A call on the church to rethink its ministry

OUR YOUNG country is standing at a crossroads, just 23 years since we began our journey as a nation. All of us are challenged to make a contribution to rescuing our nation from all its threats, especially corruption and moral decay. And the church, the custodian of morality, has to rethink its role and ministry in this matrix of role players.

It is important to understand the challenges we face today as a society. We need to acknowledge that our democratic state has made commendable progress in the material conditions of our people since 1994.

Millions now live in decent, free shelter; almost 18 million of our most vulnerable citizens receive a grant that eases their lot each month; education and primary health care services have been made more accessible to previously disadvantaged South Africans; access to running water, sanitation and electricity has been extended; and, more black South Africans are participating in the mainstream economy.

However, all these achievements have been accompanied by a rise in deviant conduct. Our state is now a tool of enrichment for a few.

Corruption is on the rise. Our economy is shrinking, resulting in millions, especially the youth, being without jobs. Poverty is on the rise – estimates suggest that as many as 11 million South Africans go to bed without food. And poverty has forced its victims to resort to criminality, prostitution and other desperate ills to survive. We are in a crisis! Shocked by this unfolding nightmare, many South Africans have taken a stand to say: “No more, this ends now.”

I’m privileged to be part of a men’s movement, Sammovu, which is mobilising men across the country to end the scourge of femicide.

It would be churlish also not to acknowledge the work of the SA Council of Churches in providing a safe outlet for whistle-blowers to share stories of how our state has been manipulated to direct resources to benefit a network of a political and business elite.

A brief background is necessary here. The history of evangelical Christian involvement in the political life of South Africa is full of contradictions. Central to these contradictions is the theological inheritance from the West. This promoted dichotomy between politics and matters spiritual, in the process ignoring the reality that politics and religion have always gone hand in hand in our country.

Because the opponents of apartheid were portrayed as communists who were essentially against the gospel, the white-led evangelical churches felt duty bound to support those who were seen as pro-gospel and anti-communist. This led the evangelicals into a political trap where they found themselves as strange bedfellows with the apartheid regime. This divided the church. Despite this, there were dissenting voices against apartheid.

First, they argued that they support non-violence. This non-violent strategy was meant to protect the interests of apartheid.

Second, they chose not to destabilise the country. Their argument was to compare the strength of the economy and the economic situation to the rest of Africa.

Third, they believed God is orderly and therefore we needed to maintain law and order. South Africa’s security forces were seen as the lesser of the two evils. Last, they promoted reconciliation. This meant that focus should be on similarities rather than dwelling on differences.

While the foregoing look and sound Biblically correct, they remain an incorrect application of the truth in this context. Theology has always been a matter of engagement with the context in our country. For there is no such thing as neutral theology. The challenges facing us today require us to learn from our history on the role of the church in the political life of the nation, and act accordingly.

My humble submission is that the church redefines its ministry in the following critical ways:

Dissent to the challenges facing South Africa must be radical. Any attempt to respond to the current challenges without an understanding of the root causes is as suicidal and dangerous as the challenge itself.

The gospel must be in context. The gospel of Jesus says we cannot remain silent and unresponsive to our context. The neighbourhood of our church buildings is infected with drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment, prostitution, femicide and other ills. These conditions call on the church to contextualise the gospel.

Models of ministry must speak to the challenges facing the nation.

This is the time to consider radical models that will speak to our people in their context and in the language they understand without compromising the gospel and God’s agenda.

The church must build relationships with our people in communities, spend time with them, and get to know them, listen to their stories and share the love of God with them.

Our people are in car washes, taverns, restaurants, market places, soccer matches and in the malls. This is what Jesus would like us to do, and would Himself have done.

Involvement in the political life of the nation is not possible as outsiders.

We must know our community leaders: the councillor, the school principal, the shop owner, tavern owner and other religious leaders. We must attend and participate in community meetings and events. We must let our voices be heard and known. We must be the salt and light in our community. And this starts with us.

We cannot remain silent and unresponsive to our context

Ngwenya is senior director at GN Ministries, an overseer at Men-In-Prayer, and chairperson of Sammovu