adminBut one sensitive issue that has for long remained hidden under the khaki covers of our Bibles is the new role that the church should play in the HIV and Aids discourse. Many would argue that the issues to do with HIV have been over-reported in the media. That is their own view, and I will give in to the philosophy. But there still remains another dimension to it, sexuality and relationship education.
For how long will the church continue to live in denial, turning a blind eye towards the very topical issues that are defining the life expectancies of our children and the young generation, while the elders, the church included, are silent about it under the blind denial belief that some things are not meant for discussion under the church roof?
Where else would the children know about the right path to follow in terms of sexuality issues and sex education when it is public knowledge that competing avenues, like Facebook, are shooting in the direction that every mother who was in the maternity ward at some point would never want to hear?
But in fact, the same children whom parents struggled to raise, supporting them in the very difficult times when life was difficult in Zimbabwe, now have their lives a few centimetres away from death! The church is the only institution blessed with the power to serve. How, is the million dollar question, considering that the church has already set some demarcations on the topic, boundaries that they cannot cross.
This writer has absolutely nothing to question about the cogency of the doctrines in the Bible that loudly speak against adultery and fornication. For the young people, I personally salute the idea that sex before marriage is immoral. And focused young people will definitely acknowledge that sex and marriage are not the first step to go through in life. There is time for everything, and even the Bible that I read emphasises the need to wait till the right time.
However, how then will the children of today validate the essence of abstinence when the would-be advocates of holy practice, the churches, are silent about the whole issue? Every man that stands on the pastor’s podium is there to speak about prosperity amid concerns that the subject has become an integral part of every sermon as a strategy to scoop what is in people’s pockets without emphasising righteousness, the passport to the Kingdom of God. But personally I feel giving to the church is like seeding. How then do we validate these claims? I don’t know, but this is the subject for another day.
It is pretty much disturbing that sexuality education is completely out of what constitutes the present day church’s teachings. But with the increase in connectivity through the internet, the church has to revitalise its role and serve the young school-going children and even university students before they all perish with our eyes wide open.
Why then do we as believers still find it difficult to talk about sex in church, when we know the young of today might actually be watching porn video clips on WhatsApp during church services! And after some all-night prayers, used condoms are constantly seen behind the very church corners!
My point is the time for denial is over. The church has a role to play; issues need to be openly discussed without fear, taboos broken, paradigms shifted, refocusing the teachings to the young people in a manner that speaks relevant topics and issues that affect their daily lives.
We are very much aware that the issue of condoms in schools for instance, is absolutely unacceptable to some sections of the society. But don’t we all think the same way that the church is much closer to the society than the school? Thus the most strategic platform to bring out those issues under discussion is the church. The church brings together parents and children while the school is a students’ gathering. And we all know that family is the most influential social institution that shapes identity, however not underestimating the power of the media.
Let’s focus more on contraception for now. Will it really still be proper if the church can also come in and emphasise and teach the need for the young people to make use of condoms considering that, lest some might not know, more than one million Zimbabweans above the age of 15 are living with HIV? At the same time, we have biblical doctrines and verses that categorically reject sex before marriage.
I said I am a Christian earlier in this piece. I will demonstrate to you here. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.” 1 Corinthians 6:18, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” Ephesians 5:3-5, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.”
These are indeed examples of constructive narratives from the supreme book of moral and ethical expectations that we as a society have to honour. What is however disturbing is the fact that the youths of today are failing to honour the Bible’s law. What we have to focus on right now is to look for the best possible measures that we can employ to save our young generation. This writer sincerely believes there is no better instrument than the church. It is the most powerful tool, of course, admitting without the magic-bullet kind of success that some might anticipate.
The church, and I better emphasise, needs to reengage its gears to suit the task at hand and ahead of it in the quest to serve society. Denial will not help us whatsoever; taboos need to be broken; the scriptures need to be refocused and church role defined.
Sex is all over the internet, our children and the whole young generation are constantly being exposed to the very unholy content that every Christ follower would never tolerate. But the fact of the whole issue is that whether we like it or not, the crisis is in existence. Solutions need to be looked for and in this process, we cannot be that naïve to pretend as if there is nothing happening yet this is slowly damaging the future of leaders of tomorrow.
Let the church talk about the issues that affect the children of today. The scriptures in the Bible are a powerful guide. Let us contextualise them to educate those that need help. All issues must be discussed in church; let the pastor tell the congregation that unprotected sex is a killer; let the choir sing about the dangers of premarital sex; let the hymns be composed to address gender and sexuality issues. I personally feel this is the way out. We cannot continue living in denial in this dangerous era.
Our young generation are dying while we continue hiding behind a finger. We cannot ignore that anymore. I am dreaming of an era when at a church service, maybe a separate youth gathering, those deemed men of God will stand up in front of the crowd and educate the people on how to negotiate for safe sex, or even carrying out some form of condom-wearing demonstration, not anywhere else but in the church! And all this will be done in pursuit of a golden objective — to live and let live.
A friend of mine once told me that the problem is that human nature was created naturally with extreme tendencies of denial. Up to today, we still find the same situation happening even in church. My friend said when the first man sinned, he never admitted to sinning, but instead went on to blame the female counterpart, and the woman blamed the snake, the devil.
Yes we might have been created in that manner, but this is the time to revise that and admit the existence of the so-called taboos whose discussion we never previously allowed in church. It is time to incorporate that before it is too late. Denial will not help.
Perhaps I would for sure want to sympathise with the church’s role, for denial has been the typical characteristic of human kind considering the words from writer Jim Butcher.
He said, “The human mind isn’t a terribly logical or consistent place. Most people given the choice to face a hideous or terrifying truth or to conveniently avoid it, choose the convenience and peace of normality. That doesn’t make them strong or weak people, neither does that make them bad nor good people. It just makes them people.”
This writer strongly believes that if this is really what defines us, then change is really needed in our conduct and the way we define the church’s role in society. The time for denial is over, let the church talk about it all, and this needs the support of the society. Let us collectively work towards empowering and serving our young generation through information provision and sharing. After all knowledge is power, especially knowledge acquired in and through the church.
Jephiter Tsamwi writes in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on 0733854681 or [email protected].
Online Reporter