WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 1988 (Essay)

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(a) How Paul reconciled Onesimus with Philemon (Letter to Philemon)

Onesimus was a slave who had run away from his master Philemon, a wealthy Christian of Colossae in whose house the church met; it appears he had also wronged or robbed him. In Rome, where Paul was a prisoner, Onesimus came into contact with Paul and was converted to Christ, becoming very useful and dear to the apostle, who called him "my son whom I have begotten in my chains."

Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with a tactful letter of appeal to bring about reconciliation. In it he:

• Commended Philemon for his love and faith and for refreshing the hearts of the saints, so appealing to his good character.
• Chose to appeal on the basis of love rather than command, though as an apostle he could have ordered him.
• Asked him to receive Onesimus back "no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother," now that he was a Christian.
• Requested that Philemon receive him "as you would receive me," identifying himself fully with Onesimus.
• Offered to pay any debt: "If he has wronged you or owes you anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it."
• Expressed confidence that Philemon would do even more than he asked, and hinted he would visit soon.

By this loving, personal mediation Paul secured the pardon and restoration of Onesimus.

(b) What we learn about forgiveness from this letter

• Genuine forgiveness receives back the offender fully and lovingly, not grudgingly.
• Christian brotherhood transcends social barriers such as master and slave.
• Forgiveness may require someone to intercede and even bear the cost of the wrong (as Paul offered to repay), reflecting Christ who bears our debt.
• A converted life deserves a fresh start; we should be ready to be reconciled and to forgive as we have been forgiven.

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Attributes of, and rewards for, humility in the Epistles

The Epistles present humility as a fundamental Christian virtue, patterned after Christ, and promise definite rewards to the humble.

Attributes of humility

• Christ-likeness and self-emptying: Paul urges believers to have the mind of Christ, who, though in the form of God, emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled Himself to death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).
• Lowliness of mind: "In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself," looking not only to one's own interests but also to those of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
• Not thinking too highly of oneself: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought," but soberly, according to the measure of faith God has given (Romans 12:3).
• Submission and readiness to serve: the humble submit to one another, clothe themselves with humility, and are willing to associate with the lowly (1 Peter 5:5; Romans 12:16).
• Gentleness, patience and forbearance: humility shows in bearing with one another in love, being gentle and patient (Ephesians 4:1-2; Colossians 3:12).
• Dependence on God: the humble cast their cares on God and acknowledge that every good gift comes from Him (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Rewards for humility

• God gives grace to the humble while resisting the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
• Exaltation in due time: "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6); "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10).
• Christ's own exaltation is the pattern: because Jesus humbled Himself, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name (Philippians 2:9-11).
• Unity, peace and honour within the community, and ultimately eternal reward from God.

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The religious persecution of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3)

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits broad, and set it up in the plain of Dura. He assembled all the officials of the provinces for its dedication. A herald proclaimed that when the people heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe and every kind of music, they must fall down and worship the golden image. Whoever did not would immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

So when the music sounded, all the peoples fell down and worshipped the image. But certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They reminded the king of his decree and reported that three men whom he had set over the affairs of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, paid no heed to him: they did not serve his gods or worship the golden image.

In furious rage Nebuchadnezzar summoned them and gave them another chance, threatening that if they did not worship, they would be thrown at once into the furnace, and asking, "Who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?" The three replied with great faith: "O Nebuchadnezzar... If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace... But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image."

The king was filled with fury and ordered the furnace heated seven times more than usual. Mighty men bound the three in their garments and cast them in, and the flames were so hot that they killed the men who threw them in.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was astonished. He rose and said, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? But I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." He called them out; the fire had no power over their bodies, not a hair of their heads was singed, their garments were not harmed, and there was no smell of fire on them. The king blessed their God, decreed that no one should speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and promoted the three men.

Points of significance

1. It shows the reward of unwavering faith and loyalty to God even in the face of death.
2. It demonstrates God's power to deliver His faithful servants from any danger.
3. It teaches that believers must refuse idolatry and obey God rather than men, whatever the cost.
4. Their bold testimony led even a pagan king to acknowledge and honour the true God.

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(a) The social problem that led to the appointment of deacons (Acts 6:1-7)

As the number of disciples multiplied in the early church, a complaint arose. The Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jewish Christians) murmured against the Hebrews (Aramaic-speaking Jews) because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food and welfare. This was a problem of unfair distribution and the neglect of the needy, threatening the unity of the church.

The twelve apostles gathered the disciples and said it was not right for them to leave the ministry of the word of God to serve tables. They asked the community to choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to take charge of this duty, so that the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. The people chose seven, including Stephen and Philip, who were set before the apostles; they prayed and laid hands on them. As a result, the word of God spread, the number of disciples greatly increased, and many priests became obedient to the faith. Thus the office of deacon (servant) was instituted to handle the practical and welfare needs of the church.

(b) Five social problems facing the church today

1. Poverty and neglect of the needy: widows, orphans and the unemployed are often not adequately cared for.
2. Tribalism, ethnicity and discrimination: favouritism and division along tribal, class or language lines, similar to the Hebrew-Hellenist tension.
3. Corruption and mismanagement of funds: misuse of church resources and lack of accountability by leaders.
4. Immorality and indiscipline: fornication, adultery, drunkenness, drug abuse and dishonesty among members.
5. Materialism, greed and love of money: the pursuit of wealth and prosperity preaching that crowds out genuine service; other problems include unemployment, disunity/denominational rivalry, and inadequate care for the sick and aged.

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(a) Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount on almsgiving, prayer and fasting

Jesus warned against practising acts of piety before men in order to be seen and praised, for that forfeits any reward from the Father in heaven. He applied this principle to three religious duties:

(i) Almsgiving: "When you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, that they may be praised by men." They have received their reward. Rather, "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

(ii) Prayer: "When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and street corners to be seen by men." Instead, "go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret." He warned against heaping up empty phrases like the Gentiles who think they are heard for their many words, for the Father knows their needs before they ask. He then gave the model prayer, the Lord's Prayer ("Our Father who art in heaven..."), and taught that if they forgive others, the Father will also forgive them.

(iii) Fasting: "When you fast, do not look dismal like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men." They have their reward. Rather, "when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

The common theme is sincerity and secrecy: religious duties must be done to please God, not to win human praise.

(b) How the Christian Church in Nigeria has adhered to these teachings

• Almsgiving: Churches run charities, orphanages, relief schemes and welfare funds, and encourage members to give to the poor quietly through offerings and support of widows.
• Prayer: Churches hold regular services, prayer meetings, vigils and private devotions, and the Lord's Prayer is widely used in worship.
• Fasting: Many denominations observe periods of fasting and prayer, such as Lent and special church fasts, teaching members to fast for spiritual growth rather than display.

However, some believers still fall short by giving, praying and fasting for public recognition, which the teaching condemns.

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The first creation story (Genesis 1:1 to 2:3)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, while the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters. God then created in an orderly sequence of six days, each work being pronounced good.

• Day one: God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. He separated the light from the darkness, calling the light Day and the darkness Night.
• Day two: God made the firmament (the sky) to separate the waters above from the waters below.
• Day three: God gathered the waters together so that dry land appeared; He called the dry land Earth and the waters Seas. He then made the earth bring forth vegetation, plants and fruit trees.
• Day four: God made the lights in the firmament, the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars to rule the night, to mark seasons, days and years.
• Day five: God created the creatures of the sea and the birds of the air, and blessed them to be fruitful and multiply.
• Day six: God made the land animals, and finally created man, male and female, in His own image, blessing them and giving them dominion over all creatures. He gave them plants for food.

On the seventh day God finished His work and rested, and He blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it He rested from all His work of creation.

How God established His sovereignty over creation

1. He created everything out of nothing by His word alone ("God said... and it was so"), showing that all things owe their existence to Him.
2. He created in perfect order and purpose, arranging light, sky, land, luminaries and living things in a deliberate sequence, showing He is a God of order, not confusion.
3. He pronounced His judgement over creation, calling each work "good" and the whole "very good", showing His authority to evaluate what He made.
4. He named and assigned functions - Day, Night, Earth, Seas - and set the sun and moon to rule, demonstrating His lordship over time and the heavenly bodies which pagans worshipped.
5. He blessed and commanded the creatures to be fruitful and multiply, and gave man dominion as His representative, showing that man rules only under God's supreme authority.
6. He rested and sanctified the seventh day, showing that He is Lord over creation and over time itself, and setting a pattern of rest and worship for humanity.

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Paul's teaching on civic responsibility (Romans 13:1-7) and its application

Paul teaches that the Christian has definite duties toward the state, because civil authority is part of God's order for society.

• Submission to governing authorities: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." To resist lawful authority is therefore to resist God's ordinance and to bring judgement on oneself.
• The purpose of government: rulers are God's servants, a terror not to good works but to evil. The ruler "does not bear the sword in vain" but is God's minister to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. The good citizen who does right need not fear the authority.
• Obedience for conscience' sake: believers should be subject not only to avoid punishment but also for the sake of conscience, knowing it is right before God.
• Payment of taxes and dues: "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour."
• Love as the fulfilling of the law: Paul adds that owing no one anything except to love, for love does no harm to a neighbour, fulfils the whole law.

Application of three instances to daily living

1. Obeying the laws of the land: keeping constitutional laws, traffic regulations and civic rules, and cooperating with lawful authority rather than engaging in crime, riots or rebellion.
2. Honest payment of taxes and dues: paying taxes, rates, electricity and other bills faithfully, and refusing tax evasion and fraud, so that the government can provide public services.
3. Giving honour and respect to leaders: respecting rulers, teachers, employers and elders, praying for those in authority, and rejecting bribery and corruption while serving the community sincerely.

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(a) How Jonah reacted to God's message

The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah did not want to preach to the Ninevites, so he rose to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare and boarded it.

The LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and a mighty tempest arose so that the ship threatened to break up. The frightened sailors cried each to his god and threw the cargo into the sea, but Jonah had gone below and was fast asleep. The captain woke him to pray. They cast lots to find who was responsible, and the lot fell on Jonah. He confessed that he was a Hebrew who feared the God of heaven and was fleeing from Him, and told them to throw him into the sea to calm it. Reluctantly they did so, and the sea grew calm.

The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. There Jonah prayed to God, acknowledging His deliverance, and the fish vomited him out upon dry land.

God's word came a second time, and this time Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh. He proclaimed, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." The people believed God, proclaimed a fast, put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least, and the king decreed repentance. So God spared the city. But this displeased Jonah greatly and he was angry; he complained that he had fled because he knew God was gracious and merciful. God then taught him a lesson through a plant (gourd) that grew and withered, showing that God cares for the many people and animals of Nineveh.

(b) Two lessons about the nature of God

1. God is merciful and forgiving - He spared Nineveh when the people repented, showing that He does not delight in the death of sinners but in their repentance.
2. God is sovereign and universal - His authority extends over all nations (not the Hebrews only) and over nature (the storm, the fish, the plant), so no one can flee from His presence or resist His will.

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(a) John's portrayal of Jesus as the True Vine (John 15:1-17)

In the last of the great "I am" sayings, Jesus declared, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (husbandman)." He develops the picture as follows:

• The Father as vinedresser: God tends the vine, cutting off every branch that bears no fruit and pruning every fruitful branch so that it may bear more fruit.
• Believers as branches: "I am the vine, you are the branches." The disciples are already made clean through the word Jesus has spoken.
• Abiding as the condition of fruitfulness: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, no more can you unless you abide in Me." Whoever abides in Him bears much fruit, "for without Me you can do nothing."
• The fate of fruitless branches: a branch that does not abide is cast out, withers, is gathered and burned.
• Fruit, prayer and love: if they abide and His words abide in them, they may ask what they will and it will be done; bearing much fruit glorifies the Father. Jesus commands them to abide in His love and to love one another as He has loved them, even to the point of laying down one's life.

(b) Two lessons from the relationship between Christ and His believers

1. Dependence on Christ is essential: just as a branch draws life from the vine, believers can do nothing and bear no lasting fruit apart from continuous union with Christ through faith, prayer and obedience.
2. Fruitfulness and love are proofs of true discipleship: those who abide in Christ produce good works and love one another; the barren and disconnected are cut off, so we must remain faithfully joined to Him.