I was once
part of a rebellion! Really? Yes - it’s true – but I
know you may find that hard to believe – so let me explain.
In the mid 80’s – with the Apartheid debate in full swing – a group of us at Theological College requested, and were refused, a lunch time Prayer Meeting in which we intended to remember before God the people of South Africa in their struggle for freedom and justice. For reasons that still mystify me that proposal was simply deemed ‘inappropriate’. Boy – did they get that wrong!
Yet, the truth is, we all get it wrong at times and history often teaches us that the ‘bad guys’ of one generation end up the ‘heroes’ of the next - and perhaps that’s true of Nelson Mandela. His name at birth was ‘Rolihlahla’ which means ‘troublemaker’ and this week and next the world has been giving thanks for all this troublemaker taught us about the ‘unyielding grace’ of forgiveness.
Although from a different time the story of the BMS missionary to Jamaica William Knibb holds some similarities. In campaigning so vigorously for the abolition of slavery on the island he was nicknamed ‘The Monster’ by many slave owners, most of whom would have had Anglican backgrounds. Yet in the struggle for South Africa’s freedom no Church campaigned more in the 1980’s than the Anglican – focused here in Britain by St Martin in The Fields, next-door to the South African Embassy, and ‘at home’ by Mandela’s equal – The Archbishop of Cape Town - Desmond Tutu.
What has become clear in the last few days is just how big the shoes are which the man they call ‘Madiba’ left. President Zuma, who received ‘boos’ from the crowd this week is struggling to overcome the culture of corruption that seems endemic in his society.
All of this just underlines that ‘freedom’ is not an easy panacea but a responsibility-filled opportunity. It’s a ‘long walk’ that has to continue. The appointment of Black Presidents in either South Africa or the USA, along with the ‘just around the corner’ consecration of women bishops in the Church of England, all mark a shift towards greater equality but never the end of our journey together. That, I suspect, is what Mandela meant when he wrote: During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.
This coming Sunday at Amersham Free Church we shall sing that Zulu freedom song: We are marching in the light of God. It will be our way of praying ‘God bless Africa’ – and later in the service, at our intercessions, we'll remember the challenges that all freedom brings and the continuing strength we need to meet them.
The world is remembering one of its finest sons, who along with so many others had to take a 'Long Walk to Freedom' - we honour his memory best if we keep on walking.
With best wishes,
In the mid 80’s – with the Apartheid debate in full swing – a group of us at Theological College requested, and were refused, a lunch time Prayer Meeting in which we intended to remember before God the people of South Africa in their struggle for freedom and justice. For reasons that still mystify me that proposal was simply deemed ‘inappropriate’. Boy – did they get that wrong!
Yet, the truth is, we all get it wrong at times and history often teaches us that the ‘bad guys’ of one generation end up the ‘heroes’ of the next - and perhaps that’s true of Nelson Mandela. His name at birth was ‘Rolihlahla’ which means ‘troublemaker’ and this week and next the world has been giving thanks for all this troublemaker taught us about the ‘unyielding grace’ of forgiveness.
Although from a different time the story of the BMS missionary to Jamaica William Knibb holds some similarities. In campaigning so vigorously for the abolition of slavery on the island he was nicknamed ‘The Monster’ by many slave owners, most of whom would have had Anglican backgrounds. Yet in the struggle for South Africa’s freedom no Church campaigned more in the 1980’s than the Anglican – focused here in Britain by St Martin in The Fields, next-door to the South African Embassy, and ‘at home’ by Mandela’s equal – The Archbishop of Cape Town - Desmond Tutu.
What has become clear in the last few days is just how big the shoes are which the man they call ‘Madiba’ left. President Zuma, who received ‘boos’ from the crowd this week is struggling to overcome the culture of corruption that seems endemic in his society.
All of this just underlines that ‘freedom’ is not an easy panacea but a responsibility-filled opportunity. It’s a ‘long walk’ that has to continue. The appointment of Black Presidents in either South Africa or the USA, along with the ‘just around the corner’ consecration of women bishops in the Church of England, all mark a shift towards greater equality but never the end of our journey together. That, I suspect, is what Mandela meant when he wrote: During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.
This coming Sunday at Amersham Free Church we shall sing that Zulu freedom song: We are marching in the light of God. It will be our way of praying ‘God bless Africa’ – and later in the service, at our intercessions, we'll remember the challenges that all freedom brings and the continuing strength we need to meet them.
The world is remembering one of its finest sons, who along with so many others had to take a 'Long Walk to Freedom' - we honour his memory best if we keep on walking.
With best wishes,
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