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THE CALLING OF THE REFORMED CHURCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA IN THE MORAL RENEWAL OF THE URBAN COMMUNITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT
Background
One of the salient features of our time is the rapid growth of cities in all six continents. “Developing countries are facing an urbanisation explosion which has yet not been experienced” (Mutavhatsindi, 2008:91). This rapid urban growth was confirmed by Richardson (2007:53) who says: “The relentless development of urbanisation has created cities of size”. Furthermore he notes that the drift of mankind away from the land into cities has created an urban monster that few could have foreseen in the 18th century.
Pierli & Abeledo (2002:61) defines the phenomenon of urbanisation as the process whereby people acquire material and non-material elements of culture, behaviour patterns and ideas that originate in, or are distinctive of, the city. Urban growth, on the other hand, is the physical aspect of urbanisation. The term refers to the number of people actually living in urban areas, the increase of urban populations and the multiplication of towns. It is a global phenomenon, caused by a combination of economic and socio-cultural factors. Almost fifty per cent of the world’s population currently live in towns and cities and are considered to be urbanised (Greenway & Mashau, 2007:6; McLaren, 2006:129.
The high population growth in South Africa, as elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, is positively linked to rapid and high levels of urbanisation. The abolishment of influxcontrol in 1986 resulted in a great number of individuals and families flocking to urban areas in search of a better life. When one speak of cities and the nature of the urban environment, one largely describes what in contemporary parlance is called globalisation. Globalisation is predominantly, though not exclusively; an urban phenomenon. Tiplay (2003:2) describes globalisation as an increasing sense of a single global whole. These trends resulted in the breakdown of tribal and family life and an increased disregard for their social and moral norms, as well as economic, religious and mental insecurity.
Within the church, the harm of globalisation is also clearly seen. The importing of all kinds of foreign teaching and styles of worship means that churches in the cities are conforming to non-traditional values and imported behaviour and are not valuing their own cultural church heritage. There is a lack of understanding in the Church about sects and the New Age coming, especially in Africa (Tiplady, 2003:183).
In South Africa, the most rapid urbanisation is occurring around the largest cities: Cape Town, Durban, Greater Johannesburg, the Vaal Triangle, Pretoria, the North East Rand (Greenway & Mashau, 2007:8; Popenoe et al., 1998:42; Venter, 1998:196). Due to th researcher’s own limitations, but also because of the breadth of his research, Greater Johannesburg is going to be used for the purpose of illustration
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
KEY WORDS
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 TITLE
1.2 BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.2.1 Background
1.2.2 Problem Statement
1.3 RELEVANCY OF THE STUDY
1.3.1 The Specific Objectives of this Study
1.4 CENTRAL THEORETICAL ARGUMEN
1.5 METHODOLOGY
1.6 CHAPTER OUTLINE
CHAPTER TWO BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF URBAN MINISTRY
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE CITY
2.2.1 What urban ministry entails?
2.2.2 Triune God as involved in the sending
2.2.2.1 God the Father as the sender
2.2.2.2 Christ the Son as outgoing
2.2.2.3 The Holy Spirit as the agent of urban ministry
2.3 THE TWOFOLD MANDATE OF URBAN MINISTRY
2.3.1 The humanity in the first Adam
2.3.2 The humanity in Christ
2.4 DIFFERENT VIEWS CONCERNING THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE CITY
2.4.1 The positive image of the city
2.4.1.1 The city of God
2.4.1.2 A symbol of Good
2.4.2 The negative image of the city
2.4.2.1 A symbol of pride and arrogance
2.4.2.2 The city of Satan
2.4.2.3 The city that kills the Prophets
2.5 URBAN MINISTRY FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE
2.5.1 God wants cities to be places where systems are developed to benefit people
2.5.1.1 God’s concern for the city of Nineveh
2.5.1.2 God’s concern for the city of Jericho
2.5.1.3 God’s concern for the city of Sodom
2.5.1.4 God urged the Israelites to seek the welfare of Babylon
2.5.1.5 God transformed the secular cities
2.5.1.6 Rebuilding the city of Jerusalem
2.5.1.6.1 Background
2.5.1.6.2 Zerubbabel’s task to rebuild the temple
2.5.1.6.3 Nehemiah’s task to rebuild the walls of the city
2.5.1.6.4 Ezra’s task to restore the Law of God in the city
2.6 URBAN MINISTRY FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE
2.6.1 Jesus concern for urban ministry from the perspective of the gospel
2.6.1.1 Jesus preaching in the citie
2.6.1.2 Jesus sends disciples ahead of him to every city
2.6.1.3 Jesus wept over Jerusalem
2.6.2 Jesus’ concern for urban ministry from the perspective of the book of Acts
2.6.2.1 Jerusalem
2.6.2.2 Samaria
2.6.2.3 Judea
2.6.2.4 Antioch
2.6.2.4.1 The positive things about the city of Antioch
2.6.2.4.2 The Negative things about the city of Antioch
2.6.2.4.3 Striking features about the church of Antioch
2.6.2.4.4 Witnessing Christ in the city of Antioch
2.7 PAUL AND THE CITY
2.7.1 Propagating the gospel in the cities
2.7.1.1 The city of Corinth
2.7.1.1.1 The founding of the church at Corinth
2.7.1.1.2 Paul’s ethical system in Corinth
2.7.1.1.3 Division within the Church
2.7.1.1.4 Sexual immorality
2.7.1.1.5 Family life
2.7.1.1.6 Treatment of the poor at Eucharist
2.7.1.1.7 Food Sacrificed to idols
2.7.1.1.8 Secular Courts
2.7.1.2 City of Thessalonica
2.7.1.2.1 Church in Thessalonica
2.7.1.2.2 Ethical instruction in Thessalonica
2.7.1.3 The city of Ephesus
2.7.1.3.1 Church in Ephesus
2.7.1.3.2 Ethical instructions in Ephesus
2.7.1.4 The city of Lystra
2.7.1.4.1 The striking events which occurred at Lystra
2.7.1.4.2 Church at Lystra
2.7.1.4.3 The content and structure of the message brought to the people of Lystra.54
2.7.2 KEY METHODS THAT PAUL USED IN THE CITIES
2.7.2.1 Contacts
2.7.2.2 Household
2.7.2.3 Cemeteries of the martyrs
2.7.2.4 The Synagogues
2.7.2.5 Letters and visits
2.8 LESSON FROM SCRIPTURE FOR THE CITIES
2.8.1 The Bible views the city as sign of our times
2.8.2 The Bible views the city as network of extended family relationships
2.8.3 The Bible views the city as a place where systems are developed to benefit
people
2.8.4 The Bible views the city as a place where Spiritual warfare is going on
2.9 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER THREE THE CHALLENGES OF URBANISATION, ESPECIALLY REGARDING MORAL DECAY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 DEFINITION OF URBANISATION
3.3 THE DYNAMICS OF URBAN DEMOCRAPHICS
3.4 THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN CITIES
3.4.1 The city of Johannesburg in Pre-1994
3.4.1.1 Racial classification in the city of Johannesburg
3.4.1.2 Ecological segregation
3.4.1.3 Slums clearance
3.4.1.4 The removal of Sophiatown
3.4.2 The city of Johannesburg Post- 1994
3.4.3 The inner city of Johannesburg
3.5 CAUSES OF URBANISATION
3.5.1 Desegregation of South African cities
3.5.2 South African integrated development plans
3.5.3 Displaced agricultural workers by a weakening sector
3.5.4 Industrialisation revolution
3.6 SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN CHALLENGES
3.6.1 Introduction
3.6.1.1 Poor housing
3.6.1.2 Sexual immorality
3.6.1.3 Gangs
3.6.1.4 Drug and alcohol abuse
3.6.1.5 Poverty and urbanisation
3.6.2 Corruption
3.6.3 Family violence
3.6.4 Disintegration of the nuclear family
3.6.5 Crime
3.6.5.1 The nature and causes of crime
3.6.5.1.1 Ineffectiveness of the justice system
3.6.5.1.2 A programme of redistribution and entitlement
3.6.5.1.3 Demographics argument
3.6.5.1.4 Lack of proper housing
3.6.5.1.5 The old dispensation and its atrocities
3.6.5.1.6 Instrumentality
3.6.5.1.7 Drugs and alcohol
3.7 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FOUR THE RESPONSE OF THE RCSA TO MORAL DECAY POSED BY UBANISATION
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR MORAL RENEWAL
4.3 THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE KINGDOM
4.3.1 Worship (adoration to God)
4.3.2 Evangelism
4.3.2.1 Theological foundation of evangelism
4.3.2.2 Priority of Evangelism
4.3.2.3 Motive of Evangelism
4.3.3 Barriers to urban evangelism
4.3.3.1 Cultural barriers
4.3.3.2 Ambivalence towards immigrants or foreigners
4.3.3.3 The question of relevance ad credibility
4.3.3.4 The negative image of the city
4.3.3.5 Disunity of the church
4.3.3.6 Financial constraints
4.3.3.7 Prejudice
4.3.4 Discipleship
4.3.5 Prayer
4.3.6 Stewardship
4.3.6.1 Self-denial
4.3.6.2 Openness to outsiders
4.3.6.3 Humility
4.3.6.4 Sphere of love
4.3.7 The fellowship
4.3.8 Service
4.4 THE RCSA AND URBAN CHALLENGES
4.4.1 Specific challenges facing the RCSA in the urban areas
4.4.1.1 HIV/AIDS
4.4.1.2 Crime and violence
4.4.1.3 Systemic poverty
4.4.1.4 Inequality within the RCSA
4.4.2 Causes of this undesirable state of inequality
4.4.2.1 Religious factor
4.4.2.2 Political factor
4.4.2.3 Paternalism
4.4.2.4 The old problem of man
4.4.2.5 Disintegration of the nuclear family
4.4.2.5.1 Elderly and lonely people in the urban centres
4.4.2.5.2 The tramp
4.4.2.5.3 The street children
4.4.2.5.4 The growing number of single parents
4.4.2.5.5 Divorce
4.4.2.5.6 Same-sex marriage
4.4.2.5.7 Sexual immorality
4.4.2.6 Leadership crisis
4.4.2.7 Unemployment
4.4.2.8 Social disruption among youth and children
4.4.2.9 Legalism and Syncretism
4.5 RESPONSE OF THE RCSA TO URBAN CHALLENGES
4.5.1 God does not exclude His church from hardship
4.5.2 RCSA and HIV/AIDS
4.5.2.1 A theological response
4.5.2.2 Prophetic response
4.5.2.3 The servant church
4.5.2.4 A pastoral response
4.5.2.5 Dimension of testing
4.5.2.6 An educational response
4.5.3 The role of the church in combating crime
4.5.3.1 The church must set the moral standards of the urban community
4.5.3.2 The church must set an example as a community of peace
4.5.3.3 The church should take care of victims of crime
4.5.3.4 Healing the wounds of the militarised urban youth
4.5.4 The RCSA approach to poverty
4.5.4.1 Developing values that are consistent with Christian principles
4.5.4.2 A theology of the poor must begin with Christ
4.5.4.3 The diaconal service of the church
4.5.4.4 Practical dimension of the diaconal service
4.5.5 Overcoming corruption in the municipalities
4.5.5.1 Exposition
4.5.5.2 Honesty
4.5.5.3 Self-Control
4.5.5.4 Faithfulness
4.5.5.5 Holiness and Godliness
4.5.6 Rebuilding nuclear families in urban centres
4.5.6.1 The church as a family training centre
4.5.6.2 The training of unmarried Christians
4.5.6.3 Equip Christian parents to love God and their children
4.5.6.4 Proclaim the core values of marriage
4.5.6.5 Equipping Christian families to become centres of hospitality
4.5.6.6 Preventing and resolving family conflict
4.5.6.7 Training families to serve as anchor of evangelism
4.5.7 Extending hospitality towards urban outcasts
4.5.8 Developing leaders who are spiritual mature
4.6 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER FIVE CHURCH STRATEGY FOR THE MORAL RENEWAL OF THE URBAN COMMUNITY
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 THE DEFINITION OF THE STRATEGY
5.3 BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF STRATEGY
5.3.1 The calling of Adam and Eve after they defy God’s authority
5.3.2 From Abraham to all the families of the earth
5.3.3 From Israel to all the nations
5.3.4 The sending of Jesus Christ
5.3.5 The sending of the church
5.3.6 Kinds of strategy
5.3.6.1 Personal strategy
5.3.6.2 The corporate strategy
5.3.6.3 The mini-strategy
5.4 THE RCSA’s STRATEGY FOR THE MORAL RENEWAL OF THE URBAN COMMUNITY
5.4.1 The church should first and foremost be the servant of God
5.4.2 Present an authentic gospel
5.4.3 Holistic approach
5.4.4 Equipping a particular office of the church
5.4.5 The witnessing of the church beyond itself
5.4.5.1Creating a growing awakes within the civil society
5.4.5.2 Churches should urged their members to serve in government
5.4.6The church as an exemplary
5.4.6.1Restoring Spiritual unity
5.4.6.2 Promoting the dignity of marginalised groups within the church
5.4.6.3 Promote Christian communication within the church
5.4.6.4 Promote the concept of Ubuntu in the church
5.4.6.5 Accommodate tolerance in the church
5.4.6.6 Application of church discipline
5.4.7 Networking with other existing structures /entities in the urban areas
5.4.8 Distribution of Christian literature
5.4.9 Demographics & Psychographics
5.4.10 Training urban churches for effective evangelism/mission
5.4.10.1 Ecclesiology
5.4.10.2 Uniformity in theological training
5.4.11 Stewardship education
5.5 IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY
5.6 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER SIX PROJECTS LOCAL CONGREGATIONS CAN UNDERTAKE
6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 DEFINITION OF PROJECTS
6.3 SPECIFIC KINGDOM PROJECTS
6.3.1 Christian Education
6.3.2 Health Projects
6.3.3 Business clubs or societies of Christians concerned
6.3.4 Ministry of mercy
6.3.5 Ministry among the poor
6.3.6 Ministry in the afternoon for latchkey children
6.3.7 Ministry with substance abusers
6.3.8 Youth ministry
6.3.9 Ministry for men .
6.3.10 Telecare ministry
6.3.11 Ministry with immigrants
6.3.12 Campus ministry .
6.4 CHARACTERISTICS OF KINGDOM PROJECTS
6.5 CONCLUSION .
CHAPTER SEVEN FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 CONCLUSIVE REMARKS OF ENTIRE STUDY
7.3 FINDINGS
7.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
