S16 E9: The One About GCSE RE Christian Practice - Local and worldwide role of Christians

For the role of the Church in the local community you need to know about street pastors and food banks and for the role of the worldwide Church you need to know about working for reconciliation, how Christian churches respond to persecution or the work of an international charity like Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christian Aid, Tearfund.

4-markers

Explain two different ways Christians help in the local community.

One role is through street pastors, which is a Christian charity that helps vulnerable people on nights out in city centres.

For example, they would give out flip flops to people who are struggling to walk in their shoes.

A different role is through food banks, which are volunteer run charities that collect food for those who are not able to buy food for themselves.

They do this to put into practice Jesus’ teachings in the parable of the sheep and the goats to feed the hungry

Explain two similar ways street pastors help in the local community.

One role is by giving out flip flops to people who have had to remove their shoes on a night out.

This is to put into practice Jesus’ teaching about loving your neighbour as it’s a loving action to protect people from harm.

A similar role is by locating emergency services to support people on a night out who may need medical help or the police.

This is also a loving action because it’s offering someone the help they need

6-marker

Explain two reasons why the role of food banks in the local community is important to Christians in Great Britain today. Refer to sacred writings or another source of  belief and teaching in your answer.

They are important because they put into practice the teachings of Jesus, which is to help vulnerable people.

This is shown in the quote from the parable of the sheep and the goats IN the Bible. I was hungry and you have GAVE me something to eat.

There are hungry people in Great Britain today and this quote clearly shows Jesus’ instruction to Christians to feed them

It is also important because it is putting God's love into practise because God's love is agape love, which is selfless love,

Volunteering at a food bank to help vulnerable people is a selfless action.

4-markers

Explain two similar ways Christians work for reconciliation 

One way is through evangelism, which is telling others about the good news of Jesus.

This is so humans have the opportunity to be reconciled with God.

A similar way is through a specific reconciliation organisation, for example the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This helped reconcile blacks and whites in South Africa after the end of apartheid.

Explain two different ways Christians respond to persecution.

One way is through short term responses, for example prayer.

This might give people strength to endure their persecution.

A different way is through a long term response, for example campaigning and raising awareness of the persecution.

For example, charities like Open Doors runs campaigns to challenge governments to stop persecution in their countries.

6-marker

Explain two reasons why the work of either Cafod or Christian Aid or tearfund is important to Christians. Refer to sacred writings or another source of belief and teaching in your answer.

It is important because it puts into practice Jesus' teaching to help those who are vulnerable

In the parable of the sheep and the goats in the Bible Jesus said whatever you do for the least of one of these, you do for me.

This means that the work of (Cafod or Christian Aid or Tearfund)* is important to Christians because they are actually helping Jesus.

It is also important because it is following another of Jesus teachings, which is to love your neighbour.

Giving people who are vulnerable the help they need is a loving action.

---

Platforms