Abstract
The church�s response towards orphans and vulnerable children as a result of HIV AIDS: A theological biblical perspective By its very nature the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) should invoke response and challenge from all sectors of society, including the church and the academia (theological practitioners). However, in the early years of HIV and AIDS, more or less 30 years ago, the church has been apathetic in its response and engagement with issues relating to HIV and AIDS. Due to the fact that the HIvirus and the AIDS disease raises moral, ethical, gender, cultural, sexual and spiritual matters, it took a considerable long time for the church to become involved. In theological practice the response and involvement in HIV and AIDS matters was also initially characterised by theological impotency.This article therefore, provides a philosophical, theological and biblical basis and reflection to the church especially, in Africa, to effectively respond to the plight, crisis and scourge of HIV and AIDS and its impact to orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC). The effects and repercussions of this pandemic are everywhere glaring, especially in developing nations. This worldwide epidemiology of HIV and AIDS has evoked resources from many national governments (particularly in developing countries), the United Nations bodies, Non-Profit Organisations, etcetra. Indeed, the bone-chilling statistics emanate from the World Health Organisation, AIDS conferences and newspaper articles The latest statistics on people infected with HIV and people living with AIDS, including the OVC, sends shock waves throughout the world. The apathetic and largely disengagement by the church towards the OVC, paucity and dearth of theological publications in current times on this subject and topic indicate that the church in Africa needs to come to terms with her theological and biblical mandate to care for the OVC. This article therefore provides a synopsis and survey of how God�s people (Israel in the Old Testament and the Church in the New Testament) were commanded by God to care for OVC. Based on the biblical text, the contemporary church in Africa should break the vicious and dangerous cycle of silence, apathy and disengagement and start alleviating the plight of OVC.
Highlights
The church’s response towards orphans and vulnerable children as a result of HIV AIDS: A theological biblical perspective By its very nature the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) should invoke response and challenge from all sectors of society, including the church and the academia
In the early years of HIV and AIDS, more or less 30 years ago, the church has been apathetic in its response and engagement with issues relating to HIV and AIDS
In theological practice the response and involvement in HIV and AIDS matters was initially characterised by theological impotency
Summary
Karabo ya kereke mabapi le ditšhiwana le bana bao ba lego kotsing ka lebaka la HIV AIDS: Maikutlo a sedumedi sa ka pebeleng. Go sa le gampe bjale, go dirilwe dinyakišišo gannyane gomme tša phatlalatšwa ka ga maikutlo a filosofi, a sedumedi le a ka pebeleng ka ga karabo ya kereke go dinyakwa tša Bana ba Ditšhiwana le bao ba lego Kotsing (OVC). Ka mo athekeleng ye; seabe sa HIV le AIDS go Bana ba Ditšhiwana le bao ba lego Kotsing (OVC), tlhokomelo ya ditšhiwana ka kwešišo ya Nako ya Kgalekgale ya Dinageng tša ka Bohlabela, maikutlo a Testamente ya Kgale le a Testamente ye Mpsha le sa mafelelo tlhohlo ya kereke bjalo ka setšhaba sa Modimo sa phološo go abela le go hlokomela ditšhiwana bjalo ka ge Pebele e laela bjalo
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