a new view
ISSUE 01 2015 #01
FREE GRATIS
CAPE TOWN
PERSPECTIVE
REVIEWS
SIMUNYE
SAVVY STUDENT
HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH?
MAJOZI
WHERE DO I BELONG?
SURVIVING THE EXAM SLOG
who are we? Hello! Before I say anything else about Scope Magazine, I want to thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedule to give it a read. It’s fitting for us to launch our first edition under the overarching title, ‘ The Redefinition’ because this is precisely what we’re intending to do this year. As the printed version is going out onto university campuses across the Western Cape, thousands of students will be picking it up and reading about issues that are prevalent in our culture today. Young people will be engaging with issues from a perspective that they may have never been exposed to before, and our hope is that they will consider a new definition of reality. It’s important for you to know from the outset that we will never impose a religious agenda on you, nor force you to accept anything that we publish. We truly respect your viewpoint on the things that matter most in life and would love to hear what you believe. Our desire is to create a platform where those with seemingly opposite worldviews still feel like they can freely dialogue. It is during these exciting varsity years that you will start to solidify a framework of belief that will shape the way you think and be reflected in the way you live. I would encourage you to come with an open mind
as you grapple with the questions that we all need to ask, make time to hear how other students and older folk around you answer, and formulate a worldview that is true not because it is accepted by the masses. You have been blessed with the capacity to think and now have ample opportunity to investigate for yourself where Truth may be found. A central aim of Scope Magazine is to tr y and show the scope that the Gospel has to permeate into all spheres of life. Jesus Christ was the best person to demonstrate this. He associated with the religious elite as much as the social outcasts of that day and claimed to have the authority to deal with the sin He recognised equally in both groups. His purpose wasn’t to judge but rather save sinners who believe that they are loved and forgiven on the cross and can have eternal life beyond this world by trusting in their Saviour King. There is so much more that can be said, but that’s why we’ve got a website. Please head on over there if you want to know anything more about who we are and what exciting things are happening online.
Much love, JONATHAN JUST: EXECUTIVE EDITOR
CAPE TOWN Issue 01, 2015, #01 d Scope Magazine f @scopestudents
This copy may be transmitted electronically. Any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, sponsors, advertisers or Scope Magazine.
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www.scopemagazine.co.za
Introducing students to a bigger scope of our world today through the lens of the Bible.
ON THE FRONT SIYASANGA HAYI PHOTOGRAPHER ANDREW JURIES
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contributors
team
JEREMY JAMES BRADFORD
JONATHAN JUST
MAIN FEATURE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
MICHAEL JUST
ENGAGE
M ANAGIN G EDITOR
CL AIRE MORRISON
OUTLOOK
COPY EDITORS
JANELLE ARNOLD, HIL ARY PRICE
PARADIGM SHIFT
PROOF READING
DARLINGTON MUSHAMBI
REASON
DESIGN
DANIEL A HAMMOND
WHAT’S MY STORY?
PH OTOGRAPHY
ANDREW JURIES
INTERVIEW
DISTRIBUTION
RHONWEN MILES
COMMUNITY
SECR ETARY
MAX QOYO
HELPFUL HINTS
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
DR. ELISABETTA PORCU & ELLIS H. POTTER CHRIS & SOPHIE DE WITT SINMILOLUWA ONYEBIL ANMA
JOHN-PAUL HARPER WADE PROFE
DR. CHRIS WARTON BYRON FESTER KATELYN MOSTERT
Bank Capitec Bank Branch 470010 Acc. No. 1418076625 Reference (Donor ’s name)
IDENTIT Y
contents
05
P E R S P E C T I VE
16
18
TESTIFY
WHO AM I?
03-04
WHAT’S MY STORY? / WADE PROFE
15
ENGAGE BUDDHISM
05
INTERVIEW / DR. CHRIS WARTON
16
COMPARISON & COMPETITION
06-07
HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH?
08
VARSITY PULSE
09
WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?
10
S IM U NYE PLUGGED IN
17
COMMUNITY / WHERE DO I BELONG?
18
REVIEWS S AV V Y S T U DE NT RESOUND / MA JOZI
11-12
NEW TUNE / ANECNOTE
13
RHYMES & RECIPES
19
FOR YOUR READING / MIRROR MIRROR
14
SURVIVING THE EXAM SLOG
20-21
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SIGNING SI GNING OFF,
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P E R S P E C T I V E M A I N F E AT U R E
BY JEREMY JAMES BRADFORD
I
remember walking home from university on a clear day, pretty typical of Cape Town summer weather. , FDPH XS WR DQ LQWHUVHFWLRQ ZLWK WUDIͤF OLJKWV DQG pressed the pedestrian crossing button. As I waited for the light to change, I noticed a man walking between the cars holding a sign asking for money or some food. On the rare occasion car windows opened to offer help while others simply closed. The majority, however, had come up with a strategy of ignoring the beggar despite his efforts to make eye contact with them. And while I was watching this pattern unfold, I began to realise that this behaviour is something that I do as well. I turn my eyes away because I understand on a human level what it means to look at someone. If I made eye contact I would recognise not a beggar but a human. This interaction happens on a daily basis. In most institutions there are invisible people, invisible not to the eye but to the soul, people with stories and lives, seen but never heard. The invisibility of these people LV WKH REMHFWLͤFDWLRQ RI WKHP ,W LV WKH UHGXFWLRQ RI these lives to nothing more than what meets the eye. 2EMHFWLͤFDWLRQ LV WKH GHWHUPLQLQJ RI SHRSOH̾V YDOXHV EDVHG RQ WKHLU DSSHDUDQFHV DQG KRZ ̴XVHIXO̾ WKH\ DUH WR \RX 2EMHFWLͤFDWLRQ PDNHV SHRSOH LQYLVLEOH EHFDXVH WKH RQO\ WKLQJ RQH ̴VHHV̾ LV DQ REMHFW DQG QRW D KXPDQ 2EMHFWLͤFDWLRQ VLPSO\ SXW LV WKH GHKXPDQLVDWLRQ RI VRPHRQH HOVH ̰ WKH PDNLQJ RI DQ RWKHU LQWR DQ ̴RWKHU̾ In the Gospel of John we read a story of Jesus encountering a Samaritan woman at a well.1 The political context of the time was one in which women were considered inferior to men and Samaritans inferior to Jews. It was against the political and social customs
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of the time for Jews to interact with Samaritans and for women to interact with men in this particular setting. But Jesus, who is a Jewish man, does. What LV RI XWPRVW VLJQLͤFDQFH LV -HVXVĚľ DELOLW\ WR ORRN EH\RQG WKH ZRPDQĚľV SROLWLFDO LGHQWLW\ DQG VHH KHU DV PRUH WKDQ DQ Ě´RWKHUĚľ +H treated her with humility and empathy, asking her questions about her life, recognising her humanity. It might seem strange to use this type of language, but what is of interest is the dismay of the disciples when they witness Christ speaking with her. It is this dismay WKDW SRLQWV WR WKH SROLWLFDO DQG VRFLDO REMHFWLͤFDWLRQ RI other people. What Christ did in this instance was, to quote Rick Turner, â&#x20AC;&#x153;be open to other people and to react to them and their needs, not in terms of preconceived, stereotyped ideas and attitudes, but afresh in each new situation. To be able to love other persons is to be able to communicate with them, to be open to their way of seeing the world. It is to go directly to the person, rather than to the role or stereotype.â&#x20AC;?2
THE SLAVE MASTER WAS NEVER FREE What are the ethics EHKLQG REMHFWLͤFDWLRQ" I wish to continue to draw on Rick 7XUQHU̾V ZRUN DV he speaks about
transcendental ethics over and above an internal ethics. The latter refers to a code of ethics that is determined by relationships and institutions while the former refers to an ethic that transcends this. In the case of a slave-master relationship, internal ethics and morality
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
PRIVILEGE FEEDS PRIDE AND PRIDE FEEDS PRIVILEGE. PRIVILEGE IS EXPRESSED IN NOT BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE THAT ARE HURTING, THOSE THAT ARE MARGINALISED AND OPPRESSED. would be structured around how the master and the slave interact in relation to each other. The master could WKHQ EH VHHQ DV D Ě´JRRGĚľ PDVWHU VKRXOG KH RU VKH WUHDW WKH VODYH ZHOO DQG D Ě´EDGĚľ PDVWHU ZRXOG GR WKH RSSRVLWH +RZHYHU ZKHQ RQH DSSOLHV DQ HWKLFV WKDW WUDQVFHQGV WKH structure, it allows for one to call into question the slavemaster structure entirely. A transcendental ethics would argue that there is no such thing as a good master or a bad master, because being a master of anyone is wrong. ,Q IDFW WKH Ě´JRRGĚľ PDVWHU ZRXOG EH FRQVLGHUHG WR EH MXVW DV EDG LI QRW ZRUVH WKDQ WKH Ě´EDGĚľ PDVWHU EHFDXVH WKH Ě´JRRGĚľ PDVWHU PDNHV WKH XQMXVW VWUXFWXUH EHDUDEOH for the slave and therefore limits the VODYHĚľV FRQFHSWLRQ RI IUHHGRP WR WKDW particular system. In the same way, the master is only free insofar as the there DUH VODYHV DQG WKHUHIRUH WKH PDVWHUĚľV freedom is dependent on the slave. In fact the master is a slave to the political and social structures that he or she is surrounded by. In South Africa the brutality and oppression of Colonialism DQG $SDUWKHLG ZHUH KRUULͤF ,W was not only violence done against bodies, but violence against languages and cultures. It was a violence of instilling an inferiority complex into people to ensure the superiority of another. It was a system that produced, as Rick Turner argues, â&#x20AC;&#x153;white lords and black slaves, and no human beingsâ&#x20AC;?3. The existence of white people in South Africa was founded on the negation of others, such that one can only be a master if there is a slave. One can only be rich if there are poor, beautiful if there are ugly, intelligent if there are stupid, and white if there are blacks.
PRIVILEGE MAKES IT EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO PASS THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of +HDYHQ Ěš4 Privilege prevents one from listening to and loving those who are oppressed. Privilege feeds pride and pride feeds privilege. Privilege is expressed in not being able to understand the experiences of those that are hurting, those that are marginalised and oppressed. Oppression is not always visible and privilege makes it HYHQ PRUH GLIͤFXOW WR VHH DQG XQGHUVWDQG LW DQG RIWHQ listening to those who are in fact oppressed is the only ZD\ WR EHJLQ WR VHH LW 7KH .LQJGRP RI +HDYHQ LV IRU those who give up their privilege for the sake of others. Privilege is what allows for a statue to silence the voices of many. Privilege allows one to never have to meet the person but only the roles and stereotypes of people. Privilege is being enslaved by the social and political structure of society at a particular time. Privilege deafens us to listening to how other people experience reality. Privilege makes us believe that people want to be like me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rich, educated, white, male and so on and so forth. Privilege is believing that we hold the solution to problems without having to acknowledge that privileged people are problematic. It is obvious why it is so hard for D SULYLOHJHG SHUVRQ WR HQWHU LQWR WKH .LQJGRP RI +HDYHQ because privilege makes us believe we are loving when LQ IDFW ZH DUH OLPLWLQJ RWKHUVĚľ FRQFHSWLRQV RI IUHHGRP WR accepting the status quo, which is an oppressive status quo. Take some time to read the Bible and as you do you will ͤQG WKDW *RG LV IRU WKH RSSUHVVHG RSSRVHG WR WKH ULFK DQG SULGHIXO DQG LQ -HVXV &KULVW +H KDV VKRZQ WKH EHVW example of one who interacts and loves those that are marginalised. If you are white and/or middle to upper class, be honest with who you are in the Bible. At times I identify more with the Pharisees wanting to protect tradition and social norms, while Christ tries to change WKHVH IRU +LV .LQJGRP DQG IRU WKH RSSUHVVHG , WKLQN many people upon entering heaven will be surprised to ͤQG WKDW &KULVW LV QRW D ZKLWH PDQ Ignoring the beggar at the car window is possibly an indication of trying to protect privilege and maintain social norms. Could I ask you to pray that we would work with Christ in loving each other beyond what is socially DFFHSWDEOH" ENDNOTES 1) John 4:1-42 2) Rick Turner, Eye of the Needle 3) Rick Turner, Black Consciousness and White Liberalism 4) Matthew 19:24
JEREMY JAMES BRADFORD is an undergraduate student at the University of Cape Town studying towards a Psychology and Sociology Major. He has aspirations of becoming an academic in either Sociology or Psychology, specific to post-colonial theory. He enjoys playing frisbee and reading.
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PERSPECTIVE ENGAGE
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ACCORDING TO THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS, EVERYTHING IS IMPERMANENT, INCLUDING ONEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OWN SELF.
DR. ELISABETTA PORCU TEACHES ASIAN RELIGIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN. HER FIELD OF SPECIALISATION IS JAPANESE RELIGIONS.
͹;;Î&#x201A;Ď&#x153;͜͝Π͚ ĎŹÎ&#x201A; Ϗͺ͡ Í´Ď͜͜ͺ͹̾ύ ͺ͹͚͝Î&#x201A;ÍšĎ&#x153;ÍąĐ&#x160;ͺϹ after having spent 29 years in his luxurious palace away from all the suffering and anxieties of this world, the historical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) decided to take four rides with his charioteer. It was then for the ͤUVW WLPH WKDW KH HQFRXQWHUHG DQ ROG SHUVRQ a sick person, a dead body, and a religious mendicant. The charioteer explained to him that old age, sickness, and death are common to all individuals, and, at that point, Siddhartha Gautama decided to leave his palace and began a religious path that brought him to attain awakening and thus become a Buddha (â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Awakened Oneâ&#x20AC;?). The Buddha realised that his luxurious life was linked to attachment to both mundane WKLQJV DQG KLV RZQ HJR VHOI ,Q KLV ͤUVW
WHAT IS THE BUDDHISTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FRAMEWORK OF THINKING WHEN IT COMES TO THE NOTION OF â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SELFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;?
sermon, he taught that life is suffering and VXIIHULQJ LV FDXVHG E\ DWWDFKPHQW +RZHYHU suffering can be ended by removing the cause of attachment. According to the Buddhist teachings, HYHU\WKLQJ LV LPSHUPDQHQW LQFOXGLQJ RQHĚľV own self. It is precisely by recognising and understanding this impermanence that it is possible to reach the stage of awareness called awakening or enlightenment. Through the teachings of the Buddha the original idea RI WKH VHOI Ă&#x192;WPDQ VWLOO SUHVHQW LQ +LQGXLVP was thus transformed into the concept of ̸QRQ VHOIĚš DQĂ&#x192;WPDQ ZKLFK LV RQH RI WKH three marks of existence in Buddhism, the other being impermanence (anitya) and suffering (dukkha).
PURE LAND BUDDHISM IN MODERN JAPANESE CULTURE
3 THEORIES OF EVERYTHING
̸ ̸
ELLIS H. POTTER IS AN INDEPENDANT MISSIONARY TEACHER LIVING IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND. HE WAS A ZEN BUDDHIST FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.
IN CHRISTIANITY RELATIONSHIPS SUCH AS LOVE ARE ABSOLUTE AND ETERNAL.
Í´Ď͜͜ͺ͝ύͿ ͝ύ Íą ÍżÎ&#x201A;Π͝ύϏ͝; ĎŻÎ&#x201A;Ď&#x153;͜͞ώ͝͡ϯ EHOLHYLQJ LQ WKH EDVLF XQLW\ RI DOO UHDOLW\ b7KLV can be expressed by very inviting phrases such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;All is Oneâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are one with the $// Ěšb ,I DOO LV 2QH WKHQ WKH 6(/) LV DOO b 6R WKH 6(/) LWVHOI LV WKH IUDPHZRUN RI HYHU\WKLQJ DQG LW LV HYHU\WKLQJ b ,I DOO LV 2QH WKHQ XQLW\ is good and diversity is a distortion or LOOXVLRQ b 'LYHUVLW\ LV QHFHVVDU\ IRU WKLQNLQJ because thinking involves relating one thing WR DQRWKHU b 6R WKH %XGGKLVWĚľV IUDPHZRUN LV QRW D IUDPHZRUN IRU WKLQNLQJ EXW IRU EHLQJ b $ %XGGKLVW GRHVQĚľW ZDQW WR WKLQN DERXW WKH QRWLRQ RI Ě´VHOIĚľ EXW WR EH 6(/) b :DQWLQJ or desire is a function of diversity and relationships, so when a Buddhist realises Buddha Nature they no longer want to think RU ZDQW DQ\WKLQJ b 7KH\ VLPSO\ DUH LQ WKH QRQ UHODWLRQDO %OLVV RI 8QLW\ b b&KULVWLDQLW\ LQ FRQWUDVW LV QRW D 0RQLVWLF worldview, but a Trinitarian one in which ERWK XQLW\ $1' GLYHUVLW\ DUH DEVROXWH b ,Q WKLV worldview, thinking is valid on every level RI H[LVWHQFH b 'LYHUVLW\ DQG UHODWLRQVKLSV DUH DOVR YDOLG b 7KH &KULVWLDQ IUDPHZRUN
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of thinking when it comes to the notion of Ě´VHOIĚľ LV D IUDPHZRUN RI UHODWLRQVKLSV b 7KLV PHDQV WKDW WKH Ě´VHOIĚľ KDV PHDQLQJ RQO\ LQ UHODWLRQVKLS WR Ě´RWKHUĚľ b ,Q &KULVWLDQLW\ relationships such as love are absolute and HWHUQDO b 7KH &KULVWLDQ IUDPHZRUN VXSSRUWV WKLQNLQJ b b$OWKRXJK RXU TXHVWLRQ GRHV QRW LQYLWH D description of Christianity, perhaps we can XQGHUVWDQG ̸WKH %XGGKLVWĚľV IUDPHZRUN of thinking when it comes to the notion RI Ě´VHOI̾̚ E\ WDONLQJ DERXW ZKDW LW LV QRW b The absolute starting point of the Biblical ZRUOGYLHZ LV D 3HUVRQDO *RG b :KDW WKH %LEOH means by â&#x20AC;&#x153;personalâ&#x20AC;? is not only identity EXW UHODWLRQVKLSV b ,Q D 7ULQLWDULDQ UHDOLW\ personality is beyond identity only and in UHODWLRQVKLSV b 6R LQ WKH &KULVWLDQ IUDPHZRUN our personal relationships in the creation have a ground outside of the creation in the DEVROXWH 3HUVRQDO &UHDWRU b&KULVWLDQV GRQĚľW KRSH WR WUDQVFHQG UHODWLRQVKLSV EXW WR IXOͤOO them in the context of a truly personal God who loves us.
P E R S P E C T I V E O U T LO O K
ave you ever been to the shopping centre, passing someone as you quickly give him/her an up-andGRZQ VFDQ" ,WĚľV MXVW D WZR VHFRQG appraisal. And as you look at them, the truth is, they are also probably doing the same thing.
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:KDW DUH ZH GRLQJ" :HĚľUH FRPSDULQJ RXUVHOYHV ZLWK HDFK RWKHU +RZ GRHV P\ ͤJXUH PDWFK XS WR KHUV" 'RHV KH VHHP DV FRQͤGHQW FRRO HIIRUWOHVV DV PH" 2Q WKHVH measuring scales do I win, compared to WKHP" 2U GR , ORVH" :K\ GR ZH GR LW" (VVHQWLDOO\ ZH WHOO RXUVHOYHV ZKDW ,ĚľP DIWHU LV WR PDNH VXUH ,ĚľYH JRW PRUH of something than others, so that I can feel VLJQLͤFDQW VDWLVͤHG DQG VHFXUH DERXW ZKR I am. Comparison and competition is the compulsive measuring of myself against the standard of others, desiring to be better. LOOKING UP AND LOOKING DOWN When we compare ourselves to others we ZLOO HLWKHU Ě´ZLQĚľ RU Ě´ORVHĚľ ,I ZH ORVH ZHĚľOO ͤQG RXUVHOYHV GRLQJ D Ě´ORRNLQJ XSĚľ FRPSDULVRQ :H PLJKW WKLQN ̸+LV OLIH LV VR PXFK PRUH interesting than mine,â&#x20AC;? or, â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is so much PRUH FRQͤGHQW WKDQ PH Ěš ,I ZH ZLQ WKHQ ZHĚľOO GR D Ě´ORRNLQJ GRZQĚľ FRPSDULVRQ proudly thinking: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just take better care of my appearance than her,â&#x20AC;? and, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would never let my life become as disorganised as his.â&#x20AC;? Ě´/RRNLQJ XSĚľ FRPSDULVRQV DQG Ě´ORRNLQJ GRZQĚľ comparisons each produce a different set of symptoms. +RZ GR \RX IHHO ZKHQ \RX FRPSDUH DQG FRPSHWH DQG FRPH RII ZRUVH" 3HUKDSV \RX ZLOO UHFRJQLVH VRPH RI WKH Ě´ORRNLQJ XSĚľ symptoms: Inadequacy, despair, self-pity: this may be
IOHHWLQJ RU LW PD\ EH PRUH SURIRXQG <RXĚľUH QRW WKH SHUVRQ \RX ZDQW WR EH <RXĚľUH MXVW QRW good enough. Envy: LWĚľV QRW IDLU 7KH\ĚľYH JRW ZKDW \RX ZDQW $QG \RX GLVOLNH WKHP D OLWWOH IRU KDYLQJ LW +RZ come they get to have what you need to be VDWLVͤHG" $Q[LHW\ RU LQVHFXULW\ <RXĚľUH QRW GRLQJ DV ZHOO DV RWKHUV ,I RQO\ \RX ZHUH DV FRQͤGHQW RU wealthy, or energetic or loved as that friend, WKHUHĚľG EH QR QHHG WR ZRUU\ %XW \RXĚľUH QRW Guilt: \RXĚľYH OHW RWKHUV GRZQ <RXĚľUH IDLOLQJ WKH RQHV \RX ORYH 6R SHUKDSV WKH\ ZRQĚľW keep loving you nowâ&#x20AC;Ś Bitterness, grumbling: we can get bitter with other people, and grumble about all sorts of things. But in the Bible, bitterness and grumbling tend to be directed at God. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Why did God give me this life when he has given VR PXFK PRUH WR RWKHUV"Ěľ DQG WKLV FDQ OHDG us to ignoring God altogether â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because if WKHUH ZDV D *RG KH ZRXOGĚľYH PDGH \RX PRUH like the other person. +HUH DUH WKH V\PSWRPV RI Ě´ORRNLQJ GRZQĚľ comparisons: Pride, arrogance: <RXĚľUH MXVW VR PXFK EHWWHU than that girl. You would never let your hair/ marks/boyfriend look like that. Well done to you for getting where you are. When we see this kind of self-congratulation in others, we usually call it arrogance. When I see it in P\VHOI , OLNH WR FDOO LW Ě´VHOI FRQͤGHQFHĚľ 7KH %LEOH FDOOV LW Ě´SULGHĚľ Superiority: Pride in yourself leads to a sense RI VXSHULRULW\ RYHU RWKHUV $IWHU DOO \RXĚľYH JRW ZKDW KH KDVQĚľW VR \RX DUH LQ D VHQVH EHWWHU WKDQ KLP DUHQĚľW \RX" Inverted superiority: <RXĚľUH JODG \RX DUHQĚľW >
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as arrogant as her. You feel superior that you GRQĚľW IHHO DV VXSHULRU DV WKHP Insecurity and anxiety: <RXĚľUH GRLQJ EHWWHU than him, but how about the next person you FRPSDUH \RXUVHOI WR" :KDW LI WKH\ĚľUH GRLQJ EHWWHU WKDQ \RX" THE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE Each day we look up and we look down, and IHHO DQ[LRXV DQG VHOI VXIͤFLHQW JXLOW\ DQG SURXG GHVSDLULQJ DQG VPXJ :KDW ZH GRQĚľW IHHO LV WKH VHQVH RI VLJQLͤFDQFH VDWLVIDFWLRQ RU VHFXULW\ WKDW ZHĚľUH VHDUFKLQJ IRU DV ZH compare ourselves to others. One of the WKLQJV , ͤQG WKH PRVW XQVHWWOLQJ DERXW WKH Bible, but also the most liberating, is that it calls things for what they are. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A great air of FRQͤGHQFHĚľ WR *RG LV Ě´DUURJDQFHĚľ D GHVLUH WR EH VHOI VXIͤFLHQW +H GHVFULEHV SHRSOH who are â&#x20AC;&#x153;arrogant and never at rest â&#x20AC;Ś never VDWLVͤHGĚš1. 3HUKDSV \RXĚľUH VRPHRQH ZKR DOZD\V IHHOV WKH
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COMPARISON AND COMPETITION IS THE COMPULSIVE MEASURING OF MYSELF AGAINST THE STANDARD OF OTHERS, DESIRING TO BE BETTER. QHHG WR EH EHWWHU ̰ DQG OHW̾V EH KRQHVW LW̾V exhausting. You struggle to admit to yourself that someone does something better than you, because that will undermine your whole VHOI LPDJH DQG \RXU VHQVH RI VLJQLͤFDQFH Your identity is based on the idea that you are better than others. This comparison and competition is ultimately caused by our desire WR SXW ̴PH̾ DW WKH FHQWUH RI WKH XQLYHUVH and at the centre of our hearts, to feel more VLJQLͤFDQW IRU RXU RZQ VDWLVIDFWLRQ %HLQJ PDGH E\ *RG XQLTXHO\ IRUPHG E\ +LP LQ +LV LPDJH LVQ̾W ZKHUH ZH ͤQG RXU VLJQLͤFDQFH but rather it is by measuring ourselves against others. In the end, the treatment to this problem is as wonderful as it is challenging. It can be summed up simply as: let God be God. Instead of pushing God out of
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the centre of our lives, the cure is to reverse WKLV E\ UHVWRULQJ *RG WR +LV ULJKWIXO SODFH ͤQGLQJ DOO ZH QHHG LQ +LP A SOBERING VIEW OF SELF 6HHLQJ RXUVHOYHV DV ZH UHDOO\ DUH GRHVQĚľW VWRS there. It involves not only seeing that we are QRW *RG LW PHDQV FRQIHVVLQJ WKDW ZH KDYH OLYHG WKLQNLQJ WKDW ZH DUH *RG DQG +H LVQĚľW The Bible calls this sin. Sin is an unpopular concept in our culture, which tends to tell us that the answer to our problems and worries is to build ourselves up. The Bible does the opposite of this: it shows us that we are worse than what we think. ,I ,ĚľP KRQHVW *RGĚľV ZD\ RI ORRNLQJ DW PH LV far more accurate than mine. When I honestly look at my own heart, at the pride and envy and bitterness that live there, I begin to see that I am truly what God says I am: a sinner. 7KDWĚľV WKH UHDOLW\ ,WĚľV GHSUHVVLQJ %XW DW OHDVW LWĚľV UHDO $QG LQ WKDW VHQVH LWĚľV OLEHUDWLQJ WR NQRZ WKDW ,ĚľP D VLQQHU ,I LW ZHUH VLPSO\ OHIW at this, we would have to continue comparing DQG FRPSHWLQJ IRU VLJQLͤFDQFH RU VLPSO\ GHVSDLU 7KH JRRG QHZV LV WKDW *RG KDVQĚľW OHIW us here and by letting God be God we can ask +LP WR EH RXU 6DYLRXU Ephesians 2 verse 5 says that God â&#x20AC;&#x153;made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in RXU WUDQVJUHVVLRQVĚš 7KDWĚľV KRZ VLJQLͤFDQW you are. God loves you enough not to leave \RX IDFLQJ +LV SXQLVKPHQW ,Q &KULVW +H FDPH and lived and died and rose as a man so that you could be made alive. 7KDWĚľV KRZ ORYHG \RX DUH 1R RQH FDQ ORYH us any better, any more, than the Lord Jesus who gave up heaven and experienced hell for +LV SHRSOH ,I WKLV LV \RX WKDWĚľV WKH YDOXH *RG SODFHV RQ \RXU KHDG VLPSO\ EHFDXVH RI +LV JUHDW ORYH ,WĚľV QRW LPDJH FLUFXPVWDQFHV RU DFKLHYHPHQWV WKDW DIIHFWV KRZ +H VHHV \RX ,WĚľV *RG FKRRVLQJ WR ORYH XV DQG \RX HQMR\LQJ WKH EOHVVLQJ RI EHLQJ ZLWK +LP IRUHYHU ENDNOTES 1) Habakkuk 2:5
CHRIS & SOPHIE DE WITT are happily married and have three children: Molly, Zach and Joseph. Chris is an associate pastor at the Message Church in Mowbray. Sophie has written â&#x20AC;&#x153;Compared to Her,â&#x20AC;? a book on comparison and the biblical solutions for women. Chris is in the process of writing a book on competition and comparison specifically for men.
P E R S P E C T I V E PA R A D I G M S H I F T
How much are you worth? BY SINMILOLUWA ONYEBILANMA
W
hen I was a child, my aunt used to send us many books to add to our family library. I remember one of these books called â&#x20AC;&#x153;The girl with no nameâ&#x20AC;?. It traced the steps of a girl who had temporarily lost her memory and had to VRPHKRZ ͤQG RXW QRW RQO\ ZKR VKH ZDV EXW ZKHUH VKH ZDV heading. I remember clearly the deep sense of relief I got when the book reached its end and the girl was reunited with her family. It was as if something that had been naggingly floating in my mind had come to a rest. It was such a harrowing feeling to imagine walking around with no name and no identity. The truth is that our names are one of the things that give XV D VWDUWLQJ SRLQW $ QDPH LV WKH ͤUVW WKLQJ WKH H[FLWHG child wants to know as he peers curiously at the baby in his PRWKHUĚľV DUPV ,W SURYLGHV DQ DVVXUDQFH WKDW ZH PDWWHUHG to someone upon entry into this world. And as the years go by, we begin to place value on ourselves based on the experiences we go through.
â&#x20AC;&#x153; YOU ARE NOT A MISTAKE OR AN AFTERTHOUGHT LACKING ANYTHING IN YOUR MAKE-UP, BUT INSTEAD HAVE BEEN MADE WITH SUCH CREATIVE COMPLEXITY POINTING TO YOUR CREATOR. Unfortunately, because of bad influences at home and lack of validation growing up, that and what we see, hear and read in the media, there is this subtle understanding that you need to prove that you matter in this world. So you try hard but never seem to meet the mark and come away feeling useless. %XW ZKHUH GRHV RXU ZRUWK UHDOO\ OLH" 7KH ZRUWK RI D FUHDWLRQ is directly linked to the worth placed on it by its Creator. One just has to look at designer label products which are often VHW DSDUW IURP RWKHU SURGXFWV ZLWK KHIW\ SULFH GLIIHUHQFHV simply due to the name of the designer that appears on them. When we take a look at the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:26,
+H EDVLFDOO\ VD\V WKDW EHFDXVH *RG ZLOO WHQGHUO\ WDNH FDUH RI WKH ELUGV RI WKH DLU KRZ PXFK PRUH GRHV +H SURPLVHV WR WDNH FDUH RI XV ZKR DUH PRUH YDOXDEOH WR +LP WKDQ ELUGV 3VDOP LV DQRWKHU JUHDW SODFH WR EH UHPLQGHG RI WKH ZRUWK +H SODFHV RQ HDFK SHUVRQĚľV OLIH ZKHUH WKH SVDOPLVW SUDLVHV *RG because he is â&#x20AC;&#x153;fearfully and wonderfully madeâ&#x20AC;?. You are not a mistake or an afterthought lacking anything in your make-up, but instead have been made with such creative complexity pointing to your Creator. It is natural for us to want to know what inherent worth we have as human beings, realising our value beyond what we are capable of doing. Whatever we think that is will breed our identity. John 1 verse 12-13 says that â&#x20AC;&#x153;to all who received [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children not born of natural GHVFHQW QRU RI KXPDQ GHFLVLRQ RU D KXVEDQGĚľV ZLOO EXW ERUQ of God.â&#x20AC;? These verses highlight a number of key truths about what LGHQWLW\ LQ -HVXV ZLOO ORRN OLNH )LUVWO\ *RG IUHHO\ JLYHV DQ\RQH WKH ULJKW WR EHFRPH RQH RI +LV FKLOGUHQ E\ QRW RQO\ EHOLHYLQJ EXW DOVR UHFHLYLQJ LQ RWKHU ZRUGV DFFHSWLQJ WKH QHZ OLIH +H wants to bring in their lives. Secondly, it is not an identity LQVWLJDWHG RU PDQXIDFWXUHG E\ PHQ EXW LW LV *RG +LPVHOI ZKR says: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over and above who you think you are, this is who I KDYH PDGH \RX Ěš /DVWO\ WKH QHZ WLWOH JLYHQ Ě´FKLOG RI *RGĚľ encompasses a name, a place, and purpose for life. Based on the fact that God does not change, neither does this identity found in Christ. It is liberating to know that our value â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and hence identity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is not marked by what we wear, eat and buy, how well we exercise, what results or achievements we get, our relationships or past experiences. Until we see that our worth is given to us by the God who made us, we will continue to ZHLJK RXU YDOXH DJDLQVW WKH ZURQJ EHQFKPDUNV %H JODG <RXU Maker has created you fearfully and wonderfully. Today you can become a child of God. SINMILOLUWA ONYEBILANMA is a commerce student at the University of Cape Town. 6KH LV FXUUHQWO\ LQ KHU VHFRQG \HDU RIÂ&#x201C;VWXG\ Â&#x201C;DQG ILQGV Cape Town mornings worth the early rise. She enjoys being around children and cannot get over Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible love and power. She is proudly Nigerian which means food must be extra chilli.
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How do the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa show a failure to see who we could be as a multicultural country? BY HILARY PRICE
I spent some time on UCT campus informally asking groups of students this TXHVWLRQ , GRQĚľW FODLP WR KDYH JOHDQHG D broad or balanced picture of the opinions that these students hold on these issues, but the students I did interview had some every interesting comments. Generally, they viewed the outbreak of xenophobia as intensely disappointing for South Africa. Multiculturalism, though desirable LQ PRVW RI WKH VWXGHQWĚľV RSLQLRQV ZDV not seen as related to the causes of [HQRSKRELD 0DQ\ LGHQWLͤHG SRYHUW\ frustration, lacks of jobs and other structural socioeconomic problems as WKH URRW SUREOHP RI [HQRSKRELD +HUH are some memorable quotes from the discussions which followed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel like we are going in reverse instead of progressing as a country... We have this reputation as peacemakers internationally, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sad weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re losing that.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sandra Z, 2nd yr BSc applied Bio & EGS â&#x20AC;&#x153;This othering â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it goes against what we want to embody as a rainbow nation.â&#x20AC;? -Monette B, 2rd yr law â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moments like these show how privileged we are with education â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but this is an assumption [that lack of education causes xenophobia]. But I do think that education changes the way you think about social issues.â&#x20AC;? Ě° /XQJLOH + DQG 0DUDQJ 0 UG \U Bcomm ACC â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deep inside people they are harbouring resentment, just below the surface, and the xenophobia is where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showing.â&#x20AC;? - anonymous â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the cost of this â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;proudly South Africanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bull****. Pushing this national identity has come at the expense of dealing with underlying issues.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; anonymous
â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a non-South African, even at UCT, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an attitude that always reminds me that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m foreign. Most of my friends end up being from other African countries; we can see weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re different.â&#x20AC;? Ě° .DUO . +RQRXUV LQ )$SP Xenophobia is not condoned in the Bible. When someone becomes a Christian, they are called citizens in the Kingdom RI +HDYHQ ZLWK *RG DV WKHLU )DWKHU Nationality, race, ethnicity, culture and any other identities that could cause separation become secondary. Galatians 3:27-28 is clear that â&#x20AC;&#x153;for all of you who ZHUH EDSWLVHG LQWR &KULVWbKDYH FORWKHG yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor IUHH bQRU LV WKHUH PDOH DQG IHPDOH bIRU \RX DUH DOO RQH LQ &KULVW -HVXV Ěš ,WĚľV D beautiful thing to see people embracing this truth, where students who come to university from many foreign countries across multiple people groups can enjoy a oneness in their knowledge and love for Jesus. Yet even though this is the case for some, it does not change the reality of widespread discrimination still happening for a number of expatriates in our country. Mark 12:31 is a clear command from Jesus to â&#x20AC;&#x153;love your neighbour as \RXUVHOI Ěš 'XULQJ WKH [HQRSKRELF attacks, the church (but not only the church) was particularly good at this, providing shelter, safety and food for many victims of the violence. We need to continue promoting this principle in South Africa, whether that be through welcoming foreigners or trying to address the structural and social issues at the heart of xenophobia in South African communities.
M
WORD ON THE TWEET @mailandguardian
After the recent #xenophobic violence in SA the #NewYorkTimes wrote that 5m immigrants call South Africa home.
@SakinaKamwendo #Afrophobia or #Xenophobia, it is equally abhorrent. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m ashamed of fellow South Africans who are perpetrating these attacks. #notinmyname
@NDzedze South Africa WHY Have we been led to allow Xenophobia to resurface? A good leader would NEVER... #SayNoToXenophobia
@lead_sa Black, white, Asian, Coloured. Inside, we are all the same #NoToXenophobia @947Crew
@DonUe The Church cannot and must not be silent or passive in this crisis. Speak, do!
@timkellernyc Culture is never so bad that it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be redeemed, nor so good that it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be critiqued.
@CSLewisU You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down. #CSLewisU
@QuotableYancey All too often the church holds up a mirror reflecting back the society around it, rather than a window revealing a different way.
@MahaneySports â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have seen a broad shift from a culture of humility to the culture of what you might call the Big Me.â&#x20AC;? @nytdavidbrooks
@JohnPiper â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.â&#x20AC;? 1Samuel 16:7 KEEP TWEETING @SCOPESTUDENTS WITH #ANEWVIEW
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REVIEWS RESOUND
MAJOZI MAKING HIS MARK WHERE IT MATTERS MOST BY JONATHAN JUST
T
ruth Coffee Roasting in Cape Town is buzzing with caffeine lovers and surrounding steampunk dĂŠcor. It feels like I have just stepped into an almost other-worldly atmosphere as I eagerly wait to meet Majozi. I see him wearing his trusty Simon and Mary hat, and coming across with a very approachable demeanour. We take our seats and start some casual FRQYHUVDWLRQ EXW LWĚľV QRW ORQJ EHIRUH , UDWWOH RII P\ ͤUVW two questions: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where are you from and when did you VWDUW PDNLQJ PXVLF"Ěš ̸,ĚľP IURP D OLWWOH SODFH FDOOHG 0RXQW (GJHFRPEH LQ 'XUEDQ DQG , VWDUWHG PDNLQJ PXVLF ZHOO , VWDUWHG playing guitar, when I was thirteen,â&#x20AC;? he begins. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I VWDUWHG PDNLQJ PXVLF PRUH VHULRXVO\ DURXQG MXVW recording stuff with my iPad.â&#x20AC;? Nhlanhla Majozi (or just Majozi as he prefers to be
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called) has received recent acclaim with singles like ̴7KH 5LYHU̾ ̴6RPHGD\̾ DQG ̴)LUH̾ ZKLFK KDYH PDGH KLP D VWDQGDUG IHDWXUH RQ PDLQVWUHDP UDGLR VWDWLRQV OLNH )0 DQG .)0 6LJQLQJ ZLWK UHFRUG ODEHO 8QLYHUVDO 5HFRUGV KH̾V UHOHDVHG KLV VHFRQG (3 HQWLWOHG ̴0RXQWDLQV̾ ZKLFK has been available on iTunes since the end of March. Though clearly a gifted musician who incorporates a unique combination of folk, indie and electro into his set, what strikes me most about Majozi is his downto-earth humility. Interested to hear what inspired him to become a VRQJZULWHU LQ WKH ͤUVW SODFH KH DQVZHUV FDQGLGO\ ̸,̾P QRW JRRG ZLWK PXFK HOVH VR , HQMR\ ZULWLQJ VRQJV and I found that it was a good way to express myself. , DFWXDOO\ IRXQG IHHOLQJV ZLWKLQ P\VHOI WKDW , GLGQ̾W even know how to express to myself, if that makes any VHQVH" ,W VRXQGV OLNH , GRQ̾W NQRZ ZKDW ,̾P WKLQNLQJ LQ P\ KHDG +RQHVWO\ D ORW RI WKH WLPHV , GRQ̾W NQRZ 2QO\
â&#x20AC;&#x153; THOUGH CLEARLY A GIFTED MUSICIAN WHO INCORPORATES A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF FOLK, INDIE AND ELECTRO INTO HIS SET, WHAT STRIKES ME MOST ABOUT MAJOZI IS HIS DOWN-TO-EARTH HUMILITY. when I start writing things down and sing it I actually UHDOLVH ZKDWĚľV LQ P\ KHDUW DQG , JXHVV WKDW LQVSLUHG PH to be a songwriter.â&#x20AC;? ,WĚľV QRW HDV\ IRU ORFDO 6RXWK $IULFDQ PXVLFLDQV WR actually pursue a career in music, so what made him decide to take this bold leap into becoming a full time PXVLFLDQ" â&#x20AC;&#x153;Long story short, I recorded an EP with a friend. You know, I just wanted to record something so that I could VD\ WKDW ,ĚľYH SXW LW RQWR L7XQHV DQG LW ZDV DFWXDOO\ well received. One thing led to another and I got some support from guys at church and just went for it.â&#x20AC;? ,I \RX KDGQĚľW JXHVVHG LW DOUHDG\ 0DMR]L LV D SURIHVVLQJ Christian. Many, either consciously or subconsciously, have this idea of a society divided into the categories of Ě´VDFUHGĚľ DQG Ě´VHFXODUĚľ EXW LV LW SRVVLEOH IRU VRPHWKLQJ RU VRPHRQH WR EULGJH WKLV JDS" 0DMR]L DQG RWKHU ORFDO mainstream artists like Matthew Mole and Gangs of Ballet who are also followers of Jesus have shown that it is. They have opened their music up for anyone to enjoy, and have brought something refreshingly different to the music scene in the process. But what is 0DMR]LĚľV UHDVRQ IRU EURDGHQLQJ KLV UHDFK" â&#x20AC;&#x153;You listen to the radio and you listen to the songs and a lot of the time the songs are catchy and I love WKDW , ORYH OLVWHQLQJ WR WKH UDGLR ,WĚľV HPEDUUDVVLQJ the songs that I like. It always used to bother me that the material and the meaning behind the songs are so shallow and one-sided and then I realised that they were just singing about what they believedâ&#x20AC;Ś DQG , ZDV OLNH ZK\ FDQĚľW , GR WKH VDPH" <RX NQRZ ZK\ VKRXOG , EH DVKDPHG" :K\ FDQĚľW I sing commercial songs and sing what I EHOLHYH" 1RW QHFHVVDULO\ VLQJ &KULVWLDQ contemporary music, just sing music that everyone likes and have what I EHOLHYH LQ LW EHFDXVH WKDWĚľV ZKDW HYHU\RQH GRHV 7KDWĚľV ZKDW 1LFNL 0LQDM GRHV 7KDWĚľV ZKDW 'UDNH GRHV 7KH\ VLQJ DERXW ZKDW WKH\ EHOLHYH VR WKDWĚľV ZKDW , ZDQW to do and sing to everyone.â&#x20AC;? 7KRVH ZKR ZRXOGQĚľW normally be interested in listening to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Christian PXVLFĚľ LQ WKH SDVW DUH being exposed to a new and perhaps more attractive form of what
this could sound like. Excellent production matched with creative lyrics salted with the truths of the Bible is inviting more people into a new perception of reality. 1RW RQO\ LV WKH ZRUG Ě´-HVXVĚľ WDWWRRHG RQ 0DMR]LĚľV ERG\ but Jesus is also honoured in the words of his music. 7KHUH LV D GHͤQLWH DQWKHP RI KRSH WKDW ULQJV WKURXJK D number of his songs, probably most poignantly in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The 5LYHUĚľ +HUH LV DQ H[WUDFW IURP WKH FKRUXV ̸6RPHWLPHV OLIH LW IHHOV OLNH D FDQFHU DQG WKHUHĚľV QR UHDVRQ WR ORYH %XW , WHOO \RX QRZ \RX ZLOO ͤQG WKH DQVZHU LQ WKH *RG who came from above.â&#x20AC;? Majozi has been active in the local music scene for about two years now. The question I pose to him is how he has been able to hold to his identity as a Christian in an industry that could easily try to squeeze him into VRPHWKLQJ WKDW KHĚľV QRW ̸/XFNLO\ ZRUNLQJ LQ WKH FKXUFK PDGH PH , GRQĚľW ZDQW to say pretty strong, but it gave me a good foundation,â&#x20AC;? KH VKDUHV ̸,ĚľYH DOZD\V KDG D JRRG IRXQGDWLRQ JURZLQJ up and people around me when I go back home after WRXULQJ DUH YHU\ VXSSRUWLYH 7KH\ XQGHUVWDQG ZKDW ,ĚľP WU\LQJ WR GR VR , GRQĚľW ZDQW WR VD\ ,ĚľP VXSHU VWURQJ EXW *RG KDV JLYHQ PH WKH VWUHQJWK DQG +H KDV SUHSDUHG me through a lot of things for this.â&#x20AC;? +H HQGV RQ DQ KRQHVW QRWH ̸7KHUH ZDV D WLPH ZKHQ I thought about becoming a full-time musician, but I ZDV OLNH WKHUHĚľV QR ZD\V , FDQ GR LW QRZ , WKLQN QRZ LW MXVW VHHPV OLNH WKH ULJKW WLPH DQG ,ĚľOO VHH KRZ LW JRHV Maybe something will happen but I can handle it now.â&#x20AC;? Things are indeed happening for Majozi. And even though this talented musician is becoming a well-known name in South Africa, it is his openness and love for God that has made the biggest impact on me. Go and get his sixVRQJ (3 0RXQWDLQV RQ iTunes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; scan this
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Nhlanhla Majozi
JONATHAN JUST graduated from UCT at the end of 2013. He is chasing after his dream of becoming a publisher and is a squash player and coach at a few schools close to where he lives. Jesus has redefined who he is today.
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hat do o you get when you mix ͤYH LQGLYLGXDOV IURP GLYHUVH backgrounds, s, a love for smooth vocals, and what was as once considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;the purest IRUP RI PXVLFĚš" VLFĚš" , ZRXOG OLNH WR LQWURGXFH you to AnecNote, cNote, the Cape Town-based a cappella super group that seem to be hitting all the right notes on the local scene.
cappella music, they decided to start their own group. As they were looking around they soon came across Morne Kuhts who does the bass vocals but were still in need RI VRPH WUHEOH ,W GLGQĚľW WDNH ORQJ IRU WKHP RI VRPH WUHEOH ,W GLGQĚľW WDNH ORQJ IRU WKHP to meet Leah Adams and Emma de Goede through mutual friends and they have been blending their voices ever since.
7KH\ DUH 'DQLHO 1DPEDVVL .HYLQ 6PXWV Morne Kuhts, Leah Adams and Emma de *RHGH 7KH JURXS̾V QDPH LQ FDVH \RX PLVVHG LW LV D SOD\ RQ WKH ZRUG ̴DQHFGRWH̾ 7KLV VD\V 1DPEDVVL ͤWV ZHOO EHFDXVH WKH\ aim to convey short little stories through their music. They have only been together VLQFH HDUO\ EXW GHVSLWH WKLV KDYH enjoyed great success. Some highlights LQFOXGH D OLYH SHUIRUPDQFH RQ WKH .)0 0RUQLQJ 6KRZ ZLWK 5\DQ 2̾&RQQRU shining at Kirstenbosch Gardens during the Christmas season last year, and being LQYLWHG WR VLQJ DW D 7('[ &DSH 7RZQ HYHQW which happened in the Cape Town City +DOO
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A cappella singing is not easy, yet AnecNote A necNote make it look effortless. 1DPEDVVL VD\V LWĚľV DOO DERXW OLVWHQLQJ DQG trust. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to make something sound KDUPRQLRXV WKH ͤYH RI XV KDYH WR OLVWHQ very carefully to each other. We also have to trust each other. Trust is a skill that can be hard to master.â&#x20AC;? 21 $ +,*+ 127(
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be part of something beautiful.â&#x20AC;? 7KH GLYHUVLW\ LQ HDFK VLQJHUĚľV XSEULQJLQJ and musical background makes AnecNote original as a unit. Individually they have explored different genres ranging from classical and folk through to jazz and instrumental music, and each member has
AnecNote believes God is to be honoured in everything they do, both in their performances and practice sessions but also in their everyday lives. They are thankful for the opportunity God has given them to develop their skills and share their talents with others. If you would like a taste of what they KDYH GRQH JR DQG ͤQG WKHP RQ <RX7XEH )RU ERRNLQJV DQG PRUH LQIR HPDLO LQIR# anecnote.com. Stay in the loop about all WKLQJV $QHF1RWH RQ 7ZLWWHU DQG )DFHERRN
JOSH GARRELS
ALEX FAITH & DRE MURRAY
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HOME
SOUTHERN LIGHTS: OVEREXPOSED
MANSIONS
TOMORROW WE LIVE
Another original alternative folk jam by an artist who shares his unique perception of what God has to say about the idea of home. Pop into noisetrade.com to get the full album for free (score!).
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According to Nambassi, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What makes us a XQLTXH IRUFH LV WKH IDFW WKDW WKH ͤYH RI XV come from very different backgrounds, yet when we join to make one sound we get to
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ISSUE 1, 2015
Collision Records never cease to disappoint and the same can be said about their latest offering. Emcees Alex Faith and Dre Murray tackle socially conscious issues like love, race and faith with sound production thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second to none.
,I RQH ZDV WR GHVFULEH 1)ĚľV ͤUVW full album in one word, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is probably about right. With razor-sharp honesty about the metaphorical mansions that we often build to give us a false sense of security, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s straight down the line rap.
Pumping beats and insane lyrical flow is what you can come to expect from Reach Records hip hop artist, KB. This, his second album, may also surprise you with a few slower songs and interesting collaborations thrown in the mix.
R E V I E W S F O R YO U R R E A D I N G
ouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worth it. Become a better, slimmer you. Buick makes you feel the man you are. The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection. Be all you can be...
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We are constantly being bombarded with slogans that tell us what we should be, what we should own, and how we should value ourselves. We have been given worldly scales by which to measure ourselves based on achievements, looks or intelligence. I admit that how I
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MIRROR MIRROR GRAHAM BEYNON
160 PAGES, +- R170
GRAHAM BEYNON SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY WE MUST SEE AND VALUE OURSELVES, ANOTHER MIRROR WITH WHICH TO LOOK AT. value myself changes from hour to hour as I compare myself to the various people around me. Our identities are hardly stable. Our self-worth is constantly XQGHU WKUHDW b,Q KLV ERRN 0LUURU Mirror, Graham Beynon suggests
THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW
THE HEART OF RACIAL JUSTICE
PHILIP YANCEY
BRENDA SALTER MCNEIL AND RICK RICHARDSON
Thousands of books have been written about Jesus, and yet still +H UHPDLQV DQ HOXVLYH ͤJXUH in history. Who was this man Jesus? What was He like? No one who ever meets Jesus ever stays the same.
The problem of racism must be solved through both internal change and community transformation. Are you ready to ͤQG RXW KRZ VRXO FKDQJH OHDGV to social change?
that there is another way we must see and value ourselves, another mirror with which to look at. 7KLV ̴PLUURU̾ LV *RG̾V ZRUG and it does not offer us the ̴JRRG̾ VHOI LPDJH WKDW WKH ZRUOG has told us we need, but a right self-image. James 1:23-24 says WKDW WKH %LEOH *RG̾V ZRUG LV OLNH a mirror. We look into it and see what we are really like - warts and all. It is there where you will ͤQG ZKR \RX UHDOO\ DUH QRW IURP culture, but from God. Beynon has written this ERRN VSHFLͤFDOO\ ZLWK \RXQJ adults in mind as he discusses how we carve out an identity in our battles with bad selfimage. It skilfully analyses contemporary pop psychology of self-worth and compares it to that of the Bible in a manner that is accessible and friendly, yet remarkably insightful and FKDOOHQJLQJ 7KLV WHUULͤF ERRN paints an accurate picture of ZKR ZH WUXO\ DUH ,W̾V D TXLFN DQG HDV\ UHDG WKDW GRHVQ̾W FRPH DFURVV DV ̴SUHDFK\̾ RU judgemental, rather it is a vital encouragement for you to relook the way you see yourself as God sees you. - CLAIRE MORRISON
DISTINCTIVES
MEET THE REAL JESUS
VAUGHAN ROBERTS
JOHN BLANCHARD
7DUJHWLQJ GLIͤFXOW DUHDV VXFK as our attitude to money and possessions, sexuality, contentment, and service is crucial for a contemporary generation.
This book is simple without being simplistic, and doctrinally rich without sounding dull and dry. It persuasively presents the truth about Jesus Christ in such a coherent way that nobody who reads it can miss its message.
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T E S T I F Y W H AT â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S M Y S TO R Y ?
WADE PROFE
JUHDW ORYH ZLWK ZKLFK +H ORYHG XV HYHQbZKHQ â&#x20AC;&#x153;B JUHDW ORYH ZLWK ZKLFK +H ORYHG XV HYHQbZKHQ XW *RG EHLQJbULFK LQ PHUF\ bEHFDXVH RI WKH XW *RG EHLQJbULFK LQ PHUF\ bEHFDXVH RI WKH
ZH ZHUH GHDG LQ RXU WUHVSDVVHV bPDGH XV DOLYH WRJHWKHU ZLWK Christâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;by grace you have been saved.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ephesians 2:4-5
I was a pretty â&#x20AC;&#x153;goodâ&#x20AC;? kid by general standards. I obeyed my parents, I always believed in God, and even went to church ZLOOLQJO\ , GRQĚľW FRQVLGHU P\VHOI WR KDYH DOZD\V EHHQ VDYHG ZLOOLQJO\ , GRQĚľW FRQVLGHU P\VHOI WR KDYH DOZD\V EHHQ VDYHG EXW IRU D ORQJ WLPH , ͤJXUHG VLQFH , ZDVQĚľW ̸DOO WKDW EDGĚš , GLGQĚľW EXW IRU D ORQJ WLPH , ͤJXUHG VLQFH , ZDVQĚľW ̸DOO WKDW EDGĚš , GLGQĚľW really have a testimony worth sharing. But the truth is, no matter how well-behaved I was, I was dead in my sin and in desperate need of forgiveness and renewal (Ephesians 2:1-3). Being lost in sin manifests itself in different ZD\V IRU GLIIHUHQW SHRSOH )RU VRPH WKH HYLGHQFH LV YHU\ YLVLEOH ZD\V IRU GLIIHUHQW SHRSOH )RU VRPH WKH HYLGHQFH LV YHU\ YLVLEOH but for others like me the effects are more internal. The distinguishing mark of my pre-Christian walk was that I had a seriously warped identity. My â&#x20AC;&#x153;ideal identityâ&#x20AC;? was found in the things of this world. I wanted to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;coolâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;toughâ&#x20AC;?. )URP D YHU\ HDUO\ DJH , DOVR EHFDPH DEVROXWHO\ REVHVVHG ZLWK girls. If I was going to be anything in this life, it simply had to involve sex and romance. :KDWĚľV KLODULRXV LV WKDW *RG XVHG WKHVH XOWHULRU PRWLYHV WR :KDWĚľV KLODULRXV LV WKDW *RG XVHG WKHVH XOWHULRU PRWLYHV WR EULQJ PH WR +LPVHOI ,Q , ZHQW RQ D FKXUFK \RXWK FDPS $ EULQJ PH WR +LPVHOI ,Q , ZHQW RQ D FKXUFK \RXWK FDPS $ IHZ GD\V EHIRUH WKH FDPS , KDG ZULWWHQ LQ P\ GLDU\ ̸, GRQĚľW OLNH these camps. I like the girls that go on these camps.â&#x20AC;? (No jokes, I really wrote that). My diary entry showed where my heart was. , FDQĚľW UHPHPEHU ZKDW ERRN RI WKH %LEOH ZDV EHLQJ UHDG RU what was said in the sermons on that camp. There was no DOWDU FDOO RU ͤHU\ FKDULVPDWLF SUHDFKHU WR VWLU XS P\ HPRWLRQV $OO , NQRZ LV WKDW RQ WKDW FDPS *RGĚľV ZRUG ZDV SUHDFKHG DQG
something happened in my heart. The guy who came for the girls had one thing on his mind: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I desperately want to and have to live for Jesus.â&#x20AC;? , FDQ PDNH D ELJ GHDO DERXW KRZ , VXGGHQO\ ZDVQĚľW FRQIXVHG about my identity anymore, and how I became this amazingly XSULJKW SHUVRQ ZKR ZDVQĚľW LQWHUHVWHG LQ EHLQJ FRRO RU JHWWLQJ with the ladies. This is all partially true: I really did have a radical shift in my self-identity and priorities. But none of this happened overnight, and even now I still have a long way to go. %XW LI WKHUHĚľV RQH WKLQJ , FRXOG VWUHVV DERXW P\ OLIH VR IDU LW would be the amazing grace of God. There was nothing about this confused, lustful, awkward person that should have made PH GHVHUYLQJ RI *RGĚľV ORYH $QG WKHUH ZDV QR LQWHQWLRQ RU desire on my part to turn over a new leaf or follow Jesus. In fact, I was unable to realise my deep need for Jesus or change myself, but it was God who chose me (John 6:44). At the end of the day, apart from a supernatural act of God in my heart, I ZRXOG QHYHU KDYH FRPH WR ORYH +LP Just like in the verse that you read in the beginning, my story begins with a big â&#x20AC;&#x153;but Godâ&#x20AC;?. I was lost, deserving of wrath, and had my mind set on my path to destruction. But God, who is ULFK LQ PHUF\ VDYHG PH E\ +LV JUDFH 7KDW LV ZKHUH , ͤQG P\ LGHQWLW\ 1RW LQ DQ\WKLQJ , KDYH GRQH 1RW HYHQ LQ WKH ̸&KULVWLDQ VWXIIĚš , GR ,WĚľV LQ WKH IDFW WKDW ̸LQ ORYHbKH SUHGHVWLQHG >PH@ IRUbDGRSWLRQ DV >D VRQ@ WKURXJK -HVXV &KULVW bDFFRUGLQJ WR WKH SXUSRVH RI KLV ZLOO WR WKH SUDLVH RI KLV JORULRXV JUDFH̿̚ (SKHVLDQV ,I WKHUHĚľV RQH WKLQJ , KRSH WKLV WHVWLPRQ\ WHOOV \RX LWĚľV WKDW *RG LV XQIDWKRPDEO\ DZHVRPH IRU PDNLQJ D ZUHWFK OLNH PH +LV FKLOG
THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT THIS CONFUSED, LUSTFUL, AWKWARD PERSON THAT SHOULD HAVE MADE ME DESERVING OF GODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LOVE. 1 5
ISSUE 1, 2015
TESTIFY INTERVIEW
DR. CHRIS
WARTON CHATS TO PHATHISWA MAGANGANE
1
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND WHAT WERE YOUR PARENTS LIKE?
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, JUHZ XS LQ D VPDOO WRZQ LQ +DUDUH =LPEDEZH DV WKH youngest of 5 kids with a wonderful mom and dad. Because of the big age gap between my siblings it felt like I was an only child. I was very free to explore the things I found interesting from a young age, namely biology and science. Unfortunately my dad passed away when I was 11 and so , ZDV UDLVHG E\ P\ PRP DQG P\ JUDQGPRWKHU 'HVSLWH KLV absence, my mom painted a beautiful picture of him and so DOWKRXJK KH ZDVQ̵W SK\VLFDOO\ SUHVHQW , IHOW OLNH , NQHZ KLP I had a very happy childhood. 2
3
HOW DID KNOWING AND BELIEVING IN CHRIST AFFECT YOUR LIFE? I was passionately committed to science at that time. With Jesus, another side to life began to develop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Godfocused direction. I then sought to understand how the two worked together and realised that science on its own was not the entirety of life.
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,̵YH EHHQ >DW 8&7@ VLQFH WKH PLGGOH RI WHDFKLQJ anatomy to undergraduate students and as a part WLPH PHGLFDO RIͤFHU LQ WKH SV\FKLDWULF FOLQLF RI *URRWH 6FKXXU +RVSLWDO 7KHUH LV DQ LOOXVLRQ WKDW VFLHQFH DQG the academic world belongs to atheists. The inception of science was through academia and academia was started as Christian institutions, especially In Africa and Europe. $V D &KULVWLDQ LQ WKLV W\SH RI ͤHOG , WKLQN LW LV LPSRUWDQW to consistently live out your Christian identity and not RQO\ NHHS LW XS LQ D UHOLJLRXV FRQWH[W ,̵YH DOVR EHHQ WU\LQJ WR ͤJXUH RXW KRZ WR GR VFLHQFH LQ WKH ZD\ WKH %LEOH ZRXOG SUHVFULEH , RIWHQ WKULOO DW *RG̵V FUHDWLRQV in subjects like anatomy and teach my undergrads in a way that emphasizes how amazing the body is.
WHEN DID YOU COME TO KNOW JESUS AND FOLLOW HIM? I was not really a Christian when I was younger but my mother used to pray with me as a child. I began believing in Christ at 19 when I was invited to a Bible study group by a girl that I liked at the time. I thought she would be impressed that I went and this would make her like me but as the weeks went by I started to believe what they were VD\LQJ , ZDV UHOXFWDQW WR FRPPLW DW ͤUVW EHFDXVH , KDG P\ life planned out and I thought believing would turn my life XSVLGH GRZQ %XW , FRXOGQ̵W UHMHFW LW EHFDXVH , NQHZ LW ZDV the truth and so I sat on the fence. The leader of the Bible VWXG\ QRWLFHG DQG HQFRXUDJHG PH WR PDNH D FKRLFH +H DVNHG LI , ZRXOG HYHU VD\ QR WR -HVXV LI +H SHUVRQDOO\ DVNHG PH WR IROORZ +LP DQG , TXLFNO\ VDLG QR EXW WKDW ZDV H[DFWO\ what I was doing by refusing to commit. I then prayed to the Lord to make me a Christian and after a couple of months I began to grasp what it meant to be a believer of Christ.
WHAT WORK DO YOU DO AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND HOW DO YOU LIVE OUT YOUR CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IN THIS ACADEMIC FIELD?
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ANY ADVICE FOR A CHRISTIAN STUDENT WHO HAS COME TO VARSITY AND IS EXPOSED TO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT VIEWS, IDEAS AND VALUES THAN BACK AT HOME? *HQHUDOO\ VSHDNLQJ SHRSOH ͤQG XQLYHUVLW\ TXLWH threatening as everyone is very intelligent and you are RIWHQ EHLQJ OHFWXUHG E\ SHRSOH ZKR GRQ̵W EHOLHYH ZKDW \RX EHOLHYH 1DWXUDOO\ \RX ZRQ̵W KDYH HYHU\ DQVZHU but you can work to acquire some of them. The fact WKDW \RX GRQ̵W KDYH DQVZHUV GRHVQ̵W PHDQ WKDW WKHUH DUHQ̵W DQ\ &KULVWLDQLW\ LV D VWURQJ ZD\ RI WKLQNLQJ DQG ,̵P FRQYLQFHG LW FDQ RIIHU DQVZHUV WR WKH ZRUOG WKH ZD\ QR RWKHU ZRUOGYLHZ FDQ 6FLHQFH DORQH FDQ̵W answer questions of marriage, the soul etc. If you feel threatened by the university environment you should ͤQG D JURXS RI &KULVWLDQV \RX FDQ UHODWH WR DQG VSHDN to someone about your anxieties.
CHRISTIANITY IS A STRONG WAY OF THINKING AND Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M CONVINCED IT CAN OFFER ANSWERS TO THE WORLD THE WAY NO OTHER WORLDVIEW CAN. WWW.SCOPEMAGA ZINE.CO.ZA
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COMMON GROUND
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ISSUE 1, 2015
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ST. STEPHENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
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HILLSONG
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THE MESSAGE
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HIS PEOPLE
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JUBILEE COMMUNITY
MOWBRAY BAPTIST
SHOFAR
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HARFIELD
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CCK
ST. JAMES
CHURCH ON MAIN
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CONNECT
17. HILLSONG CHURCH. 1 KINETIC WAY, CENTURY CITY
16. JOSHUA GENERATION CHURCH. 129 KLOOF ST., GARDENS
15. CITY LIFE BAPTIST. 33 KLOOF ST., GARDENS
14. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. 5 VRIENDE ST., ORANGEZICHT
13. JUBILEE COMMUNITY CHURCH. 21 NELSON RD., OBSERVATORY
12. MOWBRAY BAPTIST CHURCH. 45 MAIN RD., MOWBRAY
11. THE MESSAGE CHURCH. 18 MAIN RD., ROSEBANK
1O. COMMON GROUND CHURCH. 23 MILNER RD., RONDEBOSCH
9. HIS PEOPLE BAXTER. BAXTER THEATRE, RONDEBOSCH
8. SHOFAR CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 199 MAIN RD., NEWLANDS
7. ST. STEPHENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHURCH. 86 BELVEDERE RD., CLAREMONT
6. ST. JAMES CHURCH. 114 3RD AVENUE, KENILWORTH
5. HARFILED CHURCH. 60 HARFIELD RD., KENILWORTH
4. CHRIST CHURCH KENILWORTH. CNR. OF RICHMOND & SUMMERLEY RD.
3. CHURCH ON MAIN. 3 MILLBANK RD., WYNBERG
2. CONNECT CHURCH. 136 LADIES MILE RD., MEADOWRIDGE
1. TOKAI COMMUNITY CHURCH. 28 TOKAI RD., TOKAI
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S I M U N Y E P LU G G E D I N
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Scope Magazine is an on-campus church collaboration initiative that operates through the local church network for the Cape Town region of the Western Cape. Simunye, which in Zulu means Ě´ZH DUH RQHĚľ LV D GHVLUH IRU WKH XS DQG FRPLQJ generation to belong to a community radically changed by the love of God who openly show what real unity in diversity looks like.
The words from Jesus Christ in John 13:35 are simple but challenging: â&#x20AC;&#x153;By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.â&#x20AC;? The time has come for churches with a presence amongst students to be joined together by their love for one another and their love for the university. If Gospel partnership is to happen anywhere, it must happen here. Simunye is merely a medium for students both inside and outside church to reconsider the importance of this while studying.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SIMUNYE AND THESE CHURCHES IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD GO TO WWW.SCOPEMAGAZINE.CO.ZA/SIMUNYE.
SIMUNYE COMMUNIT Y
BY BYRON FESTER
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ne of the most powerful moments of â&#x20AC;&#x153;belongingâ&#x20AC;? happens when we sing our national anthem. Anthems are ͤOOHG ZLWK GHHS HPRWLRQ KLVWRU\ WUXWK DQG PHDQLQJ 6RXWK $IULFDĚľV DQWKHP ends with the words â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śthe call to come together, and united we shall stand, let us live and strive for freedom, in South Africa our land.â&#x20AC;? When we sing those lines we IHHO D VHQVH RI EHORQJLQJ WKLV LV RXU ODQG )RU D IHZ PRPHQWV ZH DUH DOO WRJHWKHU ZKHUH ZH EHORQJ b 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WKRVH IHHOLQJV GRQĚľW always last very long. This is very evident with all the xenophobia that is tearing our FRXQWU\ DSDUW 0DQ\ GRQĚľW IHHO OLNH WKH\ belong. They are told to pack their bags and get out before they pay with their OLYHV b $UH ZH XQLWHG" 'RHV HYHU\ERG\ EHORQJ" :KHUH GR ZH ͤQG WKH PRVW SRZHUIXO VHQVH RI EHORQJLQJ"b$OO WKHVH TXHVWLRQV can be answered in one simple truth: the Church is the hope of the world and the SODFH ZKHUH ZH FDQ EHORQJ b
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TODAY, THE CHURCH SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS AND WHERE YOU ARE FREE TO EXPLORE WHO GOD IS.b After hearing that, many will say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;That FDQĚľW SRVVLEO\ EH WUXH IURP ZKDW ,ĚľYH H[SHULHQFHG Ěšb$QG PDQ\ DUH MXVWLͤHG LQ WKHLU IHHOLQJV 0D\EH \RXĚľYH HQFRXQWHUHG a church that turned you away and left you saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is this really what church is DERXW"Ěš 0D\EH \RXĚľYH VHDUFKHG DQG VWLOO FDQĚľW ͤQG D SODFH WR EHORQJ ZRUVKLS RU GLVFRYHU *RG +RZHYHU \RX IHHO WKHUH DUH SRZHUIXO WUXWKV LQ *RGĚľV ZRUG DERXW where anyone can belong and what the Church should be.b
HOW CHURCH STARTED The Bible not only speaks directly to us, but it also teaches us about the past to KHOS VKDSH RXU WRGD\ b Acts 2:42-47 shows the picture of the ͤUVW FKXUFK JDWKHULQJ 7KLV LV WKH FOHDUHVW picture of how the church formed its identity, and how it can still have that same identity today. When the believers of that time gathered, they devoted WKHPVHOYHV WR ͤYH WKLQJV WHDFKLQJ sharing meals together, praying, being in community with one another, and sharing with those around them. They met every day to praise God and eat together. They sold their possessions so no one was in need. All of this centred around the WHDFKLQJ RI *RGĚľV ZRUG ZKLFK LQVSLUHG and enabled them to devote themselves to those things. Acts 2 was the picture of radical community where everyone EHORQJHG LQFOXGLQJ WKRVH ZKR ZHUHQĚľW in the Church. It says that they gained favour with the community around them, and many people were added to their number. No one was left out. Everyone ZDV ORYHG DQG LQYROYHG b 3HRSOH GLGQĚľW MXVW JR WR FKXUFK WKH\ were the Church and Jesus was able to use them to transform communities and lives. Acts 2 models how community is meant to look like, motivated by the love RI -HVXV ZKR JDYH +LV OLIH IRU WKH &KXUFK b HOW CHURCH WILL â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ENDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; What is the point of the Church today, DQG ZLOO LW HQG LI HYHU " 5HYHODWLRQ describes the Church as a great multitude of people from every background, race
and culture worshipping God forever. No RQH DVNV LI WKH\ EHORQJ QR RQH IHHOV OHIW out, unloved or unwelcomed. Everyone is worshipping God and serving others in perfect love and unity. If this is what heaven will be like, if this is where the Church is heading, it should surely shape our idea of the Church today. Today, the Church should be a place where everyone belongs and where you are free to explore ZKR *RG LV b YOUR IDENTITY IN COMMUNITY What can we do now if we still have TXHVWLRQV DERXW ZKHUH ZH EHORQJ" 7KH DQVZHU LV WR ͤQG \RXU LGHQWLW\ LQ ZKR *RG called you to be. Identity, according to Jesus, is fully believing and operating in WKH WUXWK WKDW *RG̾V ORYH DQG DFFHSWDQFH LVQ̾W GLFWDWHG E\ EHKDYLRXU EXW UDWKHU +LV unmoving, consistent, never-failing love. -HVXV̾ ORYH IRU XV FDQ WUDQVIRUP DQ\ hopeless thoughts of belonging or identity. If we truly know how Jesus sees us and loves us, we will see that we DOO EHORQJ ZLWK +LP :KHQ WKH &KXUFK operates in the way God intended, we see that we can belong in any church WKDW FDOOV -HVXV ̸/RUG̚ DQG ORYHV +LP When you are part of a church, you are part of the bigger body of believers. When we all see our true identity and where we all belong, no one will be left out or told to pack their bags. We can be the &KXUFK WKDW *RG KDV FDOOHG XV WR EH D community committed to changing the world.
BYRON FESTER LV D FKXUFK SODQWHU ZKRÂ&#x201C;ZRUNV IRU Antioch Cape Town Church. He loves Jesus and wants to see Cape Town and Africa radically transformed by the love and message of Jesus. He loves Vida Caffe coffee and outdoor braaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s while watching any kind of sport.
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S AV V Y S T U D E N T R H Y M E S & R E C I P E S
POETRY & PROSE
WRIGHT RECIPES GREG WRIGHT
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BY MTENDE MAUGHOGHO OGHO
Breatheâ&#x20AC;Ś Losing grip, feet failing, trying WR UHDFK WKH VXUIDFH GRQĚľW panic Panicking +HDUW EHDWV IDVWHU Water rising Sinking, falling, drowning Trying to gasp for air but the water greets my throat with such desperation 'RQĚľW SDQLF Reach out into nothing Wake-up Breatheâ&#x20AC;Ś Anxiety, depression, insomnia, bulimia, anorexia, vanity, jock, gamer, nerd, noob, gay, straight down, quiet, shy, funny, loser, Christian, Agnostic, Islam, nonbeliever, daughter, son, mother, father, ex, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, child, friends, perfect, fakeâ&#x20AC;ŚMASK Breatheâ&#x20AC;Ś Sleep, wake-up, toss, turn, blanket on, blanket off, count the sheep, one-two-three, shush, stop thinking, sleep, ZDNH XS VR WLUHG FDQĚľW VOHHS awake, sleep, morning Breatheâ&#x20AC;Ś +ROGLQJ RQ QRW WLJKW HQRXJK WRR WLJKW OHW JR GRQĚľW OHW JR both hands, one hand, no KDQGV VTXHH]H KROG RQ GRQĚľW let go, too soon, not soon enough, you were meant to hold on, you were meant to let go Breatheâ&#x20AC;Ś +H ORYHV PH KH ORYHV PH QRW she loves me, she loves me not, one petal, two petals, last petal, no petals, mixed signals, straight signals, confused, super clear, but, no buts, yes, no, maybe, halfsies, Mrs right, Mr right now, dating, kid, marriage, kids, together, divorce, grandparents, dead Breatheâ&#x20AC;Ś 'LIIHUHQW SHUVRQDOLWLHV Tired of reality :KHUH LV *RG" 6LOHQW TXLHW , FDQĚľW KHDU KLP &DQ KH KHDU PH"
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ISSUE 1, 2015
<HV" 1R" 0D\EH" 63($. Never mindâ&#x20AC;Ś ,Ěľ0 +(5( ZKDW" ,Ěľ0 +(5( QR \RX DUHQĚľW BUT I AMâ&#x20AC;Ś I AM , FDQĚľW KHDU \RX BUT I AM SPEAKING TO YOU , FDQĚľW VHH \RX %87 , $0 $// $5281' <28 why this... BECAUSE I AM why that... BECAUSE I AM butI AM ZKR DUH \RX" I AM The one who knew you before the very existence of this world I AM The one who formed you in \RXU PRWKHUĚľV ZRPE I AM Your provider, your comforter, \RXU VDWLVͤHU I AM Before you and after you, next you, in you, surrounding you I AM Your father, your protector, your creator, your under-stander, your life, your joy I AM Good, I can bring good, I will bring good I AM 5LJKW VXIͤFLHQW QHFHVVDU\ omnipotent, omnipresent, faithful, merciful, gracious , $0 3(5)(&7 but God, my masks , .12: <285 +($57 EXW *RG P\ OLIH" , .12: <285 :+2/( /,)( EXW *RG P\ SDLQ" I KNOW YOUR PAIN EXW *RG GR VRPHWKLQJ""" , +$9( '21( 620(7+,1* , $0 '2,1* 620(7+,1* , :,// %( '2,1* 620(7+,1* JUST TRUST ME JUMP but God%87 %5($7+(Ěż
APPLE CRUMBLE COST: R44.65 SERVES: 2-4 (DEPENDING ON SELF-RESTRAINT)
This dessert is easy to customise. You can add chopped up strawberries when you pour the fruit into the baking dish. Or add nuts and sultanas for added texture. I normally use Tall Horse Shiraz, which isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too fancy and adds a wonderful flavour and colour. I always serve this dessert with fresh pouring cream while itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s piping hot, fresh out the oven!
INGREDIENTS FILLING
TOPPING
2 large apples 3 large pears 250ml red wine
250ml cake flour 100g butter 80ml brown sugar
250ml water 5ml cinnamon 2.5ml nutmeg 1.25ml turmeric 1.25ml cloves 1.25ml ginger
pinch of salt 5ml baking powder
METHOD FILLING 1
Core, peel and cut the fruit into eighths.
2
Mix wine, water and spices in a medium-sized pot.
3
Add the fruit and poach (the water shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be boiling excessively) for 20 minutes or until fruit is soft when forked.
4
Remove from heat, leave the fruit submerged in the cooking liquid for about 2-3 hours.
5
Drain the fruit, keeping the cooking liquid.
6
Place the fruit into a round 8â&#x20AC;? baking dish.
7
Reduce the cooking liquid down to roughly 200ml.
TOPPING 1
Pour the liquid over the fruit.
2
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
3
Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, giving it a good mix.
4
Soften the butter.
5
Combine the flour mix and butter, and mix until it is in clumps roughly the size of bread crumbs.
6
Crumble the topping over the fruit and place into the oven for roughly 30 minutes or until the topping has turned golden brown. The longer you leave it the yummier the topping will get.
S AV V Y S T U D E N T H E L P F U L H I N T S
BY KATELYN MOSTERT
E
[DP WLPH LV URXJK 6XGGHQO\ \RX KDYH WR UHYLVH HYHU\WKLQJ \RXĚľYH learned over the whole semester and it can seem very daunting, especially when you have two or three exams in the same week. ,I \RXĚľUH DQ\WKLQJ OLNH PH WKH SURVSHFW RI VR PXFK ZRUN GHQDWXUHV \RXU EUDLQ DQG WKH SURFUDVWLQDWRU LQ \RX VD\V LWĚľOO EH PXFK OHVV VWUHVVIXO LI \RX watch that series or read that book now and leave the studying for later. The procrastinator in you is wrong. But deep down you know that. Is there DQ\WKLQJ WKDW FDQ KHOS XV SRRU ORVW VRXOV" 6XUH MIND AND BODY There are some very practical things you can do while studying to ensure WKDW \RXĚľUH VWD\LQJ KHDOWK\ 1. Make sure you are drinking lots of water. Thinking is hard and we tend to neglect our bodies in favour of trying to get through everything in time. Your brain (and body) needs to stay hydrated to function to its full potential. Sipping water has also been proven to help your concentration (I read this VRPHZKHUH DQG GLGQĚľW EHOLHYH LW VR , WULHG LW DQG LWĚľV WUXH SOXV WKH H[WUD bathroom breaks will keep you from getting too lost and bogged down by your work.
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HELPFUL HINTS
very draining, so keep a good stock of snacks handy to prevent you working yourself into exhaustion. 3. Get out and about. Exercise gives you endorphins, ZKLFK LV WKH FKHPLFDO WKDW PDNHV \RX KDSS\ ,WĚľV HDV\ WR forget what a difference it actually makes. It also helps to keep your blood pumping, especially to your brain â&#x20AC;&#x201C; somewhat necessary during exams, I should think. Even LI \RXĚľUH QRW ELJ RQ GRLQJ H[HUFLVH LQ WKH IRUP RI UXQQLQJ or gymming, go for a walk to the shops to stock up on study snacks. 4. Friends. +LGLQJ DZD\ LQ \RXU URRP LV QRW KHDOWK\ HYHQ if it means getting more work done. You also need to maintain your relationships with people. Go to church, go to Bible study, go for coffee with a friend for an hour or two as a study break, talk to your lecturer or tutor LI WKHUHĚľV VRPHWKLQJ \RXĚľUH VWUXJJOLQJ WR XQGHUVWDQG 7DONLQJ WR SHRSOH KHOSV \RX UHPHPEHU WKDW WKHUHĚľV PRUH to life than passing this one exam. Maybe they can help \RX GH VWUHVV RU \RX FDQ KHOS WKHP -XVW GRQĚľW IRUJHW the important people in your life. SPIRIT AND SOUL The above points mostly cover the physical and mental DVSHFWV RI FRSLQJ ZLWK VWUHVV EXW GRQĚľW IRUJHW DERXW NHHSLQJ \RXU VSLULW KHDOWK\ WRR 3UD\HU LV WKH EHVW DQG most effective tool for this, along with immersing \RXUVHOI LQ *RGĚľV ZRUG DQG IHOORZVKLS ZLWK &KULVWLDQV ZKR FDQ EXLOG \RX XS ZKHQ \RXĚľUH IHHOLQJ GRZQ Philippians 4:6-7 is a passage of scripture that is worth UHPHPEHULQJ ̸'R QRW EH DQ[LRXV DERXW DQ\WKLQJ EXW LQ everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard \RXU KHDUWV DQG \RXU PLQGV LQ &KULVW -HVXV Ěš ,VQĚľW WKDW IDQWDVWLF" -XVW E\ WHOOLQJ *RG DERXW RXU IHDUV RI IDLOLQJ or not being able to cover all the course content in time DQG KDQGLQJ LW DOO RYHU WR +LP JLYHV XV SHDFH +H ZLOO JLYH \RX WKDW LI \RX JLYH +LP \RXU EXUGHQV 2QH RI P\ PRPĚľV IDYRXULWH UHPLQGHUV LQ WLPHV RI stress and hard work is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just do your best and God will do the rest.â&#x20AC;? I often forget what this actually means and WDNH LW DV D IUHH SDVV WR GR WKH EDUH PLQLPXP 7KDWĚľV QRW ZKDW WKDW PHDQV DQG WKDWĚľV QRW KRZ *RG ZRUNV <RXU best means doing as much as you possibly can, working hard to your full potential, and then leaving the result up to God. You will eliminate unnecessary worry by
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ISSUE 1, 2015
reminding yourself that God is fully in control. When the ZRUN VHHPV OLNH LWĚľV MXVW WRR PXFK IRU \RX WR FRSH ZLWK UHPHPEHU WKDW LWĚľV QRW WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW SDUW RI \RXU life. You can trust that God will meet every need that you have during this exam period, because when pleasing +LP EHFRPHV \RXU ͤUVW SULRULW\ LQ KRZ \RX KDQGOH WKH SUHVVXUH +H SURPLVHV WR JLYH \RX SHDFH 5HPHPEHU WR SXW WKLQJV LQ SHUVSHFWLYH ,WĚľV LPSRUWDQW WR ORRN DW WKH ELJ SLFWXUH :KHQ ,ĚľP VWUHVVHG LWĚľV XVXDOO\ EHFDXVH ,ĚľP WRR IRFXVHG RQ ZKDWĚľV ULJKW LQ IURQW RI PH without putting it in the right context. I forget about ZKDWĚľV UHDOO\ LPSRUWDQW 0DWWKHZ VD\V ̸7KHUHIRUH , tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more WKDQ FORWKLQJ"Ěš 1RZ VXEVWLWXWH ZKDW \RX ZLOO HDW RU GULQN or wear with: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what [you struggle to understand] or [the marks you will get], nor about [passing this course/getting your degree]. Is not life more than [your degree] and the ERG\ PRUH WKDQ >\RXU LQWHOOLJHQFH@"Ěš *RG SURPLVHV VXFK DPD]LQJ WKLQJV WR WKRVH ZKR IROORZ +LP +H ZLOO JLYH \RX ZKDW \RX QHHG WR VHUYH +LP DQG WKDWĚľV DOO WKDW PDWWHUV It may be the opportunity for a supplementary exam VKRXOG \RX IDLO ,W PD\ EH D MRE WKDW GRHVQĚľW DFWXDOO\ FDUH how many courses you took or what your marks were DQG PRVW GRQĚľW DQ\ZD\ ,W PD\ EH IULHQGV DQG IDPLO\ who will support you no matter where you end up in life. There are more important things than the mark you will get for this exam. Matthew chapter 6 goes on to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Therefore do not EH DQ[LRXVĚż \RXU KHDYHQO\ )DWKHU NQRZV \RX QHHG >WKHVH WKLQJV@ %XW VHHN ͤUVW WKH NLQJGRP RI *RG DQG his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for WRPRUURZ ZLOO EH DQ[LRXV DERXW LWVHOI 6XIͤFLHQW IRU WKH GD\ LV LWV RZQ WURXEOH Ěš 'R \RXU EHVW DQG *RG ZLOO GR WKH UHVW +DQG LW RYHU WR +LP LQ SUD\HU DQG WUXVW +LP WR WDNH FDUH RI \RX +H ZRQĚľW OHW \RX GRZQ KATELYN MOSTERT is in her Honours year for Media at UCT. She loves words, nature and EHLQJ DURXQGÂ&#x201C;DPD]LQJ SHRSOH ZKR XQGHUVWDQG KHU ORYH IRU *RG DQG KLV FUHDWLRQ Â&#x201C;,Q WKH IXWXUHÂ&#x201C;VKH ZDQWV WR OLYH LQ D OLEUDU\ ZLWK D KHGJHKRJ
Life through a new lens
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