Abstract:The Mamat tradition as a betel nut chewing practice within the Timor Lelogama community faces significant challenges due to the forces of modernization, which have the potential to weaken social cohesion and collective identity.…
dentity. This condition raises critical questions regarding how Mamat functions as an effective cultural instrument to maintain unity, nurture solidarity, and preserve noble intergenerational values. This study aims to analyze the role of the Mamat tradition as a living and dynamic cultural system amid ongoing social transformation. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed through observation, in-depth interviews, and literature review to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the symbolic meanings and social functions embedded in the tradition. The findings reveal that Mamat is not merely a habitual practice of betel nut consumption, but a cultural mechanism that strengthens social integration, serves as a medium for conflict reconciliation, and reinforces kinship relations and social respect. The tradition also functions as a vehicle for transmitting cultural values that shape the collective character of the Timor Lelogama community. The novelty of this research lies in its analysis of Mamat as an integrated cultural system encompassing the dimensions of ideas, activities, and cultural artifacts, thereby enriching perspectives on local cultural studies grounded in social practice. The study concludes that preserving the Mamat tradition constitutes a relevant cultural strategy for strengthening social cohesion and sustaining community identity amid the dynamics of globalization.
Abstract:The Naketi Rite constitutes a traditional confession practice that has been preserved and transmitted across generations within the Oemofa community and functions to sustain social harmony. Social transformation and shifting…
ting patterns of communal interaction have posed challenges to the continuity and interpretation of this ritual, thereby necessitating scholarly inquiry capable of comprehensively elucidating its significance. This study addresses the question of how the symbolic meanings, social functions, and moral values embedded in the Naketi Rite shape mechanisms of reconciliation and social integration in Oemofa society. A cultural anthropology approach was employed to interpret the ritual practice through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and a review of relevant literature. The findings indicate that Naketi serves as an institutionalized medium for acknowledging wrongdoing, restoring fractured relationships, and reinforcing collective solidarity through mutually recognized symbolic mechanisms. The ritual cultivates values of honesty, responsibility, self-awareness, and commitment to social cohesion, which contribute to the prevention of prolonged conflict. The study concludes that Naketi is not merely a ceremonial expression but an effective cultural institution that mediates social tensions and reproduces the community’s moral order. The novelty of this research lies in its integrative analysis of the symbolic dimension and social function of the Naketi Rite as a locally grounded reconciliation model, offering relevance for contemporary cultural anthropology and discourse on tradition-based conflict resolution.
Abstract:The Natoni tradition, as an oral cultural heritage of the Timorese community, embodies religious and social dimensions that reflect the relationship between Christian faith and local wisdom. However, the currents of modernization…
rnization and shifts in the lifestyle of younger generations have led to a diminishing understanding of its symbols, ritual language, and moral messages, thereby placing its existence at risk of marginalization. This study addresses the question of how the theological meaning and anthropological values of Natoni are understood and actualized within Christian communities, and to what extent this tradition contributes to the formation of faith identity and social cohesion. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, utilizing in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the practice and its meanings. The findings reveal that Natoni functions as a contextual medium of prayer, a means of internalizing faith teachings, a bond of communal solidarity, and a vehicle for transmitting values of respect, responsibility, and intergenerational togetherness. The tradition provides an integrative space between incarnational theology and local cultural realities, thereby enriching contextual expressions of Christian spirituality. The study concludes that the revitalization of Natoni requires synergy among the church, traditional leaders, families, and educational institutions to ensure its continued relevance and responsiveness to contemporary challenges. The novelty of this research lies in its simultaneous integration of theological and anthropological analyses of Natoni as a contextual praxis of faith rather than merely a cultural phenomenon, thus offering a conceptual contribution to the development of Indonesian contextual theology.
Abstract:This study originates from the increasing prevalence of subclinical narcissistic traits among church congregants, manifested in religious practices that appear devout yet are latently oriented toward external validation…
rather than an intimate relationship with God. This phenomenon generates a distortion of spirituality, as religious identity is constructed upon social recognition, thereby hindering spiritual-psychological well-being and displacing the longing for divine love. The research problem focuses on how subclinical narcissism operates as a psycho-spiritual disorder within the context of worship and how faith community engagement moderates this dynamic. Employing an integrative conceptual analysis and critical engagement with the psychology of religion literature, including the typology of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, this study finds that performance-based community cultures intensify narcissistic tendencies through symbolic competition and religious self-imaging, whereas inclusive and transformational communities function as corrective spaces that reorient the existential framework of congregants. The study concludes that restoration cannot be achieved merely through behavioral modification or the intensification of religious activities, but through a reorientation of worship that restores the True Self in relationship with Christ as the authentic source of self-worth. The novelty of this research lies in its conceptualization of subclinical narcissism as a form of worship disorder and in its emphasis on the role of faith community as a moderating variable within holistic spiritual therapy, thereby offering both theoretical and pastoral contributions to contemporary churches facing the challenges of performative spirituality.
Abstract:This study explores the concept of covenant in the Pentateuch through a qualitative-descriptive approach that integrates historical and theological analysis of God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Israel at Sinai. Historical…
istorical findings indicate that the covenantal structures in the Pentateuch correspond to treaty forms common in the Ancient Near East, particularly suzerainty treaties, yet the biblical covenants reveal a fundamental distinction by emphasizing God’s gracious initiative independent of political negotiations or human strategic interests. The theological examination affirms that the covenant is not merely a legalistic contract but a manifestation of God’s relational commitment that shapes the identity of His people as a covenant community grounded in divine faithfulness and promise. The Torah is understood as an expression of faith response arising from this covenantal relationship, rather than a prerequisite for salvation, thereby retaining its significance for the contemporary church as an ethical and spiritual framework guiding Christian praxis, character formation, and communal responsibility amid rapidly evolving social contexts. The integration of historical and theological perspectives demonstrates that the Pentateuchal covenant encompasses intertwined dynamics of grace, obligation, and identity formation, contributing theoretically to Old Testament studies, particularly covenant theology, while offering practical implications for ecclesial faith formation, the strengthening of communal spirituality, and ministry orientation rooted in a holistic understanding of the divine–human relationship. This research underscores the urgency of interpreting the Pentateuchal covenant through an interdisciplinary lens to meet the theological, ethical, and pastoral challenges faced by the church in the contemporary era.
Abstract:Youth represent a socio-psycho-spiritual entity undergoing a critical transitional phase, characterized by identity crises, value disorientation, and pressures from secular-cultural influences. Within the framework of Christian…
ristian pastoral theology and pedagogy, faith formation serves as a strategic mechanism to cultivate integrative spiritual maturity, encompassing cognitive (doctrinal understanding), affective (spiritual affection), and conative (practical orientation) dimensions. This study analyzes the effectiveness of Bible Camp as an experiential learning-based faith formation model in the spiritual development of youth. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis, the research explores the contribution of Bible Camp to the internalization of theological values, the construction of religious identity, and the strengthening of faith community cohesion. The findings indicate that Bible Camp activities—such as hermeneutic study, collective worship, existential reflection, and group dynamics—result in significant faith transformation on both personal and communal levels. This process aligns with Streib’s faith development theory and Mezirow’s transformative learning theory, which emphasize cognitive reconstruction through reflective experience within a social context. Bible Camp effectively mediates the transition from conventional faith to reflective and dialogical faith, while enhancing youth’s spiritual competencies in confronting the complexities of contemporary reality. The findings reinforce the assumption that faith formation in interactive non-formal settings is more effective than conventional instructional approaches in producing theological and ethical paradigm shifts. Therefore, Bible Camp is positioned as a relevant and contextual ecclesiological instrument in the recontextualization of Christian faith education. This model functions not only as a venue for individual spiritualization but also as a catalyst for the formation of resilient, participatory, and transformative Christian character within a pluralistic socio-religious ecosystem. Recommendations are directed towards institutionalizing Bible Camp as a systemic strategy for youth faith formation in the mission of the contemporary church.
Abstract:This study develops an interdisciplinary theological framework that integrates collective memory, a theology of woundedness, and local wisdom as epistemological and pastoral strategies for engaging with social trauma inscribed…
cribed in the communal body of postcolonial and post-conflict societies in Indonesia. Collective memory, as examined by Halbwachs, Assmann, and Volf, is not construed as a mere aggregation of historical facts but as a cultural construction that shapes theological identity through performative, ritualistic, and narrative social processes. The theology of woundedness, informed by the works of Rambo, Moltmann, Jones, and Brock, resists binary categorizations between suffering and salvation, positioning wounds instead as loci theologici—revelatory spaces wherein the Holy Spirit dwells amidst unhealed wounds as a manifestation of divine solidarity and the possibility of redemption. Employing a qualitative-descriptive methodological framework and contextual hermeneutics, this research investigates local narratives, healing rituals, customary symbols, and inculturated liturgies among Christian communities in Ambon, Poso, and East Nusa Tenggara. The findings suggest that local wisdom functions not merely as a cultural instrument but also as a sacramental medium through which the Spirit operates incarnationally. The integration of these three dimensions demonstrates that post-traumatic restoration cannot be reduced to psychological or therapeutic pastoral practices alone; rather, it demands a theologically transformative, contextually rooted, and dialogical articulation of the wounded social body. Within this construct, the Church is envisioned as an anamnetic community that employs collective memory as a praxis of salvation, regards local culture as a spiritual body, and embraces woundedness as a participatory locus within the salvific narrative. Accordingly, this study contributes a novel paradigm for contextual theology and pastoral praxis in multicultural societies marked by the legacy of historical suffering and the urgent need for reconciliation grounded in justice and memory.
Abstract:Jesus Christ has finished carrying out the task of saving on the hill of Golgotha. Jesus rose on the third day and was still with His disciples for some time. This togetherness consists of repeating and re-consolidating…
things related to the salvation that He has provided during his ministry. At the same time, Jesus also gave a command recorded by the writers of Matthew and Mark. The commandment told His disciples to go preach the Gospel to all nations and creatures. Now it was the disciples' job to go ahead and carry out the command. Jesus provided a service concept in the form of an evangelism strategy that could be accepted by the local community. This journal writing is focused on contextual evangelism through the health sector and counseling. This concept needs to be worked out with the wisdom of heaven through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Seeing the diverse geography, contextual services through Health use a mobile clinic system. The writing of this journal will discuss it in more depth so that it can be understood by every reader and can be applied in every place where evangelism is carried out.
Abstract:Congregational growth and spiritual development of church members are the primary goals of every religious community. However, the challenges faced by the church today are not solely limited to spiritual aspects but also…
consider management aspects that support healthy and sustainable growth. This paper aims to investigate the implementation strategies of church management theory as an effort to advance congregation growth and enhance individual spiritual quality. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative approach, allowing researchers to delve into the complexity of social situations influencing church growth. By combining data from various sources, including books, scholarly articles, and academic journals, the author presents key principles of church management theory, such as shared leadership, humility, and resource management effectiveness. Furthermore, this paper discusses factors influencing congregational growth, including the significant role of prayer, discipleship, fellowship, and testimony in shaping enthusiastic and committed communities. By applying appropriate strategies supported by strong leadership, churches can achieve meaningful and spiritually significant growth, strengthening the foundation of faith and expanding their influence in society. Thus, this paper provides a comprehensive view of the importance of integrating management theory within the church context and offers practical guidance for churches to reinforce growth and spiritual development efforts.
Abstract:This research investigates the challenge posed by the perceived lack of assertiveness among pastors in disciplining members of the congregation amidst the proliferation of fake news or hoaxes. It delves into the multifaceted…
eted roles of pastors within the church context, the nuanced concept of discipline as it pertains to congregational dynamics, and the pervasive phenomenon of hoaxes in contemporary society. Emphasizing the critical importance of pastors taking proactive measures to address and counteract the dissemination of hoaxes to safeguard the integrity and unity of the church community, this paper employs a comprehensive descriptive research methodology. Through an in-depth exploration of the characteristics and implications of hoaxes, the functions and responsibilities of pastors, and the significance of discipline within the ecclesiastical setting, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the complexities of managing misinformation within religious communities. By synthesizing theoretical frameworks and empirical observations, the paper offers actionable recommendations for pastors to effectively combat hoaxes while fostering an environment of truth, trust, and integrity within the church.