Afrikaans speaking believers have been experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to
changes in the South African political landscape. This has caused spiritual instability that
again caused people to want to escape to beter opportunities elsewhere, reduced church
attendance and social isolation. This disillusionment is due to the fact that Afrikaans speaking
believers hold to a cultural, social and self empowering type of hope that looks to the
advantages of positive circumstances. A great void exists in research dealing with the hope
and spirituality of Afrikaans speaking believers who experience such a disillusionment, and
that resulted in this study.
An empirical study revealed that the Afrikaans community struggles to deal completely with
the new South African community. They feel the pressure of limited or no work opportunities
due to affirmative action, uncertainty regarding their role in the new South Africa and the
breaking down of Afrikaans as a historically respected language and culture. Materialism, a
false trust in political and world leaders, negative media reporting, as well as people
immigrating for beter opportunities, were singled out as contributors to the breaking down of
hope, a hope that takes on the form of cultural entitlement and social self empowerment.
A literary study showed that true Christian hope must be distinguished from wishful thinking,
the outcome of social, political or economical self empowerment or emotional optimism, but
rather that it is grounded in the faith knowledge of Jesus Christ as Redeemer. The church as
the family of God provides hope in a space where the past and the future comes together in an
active walk of faith that follows the life of Jesus Christ in serving and caring for others.
Preaching must be the carrier of hope and the reminder that the promises of God will be
realized up and until the coming of Jesus Christ in glory.
Perspectives from Scripture confirmed that hope is not just a human thought of wishful
thinking, an emotional state of mind or optimism. True Christian hope is an inner faith
conviction and trust in the promises of God for salvation, provision and grace, even in the
midst of poor or bad circumstances, caused by sin. This Christian hope is initiated and
developed through a knowledge of the Word of God, that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
True Christian hope is an inner spiritual conviction through faith in Jesus Christ, a practical lifestyle of love in accordance with God’s will and a living expectation for the coming of
Jesus Christ.
Practical-theoretical guidelines and study work were developed where Afrikaans speaking
believers, experiencing a degree of disillusionment due to a changing South Africa, can be
pastorally guided to a true Christian hope. / MA (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/13961 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Wilhelm, Christiaan George |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | other |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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