(English translation below)
Hallo Udo
Ek was Saterdag by Kenilworth en vanaand by Vishoek. Ek wil jou en die span gelukwens en bedank vir wat julle ons gebring het. Die tyd dat ‘n Christen hom kan beperk tot kerkbywoning en vertrou dat die dominee tog nie van die preekstoel sal lieg nie, is verby. Nou moet ons ons maar wend na sulke geleenthede wat voorheen ondenkbaar was. En watter aangename verrassing was dit nie!
Dit voel vir my asof Suid Afrika ‘n land sonder brieke is, veral onder die wat die naam van Jesus Christus gebruik. Watter voorreg is dit nie om in hierdie tyd toegang te kan hê tot die uitstekende werk van ons Amerikaanse broers nie. Ek voel bemoedig en versterk deur hulle getrouheid en ‘scholarship’.
Dit klink of julle deeglik bewus is van wat in UP se teologiese departement aangaan en die vrugte wat hulle lewer. Julle is in ons gebede vir die res van die toer. Baie sterkte daarmee.
Dra asseblief my dank en waardering aan die span oor. Ek dink die Amerikaners is miskien ‘n bietjie verward oor die ‘afsydigheid’ van die mense terwyl hulle oop en toeganklik is. Verduidelik maar dat die gewone Afrikaner nie voorbarig wil wees deur sommer ‘n geselsie met ‘n dominee aan te knoop nie! Dit neem ook tyd om hulle onverskrokke boodskap te verwerk, veral omdat nie meer van die preekstoel kom nie. Hulle moenie bomskok verwar met hoogmoed nie! En in die derde plek, uit ondervinding het ons geleer om geen teoloog te vertrou nie en voortdurend op jou hoede te wees, veral vir die wat joviaal voorkom. As dit nie so was nie, sou ons hulle nie so nodig gehad het soos wat nou die geval is nie.
Die Afrikaanse Christen kry swaar noudat die NG kerk so verval het. Hierdie manne het verligting gebring. My opregte dank aan jou en die span. Mag die Here die saad laat groei ter wille van die Evangelie van Jesus Christus.
Groete uit die [nat] Kaap en sterkte. Ek sien uit na die DVD’s.
A
NS: En nog ‘n ding. Ekskuus, dit gaan my lank neem om uitgepraat te raak hieroor.
Ek het groot waardering vir die Amerikaners wat hulself in duidelik taal verwoord. Afrikaanse dominees spesialiseer daarin om donker praatjies te maak wat mens laat wonder wat hulle eintlik bedoel of glo. Of hoekom ek nie my moedertaal kan verstaan nie. Die Amerikaners, nie die ontluikendes nie, is uitstekende kommunikeerders. Dankie aan hulle.
(English translation)
Hi Udo
I was at Kenilworth on Saturday [Faith & Reason Cape Conference] and at Fish Hoek [Dr. William Lane Craig’s talk on how Jesus is the only way to God] tonight. I want to congratulate you and the team and thank you for what you have brought us. The time that a Christian can limit himself to attending church and trust that the pastor would at least not lie from the pulpit, has passed. Now we have to turn to such events – previously unthinkable. And what a pleasant surprise it was!
It feels as if South Africa is a country without brakes, especially among those who use the name of Jesus Christ. What a privilege it is in this time to have access to the excellent work of our American brothers. I feel encouraged and strengthened by their faithfulness and scholarship.
It seems that you are thoroughly aware of what is happening at the University of Pretoria’s theological department [editor’s note: similar things at Bloemfontein and Stellenbosch departments] and the fruit it bears. You are in our prayers for the rest of the tour. All the best.
Please deliver my thanks and appreciation to the team. I think the Americans might be a little confused about people’s ‘aloofness’, but they are actually open and approachable. Explain to them that the average Afrikaner does not want to be so forward by simply starting a conversation with a pastor! It also takes time to digest the Americans’ bold and fearless message, especially since it doesn’t come from the pulpit anymore. They should not confuse us being shell-shocked with pride! Thirdly, from experience we have learnt not to trust any theologian and to constantly be on our toes, especially with those who appear cheerful and jovial. If it wasn’t so, we would not have needed our American brothers as much as is the case right now.
The Afrikaans Christian is struggling mightily since the Dutch Reformed Church started deteriorating. [Editor’s note: likewise for other denominations in South Africa, for example such as the Presbyterian Church where Hansie Wolmarans who is a panentheist, is now a minister]. These American men have brought relief. My sincere thanks to you and the team. May the Lord make the seed grow for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Greetings from the (wet) Cape and all the best. I look forward to the DVD’s.
A
PS: And another thing. (Sorry, it’s going to take me awhile to get over my excitement.) I have great appreciation for the Americans who express themselves in clear language. Afrikaans pastors specialise in veiled talking which make you wonder at what they really mean or believe (or why I cannot understand my mother tongue!). The Americans, not the emergents, are fantastic communicators. Thanks to them.
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