‘Justice be with you’: Transcending the peace talk rhetoric in the Zion Christian Church

Abstract

The Zion Christian Church is one of the largest, most powerful and influential African Independent Churches (AICs). Its membership of about 6 million makes up about 50% of the total membership of AICs. The church has been preaching peace from its inception which became one of the cores of its theology and practice. Thus, the church is known for its peace talk rhetoric expressed in Northern Sotho, ‘Kgotso ebe le lena’ which means ‘Peace be with you’ or even ‘kgotso ebe le batho’ which means ‘peace be with the people’. This peace talk rhetoric is usually used by the church’s leaders and the church’s ordinary members. Through this rhetoric, the church played a meaningful role in moving South Africa towards peace and reconciliation in 1994. This article argues that the theology of peace and reconciliation should be constructed by transcending the peace talk rhetoric to meaningful works of justice. The wrongs of the past should be corrected rather than just a mere talk about peace. The theology of peace and reconciliation should not only be a ‘peace be with you’ rhetoric but also a ‘justice be with you’. The reviewed literature in this article focussed on peace and reconciliation in the Zion Christian Church, peace talks and peace theology. A case study method was used for the selection of the Zion Christian Church.