Church and social harmony

October 11, 2017 383 Views No Comment

Christianity’s tradition is the welfare of all, particularly the needy in society. Just as Jesus identified himself with social outcasts, with misfits and with people whose only fault was in their poverty, so must we make such identification in our public witness. It is as we accept the responsibility of being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers that we make Christ’s witness in the world. This is love in action. It enhances the dignity of the individual and gives to his/her service a tone and quality that could not possibly be obtained in any other way.

It is only when the grace of Christ warms a person’s heart that this action is possible. It is God’s spirit in man and woman that enables them to deal with “others”. If love is absent, then the Christian spirit is absent too. A follower of Christ can have no enemies, for to love one’s enemies is to destroy them as enemies. And toward those they love, such a follower will show only the desire to serve, and never the will to compel. Their service is sure to call for qualities of endurance and courage. Christ’s people will always have to be unbending as He was before the challenge of evil.

Love is always positive in character. It seeks to help and win rather than to destroy. This is the true Christian spirit at all times. It is not a spirit that can be modified to suit the occasion.

From these beliefs, profound social consequences flow. It becomes clear that to serve God we must care for His family. Social security for the needy is a service rendered unto Him and not merely to the beneficiaries. It is He who dominates the scene, for His values decide the way Christians called to society. Power to respond to Him is one of the privileges of Christians everywhere, not least in society.

Conclusion:

Today, men and women are not feeling the impact of the Church in their daily affairs as they should, and they have ceased to care. This same carelessness is the attitude of heart and mind that will eventually destroy the very security we seek.

Thus to the end of time, Christians will be witnessing to the doctrine of inalienable values of men and women, and to the conviction that it is only in our communities and family activities that we grow to our proper stature. We believe that man and woman will never be what they ought to be until they work for other people- that it is only in service that we find our true selves. It is this characteristic readiness to serve that has given Christianity significance all over the world. When this approach to life prevails we shall find that tribal and racial bar, fear, hatred, jealousy and suspicions will disappear. One of the great historic qualities of the Christian faith is that it unites men and women of all kinds and all positions, bringing out the best in us all.

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