12 June 2016

We are thePLAN – God’s plan for us.

Jonas 2     Dr. Molefetsane J. Khauoe

The Scriptural basis for sociology-humanitarian aspect of missions

In general, many of our churches have abrogated their earthly responsibility, and desperately need to recapture a new understanding of its role in regard to its commitment to sociology-humanitarian aspect of missions.

This noble task has been delegated to para-church and Non-Governmental Organizations in our communities, and the desired impact to the lives of people, and particularly the youth on the part of the church is minimal. This indifferent attitude of the church is contrary to what Paul advocated that “The love of Christ constrains us…compels us to be concerned about and to serve others”, (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). As servant to the community, the local church exists to minister to the felt as well as to the real needs of the people, and thus becoming a visible signpost of the Kingdom of God in the world which has been torn apart by poverty and other ills in our society.

The church must serve the whole person like Jesus did in His earthly ministry. We read in the New Testament that He was concerned about the whole person. Indeed, the whole person in his total need must be considered by the church. Importantly, the church must see the world through God’s eyes by sharing His passion to the world and become involved in its needs so that through it God may be glorified.  For example, the image of the Good Shepherd is instructive in this regard: “The thief comes to steal and to kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”. (John 10:10). This verse alluded to the fact that Jesus’ intention was to give life in abundance to people, and this should be the present day mission paradigm of the church.

There are numerous verses in the New Testament that confirm that Jesus’ ministry was comprehensive, He liberated people from evil exploitation which was prevalent during His time. Simply put, genuine conversion creates a transformation of personal character activism for social change, and caring to the needy, poor, and destitute etc. We are commanded to be the preserving “salt of the earth” as well as evangelizing “light of the world”’ (Matthew 5:13-16).

Therefore, It is imperative to note that the only way that we can become the light in the world is to stand in the light of Jesus so that His light shines in and through our lives. We are like mirrors on which God’s light is shining and as we allow that light in our lives, we will make a difference in the world and do those things that Jesus would have done if He was in the world.

This approach of doing mission and social change has a great impact in preaching the gospel to the poor and the marginalized. In hearing the gospel, the poor gain a new sense of identity, and can be empowered to begin the struggle for justice, and start to be pro-active in community. As illustrated by the Samaritan woman in John 4. Having been confronted by the person of Christ, she went and told everyone about her experience, and her action brought a tremendous change in the lives of many people in Samaria.

God identified with the poor and oppressed by sending His Son Jesus to live and serve as a Galilean, speaking directly to the common people. He promised to bless those who meet the needs of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the prisoner (Matthew 25:31-46). The good news that Jesus handed over to the church is that God’s grace was in Jesus Christ, who, “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich”. (2 Corinthians 8:9).

In conclusion, evangelism is part of the mission of the local church in the social, economic and political life of human society. Mother Teresa of Calcutta puts it succinctly, “If I ever become a Saints – I will surely be one of “darkness”. I will continually be absent from Heaven – to light the light of those in darkness on earth. (Mother Teresa –  Come Be My Light).

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 12 Junie 2016

Ons is diePLAN – God se plan vir ons.

Jonas 2  Dr. Molefetsane J. Khauoe

Die Bybelse grondslag vir die sosiaal-mensliewende aansig van sendingwerk.

 Die verantwoordeikheid vir die sosiaal-mensliewende aansig van sendingwerk word in die algemeen deur baie kerke afgeskaf en verwaarloos en daar moet ernstig gekyk word na ‘n nuwe verstandhouding ten opsigte van die rol en die herinstelling daarvan.

Omdat hierdie edelmoedige taak deesdae aan verteenwoordigende kerke en Nie-Regeringsorganisasies in ons gemeenskappe oorgedra word, verskraal dit die verwagte invloed op die lewens van mense en veral die jongmense van die kerk ervaar dit glad nie. Hierdie onverskillige houding van die kerk is teenstrydig met Paulus se uitsprake in 2 Kor 5:14-15, naamlik “Die liefde van Christus dwing ons… om vir ander om te gee en hulle te dien.” Die kerk, as ‘n dienaar van die gemeente, moet die gees sowel as die behoefte van die mense aanspreek en sodoende in die wêreld wat vernietig is deur armoede en sosiale gebreke  ‘n baken word vir die Koningkryk van God.

Die kerk moet elke persoon in die geheel aanspreek, net soos Jesus gedoen het tydens Sy wandeling hier op aarde. Die Nuwe Testament vertel vir ons van Christus se omgee vir die persoon in die geheel. Die kerk moet dus ook waarlik aan die persoon in geheel aandag gee. Dit is dus belangrik dat die kerk die wêreld deur God se oë sal sien deur Sy liefde aan die wêreld te openbaar en betrokke te raak by die wêreld se behoeftes en sodoende God te vereër.   Die beeld van die Goeie Herder, soos beskryf in Johannes 10:10 is ‘n voorbeeld hiervan: “’n Dief kom net steel en slag en uitroei; Ek het gekom sodat hulle die lewe kan hê, en dit in oorvloed.” Hierdie vers dui daarop dat Jesus se voorneme is om die lewe in oorvloed aan die mensdom te gee; dit moet dan ook die hedendaagse sendingrigtingwyser van die kerk wees.

 

Menige verse in die Nuwe Testament bevestig dat Jesus se leringe omvattend was en dat Hy mense van hulle bose invloede en wëe bekeer het, invloede wat aan die orde van die dag was in daardie tye. Om dit eenvoudig te stel; ware bekering verander die persoonlikheid tot een van aktivisme vir sosiale verandering, die omgee vir die behoeftiges, die armes, die verwaarloosdes, ens.. Ons het ‘n opdrag om die bewarende “sout van die aarde” asook die evangeliese “lig van die wêreld” te wees. (Matt 5:13-16).

Dit is dus noodsaaklik om te weet dat ons alleenlik  ‘n lig in hierdie wêreld kan word deur in Jesus Christus se lig te staan sodat Sy lig in en deur ons lewens sigbaar sal wees. Ons is dus soos spieëls op wie God se lig skyn en as ons hierdie lig in ons lewens toelaat, sal ons ‘n verskil maak in hierdie wêreld en sal ons die dinge doen wat Christus gedoen het toe Hy die aarde bewandel het.

Hierdie benadering tot sendingwerk en sosiale opheffing bring ‘n groot verandering in die manier waarop die evangelie aan die armes en die verwaarloosdes verkondig word. By die aanhoor van hierdie evangelie sal die armes ‘n nuwe identiteit verwerf en aandring op geregtigheid asook om gedring te voel om meer betrokke te raak by gemeenskappe. ‘n Voorbeeld hiervan is die Samaritaanse vrou in Johannes 4. Na haar interaksie met Jesus by die put, het sy teruggegaan en vir almal van hierdie ervaring vertel en sodoende ‘n groot verandering in die mense van Samaria se lewens teweeg gebring.

God het Hom met die armes en verdruktes vereënselwig deur Sy Seun, Jesus Christus as ‘n Galileër te stuur om te lewe en te dien en sodoende direkte kontak met diesulkes te hê.  Hy belowe om diegene wat die behoeftes van die hongeriges, die dorstiges, die vreemdelinge, die naaktes, die siekes en die gevangenis aanspreek, ryklik te seën. (Matt 25:31-46). Die goeie nuus vir die kerk is dat God se genade vir ons gesetel is in Jesus Christus;  “..Hoewel Hy ryk was, het Hy terwille van julle arm geword, sodat julle deur Sy armoede ryk kan word.”(2 Korintiërs 8:9)

Ter afsluiting; evangelisasie is ‘n opdrag aan die plaaslike gemeentes om betrokke te wees by die sosiale, ekonomiese en politieke lewens van die mensdom.  Moeder Teresa van Calcutta het dit bondig gestel: “If I ever become a Saints – I will surely be one of “darkness”. I will continually be absent from Heaven – to light the light of those in darkness on earth”. (Mother Teresa – Come Be My Light)

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