From: afaull@cs1.uct.ac.za (A S Faull)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Christians stand up against syncretism
Date: 10 Oct 92 06:10:41 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department, University of Cape Town

Dear friends

The following document is currently circulating in Christian churches
all over South Africa. I feel it is relevant to Christians worldwide.

Yours in Christ,

Anthony
----------------------------------------------------------

Statement by Kwasizabantu Minister's Conference September 1992
--------------------------------------------------------------

1. Introduction

This statement is the result of the Fourth Minister's Conference held
at Kwasizabantu [Natal, South Africa] (31 August to 3 September 1992)
and attended by over 1000 representatives and members drawn from a
great variety of denominations and Christian organisations. Being
united by a comman faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and plain Biblical
principles, we have discussed and agreed upon various subjects that
are of importance to the Church in South Africa and, we trust, to the
universal Body of Christ.

As individuals and as a Conference, we made a public recommitment to
THE KWASIZABANTU AFFIRMATION 1991. This document, having the written
support of over a thousand ministers and other Church leaders, many
thousands of individual Christians, as well as many Christian
organisations and churches, is now the most widely supported
Christian document in South Africa.

2. Basis of Christian Unity

We find it essential to remind the Church that our unity is not based
on humanistic philosophy but on the commitment to the essential
truths of the Bible. We reaffirm the beliefs set out in paragraph 3
of the Kwasizabantu Affirmation 1992:

'The Triune God, the Creator, exists (Matt.28:18-19; Jn.1:1-3) and
has spoken to the human race (Heb.1:1-3). His message is preserved in
His infallible Word, the Bible, which is without error in the
original languages (2 Tim.3:16; 1 Thes.2:13).

Salvation is the central message of the Bible. Man's rebellion
against God resulted in the fall and the spread of sin to every human
being (Rom.5:12). Because man is guilty of transgressing God's holy
laws and so is incapable of saving himself, God send His only Son
into the world, born of a virgin, to offer Himself up as the perfect
sacrifice for sin (Rom.4:25; 1 Tim.2:5-6) to redeem us to Himself in
order that we might spend eternity in His presence (Jn.14:2-3; 1
Pet.1:4). Salvation is by the grace of God alone, through the
atonement of Christ alone. God has sent His Holy Spirit to empower
His children to be His witnesses in their own particular
circumstances and to "the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The true Church consists of all true believers who, having been
redeemed by the Blood of Christ and regenerated by the Holy Spirit,
have become part of God's family (Eph.5:25-27).

True Christian unity is not through denominational membership or
Christian profession; "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven" (Matt.7:21). "I in them, and thou in me,
that they may be made perfect in one ..." (Jn.17:23).'

3. Rejection of the Interfaith Movement

We unanimously rejected recent attempts to reduce Christ to the
level of human religions. We studied and rejected the whole concept
of the INTERFAITH movement in general and the DRAFT DECLARATION ON
THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE (produced by
the WCC linked, World Conference on Religion and Peace, South
Africa) in particular.

Besides the tendency to put Christianity on a par with other
religions, the WCRP document also contains many dangerous
features that will promote intolerance towards true believers.
For example: "2.1 A religion shall be entitled to recognition by
the state on the recommendation of the interfaith advisory body
... 2.3 The state shall guarantee to each religion the free
exercise of spiritual authority among its members and
jurisdiction in religious matters, provided this does not
infringe on the provisions of the Bill of Rights and this
declaration. 3.1 To facilitate the implementation of this
declaration and to act as a formal link between religions and
the state, an independant interfaith advisory body should be
established. 3.2 Members of this body shall enjoy good standing
within their own religions, and be committed to the interfaith
movement." It forces all churches to commit themselves to the
syncretism of the Inerfaith movement if they are to be
recognised by the government. This is also reminiscent of the
'Department of Religion' which was an integral part of Socialist
totalitarian states.

This document is also intolerant of the command of Jesus to
"allow the children to come" to Him (Matt.19:14). "5.1 The
objective of all religious education shall be to engender an
understanding, appreciation and tolerance of all religious
traditions and to promote the national goals of a democratic,
nonracial and nonsexist South African society."

6.1 declares, "State schools should provide a multifaith
religious education curriculum ...".

Point 13.4 states that "The promotion and propagation of any
religious beliefs should not be directed at children under
the age of eighteen, except with the permission of their
parents."

4. The Triune God in the New Constitution

The exclusion of any reference to the Triune God from the new
Constitution cannot be justified in a country where Muslims, Jews,
Hinuds, Bahai and Buddhists are together less than 5% of the
population whereas nearly 80% profess the Christian faith. Point 12.1
of the WCRP document states "...the preamble the the Constitution
should not be biased towards any particular faith...".

5. Christianity and Religous Freedom

We agreed as minister and Christian leaders to take the document
CHRISTIANITY AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM to our churches and organisations.
By promoting discussion and support for this document we intend to
present it as the majority Christian viewpoint to the leaders that
will be drawing up the new Constitution.

6. Conclusion

We affirm our commitment to the Kwasizabantu Affirmation Ministers'
Conference theme:
 "God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods...
      the Lord our God will we serve, and His voice we obey"
            (Joshua 24:16 & 24).

Distributed by:   Kwasizabantu Mission
                  P/Bag 252
                  Kwasizabantu
                  3561
                  Republic of South Africa

Duplication permitted
------------------------------------------------------------------