APPROPRIATING PEACE AND COMMUNALITY IN AFRICAN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY TO PROMOTE UNITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA. A RE-READING OF 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-12.
Abstract
Peace and communality are virtues in African culture that African Christian theology have enculturated. Since independence, both the church and the nation have battled disunity, instability, ethnic and class conflicts. This is a major distraction that has hindered the church from effective execution the Great Commission and mission. This study explores Pauline teaching on harmonious relationships in 1 Cor. 1:10-12 as a model for promoting unity in the Roman Catholic, Lagos Province, and sustainable democracy in Nigeria. Scholars have expressed different views on the divisions reported in 1 Corinthians. Grace (2011), Naselli (2018), Rhodes (2020) and others viewed the conflicts and division in the Corinthian church as a departure from the centrality of Christ. This paper however examined 1Cor.1:10-12 and the need to embrace peace as Christians and promote unity in the Church. The study adopts mixed methods which comprises the historico-critical method and the existential method in the analysis of 1 Corinthians 1:10-12; secondary data and participant observation. Peacebuilding in the church will serve as catalyst for sustainable democracy because many of the people in governance are members of the church. The Church must imbibe the virtues of peace and communality as enshrined in African culture and the Bible.
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Published in HEZEKIAH UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES & EDUCATION
ISSN: 917-36977
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