Full Project – THE ROLE CHRISTIANITY IN AN UNFRIENDLY SOCIETY

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ABSTRACT 

The study focused on the role Christianity in an unfriendly society using Catholic, Pentecostal and Orthodox churches as the target groups for the effective conduct of this research. It was observed that many part of the country is buffeted with crisis in various forms, raging form Boko Haram insurgency, to kidnapping, highway robbery attacks and Fulani-herders-farmers’ attack. The Christian community is expected to play a vital role to restore peace. The researcher adopted both library and field work as methods used to solve the problem. The library work involved gathering information from the researchers personal and public library, including the internet, while the field work involved the preparation and serving of questionnaire. The The study concluded that The study concluded that Christian can live peacefully in an unfriendly society by spreading the goodness to the society. The more the society is saved by accepting Jesus, the more peaceful it becomes. This implies that evil continue to be on the rise when good people refuse to use the weapon of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to tame the nefarious, barbaric and wicked activities in this unfriendly world. The researcher recommended that the church should engage both Spiritual and physical measures in safeguarding the life and property of the people living in this clash-prone communities.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the study

In the ancient time, the role of Christianity is very evident in the society form economic to education and even in health sector. Gradually, because of lack of proper understanding the meaning of Christianity, it is not as effective in some society as it was then. People see the church and Christians then as refuge place for them in time of calamity and struggle and so sure to find ease and relief for their soul. This normally known as the welfare act of the church to the world in which the love of Christ is extended to people in kind, cash and word so as to make a better world.

The Old Testament confirms the establishment of Christianity with selection of love and covenant made with Abraham with a command to be a blessing to others, with a promise that He will curse whoever curses him (defend Abraham from every hurt and harm of humanity).

It is necessary to consider God first in the society relationship in the community and society we live. God designed His beloved to be light and salt in the society they live to complement each other even with their differences.

He wanted His people on earth to be the representative of His love to this dying and unfriendly society.

Christians believe it is their duty to help others. Individual churches can do a number of things to help unite local communities and to assist homeless and poor people.

Christians believe that it is part of their duty to act in a moral way. This involves helping others around them.

The Church can play a vital role in assisting Christians to help others by providing:

1. food banks – places where people living in poverty can go and collect some food
2. help for the homeless –

Jesus taught the importance of helping others who are less fortunate, this He explained that He was hungry and they gave Him food, He was homeless, they provided Him with shelter. He concluded that since they – the Christian – have done it to any of these people, they have done it to him. (Matthew 25:35-36). This implies that Christian need to be the solution in this unfriendly society they find themselves.

The Church can also play an important role in community cohesion. This is important because we live in an increasingly multicultural and multi-religious society.

Christians believe that the Church can be a stabilizing force for good in a world that is increasingly unreligious. The Church can support people who are going through difficulties, whatever background they may come from because in Christ Jesus nationality or ethnicity does matter, Christ is one in all.

The Christian tradition has made significant contributions to world peace at a number of different levels (Albert, 2011). Among these are public statements by Church leaders, programs of action at local and international levels, organisations dedicated to bringing about peace, courses of study, commemorative days etc.In recent decades, Church leaders have frequently made statements in support of peace. In some cases these statements have been specific appeals for peace in particular circumstances, however, on other occasions they have also published more comprehensive statements on the need for peace and the means of achieving it. The teachings of Christianity which is guided by the dictates of the bible (word of God) has constantly encourage the members to ensure peace and harmony in the society.

Christian leaders have always publicly stood for societal peace and harmony and against violence. It is now widely accepted that violent conflict is the major hindrance to the development of the African continent and Nigeria in particular. It inflicts human sufferings through death, destruction of livelihoods, constant displacement and insecurity (Barash, 2000). Violent conflict disrupts the process of production, creates conditions for pillage of the country’s resources and diverts their application from development purposes to servicing war. Violent conflict is thus responsible for perpetuating misery and underdevelopment in the country-Nigeria and the continent at large (Adetula,2006).

Peace is a universal phenomenon that everyone desires and wishes to enjoy endlessly.Traditions, cultures, religions and societies do have different prescriptions to attaining and enjoying peace. Whenever and wherever there is peace there tends to be development and longevity is enjoyed (Salawu, 2010). To this end, Christianity which is one of the predominant religions in the world today teaches peace and encourages all adherents to the faiths to pursue peace and live peacefully with one another. The above statement now seems to be questionable with the rise of intra, inter and ethno-religious conflicts in the world. While most Arab and some Europeancountries are faced with intra-religious conflicts, an African country like Nigeria is faced with both intra and inter-religious conflicts. Nigeria, which is popularly known as Africa’s most populous black nation with apopulation of now about 170 million people, with more than 250 ethnic groups has Christianity and Islam as its predominant religions, though there is still in existence the African Traditional Religion (ATR).

Christianity as a word means followers of Christ or Christ like. Christians therefore are those who follow and act the teaching of Christ in all ways of life. One of the climaxes of Christianity or Christian virtue is peace. Christians are enjoined in the Bible to embrace and live peacefully with their neighbors’. The following scriptures confirm this:Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34 vs 14).Blessed are the Peace makers for they shall be called the children of God Matthew 5 vs 9).Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it (1 Peter 3 vs 11).Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12 vs 14). If it be possible, as much as it lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Rom 12 vs 18)

The word Peace in Christianity is translated from the Hebrew word ‘Shalom’, which is a key word in the Bible and its at the center of how God wants us to live on earth. One of the key things Jesus came to give humanity is Peace and expects us to live in peace as cited in the scriptural verses above. Peace was not only what Jesus taught but He also lived it, this in most cases is what scholars call pacifism, as Jesus never taught violence, even at his arrest by the Pharisees and one of his disciples struck the ears of the priest, Jesus rebuked the disciple and said that “those who live by the sword shall die by the sword” (Mathew 26:52, NKJV).In another place Jesus taught the people not to retaliate any evil done to them as it used to be, an eye for an eye, a tooth for atooth, if one should strike you on the right cheek, turn the left cheek (Mathew 5:38-39, NKJV) but now to always forgive those that offend them and he charged them to forgive their neighbors even seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22, KJV). With all these scriptural teachings of the church, Christians are suppose to live in peace and harmony in the society.

 

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

 

It is obvious that there is the farmer-herders clash in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. This clash has not only claimed innocent lives but has also destroyed farm lands in their acres. The farm produce that would have contributed to the improved economy of the State and the standard of living of the farmers.

This violent clash calls for a drastic measure before it get out of hand. This is what prompted the researcher to beam light on issue to unravel the root cause of the clash and suggest possible solutions based on the findings made.

The church has always taught the members on the act of non retaliation as taught by Jesus which helps to absorb violence instead of escalating it, hence every cycle of violence provoking revenge, which in turn provokes more violence is broken by the simple act of tolerating the violence and avoiding retaliation. On the contrary, there has been increased cases of disruption to peace and harmony in the world today despite the church teachings of peace as stipulated by Jesus Christ. However, the researcher is examining the role of church in ensuring peace and harmony in the society.

 

1.3    OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

1. To examine the role of church in ensuring peace and harmony in the society.
2. To examine the dictates of the church as regards peace and harmony.
3. To identify the factors disrupting peace and harmony of the society.

1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the role of church in ensuring peace and harmony in the society?
2. What are the dictates of the church as regards peace and harmony?
3. What are the factors disrupting peace and harmony of the society?

 

1.5    RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H_o: The church plays no significant role in ensuring peace and harmony in the society.

H₁: The church plays significant role in ensuring peace and harmony in the society.

1.7    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1. The findings of this study will be useful for the government, church leaders and the general public on the role of the church in ensuring sustainable peace and harmony in the society.
2. This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.

1.8    SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study will cover the position of the church and Christianity in general as regards the issue of societal peace and harmony.

1. Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
2. Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

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Full Project – THE ROLE CHRISTIANITY IN AN UNFRIENDLY SOCIETY