04/09/2019
A message from our pastor in light of recent events in our country....
Recently, our beloved country has been plunged into terror, apprehension and horror through a number violent acts against women and girls, as well as against foreign nationals. Both atrocities are unacceptable. Both are evil whatever their justifications to the perpetrators. To r**e, to bludgeon, murder our women and girls is a crime against humanity. To loot, torch, any person’s property, on whatever grounds, much worst on the grounds of their nationality, ethnicity and such grounds, is inhumane and wrong, and it deserve our strongest condemnation. Humanity, specifically ubuntu, demands that we remain considerate and protective over women, not abuse them. As men, we are not to use our manhood against womanhood. As men, we are duty bound to protect, defend, and speak up against women abuse. None of our manhood, is meant to be a cause for pain, terror, fear for any of the women. We were not created or wired to be women abusers, r**ers, or killers. Our manhood is not designed to be a curse to women. Our masculinity cannot be used to force women to sleep with us, against their will, whatever the rational may be. Masculinity is no permission to abuse, in whatever form, women and girls. Let us refrain from toxic masculinity that expresses itself in violence against women. Instead of barbaric acts against women, let’s channel our energies to making them feel safe and secured in a South Africa we build build through labour and enterprising. Let our sisters, lovers, mothers, daughters, feel the embrace of love rather than the fierce grip against their bodies. Instead of them feeling vulnerable in our spaces, let them feel secured within our reach. Let’s refuse to accept as normative the state of affairs. Let’s not feed the narrative of man are trash, r**ers, dangerous, abusive and murderous.
The scourge of xenophobia is not just inhuman but is against both the African ethos and Christian norms we hold dear as a people. African people are known for hospitality to visitors, guests, strangers. To ill treat a person from another country, for whatever reason is foreign to Africa, and it flies against African values. Africa has prided itself for its kindness way before Christian values became the basis of our ethos. We have adopted Christianity wholesale, and Christianity too stands diametrically opposed to ill treatment of persons on the basis of their ethnicity, nationality or their borders. In the spirit of African Ubuntu, and in the spirit Christianity, let’s stretch our hands to embrace everyone who lives, works and worships in our country. Whatever kindness we show, is shown to Christ himself. Whatever care, embrace and accommodation, we do it to Christ. Whatever wrong, whatever crime, we do against anyone, any stranger, anyone in need, he takes personally as an offense to him in Matthew 25:34-45. Whatever kindness or Ubuntu we show to others, is registered as Ubuntu to Christ.
Lord make us instruments of love.
Where there is the narrative of hatred, ethnic hatred crimes,
xenophobic hatred,
misogynistic hatred,
let us spread the narrative of ubuntu.
Where there is ethnic violence,
Xenophobic violence
Misogynistic violence
let us inculcate safety and security.
Forbid that we become unkind,
Uncaring, cruel & violent.
Forbid that we be instruments of pain.
Forbid that we be catalysts of suffering.
Forbid that we be weapons of anger.
Forbid that we be handguns of brutality.
Make us overflowing rivers of grace.
Amen
