Christian Church Research Articles

Modernidade e ascese: Nietzsche e Weber leitores da Reforma

In various parts of his work, Friedrich Nietzsche directly attacks the German Lutheran tradition, arguing against its anti-modern and anti-Renaissance «ascetic ideals», which it carried into the heart of modernity, ultimately leading to its decline. Following Nietzsche, Max Weber, in analyzing the processes of modernity’s secularization, highlights the connection between Protestant asceticism, rooted in justification by faith and the concept of Beruf, the birth of Western capitalist individualism, and the bureaucratic mechanics of modern states. Placing these authors’ approaches within the broader debate on secularization and political theology in modernity, this essay aims to focus on the importance of “techniques of life” and asceticism as instruments for transforming behaviors. It also examines the role that this transformation plays in understanding post-Lutheran modernity, and finally, the theological-political stakes of the current confrontation between the spiritual ecumenism of Christian churches and the governmental nihilism of the globalized «iron cage».

Significance and Roles of Religious Facilities for Japanese Migrants: A Case Study of Christian Churches in the Republic of Korea

Significance and Roles of Religious Facilities for Japanese Migrants: A Case Study of Christian Churches in the Republic of Korea

Implementation of ISAK No. 35 on the presentation of financial statements of non-profit-oriented entities (Study at GMIM Bukit Hermon Malalayang)

ISAK No. 35 can be used as a reference in preparing non-profit-oriented financial reporting. One non-profit oriented entity is a church, in this case, the Evangelical Christian Church in Minahasa (or often called GMIM). This study was carried out at GMIM Bukit Hermon Malalayang which is located in Malalayang District, Manado City. This study aims to examine the preparation of church financial reports based on ISAK No. 35 at GMIM Bukit Hermon Malalayang. The study method used is a qualitative approach based on case studies. The results show that the presentation of GMIM Bukit Hermon Malalayang's financial reports has not implemented ISAK No. 35 concerning the presentation of financial statements of non-profit-oriented entities. However, financial reporting is simply based on the GMIM Synod Treasury Supervision and Management Service Guidelines. During the 2023 period, financial reporting has been adjusted to ISAK No. 35 which consists of a comprehensive income report, change in net assets report, financial position report, cash flow report and notes to financial reports.

The Jawi Wetan Christian Church in the Muslim community: SDGs perspective

This article examines the existence of the Jawi Wetan Mojokerto Christian Church in the Muslim community, not only the existence of its buildings and community, but its interaction and collaboration with the Muslim community in social activities which generally focus on the areas that are the main objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals. The religious life that is built is not just about tolerance, but spaces for harmony in social and humanitarian aspects have been created. Through qualitative research with descriptive presentation, case study analysis was used to reveal the social, economic and environmental impacts of this collaboration. The research object is GKJW Mojokerto, located in Sentanan Village, Kranggan District, Mojokerto City, which is less than 20 meters from the AL Muaishym Mosque. The four research sources are Koster GKJW Mojokerto, Chairman of the Mosque Takmir, a historian, former Bible teacher at GKJW Mojokerto, and the Sentantan Neighborhood RT Management. The concept and perspective of Sustainable Development Goals is the author's main focus in conducting the analysis. These findings lead to the conclusion that interfaith cooperation between Christians and Muslims is important in achieving the SDGs in Indonesia. Effective dialogue and collaboration in responding to crucial issues such as the environment, human rights and economic development. It is important to strengthen interfaith dialogue and cooperation efforts and establish sustainable dialogue forums to support the achievement of SDGs targets.

The Effect of the Members’ Religious Activity and the Church’s Clergy on Church Growth by the Example of Estonian Protestant Churches

Abstract The article aims to examine religious activity in Christian churches. In order to achieve this goal, religious activity is defined through religious practices such as church attendance, prayer, and Bible reading. The data used in the article are taken from a survey of growing churches (hereafter referred to as KK2020, n=350), in which nine Estonian growing churches participated. The main comparative base is the sociological survey on religion “On Life, Faith and Religious Life” (EUU2020, n=1000), conducted in Estonia. As a result of the analysis, the article presents an overview of religious activity indicators for growing churches, ordinary churches, and the adult Estonian population and compares growing churches of different denominations. Based on the results, it can be hypothesized that religious activity of church members and minister has positive influence on church growth.

Theological appraisal of the satisfaction theory of atonement

The doctrine of atonement is central to the logic of the Christian faith. As a core part of Christian theology, the subject of atonement has received much scholarly attention since the emergence of the Christian church. Different scholars have interpreted Christ’s atoning sacrifice in different ways based on their socio-political milieu. One of such interpretations is Anselm’s satisfaction theory which considers the atonement as a supererogatory act that provided satisfaction for humankind’s disobedience of God. Like any other model of atonement, Anselm’s model has its strengths and limitations. The lack of literature on the contextual application of Anselm’s satisfaction theory to the Ghanaian context has prompted this study which appraises the theory and then discusses how it might address selected challenges facing the contemporary Ghanaian society. The methodology used for the first task comprised a synchronic historical review and conceptual analysis of existing literature on the satisfaction theory. Among other things, the study found that the satisfaction theory rightly considers God as the receiver of the atonement but fails to address pertinent issues regarding God’s redemptive and covenantal nature. This was followed by a comparative study between Anselm’s socioeconomic and political contexts and those of contemporary Ghana. Based on this, contextual applications of the theory were deduced for contemporary Ghana. The article contributes to the contemporary Christian discourse on the doctrine of soteriology and its relevance for the human society.

Toward a Truly Universal Catholicity?

AbstractThis article discusses the latest document by the Francophone ecumenical group the Groupe des Dombes. The document advocates a “reformed catholicity” through the conversion of the churches, where catholicity is not seen as the exclusive property of the Roman Catholic faithful but encompasses the entire Christian church, and in which the word “reformed” also concerns the whole Christian church and not only Protestant churches. This article first explores the contribution of this text to ecumenical dialogue. It then discusses the “bold thesis” at the centre of the document, according to which the Catholic Church and the churches of the Reformation “form one Church, although in imperfect communion.” The article then goes on to highlight the eschatological dynamic of the document and the relationship between catholicity and mission. The article concludes with some thoughts about the path toward a truly universal catholicity.

Feminizing Patriarchy: Christian Churches and Gender Inequality in Rural Africa

Abstract In dialogue with the cross-national scholarship on gender and religion, the study uses a unique combination of rich qualitative and quantitative data from a predominantly Christian rural sub-Saharan setting to examine how churches modify, yet also sustain and even reinforce, patriarchal norms. It shows how churches replace the traditional, extended family-based model of gender inequality with a pseudo-modern model of individualized conjugal dependency. Although men increasingly disengage from the religious space, the growing feminization of that space does not translate into a more gender-egalitarian narrative: the church nurtures women’s agency yet also channels it to rearrange and reassert their subservience. To acquire legitimacy, church women are pressured to act as collective articulators, promoters, and guarantors of neo-patriarchal values and orders, and in particular, as builders and saviors of matrimonial integrity and viability. These dynamics reflect and are an integral part of the broader gendered constraints and precarities of contemporary rural society.

Editorial: Orthodox Christian Churches and War Politics in Ethiopia and Ukraine: Historical, Ecclesial and Theological Reflections

Editorial: Orthodox Christian Churches and War Politics in Ethiopia and Ukraine: Historical, Ecclesial and Theological Reflections

Letting ‘soft vengeance’ in when harm is ‘unforgivable’: on reading Stephen Cherry

This article draws on research in Bosnia and Rwanda and my own lived experience of ecclesiastical abuse. It reflects on, and develops, Stephen Cherry’s argument that some harms are Unforgivable (2024), and that the modern Christian Church has got ‘forgiveness’ wrong. Contra Cherry, though, it suggests that because comparatively little work has been undertaken on the contemporary spirituality of forgiveness, we have missed the potential healing power of ‘vengeance’ – but a particular kind of vengeance, as a Christian strategy to protect the future dignity, agency and flourishing of survivors of severe abuse and trauma.

The Vision and Impact of Redeemed Christian Church of God and Cherubim and Seraphim Movement

The paper is a comparative study of Redeemed Christian Church of God and Cherubim and Seraphim Movement as African indigenous movements. The work adopts a qualitative research design and relied on secondary method using comparative approach. It was found in the study that these indigenous Christian movements have their vision shaped by their founders. However, there are certain features that are common among them as well as notable differences. Both practiced Pentecostal theology and the place of Scriptures is central to both of them. While the Redeemed Christian Church of God is said to have more social, political and economic impact on the people and the society Cherubim and Seraphim Movement gives more attention to the issue of spiritual liberation and deliverance from the forces of darkness. The Redeem Christian Church of God follows more strictly, the teaching of the Bible while Cherubim and Seraphim Society is syncretic. The paper recommends that there is a need for a comparative study of the teachings and practices of these indigenous movements. And there is a need for these movements to develop a clear theology and doctrines that define them.

Sorcery and Witchcraft: A Critical Challenge in Papua New Guinea

In the modern age of the twenty-first century, with rapid developments in technology and science, accusations of sorcery and witchcraft appear to be occurring with increasing and spreading regularity throughout Papua New Guinea (PNG), a country in the South Pacific, a strange neighbor of Asia. With ninety-seven percent of the population identified as Christian, issues associated with sorcery and witchcraft remain pervasive and severe. These concerns have heightened the apprehension of the government, international organizations, institutes, and Christian Churches, viewing them as among the most critical challenges to the country’s peace and development. Based on various materials, research, and conferences on Melanesian culture, particularly on sorcery and witchcraft in PNG, and with experience of living in PNG as a Catholic missionary priest, the author relates to non-Melanesian readers the phenomena of sorcery and witchcraft in PNG with the reasons and the horrific consequences to the individuals, families, and communities. The author also delineates specific attitudes, strategies, and actions implemented by the government, organizations, and churches, grounded in Christian values, human rights, ethics, science, and biomedicine. These initiatives aim to persuade individuals to embrace scientific and verifiable explanations for death, sick-ness, and misfortunes, discouraging attributions to sor-cery and witchcraft. As with other societal challen-ges, the author underscores that the optimal strategy for addressing sorcery-related issues involves ensuring access to healthcare services, strengthening judicial enforcement, promoting education, providing religious education, and fostering economic development. Keywords: culture, sorcery, witchcraft, Christianity, development

ARCHETYPES IN SACRED BUILDINGS: CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND MOSQUES

ARCHETYPES IN SACRED BUILDINGS: CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND MOSQUES

Career motivation of 1st year nursing and midwifery students

This paper presents findings from a cross-sectional study into the motivational factors of students who chose nursing and midwifery as a career. 189 students from the University of Bedfordshire (UoB) and 223 students from Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) completed a questionnaire at the start of their studies in 2018. The findings are generated from the first stage of the Placement, Impact, Experience and Destination (PIED) study into student belongingness on placement and the influence of practice on the first career destination of newly qualified nurses and midwives. An in-class questionnaire was administered to 1st year pre-registration adult, child and mental health nursing and midwifery students to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influenced their motivation to choose nursing or midwifery as a career. A mix methods study design was adopted for the PIED study where participants completed a survey that collected quantitative and qualitative data and administered during the course induction period. Motivation scores were found to be high in both cohorts, with students at both sites endorsing intrinsic motivational factors over extrinsic at statistically significant levels. The strongest intrinsic factors appeared to be a desire to help and care for people and play a useful role in society, whereas the strongest extrinsic factors were career stability and the ability to work in different regions and countries. The study suggests that the influence of family and friends continues to exert a strong intrinsic motivational influence on the career choices of students, particularly those under the age of 25. Identifying the motivational factors of first year nursing and midwifery students presents employers with an opportunity to tailor strategies to recruit apprentices, enable placement partners to enculturate prospective employees into the workforce and understand the relationship between extrinsic factors and practice learning to successfully recruit graduates.

Implementation of the GBI Bethany Tower of Christ Congregation Management Information System Design

Along with the development of the digital era and pandemic conditions have increased the need for systems capable of working remotely. This motivated the researchers to conduct observations at the Bethany Tower of Christ Church. Based on observations and interviews that have been conducted with church pastors and deacons, it is found that the system already owned by the church has a lack of features, one of which is the feature of submitting requests to the church. In addition, there is also a need to update features related to adding devotionals, news, and posts to make it more practical and efficient. The development of this system uses the Waterfall method in which in the process the researcher first conducts direct observation and research at the Bethany Tower of Christ Church followed by analyzing the needs of the church and congregation which results in the design of a congregation management system. As for after the design is done, the system implementation is carried out. After that, researchers conducted testing of system maintenance. Based on the overall results obtained from the survey of respondents' assessment of the website, an average assessment of 87.3% was obtained, indicating that the website is feasible and has impressive respondent satisfaction. Researchers still find shortcomings in the system created, namely the lack of some features and the presence of bugs that need to be fixed. However, researchers still hope that the designed system can be useful for congregations and churches and can continue to be developed and maintained so that the system can be better.

Ethical Attitude of the Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera (GMIH) Towards the 2024 Political Year in North Halmahera

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to find out the ethical attitude of the Church to prevent the impact of election differences in political moments and to be involved in practical politics. This study employs a qualitative methodology utilizing a descriptive-analytic approach. According to the study's findings, the process of familiarizing the congregation with politics has been ongoing for a considerable period in the Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera (GMIH) in North Maluku. However, the issue is that this socialization effort has yet to be successfully implemented among all congregation members. Another research finding about the Church's engagement in practical politics is that GMIH abstains from engaging in practical politics. The Church aims to foster a comprehensive comprehension of politics. It encourages all congregation members to exercise their rights to vote and run for office in the upcoming 2024 regional elections. Keywords: Church, Ethical Attitude, Politic. Abstrak: Tujuan dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui sikap etis Gereja untuk mencegah dampak perbedaan pemilihan dalam momen politik dan dapat terlibat dalam politik praktis. Kajian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif analisis. Berdasakan hasil penelitian, proses sosialiasi kepada jemat untuk memberikan pemahaman yang baik kepada jemat tentang politik, telah di lakukan sejak lama kepada jemaat, namun yang menjadi permasalahan adalah bahwa kegiatan sosialisasi ini belum dapat di laksanakan ke seluruh jemaat Gereja Masehi Injili di Halmahera (GMIH) yang ada di Maluku Utara. Hasil penelitian yang lain terkait keterlibatan Gereja dengan politik praktis adalah GMIH tidak terlibat dalam politik praktis. Gereja hadir untuk memberikan untuk memberikan pemahaman politik yang baik, dan mengajak seluruh jemat untuk memberikan haknya baik untuk memilih dan dipilih pada pemilu maupun pemilukada tahun 2024. Kata Kunci: Gereja, sikap etis, politik.

The Church lexicon as a lexical category

The article focuses on the study of church lexicon as a lexical category. The aim of this article is to analyze and compare different linguistic points of view on the key stages of church lexicon development in the Russian and English languages, to determine a working definition of the category “church lexicon”, as well as its most important elements. In order to achieve this goal, the methods of analyzing sources, their subsequent comparison and contrast, identification of analogies and similarities were used, as well as synthesis of information extracted from these sources.The material includes dissertations, scientific articles and other works of modern Russian scholars considering the concepts “church lexicon” and “religious lexicon”, comparing and juxtaposing them, as well as singling out constituent elements of the categories “church lexicon”, “religious lexicon”, “sacral lexicon”, and “liturgical lexicon”. In this article are used the works of such scholars as A.A. Azarov, I.V. Bugaeva, S.V. Bulavina, N.S. Valgina, R.I. Goryushina, E.V. Kakorina, I.A. Koroleva, T.I. Kosheleva and others.The results of the research show that the interest in the church lexicon as a lexical category among Russian linguists has increased since the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries due to the revival of the Christian Church of various denominations, as well as other religious organizations. The long period of persecution of the Christian Church in Russia has affected church vocabulary, marginalizing it and relegating it to the periphery of the language. In the UK, USA and other English-speaking linguistic communities, the activities of the Christian Church have never been banned or persecuted, and the history of church vocabulary in the English language as such has never faced marginalization similar to that in Russia.It has also been established that church vocabulary is part of the broader category of “religious vocabulary” and includes basic concepts from the sphere of the life of the Christian Church. Although scholars argue about the constituents of the category “church lexicon”, many agree that it includes the names of sacraments and rites, elements of the church calendar, names of church buildings and their elements, items of decoration, elements of vestments, as well as names of persons in relation to the Christian faith and the Christian Church.This article may be of interest to philologists, linguists, and teachers of the Russian and English languages.

Education of Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly through Health Seminars and Health Corner

Advanced age or elderly refers to individuals who have reached the age of 60 and above. According to data from the National Socioeconomic Survey in March 2020, there is a total of 10.48%, consisting of 51.81% elderly women and 48.19% elderly men. The elderly population undergoes the aging process, making them at a higher risk of degenerative diseases. According to Basic Health Research in 2013, the most common diseases among the elderly are hypertension (57.6%), arthritis (51.9%), stroke (46.1%), dental and oral problems (19.1%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8.6%), and diabetes mellitus (4.8%). Hypertension can lead to other disorders, such as cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases have a high mortality rate and can be caused by various factors, such as diabetes mellitus and obesity resulting from an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, through education on cardiovascular diseases and the formation of elderly cadres and health corners, efforts to prevent cardiovascular diseases in the elderly are expected to be optimally implemented. The main target of this program is the congregation of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in Sepanjang Sidoarjo, Taman District, Sidoarjo Regency. Activities include pre-tests and post-tests related to cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, health seminars, and the establishment of health corners. The results of this activity show that the respondents' knowledge level, assessed through questionnaires, had an average pre-test score of 12.52 and a post-test score of 14.71, indicating a significant change with a p-value < 0.001 meeting the significant level of 95%.

Impact of Chaplaincy Programs in Deterring Students’ Unrest in Secondary Schools in Kenya: An Assessment of Selected Africa Inland Church Christian Sponsored Boarding Secondary Schools in Nandi County

The study assessed the impact of the chaplaincy program in deterring unrest in secondary schools in Nandi County. This has been motivated by the persistent media reports of unrest and indiscipline in secondary schools, a fact that projects a grim picture that Kenyan schools are not as safe havens as thought. The study was based on the Chaos Theory which offers lessons for managing periods of extreme instability in a system. The researcher used a mixed-method approach. Phenomenological and descriptive survey designs were employed. Purposive sampling techniques were used to determine the sample size. Data obtained was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The study confirmed that chaplaincy programs if implemented and done correctly, are effective in influencing student behavior toward deterring unrest. The R2 and adjusted R2 values of 0.769 and 0.787 respectively both indicated that over 70% of the variance in the dependent variable can be explained by the regression model. The t-test results for the individual regression coefficient were as follows: Chaplaincy programs (t =10, p < .05) and unrest (t = 20, p < .05) indicating that the variables were statistically significant at 0.05 levels. In light of these findings, it is recommended that the Government of Kenya should emphasize the recruitment of school chaplains and equip them adequately to effect, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of chaplaincy programs.

Mutual submission, not complementarianism: Reviving the Chinese marital theology of Watchman Nee and Wang Mingdao

Many Christians in both America and China follow an ideology that has come to be known as gender complementarianism. The husband is the undisputed “head of the household” and the wife must graciously submit to his leadership and decision-making, even if she disagrees with him. During the 2000s, complementarian theology espoused by American parachurch organizations FamilyLife and Focus on the Family spread in China. Today, many house church Christians advocate complementarianism. However, back in the 1940s and 50s, several important (fundamentalist and mainline) Chinese Christian leaders saw Christian marriage more in terms of mutual submission than gendered hierarchy. Rather than seeing husbands as more responsible for leadership and decision-making than wives, Watchman Nee, Wang Mingdao, and the people involved in the Christianizing the Home movement highlighted the need for both spouses to sacrifice, cultivate intimacy, forgive, and communicate well. This may not be the dominant vision of marriage in Chinese house churches today, but it is a long-standing tradition in Chinese Protestant history, one that some individuals in China today are continuing to put forward.