Begging: A Challenge to the Church in Kenya.
Loading...
Date
2002-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tangaza
Abstract
Human life is a gift from God, the sole Creator of all that exists (Genesis 1:27-
28). For this reason, it is something precious which has to be handled with great care.
Nevertheless, at times this care is so minimal that more often than not, each person is
more concerned about his / her own welfare and not of the other. The world is full of
Cainine attitude. The Lord asked Cain, where is your brother Abel? He answered, I
don't know. Am I supposed to take care of my brother? (Genesis, 3: 4-9). Cain knew
the injustice he had dealt his brother and was not ready to take responsibility even over
his dead body. In the world today, it is a matter of survival for the fittest. News of war and
refugees seeking for a place to settle occupy a considerable space in the daily
newspapers. For instance, the Afghans fleeing their country in fear of the United States of
America attacks, the killing of Israel tourism minister Reharam Zeevi followed by Israel
threats to Palestine that Arafat must hand over the assassins or face harsh retribution.
Kenya, for example, hosts thousands of ref-Lines from various countries such as
Rwanda, Burundi and Somali. Situations of war lead people to become destitutes while
others, even though not real destitutes still want everyone to know that they have
problems hence in need of help. One of the Little Sisters of St. Francis dealing with
refugees had this to say, When people are displaced by war, they become desperate
psychologically so much that even those that are able to do some work simply sit to be dished with money, food and clothing freely. According to them people should
help them and so they keep knocking at the office for assistance'.
Begging can be an attitude in a person. All in all, whether people beg out of the
desire to acquire more, or out of real need for basic provisions, the truth of the matter is
that, begging is a reality today particularly in the third world countries. This becomes a
big challenge to the Church whose mission is that of Jesus as He described it,
The Spirit
of the Lord is in me. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery
of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come
when the Lord will save His people
(Luke 4: 18-19) The Church exists so as to continue
the mission of Christ and therefore faces the challenge of finding ways and means of
bringing hope to the hopeless, particularly to beggars scattered all over the world.
Description
Keywords
Begging, Abuse, Society, Biblical, Church