The Early Church

The body of the church Christ left behind got involved in a number of activities. The disciples were following the example and instruction of Christ of converting all the people into Christianity before His second coming. Their involvement in human affairs is reflected in how much cared and loved others including the following.

The Christians preached the gospel. Their preaching was about the messiah (Acts 8:4-8)

The Christians gave testimonies as they proclaimed message of the lord. These testimonies helped to make the people believe more in the gospel truth (Acts 8:25).

 The disciples converted people      believers thus the church was strengthened it in number carried out water baptism (Acts 9:31).

They wrote epistles to various communities such as Corinth, Galatia and Rome. St. wrote to the Corinthians on several times on puzzling questions including marriage and offered to idols among others.

The Christians carried out charitable work. They distributed relief and donations to needy 111 the form of food (Acts 6: 1- 4).

They continued to perform miracles. For example Peter and John healed a lame man (Acts 3:1-10)  

Christians engaged in prayers. This became one way through, which they could communicate with God.

The believers shared their belongings. The rich in particular sold their property and shared the money with everyone (Acts 4:32-37)

They encouraged reconciliation among the believers. For example, they helped to reconcile the native Jews and the Greek speaking Jews over the disagreement concerning finances 6:1-6).

There was fellowship among the believers. They continued corning together and sharing the words of God (Acts 2:44-47)

The Christians founded churches in various communities. St. Paul took the leading role in establishing the church in the communities he travelled like in Rome in his several

The believers were involved in as they copied the of Jesus Christ. During such times, they dedicated themselves to the service of God (Acts 13: 1 -3)

The early Christians were occupied with laying hands on the people as Jesus before.

They also trained others to help them with the work of preaching the gospel of Jesus For example; St. Paul trained Timothy and Titus.

The Christians shared Holy Communion with the people. This was done in memory of the Lord's last supper the bloodshed through crucifixion.

Christianity in African Church (the missionaries)

Consideration should be given to the following already covered under the Sub-themes of Work and Service

Introduction of formal education by building schools like Mengo S.S.

Set up medical centres

Built churches

Introduced new Agricultural methods

Preached the good news of salvation

Trained African religious including Adrian Atman, Apollo Kivebulaya.

Campaigned for the abolition of slave

Introduced new skins in life like carpentry

Carried out baptism

Translated the Bible into languages

Helped in reconciling hostile tribes e.g. Buganda

Set up mission stations such as at Bagamoyo

Set up catechical centres

Christian Involvement in the Old Testament

God is acknowledged as the only creator and the Lord everything concerned welfare of man (Isaiah 44:9-20).

God made the human beings both male and female in his own image. This opened tor man to respond to God in faith. (Genesis I: 27-30).

However, the good relationship between man and God was brought to an abrupt disobeyed the simple command God had given them. They ate the forbidden fruit(Genesis 3: 1 ff)

To bring man nearer to him, God called Abraham who responded with absolute faith, obedience and trust (Genesis 11 ff).

God also called Moses to fulfill his promise of setting his chosen people free from their slavery in Egyptian slavery (Exodus 3: 1 ff).

When the Israelites were finally liberated from their slavery, God expected them to respond to him with obedience (Exodus 6:1 ff)

   At the foot Mount Sinai, God initiated a new relationship between him and his chosen special people- the Israelites. He made a covenant with the Israelites and this      became the basis of their relationship.

As part of the covenant, God gave the Commandments to the Israelites. The first three laws were concerned with the vertical       between God and the Israelites the remaining seven dealt with the horizontal relationship among the Israelites.

Israelites were urged to worship only God (monotheism) as their ancestor started when he was caned.

God called for love and respect among the Israelites. Being the chosen people, God expected the Israelites to show good examples to other nations. (Exodus 22: 21 - 22).

However, when the Israelites turned to and worshipped, they disobeyed and rebelled against their own God. For their disobedience and rebellion, God was still wining to continue them, but with warnings against such acts.

Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God continued to love her. In the symbolical and disastrous prophet Hosea and his unfaithful wife Goma, God showed his willingness to keep for himself forever (Hosea 1: 1 ff)"

God was continually present among the Israelites through his prophets including Elijah, Amos and Jeremiah. He expected the Israelites to respond to them with trust.

Accordingly, the Israelites were required to respond in faith to their own God-Yahweh (Isaiah 39: 1-8)

In Psalms 100, the Israelites expressed their faith by worshipping and adoring God as remembered his saving acts.

Besides, in Psalms 139, God is presented as making the people to respond to him positively in obedience.

God promised the messiah to the Israelites. He would come as a saviour because of the already existing sins of man (Isaiah 1 I: 1- 12).

How the Prophets were Involved In Israel

These were God's spokespersons. God called, anointed commissioned them to go to the people Israel who had become disobedience, rebellious and unrepentant in their involvement, the prophets did the following.

The prophets encouraged and helped to restore monotheism (the worshiping of only Yahweh).

They caned for repentance among the people of Israel. For example, Prophet Elijah King Ahab to repent and turn hack God.

The prophets performed miracles. Elijah raised a widow's son while he was in the wilderness during the reign of King Ahab.

The prophets purified the land of Israel that had been defiled by foreign religious practices like worshipping idols.

The prophets predicted the future of Israel. For example, Prophet Amos talked period when Israel would be taken into exile and indeed they were taken to Babylon (Amos 7:17).

The prophets portrayed God's love for Israel. Prophet Hosea dramatized God's love for Israel by marrying a prostitute named Gomer (Hosea 1:1 ff).

The prophets encouraged Israel to place their confidence and trust in Yahweh protection. Prophet Isaiah urged King Ahaz to withdraw from his alliance with the emperor of and trust in God for his protection.

The prophets called tor fairness among the people of Israel by condemning social injustices corruption in the courts of law.

The prophets appointed and anointed political and religious leaders in Israel for example Elijah anointed Jehu as a King of Israel and Elisha to replace him as a prophet.

Some of the prophets acted as advisors to the Kings of Israel. For example, advised King David about his pain of building a temple tor God (1 Samuel 7:1 ff)

Christian Involvement in the New Testament 

For the love that God had mankind, he sent his only begotten son to come and their own salvation (John 1: 1 . 6)

Jesus became human through incarnation to bring salvation mankind. He purposely came to establish the father's kingdom here on earth.

Therefore, Jesus is Emmanuel. He revealed the presence of God among the people (God is with us).

Jesus declared in public that he was the son of God who had come in order for mankind to achieve salvation (John 15: 19: ff)   .

To identify himself with the people, Jesus under took water baptism, though sinless, and a voice of God introduced him as his son with whom he was pleased (Mark 1:9)

As Jesus put the will of the father the goal of his life, he overcame the temptation by (Mathew 4: 2-11).

Jesus went on to live with the people in order to serve better. He is seen feasting with the people in the wedding. Jesus feasted with the five thousand people.

Jesus declared himself as a servant who had come to serve but not to be served. He went on and humbled himself to do the work done by slaves to the amazement of his disciples, washed their feet (John 13: 1 ff). 

Jesus expected the followers to respect of human authority in the service of God human beings. When tested about the payment of tax, Jesus was quick enough to say to Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser and to God what belongs to God" (Mathew 22: 15 -22)

Jesus gave authority to his disciples to continue preaching the good news of salvation wait for his return (Mark 15:6 ff)

Jesus identified himself to the followers as being the truth, way and light that they were waiting for. 'There tore, he expected everyone to respond to him with faith.

Jesus urged everyone to live a life of forgiveness He showed that reconciliation unites man with one another and God (Mathew 526).

Jesus attacked condemned the religious leaders for over emphasizing the observation of laws including the Sabbath at the expense of human life. He clarified that the laws were meant for man but not man for them (Mark 3 1- 6).

Jesus preached the good news to his followers. Despite opposition, he knew that it was his duty to bring salvation to mankind (Mark 1: 38-39). Jesus' inevitable death on the cross for the sins of humanity summed up his life as a role model. He gave his life for the salvation of everyone (Mark 15: 10 15).

White on the cross, Jesus appeared truly son of God. Ha gave up his spirit unto to the father a situation that looked hopeless.

In Jesus' resurrection, the every believer is given a life full of hope, joy and meaning. This became the climax of his involvement in the affairs of human beings. (Hebrews 11: 1-16, 32 - 40).