Browsing by Author "Malama, Lewis"

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    The Cross of Christ, A Challenge to The Church in Zambia
    (Tangaza University College, 2004) Malama, Lewis
    In Christianity. the cross is the test of everything that deserves to be called Christian. One may add that the cross alone, and nothing else, is its test since the cross refutes everything and excludes the syncretistic elements in Christianity. That is why in the Roman Catholic Church, we have a day in the year when, for once. the high point in the liturgy is not the Eucharist but the cross. In other words, we can say that the liturgy is not centered on the sacrament but on the event. This day is called Good Friday, when Mass is not celebrated and all the Catholics everywhere contemplate and venerate the cross. On this day and on other days. I have listened fin years to many preachers. preaching about the cross. Each one preaches according to his experience with the cross. I have appreciated the way they communicate the message of the cross to the assembly. However, even if the preacher is good in communicating. at times the message itself is not effective in the life of the people. It does not challenge the listener. This is because the preaching does not relate the cross to the difficulties the Zambian People are facing today, That is why in this paper I have given some pastoral recommendations in order to make the preaching of the cross effective. This long essay investigates the cross and the challenge it poses to the preacher of the gospel among the Zambian people. While it is a scientific research as a fulfillment of Tangaza college requirements, it is not a mere scientific study or reflection inspired by academic curiosity. It is intended to prepare me and those who will read it to preach well the cross of Christ. The locus of this paper is to help the preacher of the cross in Zambia with some practical suggestions, which will help him in his pastoral ministry. To achieve this goal. the essay is divided into four chapters and the general conclusion serving as a summary of this long essay. Chapter one is dealing with social analysis. It looks at the historical background of Zambia after independence, its three heads of state and the social involvement of the Church. This first chapter ends with the theological reflection which serves as a link to chapter two. Chapter two discusses the theology of the cross with a particular interest in contemporary understanding of the theology of the cross. It examines the understanding of the cross before Christ to give a kind of foundation. Then, the main locus is how Jesus gave new meaning to the cross, the understanding of the cross by his disciples and finally what the cross means for the Zambian people. Chapter three deals only with the application. It attempts to develop and give insights to the preacher of the cross in Zambia. Its focus is how we can make thc preaching of the cross Fele\ ant in Zambia today. It addresses the Zambian experience of the oppressive social ills of corruption. poverty and HIV/AIDS. This chapter explains clearly that the cross is not the end. It leads us to new life through resurrection and the privileged place in this chapter is given to 1 ('or. 15:14. The fourth and final chapter deals with the pastoral implications of the preaching of the cross in Zambia and recommendations. In this chapter. I have given some pastoral implications for the preachers of the cross in Zambia and some recommendations are proposed so that the cross can be preached well in Zambia. The general conclusion gives the summary of the whole essay with its emphasis on the importance of the message of the cross. which is the only way to new life in the resurrection.