In a world crying out for justice, where do you find yourself?
In South Africa in 1994, many people around the world called it a miracle when our first free and fair elections went off pretty peacefully. We were lulled into a false sense of security with the image of a Rainbow Nation making us all think everything was okay.
But 21 years later, things are not okay. Many people around our country (and across the world it must be said) are in desperate need of justice. Race incidents and inequality, poverty and a huge and growing gap between the haves and have-nots threaten to challenge the miracle transition we celebrated so long ago.
It feels like Revolution is coming, but how will that look? And what can we do to help our country head towards better and stronger days.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Well one exciting thing that is going to be happening in South Africa in 2017 is the Justice Conference that is taking place in March.
Following in the footsteps of America, Hong Kong, Australia, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Brazil, South Africa is the first African country to be hosting this exciting event.
In the words of the organisers themselves:
Over the past 18 months, we have seen the emergence of a new generation of young South African activists rising up with a determination to finish what their elders started, to see the spirit of apartheid fall. Young Christian leaders have participated and engaged enthusiastically, and inspirationally, in this movement, speaking out boldly into the economic, educational, social and political realms. They have garnered national attention, have walked boldly in the public space, and have spoken truth to power at every turn.
These young leaders will frame the struggle for justice in South Africa over the next two decades. Over and again, we have heard South African’s young and old alike, struggle to find coherence between their faith and their pursuit of a just world. This disconnect between the theology we hear preached in church and the theology we’re walking into on the streets, has left some disillusioned and discouraged. Many students have struggled to find the language of justice they hear spoken by their peers echoed back to them by their churches, by their pastoral leadership, or in their scripture. We, like them, are thirsty for a faith that has something significant to say – in thought, in word, and in deed – to the fight for justice we’re finding ourselves engaged in day to day.
Is there a connection between the faith so many have and the need for justice in our land? The organisers of the Justice Conference seem to think so and that question will frame the plenaries, conversations, workshops and spaces of creativity over those two days.
TO SOUTH AFRICA AND BEYOND
One hope with the Justice Conference seems to be that the engagements around justice will lead to actions which will impact South Africa and then spread out and affect the rest of the continent as well.
One of the heartbeats of putting this conference together is that the process is going to be as important as the outcome – this is NOT going to be another conference of middle-aged white men speaking at an audience. Young and old, representing a spectrum of background and races, there is a collective energy that is resonating outwards and starting to build massive anticipation from a number of organisations and churches that are entering partnership with the conference.
With Cape Town having hosted the first ever Restitution Conference of South Africa just a couple of weeks ago, it really does seem like we are starting to take important issues seriously and seek out real trasnformative change. The quest for the rainbow that we would all love to see become a reality seems to really be gaining traction in the most positive of ways.
How can you get involved? Well start following the conversations happened on Twitter at @JusticeConfSA and you can also find them on Facebook: @ thejusticeconferenceSA and on Instagram: @thejusticeconferencesa.
Consider grabbing a group of friends and travelling to the conference together. Spread the word and help get other people excited about this. Head on over to the website at http://www.thejusticeconference.co.za/why_south_africa/ and read up more.
It is time that we realised that Jesus and Justice are not competing with each other but are completely intertwined. As much as God is a God of Love, He is definitely a God of Justice as well.
I am committing myself to being at the conference in March. Are you?
Also what are some of the issues of justice you would love to see dealt with at this conference? Let’s hear your ideas in the comments below.