Revision Questions on Christian Approaches Towards Work

Revision Questions on Christian Approaches Towards Work

Give five reasons why Christians should develop positive attitude to work.

1. Work was ordained by God
2. God worked for six days during creation and continues to work
3. Work makes human beings complete/by working an individual realizes self fulfilment/self realization / it is natural to work
4. One has to work in order to provide for his/her family needs/to be self reliant
5. Through work human beings can be useful to others /contribute to the community /share resources with others/contribute to the development of the community
6. Work keeps the body, mind and spirit healthy and strong
7. By working human beings obey Gods command ‘to subdue and conquer the’ they are co-workers with God.
8. By working Christians follow the examples set for them by Jesus who was himself a worker when he lived on earth
9. Work has a social dimension of bringing people together
10. The bible condemns laziness/idleness

State five factors which hindered expansion of the Christian missionary work in Kenya in the nineteenth Century. (5marks)

1. Lack of trained personnel such as ministries, catechists, evangelistic and teachers to do missionary work
2. Lack of resources ( money), to expand the work and put up facilities for missionary work
3. Poor infrastructure e.g. roads and others means of communication.
4. Missionaries could only stay in one station and traveling from one place to Another was difficult .
5. Failure by missionaries to use appropriate methods and approaches to win the Africans to Christianity.
6. Negative attitudes and lack of interest by Africans to Christianity
7. Language problems, missionaries would not communicate effectively with the local people and vice versa. Missionaries spent valuable time learning local languages which they could otherwise put into missionary work.
8. Cultural resistance from the local people. Some people felt that becoming Christians would alienate them from their communities
9. Environmental and geographical factors hostile climate, difficult terrains, droughts.
10. Attacks by tropical diseases, e.g. Malaria, black water diseases
11. Fear of wild animals
12. Fear of hostile tribes, e.g. Maasai, Gallo
13. Competition from other religious e.g. Islam and African traditional religious
14. Rivalry among Mission societies/ denominations/ religion groups
15. Attitudes of some missionaries towards Africans- considered Africans primitive/ savage / untutored/ unable to comprehend Christian abstract doctrines
16. German missionaries were not accepted in British colonies
17. Contradiction in the Christian message / some condemned use of alcohol while others tolerated it some condemned polygamy while others tolerated it, circumcision of women.

With Reference to the life and ministry of Jesus Identify activities which show that he is a worker

1. ▪ Preaching /teaching in synagogues/all over the country/ministering
2. ▪ Healing the sick/healing the blind man/any other miracles of healing
3. ▪ Raising the dead of life-The raising of Jairus daughter (any other miracles of raising).
4. ▪ Praying /prayed to God the father
5. ▪ Feeding in the people e.g. He fed the five thousands/wedding in Cana.
6. ▪ Being a carpenter/he assisted his father
7. ▪ Identify with workers by drawing examples of parables/allegories from the world of work-parable of the sower /any other relevant example
8. ▪ Washing the disciples feet during the last supper
9. ▪ Calming the storm (any other nature miracles e.g walking on water/cursing the fig tree.
10. ▪ Fishing /Jesus wet fishing with his disciples (John 21:5-6)
11. ▪ Judging cases-the woman caught in adultery (John 8) forgiving sins of paralytic
12. ▪ Training instructor-He trained the disciples on how to carry out their work/the mission of the seventy two (72)
13. ▪ Leadership-appointment/commissioning of the disciples/apostles looking for disciples

7 x 2=14 marks. 

Explain the factors that a Christian should consider when choosing a career (6 marks)

1. Ability- academic/physical/ a person should have the knowledge skills/capability and strength to perform the tasks involved.
2. Inclination attitude-should have a positive attitude towards the career
3. Call- One should have the desire to serve god/community through the task/glory to God.
4. Talent-One should consider their inborn/natural abilities
5. Enjoyable-convenience-One has to choose a profession that one would to serve is not boring.
6. Remuneration-It should meet ones basic needs in life/job opportunity relevant job
7. A career that would help one to promote virtues in society.
8. The individuals should be able to observe the professional code/honesty/punctuality etc.
9. The career should provide opportunities for one to develop to maturity provide job security.

6 x 1=6 Marks

State five ways in which the church can promote self employment in modern society (5marks)

1. Open more technical institute for masons, carpenters, electricians
2. Provide guidance and counseling for positive attitude towards work/dignity of work
3. Enhancing a sense of responsibility in work.
4. Giving them assistance in obtaining the equipment to staff small scale enterprises (e.g. sewing machines, tool boxes)
5. Help them final market for the finished products
6. Organise in-service courses for the self employed to improve the quality of the their products
7. Organise communal self help projects
8. Help them in obtaining premises for their business

5x1=5marks 

Give reasons why Christians condemn idleness (10marks)

1. God ordained work/human beings were given the responsibility of looking after God’s creation.
2. Jesus condemned idleness in his ministry in the parable of the talents
3. Idleness may lead to antisocial activities e.g. stealing, drinking, irresponsible sexual behaviour
4. Idleness leads to poverty/inability to meet one’s basic needs
5. Jesus worked and so endorsed dignity of work.
6. Idleness is a failure to glorify God.
7. Idleness dehumanizes individuals.
8. Christians should emulate Jesus’ example of hard work
9. Idleness is a health hazard e.g. obesity, heart attack.
10. Idleness is a rebellion against God’s intention for human beings.
11. Idleness retards the development of God giving talents.

Explain factors that have led to unemployment in Kenya today. (8marks)

1. The growth rate of Kenya’s economy is lower than the population growth
2. Inadequate land for those who want to self employed in agriculture sector
3. Inadequate funds to start economic ventures
4. Adoption of lifestyles that do not promote development e.g. drug addiction, laziness.
5. The great part of Kenya is low potential
6. Wrong attitude instilled in the youth by the society/the youth think they should only do the white collar jobs.
7. Poor job distribution where some people hold more than one job.
8. Policies that allow foreigners to take up jobs which would have been performed by Kenyans.
9. Low investment ability due to debt crisis and conditions set by donor countries.
10. Application of redundancy practices by both the government and the private sector i.e (retrenchment)
11. Liberalization of market which has led to the influx of cheap goods thus leading to closure of some industries.
12. Corruption/nepotism/tribalism.

Outline steps the church in Kenya has taken to solve the problem of employment.

1. Employ people as pastors/evangelists/catechist
2. Has set up youth polytechnics to provide vocational training/skills required for employment.
3. Sponsors people through scholarships and bursaries to enable them acquire the necessary skills for employment
4. Church ran training colleges/universities where people are prepared for different careers
5. Encourage positive attitudes towards all types of jobs/guidance and counseling
6. Establishment of institutions which provide employment opportunities/e.g schools/hospitals
7. Provides funds to start small scale income generating industries and projects
8. Sustain self-help groups by helping them to make products and market them thus creating job opportunities.

(7 marks)

Describe the methods used by the early missionaries to improve the living standards of the Africans in Kenya. (7 marks)

1. Providing them with education/training
2. Providing them with jobs/employment
3. Inviting them to join the church and serve as priests, catechists, sisters etc
4. Preaching against/discouraging some traditional practices
5. Providing them with medical facilities/care
6. Introducing new (crop/house/clothes) modern technology/agriculture
7. Introducing self-help projects (water)
8. Introducing new means of transport/communication/infrastructure
9. Providing homes for the freed slaves/destitute.

(7marks) 

Give reasons why Christians in Kenya should work in unity (10marks)

1. In order to promote oneness of Christ
2. To promote the teachings of Christ
3. To share the scarce resources/minimize expenses
4. In order to achieve effective evangelism/ministry
5. In order to adopt a common attitude to the integration of African culture in worship
6. To prevent the formation of splinter groups/cults
7. To reduce the internal wrangling
8. In order to have a common stand in dealing with issues affecting the society (education/constitutional review/medical care)

Explain ways through which a Christian can serve God.

1. Preaching/teaching the word of God/dedications (priests/nuns/sister) participation in choir
2. Be feeding the hungry/relief food
3. Taking care of the sick/visiting the sick
4. Praying/ fasting for God’s peace in the world
5. Contributing to church/charitable organizations
6. By paying taxes/tithing
7. Taking care of the environment/working in the church
8. Providing homes for the needy/adopting orphans
9. Paying fees for the needy/Providing education
10. Being just and fair in giving services
11. Advocating for equitable distribution of resources.

Give five factors that a Christian employer should consider when decision on a salary for an employee. (5marks)

1. Hours of work
2. Education/ training of employee/ qualification/ skills
3. Experience of employee/ competence
4. Value of work
5. Needs of the employee/ state of the economy of the country/ standard of living
6. Dangers/ risks of the job to be done/ nature of work/ type of work
7. The returns/ profits of the work
8. The ability to pay/ sustainability
9. The amount of work to be done / volume

(5 x 1 = 5 marks) 

Write down five consequences of denying employees rest. (5marks)

1. Poor working relationships/ lack of respect
2. Leads to exhaustion/ fatigue
3. Can results in poor health/ death
4. Can result in go-slow
5. There is mistrust/ need to be supervised so as to work
6. Can lead to strikes/ riots/ violence
7. Leads to loss of job/ sacking
8. Leads to family conflicts/ suspicion/ separation/ divorce
9. Lack of time for spiritual nourishment/ worship
10. Leads to low morale/ negative attitude to work

How should a Christian respond when offered a job in a hardship area? (6marks)

1. Give thanks to God for the job opportunity.
2. One should pray about it.
3. Should take up the challenge/accept the offer.
4. Should carry out the mission of Jesus Christ.
5. Should work with commitment/dedication
6. Should adhere to professional ethics
7. Should keep the contract of service.
8. Should take care of the family
9. Should seek guidance on how to work /live in the hardship area
10. Seek training in life skills.

(6x1 =6marks) 

Explain the factors that contribute to unemployment in Kenya today (8 marks)

1. High population whereby there are too many people for the available job opportunities.
2. Lack of money to start individual businesses/unavailability of finances.
3. Some people lack skills which make them not to be absorbed in the job market.
4. Rural-urban migration:- many people are congested in towns where job opportunities are limited.
5. Foreign aid:- dependence on foreign aid causes the donors to give conditions of employment, that is lean service.
6. Selfishness/greed:- some Kenyans have more than two jobs, while others lack.
7. Education system:- many Kenyans prefer white collar jobs after school and because of stiff competition for available spaces, many remain unemployed.
8. Negative attitude towards work:- some Kenyans lack the initiative to do or participate in economic activities/just idle around.
9. Unequal distribution of wealth: Some regions have more resources that create employment than others.
10. New technological advances that has led to retrenchment.
11. Bribery/corruption is a social evil that denies jobs to those qualified in preference to the less qualified.
12. Insecurity/increase in crime discourages local and international investors.

(8 marks) 

Give eight causes of conflict between the employer and employees in Kenya. (8 marks)

1. Lack of respect to the employer by employees.
2. Employees not given time for leisure/leave.
3. Poor working conditions/environment.
4. When the employees do not receive wages/not paid in time.
5. When employers fail to consider the welfare of employees/allowances.
6. When employees fail to accomplish tasks within the expected time/poor time management.
7. When employees are not allowed to join trade unions.
8. Unequal chances of promotion/discrimination by the employer/lack of promotion.
9. Poor/low remuneration.
10. Sexual harassment by the employer.
11. Differences in religious affiliation between employer and employees.
12. Racial/tribal/ethnic differences may bring conflict.
13. Misuse/destruction of property by the employee.
14. Divulging of secrets of the employer/organization.

(8x1=8 marks) 

Discuss the role of a Christian during a strike. (4 marks)

1. Not to take part in the strike.
2. Encourage other people to find better means of solving the problem.
3. To inform the authority of any grievances if they are not aware/mediate.
4. To pray for a solution to the problem/seek God’s guidance for a solution to the problem.
5. Should not take part in a violent demonstration/encourage peaceful demonstration.
6. To report the matter to the nearest police station.

(4x1=4 marks) 

Write down seven problems that Christian leaders in Kenya face in their work today. (7marks)

1. Opposition from political leaders/society. …
2. Lack of cooperation from the members of the church/lack of unity among Christians,
3. False prophets/cultic affiliation //hypocrisy/ black magic/witchcraft,
4. Misinterpretation of the scriptures.
5. Drug abuse among the-members.
6. Lack of adequate time for pastoral care.
7. Poor infrastructure that make it impossible to” reach some areas.
8. Insecurity in. some parts of the country,
9. Lack of resources to enable them spread the good news/poverty.
10. Lacks of professional training to enable them do their work effectively.
11. Permissiveness /moral decadence, which has become the order of the day.
12. Negative influence from the mass media/pornography.

(7xl=7marks) 

Identify six ways in which the church is helping to reduce the rate of unemployment in Kenya today. (6 marks)

1. The church encourages people to start income generating activities
2. The church provides loans to the unemployed to start small scale business
3. The church create job opportunities through establishing church projects.
4. It teaches the youth about the dignity of manual work/encourages the youth to participate in agriculture/technical fields.
5. It organizes seminars for the youth/unemployment on how to utilize their potentials.
6. It condemns corrupt practices which interfere with the recruitment/economic growth.
7. It encourages its members to pay taxes promptly so that the government can have the resources to employ/pay the workers.
8. It trains/sponsors the youth on vocational skills that are necessary for employment/self employment.
9. The church tries to be fair when recruiting people for various jobs.

(6 marks) 

What problems do church leaders in Kenya face when carrying out their work (6marks)

1. They receive threats/opposition from the opponents.
2. Inadequate material/financial resources
3. There is lack of cooperation from the church members
4. There is rivalry among the leaders/themselves.
5. They may not be good role models/hypocrisy.
6. They may suffer from long separation from their families.
7. There is misinterpretation of the Biblical theology from different sources.
8. Greed for material things/property.
9. They may be posted to a hostile working environment.
10. There is political interference in their work.
11. They may lack adequate skills for carrying out their work.
12. Permissiveness from moral decadence
13. Rejection

(6x1=6 marks)