subject: The role of men in the church [print this page] The role of men in the church The role of men in the church
INTRODUCTION: In the beginning was the word and the word was God. Genesis was speaking of creation which appears outside of God in time, but John tells us in chapter 1 verse 1 that this beginning does not cease for God. This is so because God is not subject to time. He lives in permanent fullness which we call eternity and in which there is no before or after, no duration, no fatigue, no boredom. In the beginning God projects himself in His Son who is both the image of God and His word (Colossian 1: 15, Hebrew 1:3). In this same beginning God creates the Word outside himself in order to place in it, the richness that He contemplates in His son. It is at this point that He universe and spirit, space and time do begin. This defiles our imagination by its dimension and duration. It then becomes an expression of God's profound mystery. All human history that will take place there will be "scared history" where God will fulfill an eternal desire.
2 JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORD: God spoke so many times through the prophets and finally he spoke through His Son (Heb 1verse 1) Jesus Christ is the only and eternal Son of God, the WORD who is in God and is God present in the Father. (John 1 verse 1, Rev 19 verse 13) Jesus, the Son of God became true man and not an apparition or God, disguised as human. He took the form of a slave and died on the Cross (Phil 2 verse 6-11). Apart from His Transfiguration in Luke 9, verse 32, the glory which was His Son, did not manifest himself in his humanity. Instead, Jesus wished to grow by means of suffering like anyone else. From the beginning Jesus was conscious of who He is Luke 2 verse 49).
3 WHO IS CHRIST "You are Christ, the Son of the Living God". Peter's answer to Christ's question brings us to the next discussion. Christ is the revelation of the father through the Holy Spirit. Man. He is God, made man, who is often referred to as God the Son. In the Trinity, Christ occupies the position of the Son who is to redeem mankind. "As my Father sent me, so I am sending you." Jesus Christ told his disciples. Since then, Men, through the Disciples of Christ are in the process of doing Christ's biddings. Men are the only creatures not finished. They are still recreating themselves. This is the reason why men fell to the temptation in the Garden of Eden. Man sinned and Jesus Christ came to his rescue. In His faithfulness to the Father, Christ in great joy desired nothing else than to be among men, assuming human nature at the fullness of time, for the love of men.
On the other hand, men should be Christ-like. Christ never faulted in his leadership role to men. This leadership role that Christ has bequeathed to men is what men are still adopting. They have not finished, they are still in the process of fitting into Christ's Church and teachings. Christ is the Head of the Church, "As my Father sent me, so I am sending you" Christ told his Disciples. This is the greatest responsibility which Christ has transferred from His Father to men. In the process, the headship of the Church is transferred to all men. Therefore, the first responsibility of men to the Church is to accept the Church in totality as their inheritance and build it up both physical and spiritually.
We must remember that in all His teachings here on earth, Christ laid so much emphasis on love, "Loving God with your whole heart, mind and strength, and then loving your neighbor as yourself" It is on this, according to Christ, that all other commandments are hinged. It is pertinent for the men, therefore, to show absolute love to both God and their fellow human beings. The Church is the people and like Christ, who died for the sake of the people, the men should endeavor to win these same souls to Christ. In doing so, they have to show unconditional love to their fellow human beings just as Christ love them, for Christ told his disciples to "love yourselves as I love you". This is the greatest role of men in the church. They are to love themselves as Christ loves them that he died for them.
The parable of the "Good Samaritan" tells all the story of how Christ wants us to love our neighbors, perform the work of charity to them, and really help to build your fellow human being and the church of Christ. If you love God, you will truly worship him, go out to evangelize, teach the word of God and Jesus Christ His son, who was re-incarnated by the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was made man. With this love for God and neighbor, it is the prerogative of all men to build for God a place of worship, equip and develop it and go all out to win converts. The men are to initiate all church's activities which would stimulate others to win souls. Right from their homes, the men should institute and develop home churches where children are first taught about God and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our belief in God is demonstrated in our contact with Christ through prayers. In His passion, Christ demonstrated His faithfulness to God through prayers where His sweat turned to blood. Christ experienced great sadness and bitterness in His soul when he said "my soul is sorrowful even unto death." Christ as man was encompassed in fear, anguish, pain, and torments of crucifixion, that in faithfulness to God, He knelt and prayed three times to his Father. Therefore it is the role of the men in the Church to imbibe explicit prayer which is an express approach to Christ with everyday joys and pursuits, troubles and worries, in order to recollect their spread activities, and to allow them to be fulfilled in the face of God. Prayer is the constant orientation of our lives and faith in Christ and the men must do all they can do to promote prayers as part of their role in the church. Prayer is silent dwelling upon Christ. Talk to Christ from your heart of hearts, visit Him, keep His company just as friends enjoy the company of each other. We have different types of prayers: The prayer of repentance, prayer of thanks, prayer of praise and prayer of petition. Prayers of petition manifest itself in belief, hope and attention to follow men and God. Christ taught us, and did Himself use persistence, confidence, and surrendering prayer. This is manifested in "Our Lord's Prayer" which He personally taught his disciples.
CONCLUSION: All men are meant to be Christ-like and their roles in the church should be based on the teachings which have their foundation on love for God and man, and faithfulness to God. The faithfulness of Christ to the Father is manifested in his entire life- from birth, teachings, death and resurrection. It is the basis of men's belief and faith in God. It is a model for all men and the ground for Christian's faith and religion. If we are the followers of Christ the men must borrow a leaf from Christ's faithfulness, not only to God, but also to our fellow human beings (who make up the church of Christ), our wives, children, relations and friends. Our Christian life must be upright, including active participation in evangelization and other church activities. Men, as the active heads of various families have active roles to play in building the church of God. Like Christ to His church, men must occupy the forefront in all church activities as well as guaranteeing the peace, security and economic well-being of the family and the church.
In totality men assume the headship and leadership role in the family, the church, the community and entire nation, bearing in mind, the fear of God in all they do. Men must not say that "God will provide" when their neighbor is in dire need of what to eat, what to wear or where to sleep. With the love of Christ freely gave them to men, it follows that men in position and have the means they should freely give out to charity to both the church and their fellow human beings. According to his Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie during the final celebration of the year of the priest in May 2010, I quote "Do not say that God will provide actually extend practical solutions to your neighbors problems, instead of spiritualizing, because faith and prayer alone cannot save us, without good works to both your fellow human beings and the church" unquote. Remember that man is, what you make man, and the same vein, the church is what you make the church of God. So also is your community, the nation and the world at large. The role of man in the church is that of building and re-building, both physically and spiritually, with your whole mind, your whole heart and your strength.
Finally, I leave you with this quote from Bonheoffer, who advised men from the prison where he was held captive, I quote "We must always live close to the presence of God, for there is newness of live. Nothing is impossible, for all things are possible with God and no earthly power can touch us without His will, and danger can only drive us closer to Him. We can claim nothing for ourselves and yet we pray for everything. Our joy is hidden in suffering while our life is hidden in death. But all through, we are sustained in a wondrous fellowship, The brotherhood of man. To all these, God in Jesus Christ has given His "yes" and "Amen" and that is the firm ground on which all men stand. Unquote May the good Lord bless and be with all men.
Glory to Mary-Honor to Mary
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