Reformed Journal: The ARCHBISHOP and THE BIBLE

The Most Revd. DESMOND MPILO TUTU:

"I say the things I say because of who I am.
My ultimate mandate is from Jesus Christ." (Argus, 28.4.86)

Becoming Archbishop "is all like a dream. I am quite overcome
by the awesomeness of it all, and of the tremendous responsibility
that has been placed on my shoulders." (Cape Times, 16.4.86)

Bishop Tutu	The Bible
On the Divinity of Christ "Some people thought there was something odd about Jesus' birth… It may be that Jesus was an illegitimate son." (Cape Times, 24.10.80)	Jesus Christ, the Son of God "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpeted is, God with us." (Isiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:23). "and the virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1:27)
On the Holy Spirit "The Holy Spirit is not limited to the Christian Church. For example, Mahatma Gandhi, who is a Hindu… The Holy Spirit shines through him." (St. Alban's Cathedral, Pretoria, 23.11.78)	The Holy Spirit Testifies of Christ Jesus said: "The Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness to Me." (John 15:26). "He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine, and declare it to you." (John 16:14)
On the Kingdom of God "When justice prevails over injustice as in Zimbabwe, it shows that the kingdom of God is here already." (Ecunews 11/1980)	The Kingdom of God is Within You Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36). "Unless one is born anew… born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:3, 5)
On Peace "I receive the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Nelson Mandelas, the Walter Sisulus, the Govan Mbekis, the Winnie Mandelas, the Albertina Sisulus." (Winnie Mandela: "With our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country." - 30.4.86 at Munsieville, Tvl., UCANEWS 9/86)	The Peace of God "Bessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) "Peace I leave with you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.." (John 14:17) "The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)
On the ANC "Mandela is my leader, and I am not going to be dictated to as to who should be my leader." (The Star, 16.8.85) (Nelson Mandela: "There is no alternative to taking up arms. There is no room for peaceful struggle in South Africa." (Washington Times, cit. UCANEWS 10/85)	Look unto Jesus, the Author of our Faith Jesus said: "Follow Me… I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
On the West's Refusal to Disinvest "The West can go to Hell!" (Cape Times, 23.7.86)	The Keys of Hell Jesus Christ: "I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death." (Rev. 1:18)
On Rebellion "You build up a process of disobeying on a massive scale, that will mean nearly all the laws in the statute book, so that this country becomes ungovernable." (Eloff Report, 1984)	No Rebellion - God is a God of Order "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them." (Proverbs 28:4). "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the Emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right." (l Peter 2:13, 14)
On Violence "One young man with a stone in his hands can achieve more than I can with a dozen sermons." (Daily Telegraph, London, Nov. 1984) "Unless America puts pressure on South Africa… the only way forward is to overthrow the Government by force." (Sunday Times, 26.1.86) "There comes a time when it is justifiable to overthrow an unjust system by violence." (Argus, 3.4.86) "I will tell you the day… (when) we must use violence to overthrow an unjust system." (The Argus, 24.6.87)	No Violence - All Authority comes from God. "A man of violence entices his neighbour and leads him in a way that is not good." (Proverbs 16:29) "Let every peson be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore who resists the authorities, resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." (Romans 13: 1, 2)
On the Last Judgment "Thank God I am black. White people will have a lot to answer for at the last judgment." (Argus, 19.3.84)	Jesus Christ only is the Judge "God will render to every man according to his works: To those who by patience and well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." (Romans 2:6-8)
On Neighbour-Relations "I am not saying Whites would be massacred…" (Cape Times, 11.12.84) "Imagine what would happen if only 30 percent of domestic servants (in white households) would poison their employers' food." (Volkskrant, Holland, 15.11.84) "Suppose you gave them each a vial of arsenic… They look after the white people's children…" (WNBC-TV Dec. 85) "Is it not surprising that Black resistance has not yet blown up a schoolbus with white children? They are the softest targets." (Ibid. and Sunday Times, 26.l.86) "There will be no sympathy for the Jews when the Blacks take over." (Boston Jewish Times, Nov. 21, 1986)	Love your Neighbour "Devise not evil against your neighbour who dwells trustingly beside you." (Proverbs 3:29). "Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:10) "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:12). "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them." (Mathew 7:12)
On Communism "If the Russians were to come to South Africa, most Blacks would welcome them as saviours." (St. Paul's Cathedral, London, November 1984) "Communist China will provide a very good model for developing countries." (Washington Inquirer, 29.8.86)	Salvation only in Christ False prophets "promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption." (2 Peter 2:19). "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
On Revolution "Every Christian must be a revolutionary. Jesus was a revolutionry. I am a revolutionary if you understand by that somebody who wants to completely change things." (Rapport, 20.4.86)	Revolution of the Heart "Put off the old nature and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)
On Daily Bread "I call on the international community to apply punitive sanctions against this Government." (Argus, 3.4.86) "I do not regret what I have said, (Die Burger, 22.8.86) and I am not going to be dictated to by anybody."	Murder by Starvation "The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it is a man of blood. To take away a neighbour's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his wages is to shed blood." (Ecclesiasticus 34:21-22
On Economics "I am a socialist. I hate capitalism." (Sunday Times, 29.12.85; idea 32/83) "I think I would use Marxist insights, 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.' That, I think, is in line with what Our Lord, himself, would have taught." (Inside South Africa, April 1988)	Work and Pray "You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth; that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers." (Deut. 8:18) "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." (Prov. 10:4, 6) "If anyone will not work, let him not eat." (2 Thess. 3:10)
On Christ's Political Role "If Jesus Christ came to South Africa today, he would be in trouble with the authorities because of his solidarity with the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, and he would certainly be detained… I am sure that many whites would say that he deserved it; there is no smoke without fire." (Cape Times, 14.2.86)	Jesus did not Seek Political Conflict Jesus said: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matt. 22:21; Mk. 12:17; Lk. 20:25) The Roman governor Pontius Pilate "sought to release Him", saying: "I find no crime in him." (John 19:6, 12) "I did not find this man guilty…I have found in him no crime deserving death." (Lk. 23:14, 22)

"A bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also confute those who contradict it." (Titus 1:7-9)

http://www.christianaction.org.za/GDL/articles/The_ARCHBISHOP_THE_BIBLE.htm

Reformed Journal

Tuesday, 10 June 2008

The ARCHBISHOP and THE BIBLE

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