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A year of service and social change awaits in 2023
Church in the Community - Media Release in the Herald: 9 January 2023
Source: TCN / Ds Danie Mouton
Date Added: 2023-01-09
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Social upliftment,
Date Added: 2023-01-09
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Social upliftment,
A difficult and turbulent 2023 awaits us.
The people of God have our task cut out for us.
Accelerating state failure calls for a powerful civic response to combat deterioration and collapse.
We need widespread positive change at local level.
In 2023 we will not have the luxury to look at others to take initiative to improve our circumstances. We will have to do it ourselves.
Impossible?
Those that serve and seek the best for fellow human beings can know God is on their side.
In the darkest hours of Israel's captivity in Babylon the prophet Isaiah heard the word of God: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."
These words from Isaiah 60 encouraged the shattered remnant of Jewish exiles in 580 B.C.
An unthinkable prophesy, given their circumstances.
They were in exile in Babylon for 70 years and had to come back to the destroyed city of Jerusalem. The city was in ruins, the economy in dire straits, and nobody had a realistic plan to change their fortunes.
In this mess the great prophet Isaiah "invites his depressed, discouraged contemporaries to look up, to hope and to expect everything to change," writes Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann.
Isaiah 60 anticipates that Jerusalem will become a beehive of productivity and prosperity.
Caravans loaded with trade goods will come from Asia and bring prosperity.
This is cause for celebration, even in their dire circumstances.
How didl this happen?
Action was needed.
God's favour on God's people expected of them to "arise and shine".
They had to act on God's promises and personally contribute to build the new future.
Earlier God commanded them to work for the prosperity of their city.
They had to build houses, plant gardens and seek the peace and prosperity of the city (Jeremiah 29).
This is still true today.
We all must give of our time, energy, talent and ability to bring change.
What can we do?
Firstly, we need to develop a "can do" attitude.
Do not diminish yourself and your contribution. God uses small and ordinary people.
Remember the baby in the manger.
Born in a stable in the backwater Bethlehem.
Growing up in the disdained Nazareth.
Who changed the world by teaching us to love and serve one another.
And who set the example by giving his life for us.
Therefore, make a list of what you can do and contribute to build a better future.
Secondly, who are your partners?
Our efforts are magnified by the multiple abilities and gifts of others. When we form a team, we become a for positive change.
Who in your street, circle of friends, congregation or community can you ask to join forces with you?
Do cross boundaries to build a lasting team. Reach out to completely different communities, e.g. regarding colour, class, race or denomination.
"They", the "other" are not the enemy: they are our co-workers.
We all long for a meaningful life and well-functioning society. We all need to cultivate positive attitudes and actions.
Another option is to join existing initiatives. Talk to your ward councillor or other role-players in your municipal ward.
Currently the governing coalition in our metro is focused on service delivery.
The same is true of many other councillors. Join forces at ward-level.
Thirdly, develop a detailed plan for your initiative.
Exactly what do you want to do? Care for the elderly? Help children with schoolwork? Fix potholes? Improve safety and security in your area?
Develop a simple, effective plan to contribute and stick to it.
Do it, however small, and do it well.
Let us put our faith in communities and micro-communities (e.g., a few street blocks) to combat state failure.
We have many examples of diverse groups and initiatives who all believe our country can and will be better.
Let us grow and multiply these energies. Think what will happen when all these initiatives grow together and channel in the direction of healing and renewal – for all our people.
We cannot afford to put much trust in national government.
The recent ANC conference confirmed the main aim of these leaders is to survive and serve their own interests.
Things will become more hectic and heated leading up to the 2024 national elections.
The ruling party will be consumed by its desire to survive, while other politicians will set us up against each other, for their own political gain.
Let us have none of it.
Let us make 2023 the year of accountability, leading up to 2024.
Churches need to implement voter education, demand service delivery and pressurise opposition structures to get their current dismal act together.
God will help us.
"Arise, shine for your light has come. The glory of God rises upon you."
Ds Danie Mouton
Executive director of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Eastern Cape
The people of God have our task cut out for us.
Accelerating state failure calls for a powerful civic response to combat deterioration and collapse.
We need widespread positive change at local level.
In 2023 we will not have the luxury to look at others to take initiative to improve our circumstances. We will have to do it ourselves.
Impossible?
Those that serve and seek the best for fellow human beings can know God is on their side.
In the darkest hours of Israel's captivity in Babylon the prophet Isaiah heard the word of God: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."
These words from Isaiah 60 encouraged the shattered remnant of Jewish exiles in 580 B.C.
An unthinkable prophesy, given their circumstances.
They were in exile in Babylon for 70 years and had to come back to the destroyed city of Jerusalem. The city was in ruins, the economy in dire straits, and nobody had a realistic plan to change their fortunes.
In this mess the great prophet Isaiah "invites his depressed, discouraged contemporaries to look up, to hope and to expect everything to change," writes Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann.
Isaiah 60 anticipates that Jerusalem will become a beehive of productivity and prosperity.
Caravans loaded with trade goods will come from Asia and bring prosperity.
This is cause for celebration, even in their dire circumstances.
How didl this happen?
Action was needed.
God's favour on God's people expected of them to "arise and shine".
They had to act on God's promises and personally contribute to build the new future.
Earlier God commanded them to work for the prosperity of their city.
They had to build houses, plant gardens and seek the peace and prosperity of the city (Jeremiah 29).
This is still true today.
We all must give of our time, energy, talent and ability to bring change.
What can we do?
Firstly, we need to develop a "can do" attitude.
Do not diminish yourself and your contribution. God uses small and ordinary people.
Remember the baby in the manger.
Born in a stable in the backwater Bethlehem.
Growing up in the disdained Nazareth.
Who changed the world by teaching us to love and serve one another.
And who set the example by giving his life for us.
Therefore, make a list of what you can do and contribute to build a better future.
Secondly, who are your partners?
Our efforts are magnified by the multiple abilities and gifts of others. When we form a team, we become a for positive change.
Who in your street, circle of friends, congregation or community can you ask to join forces with you?
Do cross boundaries to build a lasting team. Reach out to completely different communities, e.g. regarding colour, class, race or denomination.
"They", the "other" are not the enemy: they are our co-workers.
We all long for a meaningful life and well-functioning society. We all need to cultivate positive attitudes and actions.
Another option is to join existing initiatives. Talk to your ward councillor or other role-players in your municipal ward.
Currently the governing coalition in our metro is focused on service delivery.
The same is true of many other councillors. Join forces at ward-level.
Thirdly, develop a detailed plan for your initiative.
Exactly what do you want to do? Care for the elderly? Help children with schoolwork? Fix potholes? Improve safety and security in your area?
Develop a simple, effective plan to contribute and stick to it.
Do it, however small, and do it well.
Let us put our faith in communities and micro-communities (e.g., a few street blocks) to combat state failure.
We have many examples of diverse groups and initiatives who all believe our country can and will be better.
Let us grow and multiply these energies. Think what will happen when all these initiatives grow together and channel in the direction of healing and renewal – for all our people.
We cannot afford to put much trust in national government.
The recent ANC conference confirmed the main aim of these leaders is to survive and serve their own interests.
Things will become more hectic and heated leading up to the 2024 national elections.
The ruling party will be consumed by its desire to survive, while other politicians will set us up against each other, for their own political gain.
Let us have none of it.
Let us make 2023 the year of accountability, leading up to 2024.
Churches need to implement voter education, demand service delivery and pressurise opposition structures to get their current dismal act together.
God will help us.
"Arise, shine for your light has come. The glory of God rises upon you."
Ds Danie Mouton
Executive director of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Eastern Cape
Source: TCN / Ds Danie Mouton
Date Added: 2023-01-09
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Social upliftment,
Back to News IndexDate Added: 2023-01-09
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Social upliftment,
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