“True peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice”
Poverty, injustice and division response.
OUR CONTEXT
South Africa faces massive inequality, and the church is well placed to tackle this and bring about a more just society.
South Africa is in a very specific phase of its post-colonial development, and relatively young democracy. Over 300 years of colonisation and 50 years of legalised apartheid, have meant that 24 years of supposed ‘freedom’ and democracy have left little actual structural change, spatially, economically and socially. The relative ‘peace’ after democracy has been felt by a small margin of South African society, with significant inequality, trauma and growing anger being the norm and common amongst the majority. The younger generation are standing up to the status quo in marked ways that have caused some disruption in their attempts to shake the current systems. Many are oblivious to the suffering and vulnerability of the majority through geographic distancing directly attributed to apartheid spatial planning.
The South African Church was largely complicit in the systemic injustice of apartheid.
The South African Church was largely complicit in the systemic injustice of apartheid. As always, there was the smaller prophetic part of the Church that mobilised and supported the struggle for freedom, speaking up against apartheid and enabling liberation.
Facing and addressing economic inequality and spatial injustice is a part of the work of undoing the past in this phase of our growth and development. The hard work of undoing what colonisation has done to society, including schools and churches, is another. And the seeking of a more faithful theology to our context is a much-needed part of the work. Today, the majority of the church accepts the current state, while a small remnant seeks justice and true peace.
The South African church is still a trusted voice in many spaces. Churches exist in every community and Christianity is still the dominant religion. Some say the church has lost its authoritative voice, but approximately 70% of South Africans are church going, and society still gives credence to the Church in mainstream media and societal platforms. The Church remains a largely trusted and respected voice in the country, despite our history.
Simultaneously, many churches are seeking to be part of the great change opportunity that is facing South Africa today with a renewed prophetic imagination for re-igniting hope, truth and love – to embody the Missio Dei, to nurture deep authenticity, for a hope-filled perspective and shared plan for all God’s children and creation. Churches are finding the courage to ask: “If this is the old, what is the new?” and “If this is power, what is peace?” and “If this is the way of war, what is the way of love?”
Even in its fractured state, South African society in general is seeking peace, economic stability, unity and security, but there is very little agreement on what will bring that about.
The work of undoing the past is part of the redemption work of God in South Africa at this time, including working for economic justice, spatial justice, decolonising society and redeeming theology. The great redeeming work of restoration and true reconciliation is the crux of the mandate and mission that The Warehouse and Church of South Africa is faced with today.