How To Use Case Studies As Jesus Did

1. Tangales believe that SIN is sassalap - This means living contrary to the accepted norms of the culture. Any offense against the will of society, the gods, or the ancestral spirits will result in punishments. The Bible makes it clear that sin is living contrary to the laws and nature of God. Any offense against God and His standards will result in spiritual death. In the light of this tremendous need the majority of Tangales have embraced Christ as their Savior. John Hall, the first missionary connected the two concepts through numerous case study illustrations of sin in culture and against God.

2. Tangeles believe that SICKNESS is pada - This means the abnormal condition of the body. It could also mean being afflicted by the gods. Sometimes the Bible links sickness often a consequence of sin, ignorance, or wrong behavior. When the early missionaries showed how the Lord provides healing both through miraculous and through the use of medicines, the Tangales hearts were touched.

3. Tangeles believe that suffering is sihim koro - This means that one is living under difficult conditions either physically, psychologically, intellectually, emotionally, or socially. Suffering in the scriptures is looked at for just and unjust reasons throughout the scriptures. The link that the early missionaries provided showed the Tangales that much of their suffering was caused by sin and a failure to have a right relationship with God.

4. Tangales believe that healing is wadpada - This means that one is freed from any difficulties or infirmities. Many Tangales believed that the gods had given magic (boka) to certain power to heal. These people interceded for the sick persons to the ancestral spirits for restoration of health. Many Tangales have been able to link their physical healing with the spiritual healing that they have received through Jesus Christ and His ministers.

9. Jesus used case studies to allow the disciples to test out ideals with minimum risk. Many of us hesitate to try out new ideals unless we have seen others experiment with them first. When the Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he was willing to venture out into the deep. No doubt, this innovation gave the other disciples more confidence in the Savior. They wanted others to test the solutions and promises offered by the Master before they would try them out completely. Case studies offer the majority face saving examples of others who have undertook a new adventure. When the venturing is accomplished we will have encouraged many more to offer salvation to the lost, edify the believers, and disciple the future leaders of the church. Without the benefit of experimentation by faith we will be stuck in the mire of our own fears of change.

Case Study - For instance, one student shared that in his village of Nyanya in Nigeria, the Lord used a miracle to demonstrate His ideals through the faith of one courageous man. It seems that one day a man crossing a road was struck by a car which shattered his right leg. Most of the villagers immediately assumed that the man must have been associating with the occultic secret societies. Despite persuasions from the few believers in the village, the council of elder declared that the man’s accident was a signal of disapproval from the ancestral spirits. Throughout Africa, there are many who assume that nothing occurs without a spiritual cause. However, the Christians decided to use this as an opportunity to witness of God’s grace through their prayers and actions. When everyone in the village disassociated themselves from the man, the Christians visited the man taking food to him in his time of need. Several men even humbled themselves to bathe the man and assist in helping him put his clothes on in the morning. Some of the youth got busy clearing his farm at the height of the rainy season. All of these actions were viewed mysteriously and with wonderment by the non-Christians. Many of them assumed that the Christians must also belong to the secret societies if they are bothering to assist this man. Eventually, their puzzling manner turned into abuse of the Christians. The majority of the villagers felt that the Christians were impeding the ancestral spirits from exacting their punishment on the man for his sins. But the believers persevered with the assurance from Christ’s promise, ``Love your enemies and do good to those who despitefully use you and your reward in heaven will be great.’’ (Luke 6:38)