Like in most parts of Namibia, Christianity plays a major role in the Rehoboth community. The goal of Christian ethics in any community is to glorify God. Many people in Rehoboth would agree with that statement, in principle. However, as Heinz Mouton’s research shows, Pentecostal and mainline Protestant preachers in Rehoboth offer little-to-no ethical application of key passages, such as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Mouton argues that this, in part, explains why the lifestyles of many Rehoboth Christians differ significantly from the ethical values of God’s Kingdom recorded in the New Testament. His plea to the Rehoboth church, therefore, is for stronger teaching and preaching that emphasises the ethics of Christ’s Kingdom, and how they touch all aspects of human relationships: from the workplace, to the neighbourhood, to the family home.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
- CHAPTER TWO: The Kingdom of God and Ethical Living
- CHAPTER THREE: Survey among Church Leaders in Rehoboth
- CHAPTER FOUR: Conclusion and Suggestions
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This book explores the concept of the Kingdom of God and its relevance for the Namibian Church, focusing specifically on the community of Rehoboth. It examines the Sermon on the Mount and its implications for ethical living within the Christian community.
- The nature and implications of the Kingdom of God
- Ethical living within the Christian community
- The relevance of the Sermon on the Mount for contemporary Namibian Christians
- The lived experience of the Kingdom of God in the Rehoboth community
- The challenges and opportunities for ethical living in the Namibian context
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- CHAPTER ONE: Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the book, outlining its objectives, methodology, and the context of the research. It also provides a brief overview of the concept of the Kingdom of God and its relevance for the Namibian Church.
- CHAPTER TWO: The Kingdom of God and Ethical Living: This chapter delves deeper into the concept of the Kingdom of God, exploring its implications for ethical living within the Christian community. It examines the Sermon on the Mount and its teachings on justice, compassion, and peace.
- CHAPTER THREE: Survey among Church Leaders in Rehoboth: This chapter presents the findings of a survey conducted among church leaders in Rehoboth. The survey aimed to understand their perceptions of the Kingdom of God, their experiences of ethical living, and their views on the relevance of the Sermon on the Mount for their communities.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This book explores key terms and concepts related to the Kingdom of God, Christian ethics, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Namibian Church. It examines the lived experiences of the Christian community in Rehoboth and its relationship to the broader social context of Namibia. This includes themes of faith, ethical living, social justice, and the role of the Church in society.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Christianity influence the community in Rehoboth?
Christianity plays a major role in Rehoboth, where the goal of Christian ethics is to glorify God, though lifestyles often differ from biblical values.
What is the main argument regarding the "Sermon on the Mount"?
Research shows that many preachers in Rehoboth offer little ethical application of the Sermon on the Mount, leading to a gap between faith and daily lifestyle.
What are the key ethical values of the Kingdom of God?
The New Testament emphasizes values such as justice, compassion, peace, and integrity in all human relationships.
Why do lifestyle and ethical values often differ in Rehoboth?
The book argues that a lack of strong teaching and preaching on the practical ethics of Christ’s Kingdom contributes to this discrepancy.
What does the author suggest for the Rehoboth church?
The author calls for stronger preaching that touches all aspects of life, including the workplace, the family home, and the neighborhood.
What was the focus of the survey among church leaders?
The survey aimed to understand how church leaders perceive the Kingdom of God and how they apply its ethical teachings in their contemporary Namibian context.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Thorsten Prill (General editor), Heinz Mouton (Author), 2021, The Kingdom of God and the Christian Community in Rehoboth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/983984
