 I admit not knowing Nelson Mandela’s faith basis while admiring his life and legacy. I do know that Mandela was on his third marriage, was accused of being Communist and supported abortion. I read some articles that shared both positive and negative aspects of Mandela’s life.
Michael Trimmer’s article, Nelson Mandela and his Faith, in Christian Today, writes that, “Although it is almost universally agreed that he was a Christian, his exact denominational allegiances remain a source of discussion.” Some thought he was Jehovah’s Witness as some of his relatives were. Trimmer believes Mandela was a Methodist. Read Trimmer’s article at http://www.christiantoday.com/article/nelson.mandela.and.his.faith/34956.htm Michael Gryboski is a reporter for The Christian Post and wrote an article titled, “Nelson Mandela Worth Commending Despite Ideological Differences, Say Evangelical and Conservative Christians”. Gryboski writes that Christian leaders commend Mandela’s work to end racism in South Africa, while differing with his views on abortion, communism, and Israel. Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/nelson-mandela-worth-commending-despite-ideological-differences-say-evangelical-and-conservative-christians-110395/ Michael Oh attended Mandela’s memorial service held yesterday and wrote an article, “Why Christians Should Care About Nelson Mandela, Justice and Gospel Proclamation” in Christianity Today. Oh writes, “Nelson Mandela was an imperfect man. Anyone who wants to find flaws in his life and put them on display will find them. But one lesson that rang deeply in my heart today was that we all have something to learn from him. Until I endure years of imprisonment, I'll at least hesitate before making him an easy target for criticism. And I only wish for myself and other Christians to live as courageous and conviction-filled a life as his, whether for earthly or heavenly causes. To live sparingly for the right cause with the right theology is nothing to be proud of.” Read Oh’s article at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/december-web-only/why-christians-should-care-about-nelson-mandela.html? I appreciate Oh’s reluctance to criticize Mandela until he had spent years in prison. I may never know on this side of eternity what Mandela’s relationship was with Jesus Christ. I am challenged from Oh’s article to live boldly like Mandela, for the right cause grounded by right theology. What is your take? Was Nelson Mandela a Christian?
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 From world.time.com: “South African prosecutors on Friday formally charged ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius with shooting and killing his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day. At Pretoria Magistrates Court, prosecutors told chief magistrate Desmond Nair they would argue that Pistorius committed “premeditated murder” on Feb. 14 at his home in the South African capital.
Police have said that Steenkamp was shot in the head and the hand. Local media reports suggested Friday that the police had been called to Pistorius’ home at the Silver Woods secure housing estate in Pretoria just past midnight after neighbors reported hearing a loud argument. They were then called back a second time two hours later, around 3.00 am, after the shooting. The Afrikaans newspaper Die Beeldt reported Steenkamp had been shot four times through a bathroom door and had been hit in the hand, the pelvis, the chest and the head. On Thursday a police spokeswoman discounted initial media reports that Pistorius shot Steenkamp accidentally, thinking she was an intruder, and added officers were investigating “previous allegations of a domestic nature” at Pistorius’ home.” Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/02/15/details-emerge-of-girlfriend-murder-case-against-blade-runner-oscar-pistorius/#ixzz2KyYkcvJl Reeva Steenkamp, 30, the alleged murder victim of her boyfriend, Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, 26, was known as a top model, a men's magazine cover girl, an activist and a budding reality show star. She also graduated with a law degree from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. During the summer Olympics, I was cheering for Pistorius because of what I saw on the outside; a determined, hard-working, do not give up winner. If the allegations are true, then what was on the inside is a very different person. Jesus spoke harshly to the spiritual leaders who looked good on the outside, but inside were corrupt. Jesus’ words apply not only to the leaders then, but to the Oscar Pistorius’ in our world, to myself and to yourself as leaders in our homes, schools, work, communities and churches. We must be authentic, real inwardly and outwardly. Matthew 23: 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. The entire chapter is addressing this issue and we can avoid living like a hypocrite by taking Jesus’ call to action in these five areas: 1. Be Humble(vs 12). 2. Be Just (vs 23). 3. Be Merciful (vs 23). 4. Be Faithful (vs 23). 5. Be Authentic (vs28). Reeva Steenkamp posted this prayer on Instagram on January 29: Dear God, I need you. Everyday, Every moment, Every second that I breathe, I need you. I am not strong enough on my own. Amen.  I was half listening to public radio and the the discussion caught my attention when they began talking about the long road to instant success. I do not know who was the reporter, who was being interviewed, what the program was, but only that the answers struck home.
Everyone wishes for instant success. We observe a company that becomes a multimillion dollar operation overnight, but do not see the years of sacrifice when the owner mortgaged his home to make the company viable for another year. We see an athlete become a superstar overnight signing a contract worth millions, but do not see the thousands of practice swings, throws and years on the farm team pulling in a smaller salary than what they could make at a "regular" job. When we see the overnight success, we forget the great sacrifice of time, treasure and talent it took for that athlete, musician, artist, entrepreneur, inventor and developer to become successful. The conclusion of the interview reviewed common remarks the "overnight successes" gave to their secret of success: Keep doing the right things long enough and success will follow. Their secret to success may have come from a Proverbs in the Bible: Proverbs 2:6-8 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. The long road to overnight success.  The American Revolutionary War (1775-1781) also called the American War of Independence or the Revolutionary War offers some spiritual lessons which I will present in three blog posts:
1. Revolution, Declaration and Freedom 2. Prisoners of War 3. Allies and Enemies The war began as a political revolution. America revolted against taxation without representation. The colonist claimed that it was illegal to tax America as British subjects without any representation. Initially, the colonies were remaining loyal to the monarchy. The Boston Tea Party in 1773 boycotting taxed tea brought repercussions by Britain. Paul Revere and other riders alerted the country in 1775 of British invading marking the beginning of the war. All hope of a workable compromise ended when the Continental Congress formed by the colonist was declared as traitors by royal decree of the British monarchy. The Congress responded by declaring independence and the formation of a sovereign nation on July, 4, 1776. Battles waged for seven years until the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 recognized the United States of America as a sovereign nation. Jesus Christ began a revolution offering freedom for humankind. Jesus declared victory when He said, “It is finished”, died on the cross and late rose from the dead. Spiritual battles continue to wage as we await the final peace accord at the end of this age and the beginning of a perfect age under the rule and reign of God. Casualties of Christian freedom fighters in this spiritual revolution include disease, depression, and despair. George Washington was America’s first commander in chief. His leadership began with several defeats and retreats. Each time he would restore, rebuild and re-engage in the conflict. Revolution has begun, independence from the rule of satan is declared and final freedom is awaiting. You may encounter setbacks in life and have to retreat in a momentary defeat. A key is to remain with your troop and let Jesus, your commander in chief restore, rebuild and re-engage you in the revolution. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV1984) 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  Tomorrow is the 4th of July celebrating our independence from England. It is a day to consider positions taken by our founding fathers regarding our dependence upon God.
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ." -- Patrick Henry "Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics." -- George Washington Farewell Address to Nation "The 1st amendment has created a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall, it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government." -- President Thomas Jefferson in an address to Danbury Baptists. Joshua was a leader of Israel in the Old Testament. He was old and was passing the leadership to another. His farewell speech to the leaders contains an admonition to remain dependent upon God. Joshua 23:6-11 6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now. 9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as He promised. 11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God. Joshua 24:14-18 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because He is our God. ” During your picnics, gatherings, fireworks and rocket’s red glare, remember our dependence upon God this Independence Day .  Today, is Presidents’ Day, which celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12) and George Washington’s birthday (February 22). It falls on the third Monday of February and is both a federal and state holiday. No schools, no mail and typically no banking. Other than a day off for a portion of the population and stores holding special Presidents’ Day sales, there is very little observances or traditions surrounding this holiday.
Abraham Lincoln displayed his raw wisdom in speeches he gave and through quotes that remain. Here are a collection from quotegarden.com: A capacity, and taste, for reading, gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. It is the key, or one of the keys, to the already solved problems. And not only so. It gives a relish, and facility, for successfully pursuing the unsolved ones. ~Abraham Lincoln Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser - in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough. ~Abraham Lincoln I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot. ~Abraham Lincoln I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him. ~Abraham Lincoln I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day. ~Abraham Lincoln I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal. ~Abraham Lincoln Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. ~Abraham Lincoln Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. ~Abraham Lincoln There are no accidents in my philosophy. Every effect must have its cause. The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from the finite to the infinite. ~Abraham Lincoln Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it. ~Abraham Lincoln We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. ~Abraham Lincoln What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried? ~Abraham Lincoln Whenever I hear any one arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally. ~Abraham Lincoln With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. ~Abraham Lincoln Happy Presidents’ Day |
Mark Radeke
Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many. Archives
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