiwelse figuur geteken nie. 1 Kron . 21:1 is die enigste plek in die Ou Testament waar die naam “Satan” as ‘n persoonsnaam voorkom.
En hier is iets merkwaardigs:
Terwyl ons in 2 Sam. 24:1 lees dat God Dawid aangehits het om die volk te tel, sê die Kroniekeskrywer dit was Satan wat dit gedoen het. Die Kroniekeskrywer wil getuig dat God se beskikking nie beteken dat Hy self mense verlei nie. Satan is klaarblyklik [bewustelik/onbewustelik?] ‘n instrument van God se toorn. Hy is blykbaar nog steeds in God se diens. ‘n Soortgelyke rol word dus hier aan Satan toegeken as aan die geeste/ demone van I Sam. 18: 10 en 1 Kon 22: 19-23. God kan as straf op iemand se sonde [Dawid in hierdie geval] hom aan sy sonde oorgee, of hom in ‘n situasie van versoeking/toetsing laat kom.
Belangrik is ook dat die Ou Testament deurgaans die mens se verantwoordelikheid beklemtoon. Die rol wat Satan of ‘n demoon speel, beteken nie dat die mens maar ‘n onskuldige slagoffer van die listigheid van sterker magte is nie.
DIE GERUSTHEID VAN DIE GELOOF
Die oortuiging dat net Jahwe alleen God is, het die gelowiges van die Ou Testament bevry van die antieke wêreld se vrees vir gode en demone. Dit het vir die gelowige die antieke wêreld rondom hom reeds in belangrike mate ontmitologiseer. Die HERE alleen regeer! Die kalm, moedige gemoedsgesteldheid van die geloof te midde van en ten spyte van wat ook al word treffend uitgebeeld in Ps. 121.
Die psalmdigter is bes moontlik ‘n pelgrim wat een van die jaarlikse godsdiensfeeste in Jerusalem bygewoon het. Nou is by op pad terug huis toe. Hy kyk na die berge waaroor sy terugreis hom sal neem. Verskeie Bybelvertalings skep die indruk dat die hy die retoriese vraag stel of hy van die berge hulp sal vra. Maar die konteks van die openingsvers is die gevare wat ‘n pelgrim op reis bedreig en dit sluit juis die berge in. Die heuwels en berge is naamlik dikwels die skuilpiek van rowerbendes, maar ook [volgens die destydse populêre oortuiging] van gode en demone. Die digter is egter nie bang nie. Sy hulp kom van Jahwe, die Skepper van alles, die God van Israel en ook die God op wie hy persoonlik vertrou. Terwyl die gode van die heidene gereeld moet gaan rus, selfs ‘n ou winterslapie moet inkry, sluimer of slaap Jahwe nooit nie. Hy is altyd wakker en werksaam om vir sy kinders te sorg. Die son en die maan is deur baie heidenvolkere as gode beskou en albei kon volgens die populêre oortuiging mense met siektes tref. Die digter vrees hulle egter nie meer nie. Sy God is by hom.
Berge naby En-Gedi.
Ek slaan my oë op na die berge: waar sal my hulp vandaan kom?
My hulp is van die HERE wat hemel en aarde gemaak het.
Hy kan jou voet nie laat wankel nie; jou Bewaarder kan nie sluimer nie.
Kyk, die Bewaarder van Israel sluimer of slaap nie.
Die HERE is jou Bewaarder; die HERE is jou skaduwee aan jou regterhand.
Die son sal jou bedags nie steek nie, nóg die maan by nag.
Die HERE sal jou bewaar vir elke onheil; jou siel sal Hy bewaar.
Die HERE sal jou uitgang en jou ingang bewaar, van nou af tot in ewigheid.
Dit is hierdie lewende God van Israel wat ook vir ons beskut en beskerm. Aan Hom kan ons ons toevertrou.
2011-01-19
MIDWEEK DEVOTION: Seek God’s leading and his will (3)
Written by Andries Combrink of Centurion West Presbyterian Church
Never ignore God’s leading. Be aware of his control. James says,
(James 4:15) ... you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
Do you remember the days when Christians used to say often - "If the Lord wills." Paul knew we cannot defeat the sovereign will of God. He always desired to follow the Lord's leading, expecting God’s blessing.
When Paul said farewell to the Christians at Ephesus, he said, "I will come back if it is God's will" (Acts 18:21).
When Paul's friends could not talk him out of going to Jerusalem, they said, "The Lord's will be done" (Acts 21:14).
To the Corinthians Paul states that he would visit "if the Lord is willing" (1 Cor 4:19) and "if the Lord permits" (1 Cor 16:7).
To the church in Rome, he says, "I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you" (Rom 1:10).
When I was a child no announcement in church would be made without the minister saying – “God willing”.
My Mom and Dad, uncles and aunts, grandparents and others made it part of their daily vocabulary to say "if the Lord wills" or, "if the Lord is willing."
We do not talk like this anymore. Not even in Church. And we have lost something important in the process. We lost the daily awareness of the importance of submitting to God and his will. We lost more than an expression, but a lifestyle that was seeking the will of God and submitting to the will of God in everything. We have lost faith in the loving, wise sovereign will of God.
How do we follow God's leading? God's leading requires Bible reading, contemplative prayer, a heartfelt, earnest desire to do nothing outside of God’s will and the confirmation of his will by godly friends and fellow Christians. It requires faith that will not allow me to do anything important without the Silent Voice putting me at rest and at peace that it is what God wants me to do. It is about not doing anything of which my conscience tells me it is wrong. It is about trusting that God always and under all circumstances knows best and surrendering to him. It is about making peace with God and his control of my life. It is about praying these Jesus-words, and meaning them: “Not my will, but your will be done!”
Never ignore God’s leading. Be aware of his control. James says,
(James 4:15) ... you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
Do you remember the days when Christians used to say often - "If the Lord wills." Paul knew we cannot defeat the sovereign will of God. He always desired to follow the Lord's leading, expecting God’s blessing.
When Paul said farewell to the Christians at Ephesus, he said, "I will come back if it is God's will" (Acts 18:21).
When Paul's friends could not talk him out of going to Jerusalem, they said, "The Lord's will be done" (Acts 21:14).
To the Corinthians Paul states that he would visit "if the Lord is willing" (1 Cor 4:19) and "if the Lord permits" (1 Cor 16:7).
To the church in Rome, he says, "I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you" (Rom 1:10).
When I was a child no announcement in church would be made without the minister saying – “God willing”.
My Mom and Dad, uncles and aunts, grandparents and others made it part of their daily vocabulary to say "if the Lord wills" or, "if the Lord is willing."
We do not talk like this anymore. Not even in Church. And we have lost something important in the process. We lost the daily awareness of the importance of submitting to God and his will. We lost more than an expression, but a lifestyle that was seeking the will of God and submitting to the will of God in everything. We have lost faith in the loving, wise sovereign will of God.
How do we follow God's leading? God's leading requires Bible reading, contemplative prayer, a heartfelt, earnest desire to do nothing outside of God’s will and the confirmation of his will by godly friends and fellow Christians. It requires faith that will not allow me to do anything important without the Silent Voice putting me at rest and at peace that it is what God wants me to do. It is about not doing anything of which my conscience tells me it is wrong. It is about trusting that God always and under all circumstances knows best and surrendering to him. It is about making peace with God and his control of my life. It is about praying these Jesus-words, and meaning them: “Not my will, but your will be done!”
2011-01-17
Taking the E100 Challenge (1)
The South African Bible Society published a Bible reading plan on their website recently. This reading plan has 100 core passages from the Old Testament and the New Testament, designed to be read over a period of 100 days, 20 weeks or 1 or 2 years. (Download the Bible Reading Challenge HERE.)
One of my personal growth intentions for 2011 is to do more intentional Bible reading. Therefore, I'm following this reading plan. You are invited to also follow the plan, view my notes (which I'm going to try and regularly post here) and participate in the discussion.
The text through which we will be working for the next week or so, is Genesis 1:1-2:25.
One of my personal growth intentions for 2011 is to do more intentional Bible reading. Therefore, I'm following this reading plan. You are invited to also follow the plan, view my notes (which I'm going to try and regularly post here) and participate in the discussion.
The text through which we will be working for the next week or so, is Genesis 1:1-2:25.
2011-01-16
2011-01-13
A Little Life Lesson
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.
He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner... As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.
Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing
After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes.' But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.' Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?' So Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.' Sally just smiled and said, 'well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help? She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.
Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'
2011-01-12
MIDWEEK DEVOTION: Seek God’s leading and his will (2)
Written by Andries Combrink of Centurion West Presbyterian Church
Do not even try to avoid the most important question in your life: "What does God want me to do? What is his will?" Because God, not man, is in control.
In the Book of Proverbs, it is clearly taught that although man may have many ideas and plans, God makes the decisions. We make plans and have dreams, but in the end we can do no more and no less than what God intends. Even if we are in denial of this, God's blue print for our lives and not our ideas are implemented. Man consider, dream and plan, but it is God who decides and does according to his will and pleasure.
Listen to some of the wisdom in Proverbs about this truth:
Prov 16:1 - To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
Prov 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Prov 19:21 - Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Prov 20:24 - A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?
Prov 21:30 - There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
The inspired message here is clear: God is sovereign. He is in control and it is his purpose and his plans that always in the end are fulfilled. No plan can succeed, or be blessed, that is against the Lord’s will.
The Epistle of James is well aware of this wisdom. James reminds us that in the final instance we are not in control of our lives, only God is.
James 4:14 - “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
We do not hold the future in our hands. And we are not in charge of today. All our days are in the hands of God.
My life belongs to God. God numbers my days and counts the hair on my head - meaning that God takes decisions that impact on the minute details of my life. The fool says - today or tomorrow I am going to this or that city to do business and make money. Those with insight and wisdom will say - “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13)
Nobody knows if today is our last day, or tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next year. We just don't know because our lives, its days, weeks and its years, are in the hands of God. God is in control.
Therefore, to be wise and to be safe, ask for God’s will in everything you do, seek his will and his leading. Be what God intends. Stop resisting his will. And he will add his blessings to your plan and his grace to your desire.
Prov 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Do not even try to avoid the most important question in your life: "What does God want me to do? What is his will?" Because God, not man, is in control.
In the Book of Proverbs, it is clearly taught that although man may have many ideas and plans, God makes the decisions. We make plans and have dreams, but in the end we can do no more and no less than what God intends. Even if we are in denial of this, God's blue print for our lives and not our ideas are implemented. Man consider, dream and plan, but it is God who decides and does according to his will and pleasure.
Listen to some of the wisdom in Proverbs about this truth:
Prov 16:1 - To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
Prov 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Prov 19:21 - Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Prov 20:24 - A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?
Prov 21:30 - There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
The inspired message here is clear: God is sovereign. He is in control and it is his purpose and his plans that always in the end are fulfilled. No plan can succeed, or be blessed, that is against the Lord’s will.
The Epistle of James is well aware of this wisdom. James reminds us that in the final instance we are not in control of our lives, only God is.
James 4:14 - “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
We do not hold the future in our hands. And we are not in charge of today. All our days are in the hands of God.
My life belongs to God. God numbers my days and counts the hair on my head - meaning that God takes decisions that impact on the minute details of my life. The fool says - today or tomorrow I am going to this or that city to do business and make money. Those with insight and wisdom will say - “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13)
Nobody knows if today is our last day, or tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next year. We just don't know because our lives, its days, weeks and its years, are in the hands of God. God is in control.
Therefore, to be wise and to be safe, ask for God’s will in everything you do, seek his will and his leading. Be what God intends. Stop resisting his will. And he will add his blessings to your plan and his grace to your desire.
Prov 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
2011-01-11
Moral Failures and Christian Witness
An article in South Africa's own yellow newspaper ("Sondag") caught my attention over the weekend. If it wasn't for a school acquaintance I am friends with on Facebook, who liked the article, I wouldn't have known about the story.In my mother language we call these newspapers "pony press," implying they are on the other side of descent journalism.
The article with which this particular newspaper ("Sunday") entered the new year focused on the ten most embarrassing ministers of religion during 2010. The website only gave the juicy details of the lower five of the "Top Ten," but the accompanying photograph surely implied that this picture belongs to number one. The sordid tales of pastors who fell morally are retold with juicy words and suggestive word play. One was caught red handed by a congregation member. Another was found out and only then the sordid affair came to light.
The picture that highlighted the article was a very graphic paparazzi-style one of a married pastor and his gay adventure.
Why am I discussing this?
First, the intention of the articles (a summary of events during the year) was to show-case the moral bankruptcy of ministers of religion. Well, Sunday succeeded. Especially if you take into account that most of the pastors mentioned came from one specific denomination (or were they the only ones that got press attention?), the impression is that something is wrong in the moral fibre of this specific church, if not the whole country.
Second, I am fully aware of the fact that pastors are open targets for gossip, moral failure and ethical transgressions. Pastors generally live in glass houses. Indeed, ministers of religion are also only human, prone to sin, and ordinary failures. Even if the argument is put forth that "God's anointed will be judged more severely," the fact is that we as pastors are just people.
Third, I think we should continue challenging each other as Christians to walk diligently in the footsteps of Jesus. I am also a pastor, and I am personally very aware of my own human failures, having gone through a few rapids myself. We are not a different breed of humankind because we work for God. We also need friends to encourage us without judgment, church boards who accept our humanity and moral fickleness, and congregation members who unconditionally accept us. Having said that, I also know we should intentionally strive to live a bigger moral life as we have the calling to be leaders for communities of people who want to follow in Jesus' footsteps.
Fourth, I am disgusted with the amount of gloating people exhibit when a Christian leader fails morally. What sadistic joy can anyone possibly get from laughing at another person's sorrow?
Finally, I have a last point to plead. The church is known for its long memory. Why, church people are better than elephants! These ten men and their families will forever be haunted by the scandals they had to endure in 2010. In ten years' time, whether they stuck together as spouses or not, bot Reverend and Mrs Reverend will be subtly reminded that they once was part of a juicy story of moral failure. And even if the reverend paid penitence, he will forever be reminded that he did something very amoral, that he lost his job, and whatever. (As a point of interest, most of these gentlemen were fired from their pastorates as result of their moral indiscretions. Yet, Sondag chose to ignore this, resulting in its readers thinking the church left these people as active ministers of religion).
The other day I heard one pastor tell another pastor about a third pastor: "He had a bad spot in his ministry - he got divorced." Then - and here is the clincher - the question was asked, "How long ago?" to which the story teller responded, "Oh, ten years ago. But he remarried." One day in heaven, Jesus will welcome this divorced pastor with open arms, they will share stories about the high points of his life for Christ and cry together at the low points, like his divorce. No fingers will be pointed or subtle hints put forward about his inability to stay married to one person or any of his other sins. After all, Jesus paid the price for all sins.
Imagine God taking you to task for every single lie you ever told?
The article with which this particular newspaper ("Sunday") entered the new year focused on the ten most embarrassing ministers of religion during 2010. The website only gave the juicy details of the lower five of the "Top Ten," but the accompanying photograph surely implied that this picture belongs to number one. The sordid tales of pastors who fell morally are retold with juicy words and suggestive word play. One was caught red handed by a congregation member. Another was found out and only then the sordid affair came to light.
The picture that highlighted the article was a very graphic paparazzi-style one of a married pastor and his gay adventure.
Why am I discussing this?
First, the intention of the articles (a summary of events during the year) was to show-case the moral bankruptcy of ministers of religion. Well, Sunday succeeded. Especially if you take into account that most of the pastors mentioned came from one specific denomination (or were they the only ones that got press attention?), the impression is that something is wrong in the moral fibre of this specific church, if not the whole country.
Second, I am fully aware of the fact that pastors are open targets for gossip, moral failure and ethical transgressions. Pastors generally live in glass houses. Indeed, ministers of religion are also only human, prone to sin, and ordinary failures. Even if the argument is put forth that "God's anointed will be judged more severely," the fact is that we as pastors are just people.
Third, I think we should continue challenging each other as Christians to walk diligently in the footsteps of Jesus. I am also a pastor, and I am personally very aware of my own human failures, having gone through a few rapids myself. We are not a different breed of humankind because we work for God. We also need friends to encourage us without judgment, church boards who accept our humanity and moral fickleness, and congregation members who unconditionally accept us. Having said that, I also know we should intentionally strive to live a bigger moral life as we have the calling to be leaders for communities of people who want to follow in Jesus' footsteps.
Fourth, I am disgusted with the amount of gloating people exhibit when a Christian leader fails morally. What sadistic joy can anyone possibly get from laughing at another person's sorrow?
Finally, I have a last point to plead. The church is known for its long memory. Why, church people are better than elephants! These ten men and their families will forever be haunted by the scandals they had to endure in 2010. In ten years' time, whether they stuck together as spouses or not, bot Reverend and Mrs Reverend will be subtly reminded that they once was part of a juicy story of moral failure. And even if the reverend paid penitence, he will forever be reminded that he did something very amoral, that he lost his job, and whatever. (As a point of interest, most of these gentlemen were fired from their pastorates as result of their moral indiscretions. Yet, Sondag chose to ignore this, resulting in its readers thinking the church left these people as active ministers of religion).
The other day I heard one pastor tell another pastor about a third pastor: "He had a bad spot in his ministry - he got divorced." Then - and here is the clincher - the question was asked, "How long ago?" to which the story teller responded, "Oh, ten years ago. But he remarried." One day in heaven, Jesus will welcome this divorced pastor with open arms, they will share stories about the high points of his life for Christ and cry together at the low points, like his divorce. No fingers will be pointed or subtle hints put forward about his inability to stay married to one person or any of his other sins. After all, Jesus paid the price for all sins.
Imagine God taking you to task for every single lie you ever told?
2011-01-06
Christians, stop spreading LIES
"Barack Obama is a Muslim." "JK Rowling is an avowed satanist." "The Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria is a temple to the sun god." These are of the more famous remarks spread by Christians in their mission to rid the world of evil.
It is also untrue.
Yet, people from all walks of life circulate emails containing these accusations without asking whether the remarks are factually correct. they spread emails asking people to pray for someone else who is suffering from cancer and dying, or a little girl who was abducted or some campaign to stop the work of Satan through the movie depicting Jesus as homosexual lover to Peter, Paul and John. Every now and again there is a resurgence in the spreading of these messages, like when a new Harry Potter movie is released, or when Obama is up for re-election.
The problem is, these are outright lies that somebody concocted to either strengthen his/her case or (heaven forbid!) somebody who intentionally wants to discredit Christianity created and sent off to a gullible Christian public.
My experience last year with that group of Christians sharing their video series on the Book of Enoch reiterated the crisis. Nobody in the group challenged the speakers facts, or statistics. Nobody corrected him. they just took in the information and accepted it at face value.
It is therefore no wonder that the"liberal" media, atheists and other groupings have a field day with Christians and their arguments. The general impression of Christians is that they are either extremely naive, gullible, stupid or all of the above.
Just look at this flow chart that was published by some atheist group (atheismresource.com):
It is also untrue.
Yet, people from all walks of life circulate emails containing these accusations without asking whether the remarks are factually correct. they spread emails asking people to pray for someone else who is suffering from cancer and dying, or a little girl who was abducted or some campaign to stop the work of Satan through the movie depicting Jesus as homosexual lover to Peter, Paul and John. Every now and again there is a resurgence in the spreading of these messages, like when a new Harry Potter movie is released, or when Obama is up for re-election.
The problem is, these are outright lies that somebody concocted to either strengthen his/her case or (heaven forbid!) somebody who intentionally wants to discredit Christianity created and sent off to a gullible Christian public.
My experience last year with that group of Christians sharing their video series on the Book of Enoch reiterated the crisis. Nobody in the group challenged the speakers facts, or statistics. Nobody corrected him. they just took in the information and accepted it at face value.
It is therefore no wonder that the"liberal" media, atheists and other groupings have a field day with Christians and their arguments. The general impression of Christians is that they are either extremely naive, gullible, stupid or all of the above.
Just look at this flow chart that was published by some atheist group (atheismresource.com):
2011-01-05
MIDWEEK DEVOTION: Be careful not to neglect God’s leading and his will (1)
Written by Andries Combrink of Centurion West Presbyterian Church
James 4: 13 – 16: Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
In verse 13 James pictures business people making plans for future ventures. They say, (James 4:13) "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."
They pick the day of their departure, "today or tomorrow" and they pick the city they want to visit, "this or that city," and decide how long they are going to stay there - "a year." They declare their intention to "carry on business." and to "make money."
James gives these business people as an example with a warning: "Don't be like them," he wants to say.
James warns us against a worldly outlook on life, which makes us believe that we are completely in control of our lives. This world view has no place for God and although some may be nominal believers in God, they live like atheists – as if God does not exist, as if they are masters of their lives and as if they do not need to consult with God, or listen to him, or desire his leading in their lives, because they, and only they, are in charge of their lives.
Can you expect God’s blessing, protection and guidance when he has no place in your plans, desires, diary, budget, or in any way plays any role in your planning your day to day business?
Let’s take care, this year, not to be professing Christians who come to church when it suits us, pray when we are in trouble, but on a day to day basis live as practising atheists. It is so easy to make plans for 2011 and have wonderful dreams for our children – yet all the time neglect God’s will, God’s plan and God’s leading in all of these important matters. Don’t even try to avoid the most important question in your life: "What does God want me to do? What is his will?"
Listen to the warning James gives us today: James 4: 14 - 16 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
If it is the Lord’s will, we will live, and we will surrender ourselves to his will and his values this year. He is our Head and our King! We will do what he asks and we will go where he sends and we will follow his leading.
James 4: 13 – 16: Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
In verse 13 James pictures business people making plans for future ventures. They say, (James 4:13) "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."
They pick the day of their departure, "today or tomorrow" and they pick the city they want to visit, "this or that city," and decide how long they are going to stay there - "a year." They declare their intention to "carry on business." and to "make money."
James gives these business people as an example with a warning: "Don't be like them," he wants to say.
James warns us against a worldly outlook on life, which makes us believe that we are completely in control of our lives. This world view has no place for God and although some may be nominal believers in God, they live like atheists – as if God does not exist, as if they are masters of their lives and as if they do not need to consult with God, or listen to him, or desire his leading in their lives, because they, and only they, are in charge of their lives.
Can you expect God’s blessing, protection and guidance when he has no place in your plans, desires, diary, budget, or in any way plays any role in your planning your day to day business?
Let’s take care, this year, not to be professing Christians who come to church when it suits us, pray when we are in trouble, but on a day to day basis live as practising atheists. It is so easy to make plans for 2011 and have wonderful dreams for our children – yet all the time neglect God’s will, God’s plan and God’s leading in all of these important matters. Don’t even try to avoid the most important question in your life: "What does God want me to do? What is his will?"
Listen to the warning James gives us today: James 4: 14 - 16 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
If it is the Lord’s will, we will live, and we will surrender ourselves to his will and his values this year. He is our Head and our King! We will do what he asks and we will go where he sends and we will follow his leading.
2011-01-04
Cape Town is Demon-possessed
Some time ago I attended a meeting in another part of South Africa. I flew in and out for the day. My flight was early so I took to the cafeteria of the university where the meeting was held. I had my little laptop with me and tried to work on some stuff until the time of the meeting.
But I got distracted.
At the table besides me, some staff members of the university came to sit. They were four men and it seemed that they were part of the admin staff. Normally I do not eavesdrop on other peoples' conversations, but these men's little chat got me from the moment they started.
It would appear that three of them are part of a cell group of some sorts, because they started discussing a video series they are watching in their group. Apparently, a gentleman they called uncle is teaching them from the book of Enoch about the evil workings of the devil in our day. Enoch prophesied that the devil's hold on society would subvert governments and bind whole nations.
One guy seemed to do all the talking, as if he had more inside knowledge than the rest. He explained how Enoch was removed from the Bible by emperor Constantine because the devil didn't want Christians to know what he is up to. Furthermore, Enoch's authority comes from the fact that some of the Bible writers quote from this book.
What the devil does, is taking over governments. That is why South Africa is in such a mess. He takes over cities. The speaker explained that the city of Cape Town is laid out according to a masonic symbol of some sorts and this binding has placed an historic curse on the whole of the Afrikaner nation (as my nation started out in Cape Town with Dutch settlers, French Huguenots, Indonesian slaves and indigenous Khoisan people). All new neighbourhoods in Cape Town is laid out according to this symbol.
The discussion then turned towards the Freemasons. The Freemasons are a demonic organisation and the higher levels of this secretive organisation swore allegiance to Lucifer himself. The British queen is one of the Freemason's most senior leaders. In South Africa the Freemasons split into the Afrikaner Brotherhood, as Nationalist Party ministers weren't satisfied to be the organisational juniors of train drivers and ordinary folk.
The devil is so subversive that even the pastors of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) are part and parcel in his pocket. This is so as ninety nine percent of DRC ministers are members of the Freemason movement. The speaker declared the accuracy of this statistic, because he heard it from a woman who has a friend who is member of DRC Moreletapark, and she heard it from one of the pastors there. Yet DRC ministers aren't allowed to move higher up in masonic hierarchy than level two or three, so as not to expose the devil's work too easily.
And that was the general gist of the conversation.
I didn't join their discussion, although I wanted to. I wanted to ask about the DRC pastors, as I am one of them myself. And if the whole of our church's spiritual leaders are members of the freemasonry, I would know (99%? what are the chances that I would not have been invited/ recruited?). But I kept quiet - they were, after all, four devoted persons who are seriously discussing how they live in a demon-possessed country, and I am only one demon-possessed individual. And in any case I could not possibly disprove the claim by a friend of a friend who heard it from a pastor in the largest DRC congregation in the country, with 23,000 members.
When they left, I thought: "What a load of bullshit!"
But I got distracted.
At the table besides me, some staff members of the university came to sit. They were four men and it seemed that they were part of the admin staff. Normally I do not eavesdrop on other peoples' conversations, but these men's little chat got me from the moment they started.
It would appear that three of them are part of a cell group of some sorts, because they started discussing a video series they are watching in their group. Apparently, a gentleman they called uncle is teaching them from the book of Enoch about the evil workings of the devil in our day. Enoch prophesied that the devil's hold on society would subvert governments and bind whole nations.
One guy seemed to do all the talking, as if he had more inside knowledge than the rest. He explained how Enoch was removed from the Bible by emperor Constantine because the devil didn't want Christians to know what he is up to. Furthermore, Enoch's authority comes from the fact that some of the Bible writers quote from this book.
What the devil does, is taking over governments. That is why South Africa is in such a mess. He takes over cities. The speaker explained that the city of Cape Town is laid out according to a masonic symbol of some sorts and this binding has placed an historic curse on the whole of the Afrikaner nation (as my nation started out in Cape Town with Dutch settlers, French Huguenots, Indonesian slaves and indigenous Khoisan people). All new neighbourhoods in Cape Town is laid out according to this symbol.
The discussion then turned towards the Freemasons. The Freemasons are a demonic organisation and the higher levels of this secretive organisation swore allegiance to Lucifer himself. The British queen is one of the Freemason's most senior leaders. In South Africa the Freemasons split into the Afrikaner Brotherhood, as Nationalist Party ministers weren't satisfied to be the organisational juniors of train drivers and ordinary folk.
The devil is so subversive that even the pastors of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) are part and parcel in his pocket. This is so as ninety nine percent of DRC ministers are members of the Freemason movement. The speaker declared the accuracy of this statistic, because he heard it from a woman who has a friend who is member of DRC Moreletapark, and she heard it from one of the pastors there. Yet DRC ministers aren't allowed to move higher up in masonic hierarchy than level two or three, so as not to expose the devil's work too easily.
And that was the general gist of the conversation.
I didn't join their discussion, although I wanted to. I wanted to ask about the DRC pastors, as I am one of them myself. And if the whole of our church's spiritual leaders are members of the freemasonry, I would know (99%? what are the chances that I would not have been invited/ recruited?). But I kept quiet - they were, after all, four devoted persons who are seriously discussing how they live in a demon-possessed country, and I am only one demon-possessed individual. And in any case I could not possibly disprove the claim by a friend of a friend who heard it from a pastor in the largest DRC congregation in the country, with 23,000 members.
When they left, I thought: "What a load of bullshit!"
2011-01-03
How Christians, Muslims can find peace
Editor's note: Paul Moses, professor of journalism at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, is the author of "The Saint and the Sultan: The Crusades, Islam and Francis of Assisi's Mission of Peace" (Doubleday, 2009). The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Moses. This article was originally published on CNN.com and can be viewed HERE.
Speaking hours after a terrorist attack killed 21 people in a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would hold an interreligious meeting in October in Assisi, Italy, to discuss with other religious leaders how religion can promote world peace.
It would mark the 25th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace that Pope John Paul II held there on October 26, 1986. The choice of Assisi, a town in Central Italy, as the venue is certainly not for its access to an airport: It is chosen as the home town of St. Francis, the beloved Christian saint whose generosity of spirit and constant striving for peace are exemplified in a remarkably amicable encounter he had with Egypt's Sultan Malik al-Kamil in the midst of the Fifth Crusade in 1219.
With Francis' example beginning to inspire Christians in interreligious dialogue, it's time to say that Sultan al-Kamil, too, can be a model.
It is not clear yet who is responsible for the horrific bombing in Alexandria, which followed threats from an al Qaeda-linked group in Iraq. What is clear is that Sultan al-Kamil provides an example of Muslim respect for Christian holiness.
Sultan al-Kamil, nephew of the great Muslim warrior Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, or Saladin, led Egypt for some 40 years as viceroy and sultan. He thrived during a difficult period marked by famine and attacks by the Mongols from the east and the crusaders from the west.
When Francis crossed enemy lines to reach the sultan's camp near the Nile during the summer of 1219, the sultan had every reason to dismiss a man who wanted to preach his enemy's faith. But he allowed the friar to remain for several days of discussions.
The sultan's conduct reflected traditional Muslim respect for holy Christian monks -- a tradition that goes back to the Prophet Mohammed, who met Christian monks. It is said that some of the monks were among the first to recognize in him the potential to be a prophet. The Quran speaks affectionately of Christian monks, saying their eyes brim with tears at the recognition of God's truth.
Medieval accounts from the Coptic Church, the ancient church of Egypt, praise Sultan al-Kamil for his tolerance. He ruled in Coptic Christians' favor when a dispute broke out about whether to build a church or mosque on a Cairo site. Coptic Christians paraded happily in the streets of Cairo on another occasion when he favored them in a dispute over possession of gold vessels and other treasures discovered during the construction of a well in a monastery.
He also dealt wisely with Coptic Christians when called to decide a controversy within their church over who would become the patriarch. And when he defeated the invading Christian army in the Fifth Crusade, he shocked the starving crusaders by feeding them and assuring their transport home. At the same time, he was a loyal Sunni Muslim who built religious schools and a beautiful domed memorial to one of Islam's great scholars, Iman al-Shafi'i.
While I was writing a book about the encounter between the saint and the sultan, I started out with the usual journalistic skepticism about someone as powerful as the sultan. He won me over as I researched his life; I came to realize Sultan al-Kamil was a statesman whose wise actions were closely informed by his religious faith.
On one occasion, I took a few hours from my research in Cairo to speak to a group of students at a Christian girls' school. Although Egyptian schoolchildren have thousands of years of history to study, these students immediately recognized the sultan when I spoke about him, viewing him as a leader who was both kind and strong.
When world religious leaders gather in the hometown of Francis of Assisi this October to discuss how religion can be a tool for peace, they would do well to point to the example of the Muslim leader who was willing to hear him.
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