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Dr. Peter Hammond has sent out an insightful newsletter from Africa Christian Action on Fri 17 April 2009, on the causes and cure of poverty. This analysis also shows how myths pertaining to poverty simply do not hold water. From the squatter camps, to the rundown ghettos, to the refugee camps, Christians are struggling to respond to suffering with practical love. The difference of productivity and income per person in the Western world compared to the so called "developing" or "third" world was 2 to 1 last century. Now it is 70 to 1. This escalating disparity, along with the impact of natural and man-made disasters, has greatly increased the flow of refugees and "illegal aliens" into Western nations. It has also greatly aggravated the spread of diseases, environmental degradation, the escalation of crime and the possibilities of conflict. One of the main responses of the industrial nations has been to supply generous amounts of foreign aid to the poorer nations. However, foreign aid has been accused of denying the poorer nations the chance to develop their economies to viability. Most aid does not encourage self sufficiency and growth. The dumping of food-surplus aid has damaged local agriculture in the long term. It is hard for farmers to sell what is being given away. While we must most certainly love our neighbour, especially the deserving poor, we need to be wise and discerning in our aid so as to encourage responsibility and rehabilitation. The Abuse of Relief Aid It is actually Hinduism's re-incarnation beliefs, its' sacred cows, protected rats, idols made of gold and jewels, wasted resources and superstition that are causing the poverty and starvation in India. Ethiopia in the 1980's was a classic example of a man-made famine. Socialism, confiscations and nationalisations, the abolishment of incentive, the punishment of productivity and subsidising of irresponsibility caused the starvation in what used to be called "the breadbasket of Africa." The "Red Terror" mass executions, forced removals of millions of people and destruction of crops by the government further aggravated the famine. The corruption and abuse of the relief aid in Ethiopia was the ultimate scandal: 100% import tax was charged on all free relief aid! Brand new Mercedes Benz trucks were required with 100% import tax imposed on all these trucks for transporting the food. All these trucks had to be signed over to the marxist government of Ethiopia! (And all this while US$70 million was spent on the "Anniversary of the Revolution" celebrations in 1984 - ½ for alcohol!). In fact, much of the relief aid and food was used for the many Cuban, Soviet and East German military who were involved in causing the famine. Some of the food was actually exported in payment for weapons! In the 1980's Mozambique was another example of a man-made famine in a country which used to export food. After the marxist revolution of 1975 a socialist economy was imposed upon the people. Farms were confiscated. Factories were nationalised. Hundreds of thousands of people were incarcerated in concentrated camps. Over 75000 people were accused of being "black marketeers", "reactionaries" and "counter revolutionaries" and publically executed. Food was exported to the Soviet bloc in exchange for weapons. A scorched earth policy was later launched to starve out the resistance to the Frelimo government by burning down crops and villages. Bureaucratic wastage and corruption became a growth industry. Economic poverty and social chaos resulted. However, in Mozambique it was not only marxism that caused the starvation but also animism. The widespread practise of ancestoral worship led many poor families to sacrifice their last goat or chicken to appease the "ancestoral spirits"! In Albania and Romania I have come across Gypsies deliberately starving their babies and then laying these malnourished infants out on sidewalks with a hat next to them to beg for money. Any money received was used for cigarettes and alcohol. In India some street people have actually maimed or mutilated their own children to make them more pitiful, and therefore effective, in begging. In South Africa, having spent many months on the streets of Hillbrow and Durban doing street evangelism, I have seen professional beggars at work. I have seen "cripples" letting down their strapped leg and stretching and walking unaided without their crutches; and I've seen the "blind" lift up their dark glasses to count the money in their hat. Some street children have told me that they can make an average of R200 a day from begging! In all too many cases our casual and spontaneous handing over of some coins to strangers begging on the streets does more harm than good. Giving to beggars on the streets often goes to subsidising drunkenness, smoking, drugs, prostitution and gambling. Some of the beggars are child prostitutes and thieves using begging as a cover while looking for opportunities. Then there are the "religious" con-men who know the terminology and can deceive and manipulate the unsuspecting into handing over large quantities of cash for spurious causes. I have also been one of those deceived by professional "converts" who let themselves be counselled to Christ only to "borrow" money from the well meaning evangelist. Multiple millions of rands are squandered by guilt-manipulated Christians giving to beggars at traffic lights, at their front door and on the streets. At the same time good ministries like the Salvation Army, the Docks Mission, the Ark, Cape Town City Mission, Love in Action and others are struggling for lack of support. There is a desperate need for good stewardship of our limited resources. It would be more responsible to channel our compassion to supporting Christian ministries which have proven their effectiveness in reaching out in love to help the poor. Biblical charity does not subsidise sin nor should it encourage irresponsibility. So before we get down to practical strategies to care for the poor, and to eradicate poverty, let us define poverty and consider what causes poverty. What Causes Poverty? The poor could be described as: "Persons who do not have, and are unable to obtain, the means for sustaining life. If they are to survive they are thus dependant upon the resources of other people." The Biblical definition of the poor could be: "Those who cannot sustain themselves because they are too old, too young or too handicapped to work." There are four broad categories under which all causes of poverty could be grouped: Personal sacrifice, slothfulness, calamity (earthquakes, floods, wars, etc.), or exploitation. Self-imposed Poverty "He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer" Proverbs 18:9. "How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep - so shall your poverty come on you like a robber . . ." Proverbs 6:9-11. "Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands, the house leaks . . ." It is a disgrace to be lazy (Prov 10:5). Lazy people always find excuses not to work. Those who love sleep will grow poor (Prov 19:15; 20:13). "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." 2Thess 3:10 Moral poverty often dooms its people to ongoing material poverty. Selfishness, greed, laziness, immorality, short-sightedness, gambling, alcohol abuse, addiction to pornography, indulging in prostitution, drug abuse and other sins are symptoms of rebellion against the Law of God. Such evils inevitably lead to poverty. Victims of self imposed poverty need the Gospel and discipleship to free them from their lifestyle of sin. Imposed Poverty UnBiblical worldviews underlie the poverty of the third world. The fatalism and re-incarnation beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism, where the material world is not perceived as real and difficulties are understood as a result of the deeds of a previous life ("my Karma is bad") are paralysing to progress. The Animist worldview which sees man at the mercy of outside forces - the spirits - lead people to be shackled by superstition and fear. The fatalism of Islam is also not conducive to productive planning and innovation. The poor-by-exploitation need both direct charity to meet immediate needs and justice in the form of restitution from those who exploited them, and freedom from false religions. The poor-by-calamity (victims of floods, earthquakes, wars, etc.) are the most appropriate recipients of charity - though the aim is always to help them become self-supporting again. Poverty in History Poverty is a consequence of the Fall (Gen 3:17-19). Famines were commonplace before the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, England suffered famines an average of 7 times per century. A third of the population died in the province of Bengal in the great Indian famine of 1769-1770. Similar losses were experienced in India in 1783 and 1790-1792. India suffered a further 8 famines from 1838 to 1901 with well over 9 million dying of starvation. In a single famine in North China from 1877 to 1878 over 9,5 million died. Only the Christian work ethic and the resultant industrial revolution brought the West out of the recurring horror of famine. A wooden plough drawn by oxen can provide food for one large family. By the 18th Century, the new iron plough drawn by a horse could provide food for 3 families. By the 1940's a tractor pulling a plough could feed 14 families. Now advanced tractors, tools and techniques can enable one farmer to produce enough food for 60 families. It is an observable fact that the most efficient economies in the world are based upon private ownership of property, honest money, free enterprise and a Christian work ethic. Is Colonialism Responsible? The notion that colonialism is the major cause of world poverty was popularised by Vladimir Lenin, and his disciples have faithfully repeated it ever since. However, contrary to the ahistorical mumblings of the coloniphobics, some of the most poverty-stricken and backward lands imaginable - Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nepal, Tibet and Liberia - never fell under Western colonial control. Some colonies - like Hong Kong - became very prosperous. And some of the richest and most advanced Western lands, such as Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, never controlled any colonies. Other advanced countries such as the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada were themselves colonies. Actually, contact with the West brought far more benefits than disadvantages. Tea and rubber trees, for example, were foreign to Asia, as was mealie meal in Africa. Such blessings were the results of colonialism. Some of the main "Scars of Colonialism" include roads, railways, schools, hospitals, the wheel, written languages, the Bible and churches. The ancestor-worshipping and idolatrous religions have rendered whole civilisations powerless in the face of "nature". "Unquestioning acceptance of nature and its vagaries is widespread in Africa", declares Bishop Bududira of Burundi, who maintains that local cultures obstruct material progress by wrong mental attitudes, seeing themselves as suffering history rather than in making it. He concludes that: "The message of Christ frees people from the shackles of tribal thinking, and leads to a greater sense of personal responsibility." - Reality and Rhetoric, Lord Bauer The tribalistic philosophies inhibit productivity, penalise accomplishment and confiscate what little is produced. Animism teaches its adherents to regard themselves as helpless in the face of their surroundings - assuming "that the opportunities and the resources for the economic advance of oneself or one's family have to be provided by someone else - by the state, by one's superiors, by richer people, or from abroad. This attitude is in turn an aspect of the belief of the efficacy of external forces over one's destiny . . . It is an attitude plainly unfavourable to material progress." - Dissent on Development, P. T. Bauer "The idea that it is evil to make personal economic progress takes hold of the people and fear of being envied prohibits growth and encourages poverty." - Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators, David Chilton "One of the decisive factors in understanding development or non-development is the `envy barrier' or institutionalised envy among the population." - Envy: A Theory of Social Behaviour, Helmut Schoeck Into this unhealthy situation comes Foreign Aid, which only increases dependence, corruption and greed, rather than developing responsibility. The problems in the Third World are not primarily political or economic. The problem is false religion and the resultant pagan philosophies/worldview. The solution is therefore also primarily religious - the world needs to be converted to and discipled in the Christian Faith. Church and mission based relief would not only be more efficient but would inspire greater personal responsibility and economic productivity. Is Socialism Biblical? Socialism is legalised theft. It is institutionalised envy. It is the use of envy and guilt to manipulate productive Christians into committing economic suicide. The socialist doctrine of economic equality requires the stealing of property and the prohibition of economic freedoms. - Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators - David Chilton "Socialism is not the pioneer of a better and finer world, but the spoiler of what thousands of years of civilisation have created. It does not build; it destroys. For destruction is the essence of it. It produces nothing, it only consumes what the social order based on private ownership of the means of production has created . . ." - Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis - Ludwig von Mises To almost every problem in the world, Socialism advocates state intervention. In this way socialists insist on unBiblical powers for the government to interfere with, or control, prices, markets, wages, jobs, profits, population control, education, movement, etc. The inevitable end of increasing government intervention is the erosion of personal freedom. Socialism destroys incentive, initiative and productivity. Socialists are parasites who consume what others have earned by hard work and ingenuity. Socialists try to cut up "the pie" to the advantage of their supporters, free enterprise just makes more pies for everyone. Price controls create an imbalanced, chaotic market, minimum wage laws result in unemployment, profit restrictions increase consumer costs, enforced economic equality leads to stagnation, destruction of initiative and more poverty. Concern for the poor has long been used as a justification for all sorts of crime - Judas Iscariot, who was a thief, is a prime example (John 12:4-6). Envy is the greatest disease of our age. Envy is the feeling that because someone else has something he is to blame for my not having it! The main motive behind envy is not so much to take as to destroy. Envy and malice are inseparable. "Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer." Proverbs 14:30 "Rather than wealth causing poverty, it is far more true to say that what causes poverty is the widespread belief that wealth does!" - Wealth and Poverty - George Gilder If we have needs, the Bible commands us to: Pray (Phil 4:6-7), to Work (1 Thess 4:11), to Trust God (Phil 4:19) and to Be Content (Phil 4:12). The only thing Socialism has ever been able to provide its adherents with is the "guaranteed income" of Romans 6:23: "The wages of sin is death." Biblical Principles for Economics 2. FREE ENTERPRISE. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods. God blesses productivity, incentive, initiative and hard work (Ex 20:15-17; 30:14-15; Lev 19:15; 1 Sam 8:10-18; 1 Kings 21:3; Ezra 7:23-24; Prov 10:2-4; 12:24; 13:4,11). Private ownership of property and of the means of production is Biblical. It is also foundational for freedom and prosperity. 3. LIMITED (CONSTITUTIONAL) GOVERNMENT. Any taxation of 10% or higher is defined in the Bible as oppression. And any taxation of property or inheritance is strictly forbidden. Institutions and individuals involved in the fulltime service of the Lord may not be taxed. All their income comes from free will offerings made unto the Lord by people who have already paid tax on their incomes (Ezra 7:23-24). Less government means more freedom and more personal responsibility (1 Pet 2:13-14; Rom 13:3-4; Eccl 8:11; Ps 19:7-9; Prov 14:34; Ps 9:17). 4. GOD HONOURING CHARITY. The Biblical principle is that we are responsible to care for our family first and then through the church, community and missionary organisations express love for our neighbour in action. Person to person, church to church, mission to community direct aid based upon evangelism and discipleship. All this is aimed to encourage responsibility and productivity. It is short term aid aimed at long term (eternal) benefits. The goal is to help the victims of poverty back onto their own two feet - where they can, in turn, help others (Isaiah 58:7; James 1:27). Matthew 25:35-36 and Ezekiel 34:2-4teach us to: Strengthen the weak, bind up the injured, care for the sick, share your food with the hungry, clothe the naked, invite in the stranger and look after widows and orphans. The Christian Foundations for prosperity are laid with these basic principles: Christians must respect one another's property, never steal or cheat, always abide by contracts, be industrious in earning money, be disciplined in saving money, be wise in investing money, be obedient to God in tithing to Christian ministries, be discerning in sharing with those in need. Work all you can, earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can. Biblical charity is to be primarily directed to widows, orphans and the handicapped - the deserving poor (1Tim 5:3-16). Biblical methods of charity include: gleaning, lending, labour and tithes through the local church. Are you supporting a Biblical ministry to the poor? We are our brother's keeper (Genesis 4:9). Don't just give food or money - also give of your time to share the love and Gospel of Christ personally. Love is something you do, not just something you feel. Regardless of what the government does, regardless of what the church does, families and individuals have a responsibility to obey God. Since charity is primarily a function of the Christian family, working in concert with other Christian families, it is essential that each of those Christian families begin to implement the love of God practically. Charity begins at home: educating children, caring for the helpless, and strengthening the weak. It begins as we encourage others, co-ordinate resources, network with existing programs, and spearhead new efforts - Bringing in the Sheaves, George Grant. The South African one cent coin had the sparrows to remind us that God cares for the very least (Matthew 10:29). And every Rand coin has inscribed: Soli Deo Gloria - every Rand we spend should be to the glory of God alone! God cares about every cent. Every rand we spend must be to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Pray (Phil 4:6-7), Work (1 Thess 4:11), Trust God (Phil 4:19), Be content (Phil 4:12), Be generous (2 Cor 9:6-12). "God loves a cheerful giver, and God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Cor 9:7-8 Peter Hammond For further reading on this subject I recommend that you obtain: Bringing in the Sheaves - Transforming Poverty into Productivity by George Grant and The Samaritan Strategy by Colonel Doner. BIBLE VERSES TO MEDITATE ON "If there is a poor man among your brothers at any of the towns in the land that the Lord your God has given you, do not be hardhearted or tight-fisted toward your poor brother." Deuteronomy15.7 "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble." Psalm 41:1 "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed." "He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me? declares the Lord." Jeremiah 22:16 "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done." "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." Psalm 21:13 "If the king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure." Psalm 29:14 "Is it not to share your food with the hungry, and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" Isaiah 58:7 "I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me." Matthew 25:43 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:34 "He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him... Go and do likewise." Luke 10:34-37 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the Law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep yourself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27 Africa Christian Action
POVERTY- ITS CAUSES AND CURE
Since 1954 the USA has shipped millions of tonnes of food aid to India - to the Indian government (not private businesses or agencies). Rats have consumed more than half of this food at the docks and storage facilities! Because of Hinduism's belief in reincarnation, rats and sacred cows may not be killed! It would take a train 3000 miles long to haul the grain eaten by Indian rats in a single year! Also, the sacred cows in India eat enough food to feed most of Asia! And the Hindu temples contain a vast fortune of gold, rubies, sapphires and other precious stones in their statues - which are worshipped as idols.
A definition of poverty could be: "an insufficiency of the material necessities of life."
The lazy and indolent (slothful) inevitably suffer the consequences of their sin:
Eccl 10:18.
(Prov 15:19; 26:13-16).
The main causes of imposed poverty are: oppression and religious error. Oppression consists in governments or individuals violating others' God given rights' to life, property and liberty. This takes the forms of fraud, theft and violence. (Inflation/unbacked currencies/counterfeiting; socialism; excessive taxation; corruption; wastage; inefficiency; etc.).
The key question when faced by the disparity between rich and poor individuals and societies is not "How did this man/society become poor?" Poverty is the natural condition of man. The question is: "How did anyone become rich?"
Much of the Third World is definitely in a shocking mess. One-party dictatorships, economic chaos, malnutrition, famines, civil wars, massacres and abject poverty are the norm in most of Africa. But who is responsible?
Despite exhaustive and imaginative efforts by so-called "Christian Socialists" to promote socialism as "true Christian love and sharing" - the Ten Commandments still stand: "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods."
1. HONEST MONEY. Throughout the Bible money is spoken of by weight. God's Law requires that financial transactions be made in terms of honest measures. God hates and forbids unjust weights and measures, inflation, fractional reserve banking, unbacked currencies, and multiple indebtedness (Lev 19:35-36; Prov 11:1;20:10; 20:23; Amos 8:5-7; Micah 6:11-12). In 1982 you could post a letter in South Africa for 4 cents. In 1970 you could buy a new car for R1000. The devastating impact of unbacked currency/inflation on pensions and savings is criminal. Biblical Law requires honest money backed up by real constant value.
Psalm 82:3
Proverbs 19:11
PO Box 23632
Claremont
7735
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689 4481
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Web: www.christianaction.org.za
It is always interesting to talk to people to hear their criteria for choosing who to vote for in an election. With the 2009 elections coming up on 22 April, it is time again to hear the ideas of people. People have different reasons for why they vote for certain political parties. Most people look at financial issues, hence, their political outlook is mostly for personal gain. How can the government make my life better? This of course shows a dependence on the government. This is also not just an issue for the poor! The rich have the same thoughts. They would like a government that will ensure that their riches don't get squandered on unnecessary taxes, or will at least see to it that the money of the rich will keep on growing. As Christians, we march to the beat of a different drum… a heavenly drum! And that drum is not beaten by us, the Christians, but by the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ Himself. It is very much a Lordship issue, even in deciding who we will vote for in a political election. God is not uninterested in politics! This is not that one sphere of life where God leaves man to his own devices. This is not a no-go zone for God! "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. (Ps 24:1)" To think that God can be excluded from any sphere of life, no matter how corrupt it has become, shows a naivety that does not belong with clear thinking people. Politics, essentially has nothing to do with power. It primarily has to do with justice and care for a nation. It is exactly the quest for power by politicians that nations end up like Zimbabwe, DRC, Middle-East and China. Politics is about the good of the country, not about the individuals leading the country. As Lord Acton once said: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This is too much of a reality in our modern world not to take notice of it. So, how does this choice of who to vote for affect Christians? When we look at who gets the vote in South Africa, it makes one wonder how many Christians actually march to the heavenly drum! Up until our last elections, it has been the ANC and DA as number one and two parties respectively. Those results are quite perplexing, considering that about 70% of the population claims to be Christian. Why is this perplexing? Well, if one looks at the South African Voter's Guide, it becomes clear that these two parties stand antithetically opposed to Biblical Christian values. Christians simply do not not have the luxury of making up their "own minds" on issues that have been clearly spelt out in the Scriptures. That is on any issue in life. Yet, it is true that the Scriptures do not tell us who to vote for. However, that does not give us an escape route to vote for parties that do not stand on the Lord's side! In making up our minds who to vote for, there should be a clear procession of thought on the issues. As Christians, our decision must be guided by clear Biblical mandate first. That means, where the Bible speaks clearly, we have to follow. If the Bible is clear on the issue of murder, we cannot vote for a party that supports abortion, ala ANC and DA. The Bible is clear on murder. You get the point! Therefore, Biblical moral issues must be adhered to first in our decision before any other issues that are based on conscience or expediency. So, issues such as abortion, pornography, homosexuality, prostitution and the like must take precedence in your decision who to vote for. The Bible is clear on these issues. There are clear commands and Biblical doctrine on each of these issues and other moral issues. As a result, issues of conscience, on which the Bible has no clear teaching, must play second fiddle to moral issues. Even more so, issues of expediency such as simple economic issues. If Christians do not use their votes towards establishing Biblically righteous government, they are indeed using their votes towards evil. And, perpetuating evil in this way is clear disobedience against the clear statutes of God. "Without virtue, a society can be ruled only by fear, a truth that tyrants understand all too well."1 Already, the ANC is planning to amend the South African Constitution if they win a two-thirds majority. Voting by a Christian must result in a better country with justice for all. A better country can only be seen as a righteous country. It does not have to be a country where all its citizens are Christians, but it will be a country where the people understand what is right and what is wrong, and where the law and its application brings true justice for all. There are many Christians that vote for both the ANC and DA. They vote for the ANC as the so-called liberators from apartheid, and others vote for the DA as a so-called strong opposition to the ANC. With the upcoming elections, there will also be the breakaway party, COPE. When you look at the SA Voter's Guide, you will realise that COPE's policies are exactly the same as that of the ANC. In fact, of the 8 issues in the guide, the ANC and COPE get 0/8 and the DA get 2½. The ½ of the DA here is only because of stated policy, disregarding their poor voting record in parliament. Remember, voting is a Christian duty. In a democracy, your vote can actually effect change. Your vote can move this country closer towards justice and righteous government. Don't throw that vote away by denying a party perhaps just that one vote it needs to have someone put into parliament. Further, don't waste your vote on the memories of so-called past liberation or on the promise of so-called strong opposition, especially when both of these sides stand for very much the same when it comes to moral issues. Let your vote count towards righteous government, and vote for a Christian party such as the ACDP or CDA. Christian, do not support and perpetuate immorality by giving your vote to parties that do the same! Do not vote through fear, but rather let your vote reinforce Christian Biblical values! Notes 1. Colson, Charles and Pearcey, Nancy, How Now Shall We Live?, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 1999, p373.
Many people outside South Africa have little knowledge of what is really going on in South Africa. I don't blame them. Since the 1994 fully democratic elections that delivered Nelson Mandela as the winner, South Africa has been seen as a great example of success, being dubbed the "Rainbow Nation!" South Africa is not a democracy as much as it is a tyranny by the majority over the minority ruled by corrupt politicians with an evil glint in their eyes. Neither is South Africa a "Rainbow Nation" as much as it is a stormy torrent of crime, corruption and drug laden dark back alleys. Peter Hitchens, at the Daily Mail, wrote a thought provoking piece after a visit around ANC strongholds in South Africa. It is called "He has four wives and he faced 783 counts of corruption: PETER HITCHENS on South Africa's next president." Here are a few paragraphs of Hitchens' story: "Imagine how you would react if Gordon Brown opened and closed his election rallies by bursting into a song called Bring Me My Machine Gun, swaying and jigging to the hypnotic chorus of this menacing ditty. "And how would you feel if the Prime Minister were alleged to be taking campaign money from Colonel Gaddafi; faced 783 counts of fraud, racketeering, tax evasion and corruption which somehow never came to court; and had been acquitted of rape while his fearsome supporters mobbed the courthouse? "Then ponder how you would despair if, despite all these things, Mr Brown's party was certain to win the election whatever he did or said. "If you can picture all this happening here, then you have an inkling of the horrible process South Africa is now going through. Except it is much, much worse." The following cartoon is one of the calm depictions of Jacob Zuma at the Mail&Guardian:
Dr. Peter Hammond has sent his latest newsletter to day and I agree wholeheartedly with him on the 2009 elections coming next week, 22 April. South Africans need to stand against the evil of the ruling party, and not only against the ruling party, but against all parties that stand for evil. See the SA Voters Guide. Without further ado, here is Peter Hammond's latest newsletter. Over A Million Reasons Why I Will Not Be Voting ANC There are over a million reasons why I will not be voting for the African National Congress (ANC) in the upcoming elections on 22 April 2009: 1. Over 800, 000 babies have been killed by abortion in South Africa – officially, legally, often with tax payer’s money - since the ANC legalized abortion on demand, 1 February 1997. 2. Over 350, 000 people have been murdered in South Africa since 1994 – under the ANC government – yet the ANC has steadfastly refused to consider re-instating the death penalty for murder. Nor have they been willing to put the matter to a referendum. 3. Over 750, 000 women and children have been raped in the 15 years of ANC rule – while pornography has been legalized. Less than 7% of reported rapes result in convictions. 4. The ANC is soft on the criminals and hard on the victims of crime. Rather than fight crime effectively the ANC have worked to disarm the potential victims of crime, denying firearm licenses to tens of thousands of law abiding citizens, claiming that self-defense is not a legitimate reason for owning a firearm! Rather than support community initiatives to fight crime the ANC have frustrated communities by demanding that security barriers be removed from crime afflicted suburbs. "Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice." Isaiah 1:16-17 5. The ANC’s Ministry of Education has evidenced a consistent hostility to Christianity, insensitivity to the concerns of parents and prejudice against the Bible. Kadar Asmal’s anti-Christian policies and the unworkable curriculum 2005 Outcomes Based Education dumbed down education and has turned government schools into recruitment centers for radical homosexual groups. 6. The ANC’s affirmative action and blind support for Mugabe’s racist and tyrannical policies have chased away investors and cost the South African economy over 2 million jobs. According to the JSE, the net worth of South Africa over the first 10 years of ANC rule shrunk by over 30%. And the Rand under the ANC has plummeted from R2 to the US dollar to R10 to $1. 7. Rates and taxes are higher and government services are lower. Despite increased rates and taxes the filthy, litter strewn, graffiti vandalized communities testify to the incompetence of government. "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting..." Daniel 5:27 8. Corruption has flourished under the ANC to such an extent that the ANC is being referred to in the streets as the Abortion, Nepotism and Corruption party. "They claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." Titus 1:16 9. The endless propaganda and pornographic programmes on the state TV – which is supported by compulsory “licences”. 10. The arrogance of so many in the ANC and the arbitrary manner in which they ride roughshod over the concerns and freedoms of others – such as the Minister of Health refusing to meet over a thousand concerned doctors; and how their ICASA has attempted to close down 9 Christian and community radio stations in South Africa. The Bible instructs us to “select capable men from all the people - men who fear God,trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials..." Exodus 18:21 Evidently the ANC candidates fail to qualify on Biblical grounds. Dr. Peter Hammond Tel: 021-689 4481
Africa Christian Action
PO Box 23632
Claremont
7735
Cape Town
South Africa
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Web: www.christianaction.org.za
There is a DVD making the rounds about how God did a miracle in Fiji when He raised Christians (or a Christian party) to rule the nation. How many years ago that was supposed to have happened, I do not know. This DVD has created quite a stir among a small Christian group in the hope that the same would happen here in South Africa. Of course, this is all in the hope that South Africa will get a political solution with Godly government. I am sure most Christians hope for something like this to happen in South Africa. Is it realistic? Not at all! It is very presumptive to think that God would bring about such a miraculous change in South Africa in order to bring about a Christian political dispensation. Of course, the New Testament never promises Christians any kind of majority political rule this side of heaven! God's kingdom is NOT of this world! Coming back to Fiji, the island nation experienced a military coup back in 2006, which has brought the country into disrepute. Just this week, all free news reporting has been halted, and several foreign journalists have been expelled from the country. Since there was a major change in government run by Christians some time ago, and that was seen as a miracle, are we to believe that the coup was also a miracle? You see, when you put your hope in political means, your hopes will eventually be dashed. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Ps 20:7) For those who want to think the worst of this blog post, NO, I am not saying that we as Christians should not be involved in politics. Neither am I saying that we should not vote. What I am saying is that if your hopes and energy are spent on the political process, you are wasting your time. It is NOT the political process that will change people's hearts. Political canvassing can merely get a vote in the form of a cross on a ballot paper. Political activity leads NO ONE to the cross of Christ. So, go vote on 22 April and get involved in Christian politics. Just remember, politics don't change hearts, only the gospel of Jesus Christ can!
In 2007, the talent show, Britain's Got Talent, dished up an amazing surprise in Paul Potts. Of course, if you do not know who Paul Potts is, you need to be introduced.
Now this year, there is a new discovery in a 47 year old odd little woman by the name of Susan Boyle. Listen and enjoy!
Are you amazed, like I was?!
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The U.N. and the homosexuality posse have been putting pressure on many countries to normalise homosexual practice (hence U.N.osexual).
It is a breath of fresh air to hear a government tell the U.N. that it will not bow before immoral, "illegal, unnatural and abnormal" practices.
"Uganda will not be forced to legalize practices that are illegal, unnatural and abnormal… At the United Nations there are attempts by some nations to impose homosexuality on the rest of us… We have learned that they want to smuggle in provisions on homosexuality… Yesterday I spoke to [Uganda's UN] ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda and reminded him of Uganda's position, which opposes legalisation of homosexuality," said the Ugandan Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity Dr. James Nsaba Buturo.
Read more of this story at "Uganda Refuses to Bow to United Nations Pressure to Accept Homosexuality."
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In a press conference the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it was "neither possible nor desirable for the NPA to continue with the prosecution of Mr Zuma." The full statement by the NPA can be read here. I am of the opinion that the phrase, "neither possible nor desirable," most probably has nothing to do with the actual facts of the case. There are over 300 charges against Zuma in his charge sheet. Could they not find one serious enough to stick? There are some questions. Have the NPA been having us on? Was this 8 year saga merely sabre rattling by the NPA? What pressure was exerted on the NPA for them to drop it? What was so undesirable about prosecuting Zuma? I am sure you have many more questions! The dropping of the case creates more questions than it provides solutions. The NPA's backward manoeuvre on this case is a political solution and not one of justice. The fact that the NPA declared this case "undesirable" points to a political solution. It is obvious that it has become undesirable to prosecute Zuma for some political reason! The fact is that it has become undesirable for Zuma to be prosecuted because it would have brought great shame to South Africa if a sitting president came up for corruption charges. If that were the case, it is way too late now! The opposite of the desired effect will be accomplished by the NPA's decision. South Africa has now clearly become a state in which the constitution and rule of law have no meaning. If it were any lesser person than Zuma who had the exact charges brought against him, he probably would have been in jail by now! After 8 years of investigation, justice is the only route to follow, even if Zuma is innocent. The solution as it stands now, has created scepticism and suspicion. The ANC and Zuma must not think that we think he is innocent. Far from it! Just because the NPA is not prosecuting in no way declares Zuma innocent! The injustice in this decision by the NPA, adds to the downfall of this once great country. "By justice a [president] builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down." (Prov 29:4) Corruption in government, especially by the incumbent president, will further sully the image of South Africa. But, I suppose "evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely." (Prov 28:5) The fact that justice is not understood in this country, is a clear indication how far this nation has fallen from the grace of God. Further, the NPA also puts blame at the feet of the news media. How quaint! In the report, the NPA says: "Although I can understand that the matter at hand is an issue which is of great public importance, I wish to say that much of the speculation verged on the irresponsible and has had the effect of placing the NPA under a great deal of pressure." Pressure from the media? Whatever the media had to say about the saga, the NPA still had to make a decision based on the facts of the case at hand. Has the NPA become so weak that the media can put pressure on it? Lastly, for now at least, it seems that the NPA admits to the fact that it does not have enough independence from governmental influences, as acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe said: "It was then and it still is difficult for me to comprehend that which is set out below could have happened. The painful facts that I am about to put before you have serious implications for the integrity and independence of the NPA especially regarding the prosecution of Mr Zuma. "We believe that it is vital that the NPA must expose this conduct and deal with the consequences as honestly and constructively as possible if it is to have any chance of rebuilding its credibility and integrity. Our democracy will have to find ways to learn from this bitter experience and to build a stronger and more independent NPA." By making such a statement it has become clear that the NPA, which should not be influenced by government, has experienced its own share of abuse of process. This, perhaps, is the clearest indication that the NPA was pressured, not by the media (an excuse), but by the ANC to let go of the Zuma case! The question, then, remains: Will we ever get to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? You better keep on breathing!
South Africa's constitutional rule of law was thwarted today.
"Someone once said that, for every rookie you have on your starting team in the National Football League, you will lose a game. Somewhere, at some time during the season, a rookie will make a mistake that will cost you a game.
"We now have a rookie President of the United States and, in the dangerous world we live in, with terrorist nations going nuclear, just one rookie mistake can bring disaster down on this generation and generations yet to come.
"Barack Obama is a rookie in a sense that few other Presidents in American history have ever been. It is not just that he has never been President before. He has never had any position of major executive responsibility in any kind of organization where he was personally responsible for the outcome."
Read Thomas Sowell's "A Rookie President."
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…and that man does not learn from history!
"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." (Eccl 1:9)
It seems that when a person with evil intentions is given too much power, that he would walk down the same road as other evil men before him, and then believe that things would turn out differently! Does Obama really believe that walking the same road as Hitler, he could produce a different result? He is either plain stupid, naive, mentally deranged, or he is planning evil!
Read Hilmar von Campe's "Nazi godlessness: We're on our way" in which he shows eerie similarities between Hitler and socialism's past, and Obama's planned future.
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I have been saying that South African farmers are a target group for the current government for a long time now.
There is NO easier way for "land reform" than to let murderers have their way on farms, and so scare more and more white people not to go into farming, or to give up their farms!
Farmers, as a relatively small subgroup, have seen 3000+ murders.
Sarah, Maid of Albion, wrote the following:
"I have today updated the total number of white South African farmers killed in the world's most ignored genocide to 3,041. From today (April 4 2009) I shall update this post every time I am notified of further killings, and link it directly to the total which I will keep in the fixed Right hand column of this blog."
Read more of Sarah's post, "More white crosses in South Africa."
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"The blizzard of spin focusing on the alleged political conspiracy against Jacob Zuma has diverted attention from the facts of the case against him.
"If he never faces trial, as now seems very likely, those facts constitute a powerful matrix of doubt about his conduct and judgment, which the president-in-waiting has consistently failed to counter. The evidence was led at Schabir Shaik’s trial and further set out in the most recent December 2007 charge sheet against Zuma and the French arms company Thint. It includes:"
Read "The case against Jacob G Zuma."
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With everything going on in the South African government and public corporations, our country is at a crossroads, which, if we take a wrong turn, the hope for a better South Africa will be severely damaged. I am convinced that the ANC is NOT the answer for South Africa. From the day they took over government, our country has deteriorated steadily on all fronts. Corruption Warning! Nation at Risk! As the nation holds its collective breath the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decides whether to permanently suspend all 753 criminal charges against ANC President Jacob Zuma. If they do, South Africa will boldly join the ranks of the world’s most corrupt and lawless nations where political expediency overrules the rule of law. South Africa still clings to its rapidly diminishing status as a champion of human rights. However, any hopes of resurrecting past glories were well and truly dashed when government surrendered to Chinese pressure to refuse the Dalai Lama an entry visa to attend a seminar. The South African Government’s close relations with gross human rights abusers like the Chinese regime, Robert Mugabe and Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir have raised many eyebrows. In fact, South Africa’s consistent defense of Robert Mugabe, Omar al-Bashir & the murderous Myanmar regime at the United Nations Security Council inspired the influential Washington Post newspaper to refer to it as a ‘rogue democracy’. Significantly, several key institutions vital to our democratic success are currently in crisis. Parliament used tax-payers’ money to buy up the debtor’s book of one of the travel agencies implicated in the Travelgate fraud scandal specifically to protect its members from prosecution while its suspended secretary Zingile Dingani is being investigated for corruption. The Judiciary seems to be lurching from one crisis to another as 32 of South Africa’s 206 judges are involved in legal battles between Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe and the entire bench of the Constitutional Court. If that wasn’t bad enough, Judge Hlophe is currently being sued for defamation by a colleague while another judicial colleague appears in court on drunken driving charges. The SABC is reeling under record financial losses while its dysfunctional board spends its time and tax-payer money on legal wrangles rather than providing desperately needed direction for the national broadcaster. Ditto our national carrier - South African Airways finally fired its controversial CEO, Khaya Ngakula under a cloud of suspicion while the airline struggles with massive financial losses and an international drug peddling investigation. Mismanagement and corruption is evident everywhere. Entire government departments have failed due to gross incompetence, nepotism and rampant corruption. Following Home Affairs Director General, Mavuso Msimang’s admission that up to 75 percent of managers in his department are untrained, it now emerges that most senior managers in the Department of Health have no managerial experience as well. Apparently, political affiliation supersedes competence, skills and experience. The South African Police Services (SAPS) is currently leaderless as most of its senior officials are suspended and being investigated for corruption. According to a local advert produced by the Mbombela local municipality in Mpumalanga, people intending to provide escort services during the World Cup are welcome to apply for a business license from the municipality. The advert calls for any business that makes "the services of an escort, whether male or female, available to any other person. On Thursday, deputy director general for 2010 in Mpumalanga, Desmond Golding, told delegates at an event aimed at promoting 2010 business opportunities that prostitution and human trafficking are lucrative businesses - despite it being illegal in South Africa. The most dangerous aspect of all of this, however, is the tendency of South African citizens to grow more and more desensitized to mismanagement, incompetence & corruption. Like an unseen cancer, corruption tends to eat away at the gains and potential of a nation until it’s tragically too late. Typically, in emerging democracies like South Africa, the responsibility to expose and tackle corruption ultimately rests with a vigilant public. Those in public office who benefit most from corruption will gloss over reports of mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds to protect their own personal fiefdoms. On 22 April millions of South African citizens will be given the once-in-five year chance to use their vote to send out a clear & unequivocal message that corruption will not be tolerated. Please vote your values and reverse the current trend of rampant and unchecked corruption in government and the private sector. http://www.familypolicyinstitute.org/values_voter.php If South Africa continues down this road the end result is not hard to fathom. Africa is littered with failed nations who refused to take the warnings of corruption seriously. It is up to you and me to heed the warnings of history & redirect the nation’s destiny for the sake of all its people. Vote wisely, the nation’s future depends on it! The Cross set you free – use your cross to set the nation free! Standing Errol Naidoo 
When organizations call for change in order to assist certain groups in a nation, it is good, especially when there is a call for moral change. However, when these organizations can only propose government as the great "messiah" or saviour, then they have definitely run out of creative ideas. Either that, or they are just too lazy to to come up with real solutions. "Shouldn't it embarrass black Americans that one the nation's largest and most prestigious civil rights organizations offers a long list of proposals to improve black life in our country, and every single proposal is a government program? "Government funded jobs as the answer to unemployment, more government money in public schools, government health care, government business loans, government money for retirement accounts, government programs for counseling homebuyers, government worker training programs, government money for building construction, and on and on. "There's not a single proposal that I could find in a several hundred-page report about improving black life that does not start with government. The civil rights movement once was about freedom and liberation. Now it's about government dependency. We should be ashamed." Continue reading Star's article, "Gospel of dependence from National Urban League." Watch Star Parker with Glenn Beck on Fox News discussing the "Road to Socialism." 
Star Parker had a look at the State of Black America report from the National Urban League (NUL) and shows concern, not just for Black America, but for the proposed solutions by organizations such as NUL:
Good for the ACDP! 
This is exactly what I would have expected from the ACDP. The ACDP deputy-president and national treasurer, Mrs. Jo-Ann Downs, has returned a R100,000 election donation to the donator, Tsogo Sun, because the ACDP does "not support legalised gambling."
It is good to see a political party that is not willing to throw away its moral principles for monetary expediency!
You can find press releases and statements by the ACDP regarding gambling here.
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