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NOT A NEW CONCEPT
EMBEDDED IN THE HISTORY, THEOLOGY &
PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH
CHURCH LOST ITS SENSE OF INVOLMENT BUT
RETURNING TO IT AGAIN
*Jesus’ teachings impacted on the socioeconomic and political situation.
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*Took sides with the poor and oppressed
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* Church taught a “civic consciousness”:
Bruce Winter.
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* Christian obligation to promote welfare of
City.
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Church driven by the Gospel of love & charity
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Economic solidarity (Acts 4:42-45)
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Under Constantine much of the
responsibilities of the Church was taken over
by the State: (1) Create a world for Christians
and (2) Make world safe for Christianity.
Lead to the institutionalisation of the Church
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Think of church in institutional and structural
way of organising: buildings, clergy, creeds,
rituals, symbols, denominational templates
(Hirsch & Ferguson)
NT church: a grassroots movement with
vision for transformation of society.
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“There are essential differences between
institutions and movements: the one is
conservative the other progressive; the one is
more or less passive, yielding to influences
from the outside, the other is active
influencing rather than being influenced; the
one looks to the past, the other to the
future….the one is anxious, the other is
prepared to take risks; the one guards
boundaries, the other crosses them.” (R.
Niebuhr)
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Society built on system of feudal hierarchy.
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Serfs were oppressed and exploited
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Church focused on salvation of souls but
lived out in an orderly life.
Church advocated a ‘moral code’ sometimes
called Christian corporate ethic – all society a
single entity or corporation.
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Led to a paternal obligation to the poor.
Augustine architect of doctrine of charity:
obedience to God required a genuine concern for
the needs of the poor.
Period saw the rise of the monastic movement.
Monasteries became centres of learning,
education, hospitals, agricultural development
and community transformation, though not
initially intended.
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Julio De Santa Ana: “Monasteries chose to
radically eradicate poverty.”
Noted substantial effort to transform
community but driven by the ‘paternal ethic’.
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Saw decay of feudal system and rise of
capitalist system.
Church had become completely secularised
under Henry VIII.
Church in the form of God’s Monarchy
assumed role and function of the old
universal church.
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Paternalistic ethic no longer tenable
Capitalism focus saw poor as backward and
lazy.
Protestant stress on individualism and hard
work was used to justify this ideology
Church was ultimately now taking sides with
the middle class and rich, not the poor.
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Luther & Calvin
Key difference: The church influenced
economic and social policies – restructuring
of society.
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Influences of Enlightenment:
- Industrial development
- Age of reason
- Progress
- Subject/object scheme value of science.
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Church was gradually eliminated as a factor
for validating the structure of society.
Humanity derived its existence and validity
from “below” and no longer from “above”.
Secular and religious going separate ways
Churches provided the ‘Sacred’ character to
ideologies.
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But all was not lost. Minority Christians gave
rise to Christian social movement – legislative
intervention and emancipation of the working
classes.
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Theological miracle of late 20th Century was
rediscovery of Biblical witness to God’s
particular concern for the poor and
oppressed.
Ecumenical movement challenged majority
church to join sides with the poor &
oppressed again.
Called for transforming society with the poor.
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Challenged church vs world dichotomy.
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WCC ratified participation in the development
and transformation of society at 4th GA.
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Provided a new theological orientation
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WCC – Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
(JPIC).
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Most churches now recognise that they have to
be involved in transforming society: whole
Gospel, to the whole person in the whole world.
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1. Concept of Community
- God is community – Trinity
- Ecclesia (gathering): in every sphere and
domain, as local church, as citywide church,
as universal church.
- God works with community. Whenever God
works with individuals God sends them right
back to the community.
- numerous scriptures show this.
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2. Cross & Resurrection
- suffering & victory
- Jesus’ identification with the oppressed
- theology of hope
- resurrection stands as a gift of a new
authentic life.
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3. God’s world & human responsibilities
The creation mandate
- Shalom is a vision of the flourishing of a
peaceful, equitable and just human
community in harmony with both human and
non-human creation.
- Image of God and Stewardship
- wholeness
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4. The Kingdom of God
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5. Justice and Transformation
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6. The Poor
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7. Sin & Judgment
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8. Mission – incarnational theology
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not merely spiritual
not a territory but a new order
is here
to come
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9. Proclamation & Praxis ( Evangelism & Social
transformation)
10. Human Dignity
God
Church
Community
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1. Take seriously identification with the poor
2. Address human needs within the community
(social, economic & political)
3. Seeking to restore human dignity
4. Pastors prefer not to draw a distinction
between evangelism and community
transformation. Some see it as opportunity for
evangelism. Others see it as interconnected and
inseparable.
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5. Have a broader understanding of the
concept of salvation that extends beyond the
spiritual to include social, economic and
political aspects of a person’s life.
6. Have a Christocentric focus to community
transformation and development.
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7. Focus is on the Reign or Kingdom of God.
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8. Justice is a vital concern of the church.
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9. Embark on community development
programmes and projects to bring
transformation, by themselves or with others.
10. Partnerships and networking of resources
is necessary.
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11. Pastors are deeply spiritual people (not
just social gospel).
12. Do not have a defined theology for
community development but believe that they
must follow Christ.
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We need more than just making a few changes. We need a paradigm
shift. (Eric Swanson)
WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE:
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From building walls to building bridges
From measuring attendance to measuring impact
From encouraging the saints to attend the service to equipping the
saints for service
From “serve us” to service – from inward to outward focus
From duplication of human services and ministries to partnering with
existing services and ministries
From fellowship to functional unity
From condemning the city to blessing the city and praying for it.
From being a minister in a congregation to being a minister in a parish
From anecdote and speculation to valid information
From teacher to learner
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Some more: (Reggie McNeal)
From:
- saved souls to saved wholes
- missions to mission
- centre to margins
- top to bottom up
- diffused to focused
- transactional to transformational
- relief to development
- professional to full participation
- formal to fractural leadership
- Institution to movement
- Great commission to great completion
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From church focused ministry to Kingdomcentred ministry
From simply building the church to
transforming the community.
Less institutional and more relational
From bringing people into the church to
taking the church into the world.
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1. Analyse the (mission) CONTEXT
Questions:
A) What is happening in the context?
B) What is God already doing there?
C) What is God calling us to do?
D) How best can we do it?
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2. Make the CONNECTIONS
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3. COMMUNICATE the message
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4. Show COMPASSION
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5. Engage CONFRONTATION
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6. CONSTRUCT your budget
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7. Choose COLLABORATION
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8. Pray & Work for CHANGE
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9. All in CHRIST
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1. Church must be involved in the
transformation of human lives, society and
community.
2. The biblical concern for the poor, needy
and oppressed compels us to do so.
3. Affirmed in the history, theology and
mission of the church.
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4. Church cannot go on with blinkers
ignoring the concerns for justice, peace and
the fullness of life for all.
5. Church as an agent of hope must
participate in the transformation of society –
Shalom.
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6. It must attempt to Be that New Society
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THANK YOU