In my country of South Africa, and my Continent of Africa. We celebrate Freedom and independence days annually. The critical question is whether we are truly free in this continent or is freedom in the African context only a political narrative?

We cannot only be reminded of Political Freedom in this country and our beloved Continent.

In May 1963, 32 Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to sign the Charter creating Africa’s first post-independence continental institution, The Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

The African Union (AU) was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, following a decision in September 1999 by its predecessor, the OAU to create a new continental organisation to build on its work. The decision to re-launch Africa’s pan-African organisation was the outcome of a consensus by African leaders that in order to realise Africa’s potential, there was a need to refocus attention from the fight for decolonisation and ridding the continent of apartheid, which had been the focus of the OAU, towards increased cooperation and integration of African states to drive Africa’s growth and economic development.

Freedom cannot be an event.

Freedom is not an event; sadly in my beloved country; Freedom day is an event and often used to grand-stand by politicians. Freedom should be more than an event but rather a process that requires deliberate effort to guarantee a lifestyle of freedom.

One of the major challenges with the definition and understanding of freedom in South Africa and Africa, is that its based on humanistic definitions that are people centric and often leads to sin and the vehement rejection of God.

South Africa and Africa as a continent has many challenges when speaking of freedom. The one other thing that has seen Africa in perpetual bondage and slavery, contrary to the political freedom narrative is Polytheism; the belief in or worship of more than one god.

Africa is known for its endemic love for idol and ancestral worship. This has seen South Africa covenanting with the dead and consistently dwelling in the past instead of building into her future. Its beyond madness to love the grave and yet you pronounce a better life for all.

Not so long ago Dr. Fauci Was Asked “When Do Americans Get Their Freedom Back?”. This was a question directed at him by congressman Jordan on the matter of Coronavirus having threatened the liberties of the American society in the last year. Interesting that a pandemic can threaten the freedom of people, not just in America but also throughout the world.

Allow me to look at Freedom from a biblical perspective; in its most foundational context.

When Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah, He said that He had come to Earth to “proclaim freedom” (Luke 4:18). And on another occasion, He said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Jesus was not setting us free to do whatever we wanted; He was freeing us to do what we ought to do.

How do we define freedom in the context of the Sovereign Will of God against the will of man? True Freedom is not Freedom if it is removed or disconnected from the one who sets us free?

Heb 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Nations are not established or liberated without a God-design or God-inspired purpose. South Africa is liberated by God out of the inhuman system of Apartheid and Colonialism in 1994. What we failed to decipher is to learn from God concerning the “volume of the book that is written of South Africa”, we did not follow the design of God for the liberation of a new nation post apartheid years. Just like people, nations have a destiny and a unique purpose that is given by God for its existence. True freedom is connected to the one who sets you free, our complete freedom as a nation is beyond politics but rather directly connected to God, who set us free in 1994.

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Being born of the spirit is like the freedom of the wind. Spiritual freedom ought to be the ultimate goal for a people and a nation that desires true freedom. Freedom as the wind, it bloweth wherever it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh, and whiter it goeth.

Spiritual freedom is freedom that places no boundaries or limitations of what a people or a nation can achieve. its not limited by party-politics, economics or societal humanistic standards that disregard the full potential of its capacities to do the impossible as designed by God.

Lastly; in looking at what ungodly freedom leads to, is to look at the case of Sodom and Gomorrah in the bible. These people fully embraced humanistic freedom to the point of open wickedness and shameless acts of evil without any regard; even for the visitors who were sent by God to investigate the degree of evil and wickedness in their city.

In looking at this; it is clear that Sodom and Gomorrah was judged for its wickedness; but was destroyed because of the absence of the righteous.

As we look in hindsight and reflect on the status of South Africa 27 years later; its clear that very little freedom is achieved.

This nation’s wickedness is so evident that on Freedom Day; Political leaders visits the graves and partake in acts of idol, ancestral worship in the public. These acts have become so normal that even mass media would cover ancestral and idol worship of prominent political leaders on freedom day.

On the other hand; many communities are protesting for lack of service delivery throughout the nation from Gugulethu, to Kimberley, to Alexander. Is this political freedom when citizens have to protest for service delivery?

The country’s official unemployment rate has increased to a record 32.5%, as the number of jobless in South Africa grew to 7.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 according to Stats SA.

Economic Inequality in South Africa is amongst the highest in the world. Is this freedom for all?

There is a need for radical change in South Africa; more than the lip service that is attributed to political freedom.

Romans 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

May there be a speedy revelation of the Sons of God to set creation free from its bondage to decay and be brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God in South Africa and Africa as a whole.

Shalom