• Tlhoriso Phake, elder and evangelist writes:
As a post-cross, Bible-believing Christian with the DNA of Christ Jesus, and being the elder and evangelist of Spirit of Christ Ministries under the leadership of Apostle Dr AN Mabaso, a medical doctor by profession, I would like to correct the annual rhetoric concept of 16 Days Activism Against Women and Children Abuse.
The basic principles and the back-bone of the New Testament are: Love, peace and reconciliation. If I may explore, explain, elaborate and expatiate on the concept: Love, then there will be no need or reason for men, fathers and husbands to ever abuse, beat, assault, kick, or box [use their fists] women and children.
Love:
Men, fathers and husbands are the first line of defense in their homes.
They are the protectors and defenders in their homes. Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 expresses the concept of love 16 times, and in verse 7 he says: Love always protects (not abuses)
In Mark 12 verse 31, Jesus Christ says: You shall love your neighbour (wife and children) just as you love yourself.
Ephesians 5 verse 25 says: Husbands, love your wives (not abuse them) just as Christ loved the church. He who loves his wife, loves himself.
Ephesians 6 verse 4: Fathers, husbands, men, do not provoke (abuse) your children to wrath. Why then do men do evil and wicked things that are contrary to the word of God?
Peace:
Philippians 4 verse 7: Apostle Paul says: The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In Ephesians 6, Paul says: Put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect your heart. Put on the helmet of salvation to protect your mind, brain and thought from the devil’s evil schemes.
John 20 verse 19: The Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus said: Peace be with you.
Hebrews 12 verse 14: God said, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men, women and children, and to be holy”.
1 Corinthians 7 verse 15: God has called us to live in peace in the matrimonial institution.
Reconciliation:
The Scriptures talk about reconciliation between man and God, between man and man, and man must reconcile with himself. Thus the prodigal son had to reconcile with his family. Jacob had to reconcile with his brother Esau. Joseph had to reconcile with his brothers who sold him. On 16 December every year we celebrate Reconciliation Day.
I wish to hammer this gospel of repentance into the heads, brains, minds and thoughts of abusive men, fathers, and husbands.
1 Corinthians 13 verse 11: When I was child, I talked like a child, thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, I bullied children at school, when I become a man, a father, a husband, I put childish ways behind me.
We need to remember that Saul, before he was converted into Apostle Paul, lived an abusive life, but later he took a 360 degree turnaround and sought the face of God.
Thus Paul wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. It is time for the church of God to arise, shine and occupy its rightful position in society.
Prophet Jonah, the son of Amittal, went to Nineveh to preach the gospel of repentance and salvation to the abusive men, fathers and husband of Nineveh, so why can’t the church of God do the same. Men must know their identity in Christ Jesus. Men must know that they are the heads, but not the tails. They are the representatives of heaven on earth.
Men must carry the vision of heaven, because they are the visionaries. Thus vision was given to the blind Bartemeus. Thus the Scripture says: Without Apostolic and prophetic vision, the nation will perish.
