Tjaart van der Walt: slaaf van Christus – δοῦλος Χριστοῦ

Abstract

Tjaart van der Walt: slave of Christ – δοῦλος Χριστοῦ

Tjaart van der Walt has carried an array of titles: from Boy, to Young Man, to Mister, to Reverend, to Doctorandus, to Doctor, to Professor, to Rector, to Vice-Chancellor, to CEO, to Ambassador! But the one title he gladly accepts, is “slave of Christ” – or in the Greek he loves so much: δοῦλος Χριστοῦ (doulos Christou)!

This has become typical of him and his life: a slave taking his instructions from Jesus Christ as his Owner, his Κύριος (Kurios), being willing to – in each situation and in relationship with any person or organisation – put on his slave clothing, roll up his sleeves, and serve! In this narrative of the life of Tjaart van der Walt we do not want to share lists of successes and failures, but rather we survey the serving life of this “slave of Christ”, as if from an Archimedes vantage point. The present, November 2011, is this Archimedes vantage point.

Tjaart van der Walt: slaaf van Christus – δοῦλος Χριστοῦ

Tjaart van der Walt het in sy lewe baie titels gedra: van Boetman, tot Jongman, tot Meneer, tot Dominee, tot Doctorandus, tot Doktor, tot Professor, tot Rektor, tot Visekansellier, tot Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte, tot Ambassadeur! Maar die één titel wat hy met graagte dra, is “slaaf van Christus” – of in sy geliefde Grieks: δοῦλος Χριστοῦ (doulos Christou)!

Dít is wat sy lewe kenmerk: ’n slaaf wat onder opdrag van die Here Jesus Christus as sy Eienaar, sy Κύριος (Kurios), bereid is om in elke situasie en in verhouding met watter mens of organisasie ook al, die slaafklere aan te trek, die moue op te rol, en te díén!

In hierdie narratief van die lewe van Tjaart van der Walt wil ons nie lysies maak van prestasies en mislukkings, van hoogte- en laagtepunte nie, maar eerder die dienpad van hierdie “slaaf van Christus” in oënskou neem, asof van ’n archimedespunt af. Die hede, November 2011, is hierdie archimedespunt.