Okwormoi, Leonsyo Omina (1998) Have No Fear of Them (1 Pet 3:14): A Study of First Peter in Reference to the Crises Facing the Church in Sudan. Licentiate thesis, The Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
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Abstract
This thesis compares the suffering of the persecuted Christians in 1 Peter to the current crisis faced by the Church in Sudan. Though the situation of the Christians in Sudan may be different from that of the Christians of 1 Peter, the author endeavors to draw from this text some exhortation for his fellow Christians in the Sudan whom he asserts are "the aliens" and "sojourners" in the present context today. The dissertation aims at giving hope and encouragement to the persecuted Christians in order to strengthen them in their faith to continue with their endurance in their trying circumstances. The study begins with a general introduction, after which it enters into the persecution of the individual prophets and of Israel as a community. This is briefly discussed in the first chapter with special mention of some heroes like the prophets Elijah and Jeremiah, and Daniel with his companions, who had total hope and trust in the saving power of God. This is to give a background or some biblical foundation for suffering due to persecution. In the New Testament, the martyrdom of Stephen, and actions against the Apostles, e.g. their imprisonment (cf. Acts 4:3; 5: 1 8; 1 2:4) , and the flogging of Paul and Silas (Acts 1 6: 23) are regarded as persecution. The post NT era was marked with variable degrees of persecution. The causes of persecution are varied , as accusations have been leveled against Christians for which some of the apologists, like Justin Martyr and others who are m entioned here, had to give a defense. The attack on the Church leaders, in which some of them died as martyrs and others were exiled, shows how brutal the persecution was. Life for Christians was hard in the early centuries of the development of Christianity until the famous Edict of Milan was promulgated and signed by Constantine. The author next introduces the themes of Christian vocation }fi 1 Peter. In this second chapter, the greatness of the Christian calling is reflected in the suffering which they have to bear in imitation of Christ. As the readership of this work is intended for a special purpose, the Christian hope and holiness are briefly discussed under the theology of 1 Peter, in a transition to the third chapter in which a number of selected texts are commented on. In chapter three, the Christians are urged to be active witnesses by doing good so as even to win the conversion of their persecutors. The meaning of their suffering is understood as PEIRASMOS, a trial like the testing of gold in the refinery fire, and their hope is to be distinguished from that of unbelievers, since it is based on the Christian spirit of trust in God's saving power through Christ. The reason for their endurance is the hope of eternal and imperishable glory that is to be revealed at the last time. The fourth chapter gives a historical development of Christianity in Sudan and how it deteriorated due to the Muslim invasion. In this chapter, the author demonstrates with historical facts how Christians have suffered persecution under the successive governments of Sudan. It is asserted in the thesis that the current war in Sudan is part and parcel of the continued struggle of Christian resistance to forceful Islamization. In an optimistic view, the author states that the coexistence of Christianity and Islam or Christians and Muslims is not something impossible. In his personal appeal to his fellow Sudanese Christians the author urges them to continue persevering in the trials against their faith for Christ. He says he and others share in the suffering of the fellow Sudanese citizens who are exposed to all sorts of dangers. According to his view, there is apparently nothing worse than what they have already been experiencing. The Shariah and its consequences are only a hatching of an egg that the Muslim Fundamentalists have been brooding over since before independence. He calls upon the Christians and Muslims to continue living the gospel values and universally acceptable values of the Quran respectively. In the conclusion, the Church is urged to devise ways of a fruitful catechesis in their pastoral programs in order to deepen the roots of Christian faith for the elect in the Sudan. The author ends the study by recommending that the Church should continue to dialogue with the Fundamentalists' Government.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Licentiate) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | First Peter, have no fear of them (1 Pet 3:14), Crises facing the Church of Sudan |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BS The Bible |
| Divisions: | Afro-Christiana |
| Depositing User: | Mr Christopher Mapunda |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Jun 2015 11:24 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Mar 2018 12:37 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/236 |
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