Mission And The Economic Factor: The Paradox Of A Noble Ideal

摘要

The Son of God did not incarnate as any ordinary man. He incarnated as a particular man, a Jew, a Galilean, at a precise moment in the history of the world. As a man, he was influenced by the geo-political conditions of his country. He lived under the socio-economic laws of his time, took active part in political conflicts and shared the hopes and aspirations of his people. These socio-economic and political conditions helped in fashioning the Jesus we know today. The Church, which is the fruit of the Incarnation of the Son of God, does not escape the realities and the vicissitudes of the world. The Church, as an entity, is also an earthly reality. Even though Christ prayed to his Father to keep the Church from being of the world, history however has taught us that it is within this world made up of socio-political and economic upheavals that the Church is called upon to fulfil her mission. This demonstrates that the Church is part and parcel of the world and does not escape from its influence in every sphere of its life. Being part and parcel of the world and all that it contains, the Church can only accomplish her mission by making use of the resources that the world puts at her disposal. Even though the primary mission of the Church is to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ, it cannot ignore the necessity to work for its economic and financial survival which is indispensable for accomplishing its mission in the world. This article seeks to delve into the thorny issue of economic factors that impact on the Church's mission today. The...