There is no Biblical base for affirmative action. Likewise there is no Biblical base for broad (or narrow as it plays out) economic empowerment. Reconciliation is Biblical and is the answer. As Christians we have been totally quiet about this for years and it is time to change this position. It does not matter where you are in the political spectrum in South Africa – if you are a christian you cannot defend this position. There is nothing new – there was no Biblical base for apartheid either, but many of the clergy leadership argued that there was at least an explanation (if not a principle) for that in Scripture. The church is quiet about the importance of this whole process and so is the ACDP (political party in South Africa).
The Bible talks about Restoration and Restitution. There is little room for this when there is “legislation” that is promoting to take care of it. The argument is that BEE and AA will adress the inequalities of the past. The Bible is full of the the principle of Restoration. You cannot legislate “racism” out of a person’s mind. You may punish him for racist remarks, you may fine him for racist behaviour, but you cannot legislate his soul and mind – you have to win in that area. Similarly we cannot legislate “reconciliation”. Reconciliation is the Biblical process – that of restoring “friendly relations”. That is the also the action of making one view or belief compatible with another. To do this we need to talk. This is how our former state president described this aspect:
“In the end, reconciliation is a spiritual process, which requires more than just a legal framework. It has to happen in the hearts and minds of people.”