Role of the Church during Crisis and Calamity

Euxeinos, 2015

Journal of Theology

International Review of Mission, 1988

Roczniki Teologiczne

The “earthly” Church is on pilgrimage and has the task of making disciples of all peoples (cf. Mt 28:19−20). She has her transcendental dignity, proportional to its representative (sacramental) essence and function as the universal sacrament of salvation. In the Christological perspective, the “earthly” Church carries out the redemptive and salvific work of Christ. On the part of the Church, this saving work is still relevant, polymorphic and incomplete, and sometimes also tainted by sin. For the Church is not identical with the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the current question remains how to realize the theandric nature of the Church in her mission in the current historical, social and cultural context? A particular drama in the implementation of the Church's mission is added today by the situation of the Covid−19 pandemic, which on the one hand contributes to hindering the exercise of a particularly liturgical function and, on the other hand, intensifies the process of impoveris...

This study delves into the Church's involvement in combating immorality within the Christian populace in Nigeria, honing in on the Batere community situated in Delta State. Despite the Church's emphasis on upholding moral principles, a significant number of Christians in Batere persist in partaking in immoral acts such as adultery, fornication, and engaging in the trade of sexual services. This research investigates the causes of immorality among Christians in Batere community using phenomenological and historical and sociological implications of the phenomenon while assessing. The study reveals that factors such as weak discipleship, lack of effective counselling, and poor leadership contribute to immorality among Christians in the community. The research suggests that the Church must intensify its efforts in teaching biblical truth and values, providing counselling services, and promoting accountability among its members to effectively address immorality through discipleship and mentoring. The research findings suggest that the Church plays a pivotal role in advocating for ethical principles and positively influencing the lifestyles of Christians in Batere.

Public debate about the role of the church within society has gained momentum especially because the contemporary changing global political and economic landscape has resulted in deeply a divided world. People are asking questions about the missional identity and vocation of the church. If the church is the broken body of Christ in the world, what are the ways in which it is expressing that brokenness in practical ways? This vulnerable status necessitates modelling the politics of Jesus that risks putting up resistance against all threats that prevent people from experiencing fullness of life. The contemporary era of global governance is characterised by ‘moral lowlifes’ in political leadership that uses judicial and executive overreach to weaken democracy and empower the wealthy elites. Furthermore, the impact of technology and computation on shaping human relations has produced a consequential decline in human trust and relationships. Therefore, the missional agenda of the church as the broken body of Christ serving a divided world, calls for building life-affirming relationships that overcome dehumanising barriers.

Under the onslaught of coronavirus, religion is facing an unprecedented crisis. Unable to hold a congregation or conducting a ritual involving mass participation, it finds itself being relegated to irrelevance. It is time it gets away from the churches and temples and mosques to where it truly belongs, people's home and hearts.