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Church in the Community - Media Release in the Herald: 15 May 2023
Source: TCN / Rev Dr Sox William Leleki
Date Added: 2023-05-15
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Church Unity, Issues - Social upliftment,
Date Added: 2023-05-15
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Church Unity, Issues - Social upliftment,
The word “church” in the Christian context is derived from the Greek word ekklesia, which could mean a local congregation. Not a building, but the warm bodies gathered in the name of Jesus Christ.
Although every congregation is referred to as the Church of God (1 Cor. 1:2).
The church called ekklesia is made up of people who are called by God to be citizens of God’s eternal Kingdom.
Jesus Christ remains the only one, God the Son, who can bring us into God’s glorious Kingdom.
The apostle Paul was given a special calling from God to preach about Jesus Christ.
Each Christian leader has a job to do, a role to play, or a contribution to make.
God has a special purpose to call His Church into existence in the world.
The church in Corinth during the time of St Paul was just like the church in South Africa. She was a giant cultural melting pot with a great diversity of wealth, religions and moral standards.
Any city like the one in Corinth finds itself ripe for all sorts of social ills, corruption included.
The Church, by its nature, is destined to bring about hope of a better and brighter future in the midst of despair, suffering and bleak future.
The early church based her understanding on being the church based on the apostle’s teaching.
The early church knew that, for them to succeed, they were to be united as the body of Christ.
Unity is not an option for Christians, but diversity to them is the strength.
Their unity is based on fellowship with one another. All those called by Christs’ name are expected to come each other with open arms of fellowship, peace and love.
For any congregation to grow, it must base itself on the following: Fellowship, prayer and teaching.
Christians are regarded as the family of God.
What keeps Christians together is not the names of their denominations, but the love of God, and knowing that we are members of the family of God.
The true followers of Christ are those who don’t play denomination but the love of Christ for all, doing so from a platform called denomination.
In the church, the believer’s financial problems are not solved by automatic and miraculous acts of those in leadership, but by displaying a generous attitude towards sharing possessions.
From her inception, she found herself opposed by those dinning with Caesar because the agenda can never be the same.
I am not suggesting that the church should not pray for Caesar, but must always keep the distance, least she finds herself acting or behaving like Caesar.
The dilemma of the church today is that it finds it easy to be locked in buildings and close its eyes to the realities of our time.
One of the most important phenomena of our time is that the church does not only analyse the extent to which she is affected by the social ills and thinks about reacting, but is not sure about her relationship with Caesar.
Remember today’s Caesar was helped by the church to be in the position of power and authority.
The church is not emphasising the message of the Bible and the message of liberation and human freedom remains relevant irrespective of who is in charge of the government today.
The church today is faced with this question: “Is it possible to adhere faithfully to the Biblical principles without endangering the comfortable relationship with Caesar?”
Many of our leaders opted for a theology obedience no matter what, and this is clearly illustrated by the very nature of the relationship between our church leaders with Caesar.
I don’t suggest that the church must not recognise the authority of the democratic state, but that it must be God first and we human beings must follow.
Those in the government must be respected and followed only to be extent that they are not in conflict with the divine law of God.
God, who called the church into existence, is the one who liberated the Israelites in the book of Exodus.
The God of the Bible is the God of liberation and peace rather than oppression and corruption.
A God of justice rather than injustice.
A God of love, humanity rather than hatred and enslavement.
What happened to our critical solidarity as Christians in South Africa?
Rev Dr Sox William Leleki
Bishop of the Methodist Grahamstown Synod
Although every congregation is referred to as the Church of God (1 Cor. 1:2).
The church called ekklesia is made up of people who are called by God to be citizens of God’s eternal Kingdom.
Jesus Christ remains the only one, God the Son, who can bring us into God’s glorious Kingdom.
The apostle Paul was given a special calling from God to preach about Jesus Christ.
Each Christian leader has a job to do, a role to play, or a contribution to make.
God has a special purpose to call His Church into existence in the world.
The church in Corinth during the time of St Paul was just like the church in South Africa. She was a giant cultural melting pot with a great diversity of wealth, religions and moral standards.
Any city like the one in Corinth finds itself ripe for all sorts of social ills, corruption included.
The Church, by its nature, is destined to bring about hope of a better and brighter future in the midst of despair, suffering and bleak future.
The early church based her understanding on being the church based on the apostle’s teaching.
The early church knew that, for them to succeed, they were to be united as the body of Christ.
Unity is not an option for Christians, but diversity to them is the strength.
Their unity is based on fellowship with one another. All those called by Christs’ name are expected to come each other with open arms of fellowship, peace and love.
For any congregation to grow, it must base itself on the following: Fellowship, prayer and teaching.
Christians are regarded as the family of God.
What keeps Christians together is not the names of their denominations, but the love of God, and knowing that we are members of the family of God.
The true followers of Christ are those who don’t play denomination but the love of Christ for all, doing so from a platform called denomination.
In the church, the believer’s financial problems are not solved by automatic and miraculous acts of those in leadership, but by displaying a generous attitude towards sharing possessions.
From her inception, she found herself opposed by those dinning with Caesar because the agenda can never be the same.
I am not suggesting that the church should not pray for Caesar, but must always keep the distance, least she finds herself acting or behaving like Caesar.
The dilemma of the church today is that it finds it easy to be locked in buildings and close its eyes to the realities of our time.
One of the most important phenomena of our time is that the church does not only analyse the extent to which she is affected by the social ills and thinks about reacting, but is not sure about her relationship with Caesar.
Remember today’s Caesar was helped by the church to be in the position of power and authority.
The church is not emphasising the message of the Bible and the message of liberation and human freedom remains relevant irrespective of who is in charge of the government today.
The church today is faced with this question: “Is it possible to adhere faithfully to the Biblical principles without endangering the comfortable relationship with Caesar?”
Many of our leaders opted for a theology obedience no matter what, and this is clearly illustrated by the very nature of the relationship between our church leaders with Caesar.
I don’t suggest that the church must not recognise the authority of the democratic state, but that it must be God first and we human beings must follow.
Those in the government must be respected and followed only to be extent that they are not in conflict with the divine law of God.
God, who called the church into existence, is the one who liberated the Israelites in the book of Exodus.
The God of the Bible is the God of liberation and peace rather than oppression and corruption.
A God of justice rather than injustice.
A God of love, humanity rather than hatred and enslavement.
What happened to our critical solidarity as Christians in South Africa?
Rev Dr Sox William Leleki
Bishop of the Methodist Grahamstown Synod
Source: TCN / Rev Dr Sox William Leleki
Date Added: 2023-05-15
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Church Unity, Issues - Social upliftment,
Back to News IndexDate Added: 2023-05-15
Category: General News, TCN News, Issues - General, Issues - Politics, Issues - Church Unity, Issues - Social upliftment,
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