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HIV – A Christian Response CABSA Guiding Principles

CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

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Page 1: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

HIV – A Christian Response

CABSA Guiding Principles

Page 2: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Motivation• 2 Corinthians 5:14 Christ's love has

moved me to such extremes (Message)

• Christian compassion flows from the love of Christ poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5)

• Living according to the Gospel command to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves is the key to being salt and light to the world.

Page 3: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Relationships• Luke 8: 43-48 She was not only healed –

Jesus gave back her God-created dignity that was taken away through her sickness and society’s perceptions thereof.

• Gen 1:27 God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female.

• In Christ the distinctions we erect between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female is no longer! Gal 3:28 and Col 3:11.

Page 4: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Responsibility• Ephesians 4: 15• We live in fear of God and not in fear

of people, and do not have to be afraid of talking about HIV and AIDS, sex and death in spite of social taboos

• As Christians we know that we do not have all the answers and the whole truth.

• Truth can only be liberating and empowering when it is spoken in a sensitive, empathetic and caring way.

Page 5: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our search for Answers• James 3:17 Drawing on Scripture

traditions and teachings through the ages.

• If we do not search continually for answers with the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit, we cannot progress beyond simplistic solutions

• HIV is not countered with moralistic and prescriptive preaching, but rather by emphasizing the dignity and worth of the human person that derives from biblical teaching.

Page 6: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Service• James 1:27; Matt 25:33• Christians cannot but value the

whole of human life. Separating “body” and “soul” and deeming the soul more worthy than the body, are not biblical.

• Serving those in need is not an alternative to, or a preparation for preaching the Gospel. It is part and parcel of the Gospel made flesh. We are called to live the Gospel daily.

Page 7: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Identity• 1 Corinthians 12:12 The church is

an HIV infected body. No one dare say “This is not my problem.” Living with, or otherwise affected by, the virus, we are all the one Body of Christ

• The divisions created by stigma, secrecy, silence and judgmentalism divide the Body of Christ!

Page 8: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Attitude• Roman 15:7 Christ accepted us

unconditionally. Though we sin time and again, Christ accepts us. Forgive unconditionally “seventy times seven” (Mat 18:22) and “seven times a day” (Luke 17:4).

• Christians should mediate and facilitate reconciliation.

• Forgiveness and new life, through God’s unending love and mercy. The grace of Christ in action is demonstrated through love and acceptance,

• Counter the mistaken idea that sickness is the result of sin. John 9

Page 9: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Hope• 1 Peter 1:3 Christian hope is a living

hope confirmed in the resurrection of Christ and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.

• All of life has great worth. Even on the verge of death, life is lived before God and to be respected.

• We are called to live our lives in such a way that our actions will disclose that which we hope for in concrete and practical ways.

Page 10: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Task• 2 Cor 5: 20 Through us, God’s desire

to reconcile the world in Christ, is fulfilled.

• All our efforts to image Christ to the world will fail unless we accept in faith that God’s Spirit is in us, working ceaselessly to accomplish God’s will through us

• Through our communal and personal prayers, we encounter the source of our being and strength for the tasks before us.

Page 11: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Calling• Psalm 72 : 12-14 – “He will

rescue them from oppression and violence”

• We are called to stand up against entrenched injustices in our society .

• We have to stand in the breach for people who suffer and are vulnerable.

• We do this when we intercede in prayer as priests and when we advocate on behalf of those who suffer as prophets.

Page 12: CABSA Biblical Guiding principles

Our Guiding Principles• Our Motivation - Love• Our Relationship - Dignity• Our Responsibility – Break the Silence• Our Search for Answers – Wisdom of the Spirit• Our Service – Practical Acts• Our Identity – One Body• Our Attitude - Accept• Our Hope - Believe• Our Task – Ambassadors• Our Calling – Stand up for Justice