Church, Theology and Society in Postwar Mozambique

Abstract

This paper focuses on two terms that require specific definitions for a correct understanding of the relationship between them-church and society. According to Vocabulary of the Bible by Von Allmen, the word church comes from the Greek term ekklesia, a term with no religious significance in its original Hellenistic context. The Hellenistic world understood ekklesia to be the regularly convened assemblies of determined social groups and even of the entire population (Acts 19:39-40). The fact that this term was used to refer to the Christian community is a result of word roots drawn from the Jewish tradition. In Hebrew, qiihtil means "assembly" and in the hiphil it means "to call together for the assembly." For the Israelites, this calling is related to God. It is God who convokes his assembly. In Greek translation, this term became associated with the verb kaleo (to call). In using this term, the Christian community expressed its consciousness that it is God who calls, through his Son Jesus Christ, all those who belong. In the Christian community, ekklesia, meaning those who are called together, ceased to be a purely secular term and became a religious term. Ekklesia expresses exactly that which the church ought to be in the world. As its mission the church is called to be present in the world in order to communicate to it the calling of God. It cannot withdraw from the world.