THE ROLE OF THE
CHURCH IN ENSURING PEACE AND HARMONY IN THE SOCIETY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
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 stand 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 under development 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 European countries
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 a population 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 a tooth, 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
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?
1.6 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.
1.7 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.
Limitations of study
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.
REFERENCES
Albert
I.O (2011), An Alternative Explanation of Religious Fundamentalism in Northern
Nigeria. Accessed on 16/07/2012 at http://www.ng.boell.org/downloads/Alternative_Explanations_of_Religious_Fundamentalism_in_Nigeria(2).pdf
B. Salawu
(2010) Ethno-Religious Conflicts in Nigeria: Causal Analysis and Proposals for
New Management Strategies.
David P.
Barash (2000), Approaches to Peace, A Reader in Peace Studies, Oxford
University Press
Adetula
A. M (2006), Religious Conflicts in Nigeria and its Implications for Political
Stability, Medwell Journals, The Social Sciences 3(2): 121
The Holy
Bible