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Today …
- The emphasis here is on living life in the present, with cognisance to the past and with eyes that are open towards the future. This suggests the need to balance past, present and future.
- This is against an orientation towards a future that may never be, a preoccupation with the future that never allows one to live today.
- A better society in the future will not bring justice to the victims of the past. It remains nevertheless important to alleviate future suffering as far as this is possible.
- Theological concepts from yesterday are not necessarily fruitful for today.
- This does not imply a realised eschatology that demands an immediate realisation of God’s promises and God’s reign. A Christian eschatology is not only about a better future here on earth. It is
also about the hope for God’s merciful judgement with respect to the victims of the past and about the eschatological significance of each present moment in human history and in the history of the earth and the universe.
- The emphasis on time (today) and place (here) also suggests the need to understand and analyse our present context. This is a prerequisite for a contextualised theology. The question has to be who
is God and what is God doing today in our own lives and the life of this (extended) family, the community, this congregation, this country and this bio-region.
With dignity …
- Such dignity is an affirmation of the goodness of God’s creation, the integrity of the whole creation and the worth of every
person, created in the image of God.
- Human dignity as the core of human rights
- Dignity allows for joy and celebration, precisely in the midst of scarcity
- Implies a spirit of reciprocity and justice
- Articulated in the ethical vision of Ubuntu
- Identity established in community: I am because you are
- Integrity and honour of each human person
- Solidarity & a helping hand in times of need
- This vision is abused when it masks authoritarian and patriarchal rule. At best ubuntu is not a romantic dream about a distant agrarian past but expresses a moral vision for a dispensation that
perhaps has never been.
Questions for reflection
- This description of mission resonates well with many African themes. Does this theological description reflect your own context too?
- Are there any insights merging from our context that you could contribute in response to this description (in the form of additions, comments or criticisms)?
ANEX II – PRACTICAL GUIDELINES
Intended for Institutions and organisations which reflect and practice mission (local congregations, National Councils of Churches [NCCs], Regional Ecumenical Organisations [REOs], Theological
Institutions, Confessional families, etc.)
- Formation/education/courses
- Biblical reflections on mission and evangelism / development (why do tensions still exist?)
- Theological reflection on development.
- Training on management of development funds for addressing poverty alleviation and common human issues (HIV/AIDS, etc) - (responsible stewardship).
- Interfaith (dialogue, mission, education).
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