By Trevor Jennings, Transformation Christian Network (TCN)
We face a number of obvious “giants” in our country: poverty, inequality, unemployment, lack of education, land reform and crime are the big ones. They are monsters and will not go gently into the night.
Students provide reminder
However, two silent giants also stand in our way, namely the lack of non-political leadership and the hopelessness with which many in our country appear to be faced. It has taken our students, in their unified stand to oppose fees, to remind us that we can make a difference.
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That by raising our voice, by taking responsibility in confronting the giants, change can happen. The students did not stop to ask if they were allowed to say “enough is enough” – they simply went out and acted on what they believed.
As a result the government has backed off on fee increases for next year and is considering ways of reducing fees into the future. In its hurried response, the government has resorted to an old strategy: blame others, tax the rich and hope that political rhetoric will stay the tide.
It, like the hotheads on the periphery who fan the flames of racial division and anarchy, have no real ideas on how to tackle these giants we face. There are other ways in which we can address the fee crisis.
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Supposedly 94% of the Department of Education and Training’s budget is spent on salaries. Is this in line with best practice elsewhere?
Corruption bleeds institutions
Corruption continues to bleed our institutions – it is reported that 36 000 ghost workers earn R19-billion in the North West province! What would that money have done for education?
Why is this political rhetoric so dominant? What has happened to the voice of the ordinary South African, to the voice of those who love this country dearly, those whose talents and skills can play a critical and constructive role in building our country?
Where are our “statesmen” – men and women who can rise above the political hot air and blame game, and focus on addressing our giants in innovative and meaningful ways?
Politicians have a key role – their focus should be on infrastructure development and service delivery. Playing the “race” card when out of ideas should not be their measure.
It is our fault. We, as ordinary citizens, have allowed politicians to overstep their mandate.
Our students have reminded us that we all need to own these challenges. Every single individual, every business, every church needs to find a way to become involved in slaying these giants. This is our country.
Getting our hands dirty
To my white friends, I want to say that “packing for Perth” should not be the label we are known by. We need to become more visible, more vocal – not in apportioning blame, but in getting our hands dirty in solving these problems.
To my church friends, a gentle challenge – where is the church in all of this? How are you leading the change instead of following in its wake?
Should we not be leading the revolution, rather than staying one step ahead? We are the voice of hope, we need to speak up – it is time to lead.
Let’s step up to the plate. Let’s create an active citizenry.
Let’s develop an involved church. The country does not belong to the politicians – this is our country and we need to own our giants.
Wow Trevor,every conference,every meeting with our leaders in our church,sharing time in our church, I have been asking why is the church so quiet.!! Apartheid years they did their stuff,and now ??!! I have not ever,nearly ever, heard one utterance from our archbishop in cape town, why not,so well done on you ,wonderful article.
Just by the way,Brian Jennings spent the night on my farm,any relation??
Greetings and blessings.
Yes. Brian is my elder brother. Take care. T
Trevor, I agree. Here is what I propose HOW to effect the change.
HOW SA CAN BE CHANGED
If every church would only identify and support ONE GODLY MAN to represent their Biblical values further (and speak to the king Herods as John did) and if all these church representatives could elect ONE GODLY MAN PER VOTING WARD to represent their Biblical values on all possible platforms and at election time. Then the majority elected into government could be godly men who will stop the abominable laws and again draft God-fearing laws – and a whole nation can be changed.
And this is why SA is as she is. There is not even ONE godly man per congregation who will stand up like John the Baptist and even if there might be, churches are too divided to stand together because the current church structures are driven by egocentric leaders who got there by worldly and carnal means. That is why churches have become so worldly, carnal, salt-less and lukewarm to have tolerated apartheid, promiscuity, divorce, and now worst of all – abortion!
Therefore we get the government we deserve. Evil flourish because good men are doing nothing. Actually, they are not “good” if they do nothing about this rotten God-rejecting politicians and their abominable laws and practices e.g. abortion. Politics have become rotten because the churches have allowed them to continue. Abortions happen because Christians allow it.
Therefore, REPENT from your passivity and STAND UP! Begin at the murder centers near you as God commanded. Then STAND UP in your church to STAND TOGETHER for Godly values. Then STAND TOGETHER WITH NEIGHBOURING CONGREGATION REPS PER SUBURB AND STAND UP AT ELECTION TIME – AND SA CAN BE CHANGED IF EVERY CONGREGATION WILL JUST DO THIS.
See the detailed plan and proposal at Revival to Righteousness SA. No need to join. Just read and follow the plan.