ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the Biblical sources on which the churches draw for their understanding of good and evil, and how ideas about the realization of the kingdom of God relate to church activities. Churches have to find their own balance between judgment and mercy, naming the factors that contribute to the problem whilst attempting to change behaviour that puts people at risk. Churches, even though they have medical facilities, may find it more difficult than secular agencies, NGOs or charities to obtain funding from governments for work with HIV/AIDS patients. The World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission have recently published a study document, Christian Perspectives on Theological Anthropology, which begins to address contemporary issues such as HIV/AIDS that present challenges for the understanding of human nature. For the Christian churches, then, the Eucharist has the potential to create a community those witnesses to peace, equality, justice and truth.
