Christ Metaphorical use of Salt and Light in Matthew 5:13-16 as the Impetus for the Contributions of Theological Education in Transforming the World

Abstract

In time past, one of the problems of the Church was the belief that the world is so corrupt and firmly in the hands of the evil ones that there is virtually no point of contact between Christians and the world. The Church was seen as having no business in interfering in worldly matters. The world is doomed and must be left as it is for its merited destruction. However, a reflection on the teaching of Christ in Matthew 5: 13-16 has opened the eyes of the Church that the purpose of her calling is not to isolate herself from the world but to transform it. The understanding of this teaching has been the driven force for the Church in transforming the world. Theological Education is one of the most vibrant and dynamic tools the church has been using in transforming the world. By taking into account the political, economic, Education, social and religious challenges across the globe in her curriculum, theological institutions have brought the coveted change into the world. Its impact is now highly felt in all the facet of life. This includes taking the right steps in solving gender and racial discriminations, playing an active role in the fight against HIV and AIDS, giving the adequate information needed to fight against global warming and depletion of natural resources, developing a theology of liberation for the oppressed and the poor. The quest for transforming the world in the light of Jesus teaching in Matthew 5: 13-16 has made theological institutions to take into account political, economic, social and religious problems that are troubling the peace of the world in their theological programmes. The improvement made has made theological education to bring the needed salt and light for transforming the disturbed and destabilised peace of the world.