Re: HIV/AIDS and the Church: What is the message of the Church to a world threatened by the HIV/AIDS Pandemic?

MEN’S MINISTRY

Re:    HIV/AIDS and the Church:  What is the message Of the Church to a world threatened By the HIV/AIDS Pandemic?

The Initial Approach:

Matthew 9:9-13

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. ¹¹But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” ¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” ¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

1)    Compassion – Relational approach (non-discriminatory).

2)    Societal Breakdown – How? Why? (Morals/Values & Spirituality/Godliness). Trusting the messenger − When morals and values disintegrate the society is at risk of total anarchy.

3)     Medical Response – Preservation of life versus Preservation of soul: What is the Government’s role?

Ref: ‘The Schlosberg Affair’ and the ‘Micky’ Walrond Report:

(a)   Dr. Charles Schlosberg’s open letter to the National Committee on AIDS published in the Nation newspaper on April 23, 1990.

(b)    Prof. E.R. ‘Micky’ Walrond’s report on the Legal, Ethical and Socio-Economic Issues Relevant to HIV/AIDS in Barbados (June 2004).

(c)    Scare tactics versus socio-civil response: What is the best approach?

4)    Family Support.

5)    Affecting positive thinking.

6)    The New Babylon – the price of progress (human and social development without God and godly values).

Romans 1:18-27

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁸ But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. ¹⁹ They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. ²¹ Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. ²³ And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. ²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. ²⁶ That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.²⁷ And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

7)    The Spirit of Truth and Plan of Salvation (Who has the final say, God or Man?).

OOW

2006