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ONYX PROPERTIES cc.
4 March 1995
Our country is embarking on one of the most significant and important steps
in its history - the framing of a Constitution. The elected
political leaders
of our country are charged with this responsibility. In their wisdom they seek
wider input from the nation in
order to make the Constitution as democratic,
fair and representative as possible.
What are we trying to achieve? Life is made up of choices. People's
preferences (choices) change under differing circumstances.
Whether we talk of
simple things like colours or even the colour of the bread we prefer to eat
there is not consensus. In the daily
pursuit of work, sport, friendship etc. we
have different preferences. In the other important selections of a life
partner, religious
or church affiliation, political affiliation again we have
widely differing choices or preferences.
So when we come to the matter of a national constitution can we on normal
human level expect to find sufficient consensus? It is
unlikely. To reach
downwards i.e. to lowered or blurred standards of morality or integrity to try
and find consensus will be disastrous.
Wherever man has excelled in his pursuit
of excellence it has been because he has reached toward something higher /
nobler than
current aspirations and where applicable - someone higher than
himself.
So who is higher in status than man, who is the ultimate in consciousness and
excellence that we can reach to in seeking wisdom for
the writing of a
Constitution? It is surely God! Almost without exception South Africa believes
that God is. Whilst there may
be varied perceptions of God, again, almost
without exception South Africa believes that God is kindly (graciously) inclined
toward
us if we honour Him. (God is really not a figment of our imagination - we
are a creation of His imagination, to fulfil His recorded
purpose).
Seeing that we have a Supreme Being who is kindly disposed toward
people, especially those who honour Him and thereby make it possible
for His
favours to flow, do we have an example in history of guidelines He has given to
people that can set us on the right track?
Fortunately we do, the well
documented history of the nation Israel.
To them He made it clear, in
simple terminology, that in order to enjoy health and prosperity (not greed) in
the many expressions
of life they must respect Him supremely and embrace His
standards. We are even told that He singled Israel out as a tutoring experience
for the rest of the earth. Shall we learn from God's mandate to Israel or shall
we take the costly route of trial and error until
we eventually submit or never
stop paying the price of stubbornness?
A perceived unity of a nation by
outsiders (other nations) engenders a respect for that nation that it will
otherwise never enjoy.
Ideally, but unfortunately naively, that unity should be
total. The vast majority of us in South Africa are committed to the one
nation
concept aptly encouraged by the fine example of President Mandela.
So how
do we accommodate the differences?,
When it comes to standards and
principles of excellence and righteousness we must look to God.
When it cams
to standards and principles of supplementary human expression we must respect
majority consensus under God and align
with that respect for the rights of
individuals. God did that with Israel.
He indicated quite clearly that
there would be a core group with others attaching to it. The core group were
those who fully embraced
His standards and principles laid down.
In our
approach to God as a nation we also have a majority core group in those who
subscribe to the Christian faith. The remainder
should not be forced into the
same mould but accepted in their belief. In this way the nation South Africa
has given itself an identity
and the world at large can then relate to a core
identity of the nation. If we do not have a core identity neither we or others
know how to relate to us and we suffer the consequence of non-entity. Whether we
agree with their standards and principles or not
the national identity of Japan,
Saudi Arabia, India are apparent. Those of many so called Christian nations
e.g. USA, England, Germany
are more apologetic and not as apparent.
Do we
as individuals respect a person who tries to be all things to all people? No.
Likewise we cannot respect those who hide their
identity in apologetic
obscurity. This is not a call to "ram anything down anyone's throat" but to
give substance to the nation
building that we have keenly embarked
upon.
In summary, I recommend that we recognise national facts for what
they are and submit them to the authority
of God. In accepting the Bible as
God’s word to mankind we respect Jesus Christ as God the Son. If in our
Constitution making
process we reject this according to decisions made, or the
lack of them, we declare God
a liar and Jesus Christ to have lived His life
as a fraud.
Inescapably, this is an awesome assignment, only made easier
by submitting to God's authority. Hundreds of thousands if not millions
are
praying for you!
A.B. Mills
copies:
Rev. K.
Meshoe Rev. Eric Tocknell
African Christian Democratic Party
Hillcrest Christian Fellowship
Rev. Ray McCauley Mr R. Green
(Attorney)
Rhema Bible Church
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