Walk in Moral Authority.

Written by Lynelle Clark.

What does it mean to have moral authority? And what does it mean to show love and courage despite our differences?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, moral authority is to act in trustworthiness; to make decisions that are right and good. But in the current political sphere, morality, love and courage are non-existent.

South Africa is still standing—DESPITE the political failings.

As citizens, we’ve proven that we can get the job done and be world class doing it. Just looking at my town and the efforts the people are putting in, I know this is true.

When asked by the moderator, Zukiswa Pikoli, to Pregs Govender what is love, she replied, “To respond to the power, we have.” Pregs Govender is an anti-apartheid activist; former ANC MP; and the Deputy Chairperson, South African Human Rights Commission.

Listening to the debate during the Daily Maverick conference held on 14 March 2024, I could not help but think about South Africa’s moral dilemma. That we are still standing is a miracle we should not take for granted.

But what power do we have?

Our morals have to intertwine with love. Because when you love, you do what is morally right. But in today’s frenzy of likes, followers, etc., it seems people are controlled by a different nature where the power of love has taken the back seat.

The release of Princess Katherine and her children’s photo and her absence on social media in the last couple of months are good examples of this moral decay. Right from the beginning, she asked for privacy after the announcement of an abdominal operation. As time went on, conspiracy theories immersed and now, putting them at their place in her public announcement yesterday, it's clear that moral decay is a global problem.

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anaemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Romans 13:8-10

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,”

“You shall not murder,”

“You shall not steal,”

“You shall not bear false witness,”

“You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.

Mark 7:20-23

20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

So, what power do we have then? The power to love with any preconceived ideas of how I think love should be is to see it in its purest form: an intense feeling of deep affection.

This week I was confronted with this question and had to admit that I don’t love that way. Past failures altered my views and made me robotic in my interactions with people. Putting effort into and changing my way of thinking has developed an urgency to really understand and act differently towards all.

When we look at morality, we should ask ourselves; does the leader I am about to vote for know the difference between wrong and right? Will this newfound power make him/her greedy enough to lose the moral compass?

We can change only when we look at ourselves from a moral perspective. 

A moral perspective will test our motives: Is our motives purely for the country, or what I can get out of it? 

When we think country first, our motives for doing things change. We think of people, and country first. When we do things from an individual point of view, the objectives shift.

What kind of leadership are we looking for? Self-centred or South Africa-centred? 

Janet Jobson, CEO at the Desmond, and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, said, "The fabric of our society is being held together because of the citizens. Civil society is on the ground doing the work. We have to work with the people who work to lessen the joblessness. We must engage across the sectors with politicians." If we as citizens (and I want to add here, believers) don’t engage, then all the talk will be for nothing.

Prof Thuli Madonsela, Law Trust Chair in Social Justice and Law Professor at the University of Stellenbosch, “You don’t begin to be courageous; you step out to fix what needs to be fixed. That makes you courageous.” To play your part is necessary for us to move forward.

Courage and power walk hand in hand. You cannot do the one without the other and South Africa calls for courageous citizens to stand up in this hour. 

I already stated that South Africa is still standing by absolute miraculous power, but for how long before it crumbles in total chaos? 

We are the "body" that can fix things. 

Already we have seen towns across the country that have stood up and said, “Enough is enough.” Instilling a strength in us all that we can do something when we stand as ONE.

And the changes are incredible.

This should be the attitude of not only towns but our major cities, institutions, and organizations, as well.

We must bring the moral compass back again. We must understand what it is to be trustworthy and know the difference between right and wrong. Our problems are not only a human rights issue but a moral issue where we have forgotten that we are not alone on this earth. We have to share it with other people. That we should think less of ourselves. The world does not revolve around likes, followers, and subscription lists, but about how much I care for my fellow citizen and think “us” first.

That is the power of love. Our morality must be interwoven into the very fabric of our society. It must be our guiding light in a world that has grown weary of doing good. Only then can we truly be One.

Making the right choices, discerning our own motives and becoming Christ-centric, can we have the courage to stand up and fix what has to be fixed. 

Copyright Lynelle Clark 2024