Two Sides of a Coin: On Whose Side is God?

Résumé

The phrase “Two Sides of a Coin” in the title should be understood as meaning that there are different ways of looking at a thing or dealing with a situation and that they could be both positive and negative. South African history and reality is without a doubt divided into two halves, namely black and white. This history gave birth to ideologies and theologies arguing that God belonged to—and was loyal to—a particular race. For most whites, specifically most Afrikaners, God was always with them in their struggle against the British Empire and blacks. Likewise, for blacks, God was also with them in their struggle against white oppression. The phrase “Two Sides of a Coin” expresses these two points of view that are based on the same subjects or sources, namely God, Christ, and Christianity, although they end up with two different conclusions and I must declare that I am a black theologian who subscribes to the view that “God is on the side of the poor.” The sub-heading “On Whose Side is God” explains that the article interrogates the claim that God is “a God of sides.” The conclusion shows that God is not necessarily located on a particular side but is a God who is already standing at a particular position which naturally is the side of the oppressed and the side of righteousness. The article is divided into four sections: the first section concentrates on the Afrikaners’ belief that God is on their side. The second section concentrates on the white (non-Afrikaner) response to this belief. The third section looks at the black critique of nationalism and apartheid theology. The fourth section expresses the view that God is for all but stands on the side of righteousness.

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