Events a snapshot of 3 worldviews in SA

[notice]A monthly column by the Editor of Gateway News.[/notice]

Three events in the last month of 2012 seem to capture something of three significant worldviews in our nation.

Mangaung — the focal point of the power struggle for the top positions in the ANC. The Lady Gaga concerts in South Africa. And the dedication of South Africa to Jesus at a prayer meeting in Pretoria.

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I am not talking about the ANC or politicians who indeed are necessary for the governance of our country. Nor am I talking about Gaga and her little monsters, or the thousand hardy intercessors who prayed through the rain on Sunday at the Union Buildings. I am referring to attitudes that the events symbolise and which find expression in many spheres of life in our country.

Mangaung: Life is a scramble for riches. There is only so much pie for the taking. We must grab all we can before somebody else does. We must use whatever, whoever, to get our due.

Lady Gaga: Live and let live. Freedom of choice. If you don’t like porn, don’t watch it. Intolerance of anything is hateful. I create my own truth. This is the 21st Century! Dumb fundamentalists!

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SA prayer dedication: Jesus is Lord of SA. Without Him we are lost. With Him all things are possible.

Seems like foolishness
The third worldview seems like utter foolishness through the lens of the other two worldviews. The mainstream media agrees. The Mangaung race and Gaga’s doings get headline treatment, as do many other plans and projects of man. The prayer dedication of the nation to the Lord does not even get a mention. We should not be surprised: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:18

Commenting on the sense of a momentous historical moment slipping past unnoticed by most, Pastor Graham Barlin, who participated in the Pretoria prayer event on Sunday says: “It took the Lord to remind me that, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem so many years ago, by far the larger part of the community carried on with its day to day affairs oblivious.”

The reality of course is that not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without our Heavenly Father allowing it (Matthew 10:29). Man makes all kinds of plans but God’s will prevails (Proverbs 19:21).  God who loves all men sent His son Jesus to offer eternal life to all who would believe in Him (John 3:16).:And one day, at an hour which only God knows (Mark 13:33), the history of this world will come to an end when Jesus returns in glory to judge the world (Matthew 25:31-46).

From a Biblical perspective it is clear that God controls history to the nth degree, and therefore any media reporting that factors Jesus out of the picture is missing the mark by miles. As a member of South Africa’s Christian media, Gateway News has the awesome and exciting responsibility to report news of eternal significance; to record testimonies of God’s dealings with His creation locally, nationally and internationally; to publish articles that inspire Christians to partner with God in bringing about His Kingdom purposes. Our vision is by God’s grace to reach every Christian in South Africa. I hope and pray that our readers will increasingly partner with us in realising this vision.