Does the Church have a role to play?

12 July 2016, 12:00AM

We live in a challenging time. It’s a time defined by so many social problems, which have manifested themselves in the rise of crime and other evil acts. But the church is not silent. With a number of church meetings happening in Apia this week, does the church have a role? And how can the church help solve some of the problems today? Ilia L. Likou asked in today’s Street Talk and this is what people said:

Ake Mafiti, 67, Si’ufaga

The churches in Samoa need to help the poor, feed the hungry, reduce the demands for people to give and then everyone should live happily ever after. However, it seems like it’s getting harder and harder for churches to figure out their role in the bigger picture – to help the poor not to collect the money from the poor.

Ieremia Fa’amoetauloa, 54, Moamoa

The role of the church is about giving and serving God and to give Him proper worship in spirit and in truth. So the church has nothing to do in solving problems today. What the church can do is to pray for the problems and seek God for his blessings upon everyone’s life.

Lole Pokati, 20, Vaitele-Uta

We’re here to develop the church of God on this earth. These problems are not new and people understand that very well that the problems of today is not the church, the problems that we’re facing today belongs to the government and the government needs to deal with it.

Isa’ako Iakopo, 46, Apia

I think solving the problems is not the role of the church. That role is for the government and they can do this by creating more job opportunities for Samoa because that’s the biggest problem in our country. We don’t need to mix up the government and the church.

Malu, 42, Toamua

The church has nothing to do with problems today. The problems started when our people drink too much alcohol so that they sleep on Sunday instead of going to church. In Samoa, we spend too much time pointing fingers about who is responsible for that and this. Yet it’s everyone’s responsibility. The church belongs to God and only he can tell the church what to do.

12 July 2016, 12:00AM

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