A NEW generation.
More recently I had the opportunity to document one of my housemates story here in Jeffreys Bay, who being the same age as me, shared her experiences of the aftermath of the apartheid, and how it is still effecting South Africa today. Sonja grew up in an Afrikaans family, and she shared how former generations, such as her parents and grandparents who encountered apartheid first hand, are continuing to live with prejudice. In University when she lived amongst people of different races, she recognized that these same stereotypes influenced her judgments of others and that they are motivated by fear and pride. Sonja discovered that her curiosity and desire to get to know these individuals helped her to overcome these imposed fears. She is now a teacher at the Global Leadership Academy here in Jeffreys Bay, and is engaging in this conversation of stereotypes and prejudices with the next generation of young people. In her class, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Dutch and English students were encouraged to confront the oftentimes unspoken tensions that still remain over 20 years later after the apartheid ended with the release of Nelson Mandela. Inspired by the movie Freedom Writers, students were asked to answer a series of questions, ranging in topics, but primarily focused on stereotyping. As the questions were asked, they stepped forward if that question applied to them. As students stepped forward, they came to realize that they were in fact not as different from each other as they originally imagined. Sonja insists that in order for these stereotypes to end, the change has to begin with us.
We have to acknowledge that these stereotypes are based out of fears that have trickled down through generations, but many times are not true of the individuals we encounter, and therefore we cannot judge them. Jesus was very clear about judgment himself. In Matthew 7 he says that with the same measure we judge another person, we will also be judged. Judgment results in judgment. It’s cyclical. The only way to stop this pattern of prejudice and stereotyping, someone has to stop judging and start loving. In order for that to happen, we need to start thinking of one another in alignment with the way God thinks.
When addressing the Galatians, Paul said “ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all ONE in Christ Jesus. “ (Galatians 3:28) That is how God sees us.. as ONE in Christ. Therefore, especially as believers, we must not “be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed with the renewing of our mind” (Romans 12:2). We need to change the way we think. And in doing so, future generations will not encounter these same stereotypes.
I can honestly say, that I have also been confronted with this topic of stereotyping recently. As I walk the streets, I have noticed how sometimes, based off of outward appearance, I feel ‘safer’ around certain people compared to others. This can actually be deceiving. That is why it is crucial to judge people in alignment with the TRUTH of the way God sees them, and to constantly be in communication with God, who accurately judges the heart of a man. He alone is able to tell me if a person has evil intentions.
PERFECT LOVE casts out ALL FEAR. So let’s start being on the offense with love, rather than attempting to defend ourselves with fear. It really doesn’t work.
