This theological-critical study covers the forty year period dating from 1962-2002. The
study aims to give a perspective of the prophetic role played by the Dutch Reformed
Church (hereafter abbreviated to DRC) regarding the South African government. The
period is defined in particular by the diverse eras in which the DRC had to function. The
prophetic role the DRC ascribed to itself was seen in a serious light. However, the DRC
occasionally struggled to fulfil this role objectively as it became drawn into the realities
of a particularly intense era.
On the one extreme, from 1948 up to the early seventies the DRC found itself in the era
of Afrikaner nationalism. During this period, the DRC moved too close to government
sentiment and leaned towards Neo Calvinism. While the DRC supported the National
Party government of the day, it still had the interest of the various groups at heart. âRas, Volk en Nasieâ was published in 1974 but was however revised. Ecumenical
pressure on the DRC increased. Peaceful co-existence was of prime importance and
the intentions well meant. The policy however ran into difficulties. Even before Soweto
Day 1976, there was a shift in attitude by the DRC and the DRC exercised its prophetic
calling by admonishing the government on various issues.
The press saw the DRC as the guardian of public morals in South Africa during this
time. The church exercised its prophetic calling by challenging government and giving
voice to its opinion on numerous public issues. The relationship between the DRC and
the government was still on a very good footing and could be described as close.
However, it became clear that the doors of government were not always open to the
DRC.
The DRC was gradually seen to be more emphatic and by 1986, the shift at each synod
had become more intense. Voices raised in criticism were more vociferous. âKerk en
Samelewingâ (1986) replaced âRas, Volk en Nasieâ (1974). The DRC tried being less
prescriptive. In doing so the DRC became at times too timorous regarding its prophetic
voice, also in regard to the new dispensation. The DRC as theological entity continued
to serve the nation during these years en route to transition by preaching hope and
forgiveness, reconciliation and peace from both the Word and Creed. During this
period, one is aware to a greater extent of the role postmodernism played. This too left
its mark on the DRC. The DRC would also not entirely escape the intensity of the
liberal democracy during this era. Also during this period, the DRC experienced the
other extreme of Black Nationalist freedom under the ANC-government. Here â in
conjunction with other churches â the voice of the DRC against social injustice is not
always very audible. This, is partly due to the fact that the doors of the new government
are far less accessible to the church. The DRCâs voice on public morality is becoming
all the quieter.
The DRC has endeavoured throughout to be a true church. In the current era, the DRC
is very aware of its God-given prophetic calling. The two opposite contextsâ in which the DRC found itself as prophet in the different eras tested its prophetic calling to the
utmost. Together with a number of important theological-critical remarks in the final
chapter, one of the primary aspects of the church as prophet was intercession, and this
the DRC practised devotedly throughout the era of 1962-2002.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-07232013-111013 |
| Date | 23 July 2013 |
| Creators | Botes, David Hermanus |
| Contributors | Prof JW Hofmeyr |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-07232013-111013/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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