ACTION ITEMS
February 2008
Object to School Learners' Pledge of Allegiance, Propose New Pledge
Urge ICASA to Tighten Broadcasting Code!
Opportunity to Influence Film and Computer Games Age Classifications
Start or Join and Action Group In Your City
Civil Unions Act - What Still Can Be Done?
Sanctity Life Sunday - Sunday 1 February 2009
National Day of Repentance - Sunday 1 February 2009
How to Start a Reformation Society
The ANC are planning to replace prayer and Bible reading in schools with a new religious rite - a cult of the state - complete with an oath of allegiance to the secular constitution.
The announcement by Education Minister Naledi Pandor on Tuesday, that all South African school children will have to make a pledge of allegiance to the South African constitution was met by strong reactions from many Christians.
Based on the preamble of the constitution, it is intended to "internalise" the "values of the [constitution]" Education Minister Naledi Pando told a media briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Pandor said it would be open for public comment "to see if we can live with it" and, depending on the response, children could be heard reciting it in school assemblies by mid-March.
In a media briefing Pandor was asked if she envisaged objections by parents, and said she hadn't heard of a single South African who had wanted to "opt out" of the constitution. Is Pandor not aware of the 20 000 Christians who marched to Parliament in Cape Town on the 30 May 1995 to object to the secular constitution? Thousands of others voiced their objections in letters to Members of Parliament. And what about the fact that the ACDP voted against the constitution precisely because certain clauses diametrically oppose these values mentioned in the pledge? For example, it is recognised as a higher authority than Almighty God, protects the right to life of murderers and rapists but denies the right to life of innocent unborn children, and it opened the door to pornography and same sex marriage.
The Christian Action Network has proposed a new pledge, based on The Ten Commandments.
What You Can Do:
You may also want to express your concerns to your elected representative in Parliament and in letters to the editor of your favourite newspaper or magazine.
Why not encourage schools, especially Christian and private schools, to adopt a similar ethical pledge instead of the secular abomination?
Related Articles:
Parental Responsibility in Education
What is Christian Education?
Opportunity to Influence Film and Computer Games Age Classifications
The Film and Publications Board is a statutory body instituted by the same law that legalised porn. The aim of the Board is supposedly to balance the “right” of “adults” to read and view what they want and the rights of others not to be exposed to material they find offensive.
It is a concern when porn peddlers such as Fiona Overall of Hustler describes the Board as, “Enlightened, relaxed and together”, “open-minded” and it is “a joy to deal with them”. Another major porn purveyor describes them as, “Very pleasant”, “reasonable”, “good to us”, but they are “strict on their standards” and “they have got a mission”.
Despite the pro-porn legislation and the pro-porn view of the majority of those involved in the Board, Mr Iyavar Chetty, senior officer of the FPB, is sympathetic to the concerns of those against pornography. No doubt direct witness of its continued decline worries him. Speaking at the Standing Together Opposing Pornography (S.T.O.P.) annual meeting in 2003, he stressed, however, that unless we as the public complain to the FPB about the standards the Board uses, sexually explicit material will continue to be as widely distributed as it is.
Mr Chetty pointed out that members of the public “complain when they talk to us in meetings, but we don’t have enough follow up (where a specific complaint is made).”
He said that it’s vital that the community gets more involved in fighting pornography. Without public input, the Board’s response is limited. People need to complain to the Board in order to have a particular film classification or publication investigated. “We do not get enough support and few follow-ups. Unless people are prepared to set standards for themselves, children will get their sex education from Hollywood, and that is exactly what is happening.”
He stressed that unless people complain, the impression is given that the public is satisfied with what is being distributed or how movies are classified. The number and type of complaints the Board receives is regarded as a measure of the standards of the community. The Board is required to apply “generally accepted community standards”. “Unless the public is prepared to take the matter of establishing the norms and standards, it is going to be done by a Board that probably has no idea what the level or standard of tolerance of these materials.”
“The Board will continue to make the mistakes it makes in not classifying in line with the level of tolerance of the community – as long as the community does not complain...The only way to ensure that the Board’s decisions reflects the values we want is by pointing out to the Board that these are our values and these are the values you should be using in classification… And we as the Board don’t get enough of that.”
Chetty pointed out that video games are also a problem. These are also governed by the FPB. He said, “Games are very, very violent, racist, sexist and they are pornographic. In adult shops pornographic interactive video games are sold. There are games where you score more points for killing women or for killing Jews… And these are games, which are openly available to the public… The public should make a fuss to the Board that its guidelines are too lenient or too liberal.”
Not only do complaints contribute to the Board’s understanding of community standards, Mr Chetty promised that the Board responds to every single complaint. He also indicated that many in government are concerned about the impact of pornography. Christian activists need to take advantage of this.
What You Can Do:
- The FPB is requesting submissions on the latest Film and Computer Games Guidelines for Age Classifications. These age classifications are used in movie houses, on TV and marked on videos/DVDs for hire. Complain to the Board about the age classifications given to films and urge the Board to raise the “community standards” by making the age classifications stricter. Chetty says, “We must say we don’t accept this level of nudity or these sorts of sex scenes for children.” Even a few paragraphs will do. Click here to view the Guidelines. Click here to view the Christian Action Network’s submission. You are welcome to use some of the points mentioned. A good idea is to include examples of films where the age classification has not been strict enough. The deadline is 28 February 2008 (it says 31 January in the Government Gazette but the deadline has been extended). Send your submissions to: Mr Iyvar Chetty chettyi@fpb.gov.za or fax: 011-483 1084.
- Visit www.movieguide.org to read Christian reviews of the latest film releases or subscribe to the Movie Guide magazine.
- Obtain and read The Culture Wise Family by Dr Ted Baehr, available from Christian Liberty Books, 021- 6897478, admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za, www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
In demonstrations outside the e-TV studios in Cape Town and Durban the Christian Action Network and Christians For Truth once again protested the screening of pornography on e-TV and called upon ICASA to tighten the Broadcasting Code. These January protests followed others held in July last year and campaigns to persuade advertisers on e-TV to not support pornography.
Sexually explicit programming, especially weekend late night pornography on e-TV have left in their wake sexually abused children, destroyed marriages and destructive traps for men (and increasingly women too) struggling with porn addictions.
The production, distribution and consumption of pornography violates the 7th commandment: "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). Jesus said "Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
We have read shocking reports of how e-TV pornography programmes have influenced children to sexually abuse other children. Over the years numerous complaints lodged to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission have so far failed to remove these exploitative programmes.
e-TV claims that “the timeslot is appropriate, the warnings are adequate, the content does not breach the (Broadcasting Complaints Commission) Code and there is no evidence that these films contribute to sexual crimes.”
- A 1984 study by Dolf Zillman of the University of Indiana and Jennings Bryant of the University of Houston found evidence that shows an exposure to non-violent pornography leads to a increased interest in violent porn. 160 college students and adults saw either one hour of non-violent X-rated porn movies each week for six weeks, or situation comedies from prime-time TV during the same period. Subjects who watched six weeks of non-violent porn were much more likely to choose to watch violence and bestiality porn and even to avoid non-violent porn.
- Studies by Prof Dolf Zillman and Prof Jennings Bryant of the University of Houston found that both men and women considered rape a less violent act after they were exposed to non-violent pornography, and men became more callous towards women.
We have proof that children are watching these films and that therefore the time at which they are shown is not sufficient to prevent children from being exposed to these films.
What You Can Do:
- Obtain Make a Difference – a Christian Action Handbook for Southern Africa. Make a Difference has excellent Bible Studies and "sound byte" information on pressing issues such as abortion, pornography, evolution and abstinence plus lots of "How To's" on letter writing, public speaking, events and outreaches. Educate your family, congregation or school about Biblical purity. Excellent materials can be downloaded from the www.truelovewaits.com website or ordered from Focus on the Family, 031-716 3300 or www.safamily.org.za, or Christian Liberty Books, 021- 6897478, admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za, www.christianlibertybooks.co.za. Write to, email or fax the ICASA Complaints Officer Ms Lindisa Mabulu: Private Bag X10002, Sandton 2146, Fax: 011-444 1461 lmabulu@icasa.org.za. (Complaints to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission must be about a specific programme).
- Pray that the Chairman of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission will be replaced by a Christian with strong pro-family convictions. The current Chairman, Prof Kobus van Rooyen, was on the task team that drew up the legislation which made pornography legal.
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
Sanctity Life Sunday – 1 February 2009
One of the most important and urgent issues facing the Church today is the right to life of pre-born babies. The family is the basic building block of society. The skyrocketing numbers of babies murdered by abortion is one of the major symptoms of the breakdown of the family unit in South Africa. Sex within marriage is no longer guarded and children are no longer considered a blessing.
The 1st of February 2008 will mark the 11th commemoration of the legalisation of abortion-on-demand in South Africa. Since 1 February 1997 approximately 650 000 babies will have been legally killed by abortion in South Africa. On 3 February 2008, all churches are encouraged to observe a solemn and serious time of repentance and prayer for the national sin of abortion.
According to the South African Christian Handbook, there are over 16 million churchgoers in South Africa. If most of these churchgoers could understand what the Bible teaches about when life begins, the sanctity of life and our Christian responsibility to stand up for the right to life of the pre-born - then we could save thousands of babies from abortion.
There are over 36 000 churches in South Africa. There are over 30 000 ministers in the country. If just half of them could be inspired to study what the Word of God says on when life begins and what abortion is; if only half the churches in South Africa observed Sanctity Life Sunday in Bible study, repentance and prayer - then we could begin to end the killing of pre-born babies in South Africa.
To assist pastors in informing and inspiring their congregations to prayer and action, Christian Action is offering a Sanctity Life package for R30. This includes a worship manual for Sanctity Life Sunday, Pro-life sermons, prayers of repentance, Scripture study on the Sanctity of Life and Do Christians Care? A Sanctity Life Sunday Service and Sermon Audio CD with PowerPoint. Christian Action also has Pro-life videos, DVDs, bumper stickers and precious feet lapel pins available. Contact: Christian Action: Tel: (021) 689 4480.
E-mail: info@christianaction.org. Web: www.christianaction.org.za.
Will you mobilise your congregation to observe Sanctity Life Sunday?
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Proverbs 31:8
National Day of Repentance - Sunday 1 February 2009
"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood..." Isaiah 1:15
On 1st February 1997 abortion on demand was legalised in South Africa. The 1 st of February should be a National Day of Repentance for the national sin of abortion.
Fast and pray on 1 February 2008. Gather friends - pray at your nearest abortion clinic/hospital/crisis pregnancy centre. Pray for, and, if you are in Cape Town, join the Funeral Procession from Keisergracht Street (starts at 12h30) to the Parliamentary Prayer Vigil (starting at 13h00), at Parliament in Cape Town.
In order to alert Capetonians to the reality of the abortion holocaust taking place in our land, Africa Christian Action has hired a hearse. Mourners will carry coffins, crosses and flowers in memory of the victims of abortion. The funeral procession will be followed by the Africa Christian Action trailer, a special six metre by three metre display board with pictures of pre-born babies and with the Scriptures: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves" Proverbs 31:8; and "Now choose life so that you and your children may live" Deuteronomy 30:19. Special obituary notices will also be placed in newspapers around the country.
If it is at all possible, please do join us for the Funeral Procession to Parliament, or meet us outside the gates of Parliament for the Prayer Vigil.
“ ‘Even now’, declares the Lord, ‘return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning'. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity." Joel 2:12-13
NCOP Ignores Suggestions by Pro-lifers for Changes To Abortion Amendment Bill
The Christian Action Network believes the rubber stamping of the Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill by the National Council of Provinces has yet again made a farce of the public hearings and wasted tax payers’ money.
The NCOP committees have again ignored the concerns and suggestions for improvements to the bill made by members of the public, particularly the emphasis that more informative counseling be given to women seeking abortions. The request by Doctors for Life and many others that the right to conscientious objection by medical practitioners be clearly spelt out in the Act, has also been ignored.
At most of the hearings the overwhelming majority of submissions were against abortion altogether. This again is a reflection of the hearings held before the principal TOP Act in 1996, where over 80% of the submissions were pro-life.
The ACDP has now succeeded in pressurising the National Assembly to have public hearings on the bill. We pray that clauses will be included in the bill which will limit and stop some abortions.
Should the ANC again decide to force a block vote on their MPs, (as they did with the Termination of Pregnancy and Civil Unions Bills) when the Health Portfolio Committee votes on this bill, they will further demonstrate that they are not interested in democracy nor do they effectively represent the views of the people who voted for them.
Start or Join an Action Group in Your City!
There are Action Groups that already exist all over Southern Africa. You may decide that you simply want to inform, involve and inspire your Cell Group or Bible Study to prayer and action from the materials that we provide. There are active groups in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Brits, Springs, Stanger, Chatsworth (Durban), Phoenix (Durban), Port Alfred, Mossel Bay, Newcastle, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town.
Contact: Africa Christian Action: info@christianaction.org.za or 021-689 4480 for the contact details of Action Group leaders.
Zambia:
Lusaka: World Baptist Evangelistic Assocaition. Contact Bishop Bwanali Phiri: worldbaptist_evass2002@yahoo.co.uk or (260) 096761730.
Kabwe: Excellence Christian Academy: Contact Eugene Kalunga: eca@zamtel.zm. Tel: 260-952-03540 or 260-522-1854.
Malawi:
Zomba: The Voice of God Ministries. Contact Davies Nderema: dnderema@yahoo.com.
What is an Action Group?
An Action Group is a group of informed and inspired Christians who are willing to pray and take action on issues that effect their community. The issues can be as focused or as varied as the group feels they have the capacity to handle. Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.
Newsletters are a great start. They are the foundations from which we can launch our projects. The Bible says that “My people perish for a lack of knowledge" Hosea 4.6. That is why the first step must be information distribution.
It is when people are informed that they can be inspired to prayer and action. When they read the material mailed out, many times they are outraged and are motivated at that given moment to do something about it, yet seldom are they given direction. Once we have an established, informed community, we must activate our resources. Otherwise we have too many heads and not enough feet. We need to put feet to our faith and translate the information into involvement.
Each person who receives a Christian Action magazine or E-update is a potential leader in his or her community or local church. They are the ones being informed, they know their pastors, and they know the people in their area. This is what we call grassroots mobilisation, when the people get organised from the ground up.
When grassroots groups are informed, organised and active then the whole Christian community can be called into action in a matter of a few days. Then when a crisis or opportunity comes we can mobilise God's army. Our network has already been in many battles, and our local groups need to be prepared, prayed up, and ready to go.
Once your group is started, it would be ideal if you could meet once a week, or at least once a month. The meetings should preferably last approximately two hours. The first hour would be dedicated to informed prayer and hearing from the Lord. Pray for the nation, for our leaders, for the church, for revival and for the project your group is working on at that time. This time of prayer is essential for group focus and motivation. Nothing will happen without prayer.
The second hour would be strategy and action time. As the groups are formed and established then we can begin to deal with the projects. For example, one month may focus on ridding our streets of sleazy billboards that advertise strip clubs. The next month we might do a mass Pro-life literature distribution in schools, hospitals and churches. The purpose of these projects is to put feet to the newsletters and information. It is to train our people for war so to speak (Judges 12). While doing this, it would also establish a Christian army from which to launch our offensives the moment the devil tries to attack any area. This is Grassroots Mobilisation: organising and training a Christian army for service.
You can start an action group. One person can make a difference. For over sixteen years Africa Christian Action has been equipping and mobilising Christians to be salt and light in their communities. Our training seminars, radio programmes, rallies and literature have helped many thousands of concerned Christians make a difference for Christ in their communities.
*Subscribe to the Christian Action magazine, P O Box 23632, Claremont, 7735, Cape Town. Or e-mail: mail@christianaction.org.za.
*Sign up for the ACA E-updates: info@christianaction.org.za and for Christian News from CFT: mail@cft.org.za.
*Obtain a copy of Make A Difference: A Christian Action Handbook for Southern Africa.
*Contact Africa Christian Action for a Starter Pack.
* Request a catalogue of other Resources for Reformation, including CDs,videos, DVDs, MP3s and books that will help you transform your community for Christ.
* Attend the Biblical Worldview Summit, July 2008, Cape Town. Click here for more details.
Prophetic Warning to
Despite overwhelming opposition from the majority of South Africans, ANC members of Parliament railroaded the Civil Union Bill through the National Assembly yesterday (15 November). All ANC MPs and ministers were forced to attend parliament and cast a ballot in favour of same-sex marriages.
The National Council of Provinces will debate and then vote on the Bill within the next two weeks to meet the deadline set by the
Doctors for Life said in a media statement released last week that, "In the face of overwhelming opposition from 90% of South Africans as expressed to the Home Affairs Parliamentary Committee in its meetings day after day across the country, the amendments to the Bill, published on 9 November, give gay couples the right to marriage, not merely civil partnership."
Christian Action believes it is outrageous that the SA government is unaccountable to their electorate, not to mention that special privileges will be granted to a very small minority of homosexuals who want access to marriage. Was the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee simply placating the people by holding Public Hearings all over the country? They have made a farce of the whole "democratic" process surrounding the Civil Unions Bill. This is yet another piece of significant legislation that affects the family that has been railroaded through Parliament without implementing the will of the people. This makes one wonder if the ANC have ever truly been interested in democracy at all.
The outcome of this process is an indictment against Christians who have refused to speak out against the ANC and have either neglected to vote or have continued to vote for parties that are anti-God and anti-Biblical principals. This is a wake-up call to repentance, prayer and action. Rev Kenneth Meshoe, president of the ACDP, delivered a prophetic warning to
"The Civil Union Bill justifies immorality and by inference, calls sexual perversion a legitimate alternative lifestyle that should be openly accepted. It calls immorality and perversion true virtue and commendable freedom.
May I remind this House that rejecting God’s laws and despising His Word will result in those doing it being given over to the consequences of their sins and to divine wrath. Members must also be reminded that God is not mocked. If this Parliament under the instigation of the ANC passes this Bill today, then parliament shall have gone too far and is about to cross the line of God’s patience with us as a nation.
The prophet Isaiah said, and I quote, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, …woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” Why are some forces trying to convince the nation that homosexuality is okay when God calls it abomination? For the sake of the peaceful future of this nation, members of this parliament must stop provoking God to anger as the men of
Barrage of Letters to MPs, Newspapers and Magazines Needed
Voice your opposition to the complete disregard the ANC has shown to the majority of South Africans who oppose the Bill and to those Members of Parliament who voted in favour of same-sex marriages. Here is an example of a good letter to the Editor:
Civil Union Bill decision makes a farce of democracy
Dear Editor
Despite overwhelming opposition by the majority of South Africans and 90% of the 5, 800 public submissions to the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee about the Civil Unions Bill, the ANC forced its MPs and ministers to vote in favour of same-sex marriages and railroad the legislation through the National Assembly. Their MPS were not even allowed to abstain from voting on the basis of conscientious objection. And now, the National Council of Provinces will be asked to rubber stamp the Bill days before they leave for their Christmas break.
Was the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee simply placating the people by holding Public Hearings all over the country? They have made a farce of the whole "democratic" process surrounding the Civil Unions Bill. This is yet another piece of significant legislation that affects the family that has been railroaded through Parliament without implementing the will of the people. This makes one wonder if the ANC have ever truly been interested in democracy at all.
This is a warning to South Africa : either vote for parties who agree with your values or get rid of them.
Taryn Hodgson
National Co-ordinator
Africa Christian Action
For contact details of MPs visit: http://www.info.gov.za/faq/contact.htm
Ammunition for Prayer and Action:
*The Pink Agenda: Sexual Revolution in South Africa and the Ruin of the Family.
*Make a Difference: A Christian Action Handbook for Southern Africa .
For more articles on God and Government, The Battle for the Family, and Sex and Sexuality, visit: http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles.htm
For an article on “Is Homosexuality Genetic?” visit:
To see the oral submission made by the Christian Action Network at Parliament in October, see 'press releases' .
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Ephesians 5:11
Taryn Hodgson
National Co-ordinator
Africa Christian Action
4 Practical Things You Can Do to Save Lives
1. Order our Pro-life DVD God's Miracle of Life and offer to show it at your church or in school Life Skills/Sex Education classes. R35, inlcuding postage. Click here for more info.
2. Request quantities of our Pro-life leaflets, Abortion - the facts or Milestones of Early Life and place them in public areas in hospitals or clinics. For private doctors' waiting rooms we have a glossy,colour booklet called "Undecided? Exploring your options for a unplanned pregnancy". Click here to see the text of this booklet. We ask only that you pay for postage.
3. Order our CD, Fight for Life and donate it to a church or school library. Click here to find out more.
4. Order our Crisis Pregnancy poster, which can be placed on hospital, school, church and community notice boards. This poster is designed for women facing unplanned pregnancies and contains contact details of Africa Cares for Life - the umbrella body of Crisis Pregnancy Centres in South Africa. Click here to see the poster.
Africa Christian Action now has even more pro-life resources available including an audio CD of a Sanctity Life Service and Sermon by Dr. Peter Hammond: “Do Christians Care?”; a DVD and CD on “The Right to Life”(R20) and a DVD: “God’s Miracle of Life”
See also:
Sancity Life Sunday Prayer of Repentance
“If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those who are led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, but we knew nothing about this, does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?” Proverbs 24:10-12