Bachelor of Arts in Theology

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Browsing Bachelor of Arts in Theology by Subject "Abuse of Power"

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    Can the Church Of Mozambique Be Missionary in Her Own Country?
    (Tangaza University College, 1999-02) Vilanculos, Paulo Rafael
    Mozambique is a nation that has been involved in a long civil war that brought the country to a total destruction of its economy. This created a perpetual problem of poverty and an unbalanced distribution of wealth among its population as well as creating a disturbing social disorder. During the times of civil war, blame and accusations were always thrown only to one side of the war makers: 'poverty and destruction is caused by the RENAMO fighters'. But today, after the treaty of peace of Rome signed on 4th October 1992, peace has come to the country and democracy was inaugurated in 1994 with the general multiparty elections. Nonetheless, even with peace and stability reigning in Mozambique, a fair distribution of wealth cannot be seen and felt by its citizens. In fact, there are talks of growing figures in Mozambique's economic achievements in the last five years, but this growth does not guarantee a balanced distribution of wealth. The rich are increasingly growing rich and the poor are more impoverished every day. The government has not managed to create chances of employment for most of its population, thus opening channels to criminality and illicit ways of gaining wealth and survival. Corruption has become the order of the day and there is no way the government can guarantee that justice be always administered to the citizens given that even the judiciary has been caught up in similar corrupt behavior like that seen in government offices. It is in this context of sympathy and anguish for my people's pain and desire to see justice administered to them that I decided to write this paper, urging the Church to reflect on her mission and identity and speak for the helpless, the poor and those suffering unjustly in cells for crimes that they did not commit. Therefore, when trying to answer the above stated question I intend to address the following interconnected issues: the social injustice and the worsening levels of poverty in the country due to corruption and lack of solidarity, pleading the missionary-Church to make pronouncements in regard to these burning issues and demand that she get more involved in social matters to the extent of imitating some classical prophets such as Amos, Hosea and Isaiah, who spoke out when they saw injustices being inflicted on their fellow countrymen. These prophets should be taken as models to follow if the Church wants to bring justice to the country so as to stop corruption and eradicate poverty. In this way she will alleviate the pain, the anguish and the suffering of the people of Mozambique. There are many reasons why I address the Church to take up this task: First of all, the Church is the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14 and Vat. II, Ad Genies, no.1 ss.2). She represents Christ on earth, and Christ her founder came to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to the oppressed and proclaim a good year of prosperity to all humanity ( cf. Lk 4:18-19; Is 61:1-2). Therefore, the Church has the task of bringing about that justice and freedom from oppressive powers to her people because this was the command of Christ, that she should continue to do what he had begun. Secondly, the Church has, as one of her missions, to be prophetic in her life and proclamation. To be a prophetic Church does not only mean to announce messages about the future, but rather it means to denounce strongly what is wrong in the society today. This is the sign of commitment and care to her members who live here and now. Furthermore, she must bring liberation not only to Christians but to all humanity because the Christ-event was a cosmic event which aimed at redeeming all the universe‘ In the third place, the Church is usually held by many societies as a moral person whose life portrays what she is and lives in accord with the model desired by her founder, a model of love and service to one another. Indeed she is a moral person. The Church also must be free from any allegiances and partisanship so much so that she talks impartially and objectively on matters that hurt the people and the state. For this reason, even though she holds principally and primarily spiritual powers, she must, however, show concern and look after the well being of her flock who live in the state. The Church and the state should co-operate in bringing about justice and social well-being of the citizens of the country (cf. LG, 76). Another reason that makes me think that the Church should address these issues of social justice (and the government should not feel offended), is that I have observed that many governors of nations, presidents and ministers alike, when sworn in to their posts, claim/evoke the authority of the Bible and the constitutions of their countries as their guiding principles of leadership, and utter words like these: 'I will be committed to serve the people according to the constitutions of the country and with the help of God, [symbolized by the Bible]. Therefore, the Church being Christ's representative and holding power and authority to interpret God's will to her people, a will that is contained in the Bible, she is obliged to speak out in the name of God and remind the earthly rulers of the meaning of their public oath taken on the day of their commitment to serve the nation Earthly rulers need to be told what real justice and well-ordered social life is. To accomplish my task of creating a guideline document which must bring awareness and provoke reactions and actions of the reader to the cause of the poor and disadvantaged, I will begin by describing the recent social, political and economic situation of Mozambique. In this opening chapter, I will focus on the problem, the fact that poverty and social injustice exist in Mozambique. I will describe the factors causing this poverty especially corruption. The purpose of this chapter is to raise the problem and state it clearly through a clear and thorough description of facts and events. In the second chapter I will focus on the biblical figures, the prophets, who dealt with a similar need for social justice in Israel The Bible will be the main guiding principle and source from where answers will be fetched after a careful study and critique of the texts and materials using commentaries and other biblical study books. This chapter is the core section of the whole work and, it will determine my conclusions, suggestions and recommendations. Therefore, I will give it a special, objective but critical treatment so as to make my conclusions and recommendations practical, viable and strong, and provoking to the readers. The third chapter contains the lines of action, suggestions, new approaches, new strategies to be implemented in the field by all Church agents both in their preaching and dealing with the government, people and all institutions directly responsible in promoting the common good and fair distribution of wealth. The conclusions will flow naturally from the Bible's teaching as it challenges the present situation within the country and the practical specific needs in the country.