Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/95

Contributor - John E. Plaatjes

Title - 1995- The New Year: "All Things Bright and Beautiful" A Look at South Africa

Topic - South Africa

AT the beginning of Time, the brand new earth must have been a very pretty sight to behold, everything sparkling bright and beautiful. Life was wonderful, before the Fall.

January, we understand, was called after the Roman god, Janus, in mythology. This god had two faces, one always looking backward and one looking forward. We don't believe in myths, but it's always a good practice for Christians to look back and be thankful; to review our lives and say: 'Ebenhaezer, hitherto the Lord has been wonderfully good to me." Look to the future and say with confidence: "The Lord will provide, and I shall not be afraid of tomorrow." He'll be there, all the way.

What kind of a world can we expect as we look ahead? What kind of tomorrow will Canada have? What kind of future awaits South Africa, land of my birth? Is there hope for permanent peace?

South Africa has recently gone through some very interesting and exciting changes. A new birth is not without pain and suffering, and this land has seen a great deal of it. The process of renewal and change is still in full swing, and can be seen in continual unrest, strikes, violent encounters that often end up in shootings. A tragic occurrence was the cold-blooded murder of Professor Johan Heyns of the Reformed Church, an important Christian leader and an ambassador of peace, a man who lived and endeavoured to bring Black and White opposing parties together. He was a true blood Afrikaner.

Dr. Heyns was mourned by Black and White people from all walks of life, even non-Christians. His own family says the sacrifice he made, will not be in vain if it can bring warring factions to make peace and if we can get on with the task of nation-building.

Kingdoms may come and kingdoms may go, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. We rejoice with the South Africans that the Apartheid Era has passed. We congratulated them on the advent of the new regime. We have to warn them, however, in the words of Isaiah; "Morning has come, but also the night..." Isn't the night far spent, and dayspring at hand? Like the Hebrews after the Babylonian Captivity, they had looked forward for the morning to break after the long night, but did they experience a permanent peace and prosperity in the land of Israel? There was still a lot of sin and darkness in the land.

There is, of course, little parallel between South Africa and the ancient Israelites. Being in South Africa at present, the Book of Isaiah takes on special significance, especially when he writes about Jerusalem, before and after the Return from Captivity.

After the election in April of 1994 there was "joy and revelry, much eating of meat and drinking of wine... Lord, You have established peace for us, all that we have accomplished You have done for us... You have enlarged the nation, 0 Lord; You have gained glory for Yourself. You have extended all the borders of the land..."

It is a strange phenomenon that so many folks from other Black states are flocking uncontrolled over the borders of South Africa in order to make a living here where it is relatively more safe, and more prosperous. There is an unprecedented influx of foreigners into the cities, swelling the ranks of unemployed, poverty-stricken people living in shacks, sometimes even on others' properties.

These squatters create a lot of problems for the new government. President Mandela has promised the unhoused new homes, but it is going to take decades of waiting. The land is still relatively peaceful, in spite of all the violence, the killings, the uncertainties.

Before Christmas I stood with friends and family near the old oak Slave Tree all lit up brilliantly and festooned with Christmas lights in the town of George, called after the same king that reigned when America gained its independence from Great Britain. I was joyfully intrigued by the sight of seeing White and Black holding hands while singing the old traditional Christmas hymns or listening to the instrumental and choral music rendered by white and black participants.

I have had the privilege of preaching as well as addressing schools when asked to do so. Do I have hope for South Africa? I told them yes, as long as there are Christians, Black and White who pray for peace and reconciliation, who can FORGIVE one another and forget the bad things of the past. This hope will never be put to shame.

Will democracy survive in Africa? Will tyranny and dictatorships increase on this continent, or will we see more brotherhood and cooperation among the many tribes and factions that divide people from one another? Will the nations of the world cooperate more fully to eradicate war, poverty, suffering, drug abuse, persecution and cruelty? Africa is not the only nation where these things persist.

Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace and the Light of the World, is the key figure in the process of redemption and renewal, in the regeneration of mankind and the world. New hearts are what we need whether in South Africa, Canada or the U.S.A.! This is the message of our Church to the world.

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