Role of the Church in contemporary society - CCEAChurch and community cohesion
Christians believe it is their duty to help others. Individual churches can do a number of things to help unite local communities and to assist homeless and poor people.
Christians believe that it is part of their duty to act in a moral way. This involves helping others around them.
The Church can play a vital role in assisting Christians to help others by providing:
food banks – places where people living in poverty can go and collect food parcels
help for the homeless – Housing Justice is a Christian charity that tries to ensure everyone has a home
There are also many non-religious functions that can take place in church buildings. For example:
crèche facilities
youth groups
community meeting places (eg keep fit classes)
adult education classes
charity events
coffee mornings
birthday parties
concerts
training for sports
Jesus taught the importance of helping others who are less fortunate:
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
— Matthew 25:35-36
The Church can also play an important role in community cohesionPeople from different backgrounds and with different points of view uniting to help each other and to improve their area.. This is important because we live in an increasingly multicultural and multireligious society.
Christians believe that the Church can be a stabilising force for good in a world that is increasingly unreligious. The Church can support people who are going through difficulties, whatever background they may come from.
Often the Church will seek to work with other religious groups to help keep peace and harmony in the community as religious leaders still have some influence in the areas that they work in.