Abstract:
Human nature has been
depicted as being utilitarian. This means that man considers all social action in terms of an
optimalisation of privilege for the self. Marcel Mauss challenged this theory by investigating
the possibility of human nature as being anti-utilitarian. Man does not give in order to receive.
Human social action is not necessarily motivated by what man stands to gain. The diaconate
of the church can be seen as the social action of giving. There is a close connection between the
diaconate and the apostolate as actions of giving by the church. This article wants to determine
whether these actions by the church are utilitarian in nature. Sundermeier’s use of the concept
of convivence is used to illustrate how the church acts in an anti-utilitarian fashion when
engaging in the diaconate and the apostolate. The social theory of Mauss, the missionary
perspective of Sundermeier and the theology on the diaconate by Moltmann are brought into
conversation with one another in order to illustrate the anti-utilitarian activities of the church
in society.
