South Africa

Julle Mense

Discipleship and Justice (with Jeremy Koeries)

Podcasts
In this episode David Cloete sat down with Jeremy Koeries from J-Life, Africa to talk about Discipleship and Justice. What is discipleship? What does discipleship have to do with justice and overcoming racism in the church? What implications does justice informed discipleship have for the South African context? How significant is proximity to the poor for discipleship and justice in a country with a history like ours where we were…
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Julle Mense

Faith and Politics: A Christian’s Guide to Voting (with Ryan Saville)

Podcasts
In this episode David and John sit down with Ryan Saville from Jubilee Community Church and talk about the upcoming National Elections. How do we vote as Christians? What criteria do we use when deciding to vote? Should churches talk about politics? What does it mean to being an engaged citizen? How do we relate to Christians who vote for different political parties and with whom we may have significant…
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Julle Mense

Incarnational Ministry and Justice (with Grant Porthen)

Podcasts
In this episode David and John sit down with Grant Porthen from Jubilee Community Church to talk about Incarnational Ministry and Justice. What is Incarnational Ministry? How does Incarnational Ministry help us pursue greater justice and overcome the legacy of apartheid? Doesn't Incarnational Ministry carry the risk of "white saviourism"? How does an increased proximity to the poor and the marginalised affect how we do our theology? What practical steps…
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Julle Mense

White Privilege and the Christian (with Linda Martindale)

Podcasts
In this episode David and John discuss the concept of White Privilege with special guest, Linda Martindale from the Warehouse. What is white privilege? Where do you see it at work in society and in the church? What about those white people who really had to struggle? Does white privilege exclude the reality of hard work? Has white privilege affected the church? Should white people feel guilty? How does the…
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Decolonising Discipleship: Is it Enough to “Just Teach the Bible”?

Talks
There is a popular line of thought in some Christian circles that goes something like this: "We don't get involved in 'politics' or issues of racial controversy, we just teach the Bible". But is the idea of an a-contextual faith possible or even desirable? In this talk, given at TGIF, Cape Town, John Scheepers questions whether the concept of an a-contextual faith is itself even possible or more significantly desirable.…
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#SkaapGate, Race and Land in South Africa

Blog
Makhanda Nxele. Remember that name Questions linger whether the inciting incident where people were forcibly removed from Clifton beach last month was an instance of racism masquerading as concern about crime or simply a misunderstood but legitimate response to crime. There are also questions whether the subsequent cleansing ceremony itself was properly done according to African customs, or whether it is an instance of the weaponization of African culture for…
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Julle Mense

Christians in Politics (with Tumiso Mfisa & Kwena Mashela)

Podcasts
In this episode David and John sit down with Tumiso Mfisa, from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Student Command, and Kwena Mashela from the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO)to discuss the role which their Christian faith plays in their political activisim. Both are committed Christians and both are actively involved in their respective political parties. Questions include: what is like being a black Christian in the DA, a party traditionally…
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How Did our good evangelical theology allow apartheid

How did our “Good Evangelical Theology” Allow Apartheid?

Blog
The theology of Apartheid may have been perfected by the Dutch Reformed Church but it was born among the English-speaking evangelical missionaries who sought to promote the evangelization of the indigenous people whilst leaving white supremacy untouched. The resolution passed by the 1857 Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, and proposed by evangelicals, agreed that whilst it was both Scriptural and desirable to integrate indigenous believers into the existing church…
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Julle Mense

Land Expropriation without Compensation

Podcasts
In this episode we explore the history of land in South Africa, the varied reactions of white and black Christians to the announcement of land expropriation without compensation, as well as the crucial link between restitution and repentance in the Bible with special guest Pastor Peter Makapela
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