Page 108 - Divinity_F5

Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

obligation, the expectation and necessity should not be compared with the created.
that one does what she or he has been That being said, there is a sense and
assigned to do. Someone is authorised possibility of drawing some explanatory
and, therefore, obliged to carry out an parallels regarding responsibility
activity. between God and humanity. God created
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
Accountability the universe. God is all-powerful. From
Efficiency in performing the assigned the standpoint of authority discussed
duties may not meet and has not always above, God alone has the ‘qualifications’
met the expected levels or standards. to create; he is responsible for the
Having an obligation demands that one creation. Responsibility in the sense of
is answerable or renders an account of accountability also traces its roots to
what she or he has been tasked to do. As God. God’s concern with the welfare
such, there is a need to monitor a task’s of humanity, as seen in the situation
performance using set standards. after the fall of humankind in Genesis
3 and other occasions, reflects his
Liability accountability. This does not mean
Liability, in this context, refers to the that God has to answer to anyone or is
‘burden’ attached to the inability to meet responsible.
expected standards in performance.
Therefore, the person obliged to do a In addition, the biblical concept of
task bears the consequences of none or human responsibility is built upon God.
underperformance. God is the source and pattern of human

responsibility. God expects humanity
In summary, responsibility, as referred to
in this part, entails the person’s authority to respond to what he has done. The
and obligation to do something, her or his reference point for human responsibility
being answerable or accountable to what is God. According to Mollenkton,
is done and the standard of performance, “human responsibility in its deepest
and liability to the consequences of ill and fullest dimension, entails godding
performance. [acting like God], an embodiment or
incarnation of God’s love in human
The Biblical understanding of flesh, with the goal of co [-] creating
responsibility with God a just and loving human
The biblical understanding of society” (Mollenkott 1987, 2). With this
responsibility is traced back to God. A understanding, it is clear that authority
word of caution, however, needs to be as an attribute of responsibility, from
said in connection to our discussion of a biblical perspective, is meant for
responsibility in relation to God. God is service! It is not absolute and should not
not a human being. God is the Creator. He be used for selfish ends.

Form Five Student’s Book 99