Hansie Louw

Author, Coach, Entrepreneur

AA, BEE, Apartheid – no Biblical base – reconciliation

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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).

entry to medical school
same person .. different application

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.”

Nelson Mandela
Forgive
Forgiveness is a weapon
The Father of our Rainbow Nation said that reconciliation is a spiritual process and it is just that. The Father of all nations (the God of the Bible) says that we should reconcile with everybody. If we remember that someone has something against us, we should go and reconcile. He is not saying that I must go and reconcile if I have something against another – “So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.” (Matthew 5:23,24 – Good News Translation – GNBDK). Interesting that the verses after that talks about reconciling with your accuser when he takes you to court, otherwise you will pay the last cent!
So let me just turn to the churches and christians in South Africa. Let us forget politics for now. One of the functions of the church is to enable reconciliation in the country. It is not only there to enable it, but it is there to drive it, to motivate it and to mobilise its members to reconciliation. There are two parties to the process. To a large extent both parties are angry. There is anger because of apartheid and the legacy of apartheid. There is anger because of AA and BEE and the legacy of that. Contrary to what the Bible teaches, the young upcoming next generation is still punished. The punishment is on all sides of the colour spectrum.
Let me take the following example of reconciliation. You have a truck that you use in your building projects. You have a government contract and you are making a good living out of it. I ask you and you lend your truck to me on a particular Saturday as I want to get some sand on my property and it is much cheaper if I do it myself. I use your truck, but a crazy driver hits me in the borrowed truck as he is running a red light. There is damage of more than R150 000 to your truck. I am innocent, but I am responsible as I was using your truck. I come back to you and  I apologise. You accept my apology. However, you cannot work with your truck on Monday morning because of the accident. You lose money in the process. You will recover your losses from the guilty party (the other driver).
The situation of course is different if I am guilty of the offence. If I did not stop at the red light and I caused the damage, then I am responsible and guilty. Now it is not enough to apologise. Now it is also a requirement for me to ask for forgiveness. When I have asked forgiveness and you have granted it, you do not have a claim of the R150 000 (or the subsequent loss) anymore on a spiritual level. (Extending forgiveness means that you release the claim that you have against me – you release the right that you have to enforce justice).  At the same time I , however, have the love obligation to settle the damages and to put you in the same position as you were on the Friday afternoon before I borrowed your truck.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation crticical
So in South Africa we need to ask and extend forgiveness as christians. We cannot get reconciliation before we do that. We cannot get reconciliation if we do not hear the stories of ordinary people, of ordinary christians. We still live apart in our worlds almost two decades after apartheid was dismantled legally. We cannot expect the politicians to lift BBE and AA until we have demonstrated aptly that we are putting everything to work to reconcile and make restitution. Making restitution is so much more than what BEE or AA could achieve.
There is an enormous emotional relief when we ask for forgiveness and embark on the process of restitution. There is also enormous relief when we grant forgiveness and work together as brothers and sisters. There is much hatred or bitterness around in South Africa. There is much love and forgiveness needed. Love is action and not a feeling. If you do not act, you do not love. If you do not love, you are not a christian. If your church does not advocate this forgiveness and reconciliation and active love, then in the words of Sir Richard Branson, “Screw it, let’s do it”.
Let us go beyond AA and BEE. Let us go the route of Biblical love. Let us build South Africa. Let us reconcile!
19 March 2017

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