Can the Church Of Mozambique Be Missionary in Her Own Country?
Date
1999-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Church, Missionary, Mozambique, Corruption, Abuse of Power, Israelite