Madiba's Legacy - What It Means To Us

Legacy seems to be a hot-ticket these days as politicians and celebrities get concerned about what their legacy might be. Sadly few of those that get wrapped up in this nonsense seem to understand that we don't get to choose or decide what our legacy will or won't be. Whilst it's true that our actions and words shape any legacy, it is ultimately history with the benefit of time that will have the final say.

Thankfully Madiba never showed the slightest interest in the celebrity-esque manipulation of legacy. Madiba transcended that kind of nonsense which is why his legacy will only grow from what it already is.

So what does his legacy as it exists so far, mean to us?

There are three clear ways in which Madiba and the Anti-apartheid Struggle's legacy have directly impacted our lives.
Firstly, the legacy means we can live in a free South Africa. There is no way that we would be here under the apartheid govt. Mainly because we would never have stepped foot in the country under that horrifically brutal system and secondly, our views are so strongly anti-racism that we probably wouldn't have been allowed in.

Secondly, the legacy allows us to worship where we want, when we want and most importantly with whom we want. We are now free to worship with Cape-coloured, black and white folk with no fear of breaking the law, imprisonment and brutal punishment. Without Mandela and the struggle Tree of Life Church wouldn't be free to associate as it does.

Thirdly, and most importantly for us, the legacy has allowed our family to grow. Under apartheid there is absolutely no way Eli would be the amazing part of our family that he is.

So what can we do to respond to Madiba's legacy?

We can continue to lead church in a community where most white folk fear to tread. We can continue to open God's word up to those who have been denied the opportunities to hear it. We can continue to open our home and our hearts to those it would have been forbidden to under apartheid.

Madiba spoke many times against oppression and racism but Jesus was way ahead of him in that.

Jesus life was one of modelling inclusion, he was often found with the dregs and scum of society, much to the chagrin of those in leadership.

Paul tells us in Galatians 3:28-29 that:

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."