SA Clerics’ Bethlehem Christmas Visit: Doing Lord’s or Politician’s Bidding
Pilgrimages are usually the times of deeper spiritual reflections, and traveling to holy places or shrines of saints in the strong belief that God would be encountered.
Ordinarily, these hallowed trips are intended to bring, for Christians, discussions that deepen their understanding of God. However, South African Christian clerics, who visited Palestine-Gaza in December 2023 in what they called ‘Bethlehem Christmas Pilgrimage’, left a seemingly discordant message.
This is especially so due to the fact that this has not been recognized as the official delegation of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and there has been a long-standing lukewarm relationship between both countries. It is not the first time to record a military confrontation between neighbors.
Backdrop of visit, conflict
Seventh of October 2023 was a day to remember. The world woke up to the horror of the massacre of hundreds of Israelis by the militant Hamas group in the Palestinian-controlled Gaza. The militants did not stop at that; they took hostage men, women and children before the Israel President; Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu could raise his head from the daze.
Headlines across the globe were cast in black for the media that saw it as such. On the other side of the divide, the part of the religious world that takes Israel as arch enemies, it was sweet victory hitting the bull’s eye like in the game of darts.
As Tel Aviv came to terms with the dastardly act, Israeli helmsman swore to settle the scores with the Hamas group. He told the world that Israel is going into a military confrontation with the Palestine militants immediately. Netanyahu did declare that it would be a long haul, not a walk in the park.
Gaza, the Palestinian strip, is largely populated and dominated by people of Islamic faith. Due to this religious persuasion, Iran – staunch Islamic nation- has made no hiding of its support for Palestinians and the military wing, Hamas.
Long outstanding conflict
In this geographical space of the Middle East, it has been a long drawn conflict that dates back deep into history and ultimately to the Holy Scriptures. Israel, as a nation, has been fighting the battle for survival and self-existence from bible days.
The small nation of less than 10 million people has always been surrounded by foes. Many of them have sworn to the task of rooting up the people said to have a special covenant with God (of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob –Israel-) according to the scriptures, a matter many regard as controversial. The Christian faithful, including the visiting clerics, have this knowledge as part of their profession of faith that the people of Israel received of God the land of Promise. According to the Scriptures, Christians are also members of the Commonwealth of Israel, in the spiritual, as a result of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, joining affinity with them that war against Israel is like incurring controversy with Jehovah – this is a strong belief system of the Christian faith.
The August clerics in a December visit
Officially, Israel maintains a diplomatic mission in Pretoria where there is the Embassy and consular offices. However, given the sour relationship between South Africa and Israel which has been for quite a long time, the parliament of the nation had in dramatic fashion voted to have ties between the two countries severed. This was in November 2023, while the Clerics went on a Christmas pilgrimage in December.
In a heated session in parliament, the ruling party members threw their weight behind the call to cut ties with Israel. The ANC politicians, who were in majority, had their way; whatever say others in the minority camps had did not tilt the overwhelming vote.
Shortly after this show by the law makers, the clerics decided it was time to go to the Middle East to show solidarity with Christians in Palestine-Gaza, and see they are doing.
A team of 19 clerics from Middle East and Afghanistan, led by their South African counterpart and top leaders of the SA Independent Churches visited the Palestinian brethren, who were reported to have asked the South Africans to support them. Although the visit was intended to visit Rafah gate and the children in Gaza, but this did not come to be because, according to spokesperson at the press briefing on arrival at Johannesburg, permission was not granted.
The position of SACC
In an official release of the South African Council of Churches, Moagisi Sibanda, Communications Director said the organization has sent messages of support to the Palestinian churches at a difficult time such as this.
Council’s General Secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana said it was horrific to observe the massacre of protesting Palestinians by the Israeli military in Gaza. He was irked by use of live ammunition on civilians that were non-violent, describing the Israeli action as disregard for human life without thought for International law and protocol.
Who represents the country in situations like this where it appeared that there are two voices speaking for the churches, and they are not expressing exactly the same view point.
