Mandela: just a man but what a man
Cyberspace and the airwaves are today (6 Dec
13) buzzing with the death of Nelson Mandela.
Much of the commentary is adulatory (eg I
have seen references to him as a Christ figure). In response, some push back
with respect to his embrace of violence in the ANC armed struggle against apartheid.
I want to make a quick Christian comment
under two headings.
1.
Mandela; just a man.
Nelson Mandela was born with the creational
greatness of every person of every colour. He was made in the image of God - and
that is greatness (Gen 1:16-17).
But he was just a man. This showed in his
creational limitedness, most recently visible in his aging, illness and death.
It also showed in his sinfulness, for he too was part of the ‘all’ referred to in
Rom 3:23. This showed in things like his initiation of the ANC violent struggle
and the depths of that violence. It also showed in his part in a publicly
dysfunctional marriage and family life.
So, Mandela had feet of clay like the rest
of us. That’s no surprise to those who read their Bible, but it is worth mentioning
on this day when hagiography abounds.
2.
Mandela: what a man.
Jesus tells his people not to retaliate
against their enemies but to bless them (Matt 5:38-47). The later Mandela
embodied this to a remarkable degree and with far reaching global impacts.
From his birth in 1918 until about 1990
Mandela lived with the stigma of being a black man in a racist society. This mean separate and unequal
treatment, in which he was subject to deprivation and to the depravation of
institutionalised white supremacism.
His moment of greatness came in association
with his 1990 release from prison and his subsequent election as President of
South Africa. Power was now his. However, this was an hour of grace and
reconciliation not revenge. That is remarkable considering his sufferings under
apartheid and his previous involvement in the armed struggle. It is also rare
in a world where the ‘lest-we-forget’ way of the Balkans and the Middle East is
expressed in endless cycles of hated and payback violence.
Mandela: indeed just a mortal and sinful
man, but what a man in his generous grace.
2 comments:
Well said David. I think Mandela's capacity to forgive his enemies and unite the country are hike legacy. I heard one comment that he was "the light of the world" ( others commented that he was A light, but one did say THE light) and that title only belongs to one Person.
*his
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