Page 58 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology as a Challenge

Christian Community Psychology Praxis and that you hide not yourself from the needs
As mentioned before, social action and social of your own flesh and blood?”
change processes to achieve social justice are
emphasised in Community Psychology. Thus, Jesus Christ acts as a social activist in his con-
careful consideration of a Biblical approach to frontation of hypocrisy when he states in
social action and social justice is warranted. Matthew 23:23:
„Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
Social activism is often the approach taken to for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and
achieve social justice. Activism refers to the have neglected the weightier matters of the law,
practice of vigorous action or involvement to justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to
achieve political or other goals. It embodies in- have done, without neglecting the others.
tentional action aimed at social justice and ac-
centuates the imperativeness of intentional and Context and community could make all the
prolonged action to bring about social transfor- difference to healing processes as displayed in
mation. Biblical healing stories, which indicate that the
healing took place in some corporate context.
Social transformation rooted in social justice For example, the story of the sick man who had
aligns with the Biblical imperative for equity to be let down through the roof into the room
and compassion among all people. Various pas- where Jesus was because the door was blok-
sages in the Bible refer to justice and peace in all ked by a large number of people (Mark 2:1-5)
human relationships and social structures. This shows how the importance of community. The
leads to the concept of Christian social activism early church operated strongly on principles of
that embodies intentional action and social ju- compassion and sharing and is associated with
stice according to Biblical principles, transcen- spiritual life and healing. Thus, it transpires that
ding humanism and elevates Christ. a community could elicit healing processes by
collective participation in social processes ai-
In Christian social activism intentional action is med at social transformation.
based on Matth 22:37-39
“And He replied to him, You shall love the Community projects
Lord your God The ICP engaged in community projects as a
with all your heart, and with all your soul non-profit organisation and by means of the
and with all your Community Projects executed by B 4th year B
mind (intellect).
This is the great (most important ) and first Psych students. As mentioned above the execu-
commandment. tion of a Community Project was compulsory
And the second is like it, You shall love your for all B Psych students of the ICP. Important
neighbour like methodology for the project include appreciati-
(you do) yourself.” ve inquiry, action learning, action research and
participatory research principles, which stu-
Christian social activism stems from compas- dents are expected to use in their approach to
sion and is aimed at social justice according to their community project and service learning.
Isaiah 58.6-7 Students are encouraged to engage in a holistic
• “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose and systemic social activist approach that in-
the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of cludes all aspects of a community existence and
the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that allows for Biblically based interventions, such
you break every enslaving yoke?” as assessment of historical social destructive
It further seeks social transformation as descri- patterns, spiritual beliefs, generational spiritual
bed in Isaiah 58:7 inheritance and prayer.
“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, Community projects are executed in various
and bring the homeless poor into your house? communities all over South Africa as students
When you see the naked that you cover him, live in different geographical areas. The 4th year

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