The Core Beliefs of Baptism - Essay Example

?Part I am a Baptist Christian by belief. I would consider it to be one of the most diverse religious beliefs; the fact that there are many Baptists churches across the world that do not follow one central authority, or that there are varying beliefs that we hold while holding on to the collective Baptist religion clearly proves the diversity and the acceptance thereof. To be a Baptist, to me, means that a person can be “different” from the others yet still be part of the same collective. This is a beautiful and inclusive message, and that is why I would describe my worldview as diverse and inclusive. The core beliefs of Baptism include that there is only one God, who manifests Himself in three persons: the Father (God in Heaven), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Moreover, there is belief in the birth of Jesus Christ from a virgin mother, Mary. Jesus Christ performed many miracles during his lifetime, including raising the dead, and then died, was buried, and finally resurrected. Also, we believe that human beings are in need of salvation, without which they are doomed; this salvation is provided to us by the very death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is the grace of God, due to which He has given us humans the unearned favor of eternal salvation by sending his Son to earth and dying on a cross for our sins. Baptists also believe that the world will end, and Jesus would return to us and the dead will be raised and everyone be judged by Him. Finally, we believe that the Message of God needs to be spread throughout the world, so that more people can be brought within the fold and experience the Grace of God. I know that my beliefs are true, because the Bible speaks out to me. I have personally experienced the grace and miracles of Jesus Christ in my life. When a very close cousin of mine was diagnosed with cancer, and it was clear that the cancer had spread throughout her body, the doctors told her that there was no treatment available for her, and the best all of us could do was to keep her comfortable at home. I turned to Jesus Christ in my time of need and He spoke out to me and answered my prayers through a miracle: my cousin not only survived, but her cancer is in complete remission. My worldview is accurate because it is clear by looking around that God exists, also, He is just and kind and it was told in the Bible many years ago. What is more, the Bible is a direct account of what God wanted people to do, and its message is still true today. Even after 2,000 years, we can still derive our morality from the Bible and that is clear proof of its Divine Origins. It is very clear when one observes these facts that my worldview is accurate and believable. Part 2 Just like Baptists, Catholics are a denomination of Christians who believe in the unity of the God and the Holy Trinity. There are many more similarities between the two groups. The Catholics also believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Like the Baptists, the Catholics believe in the miracles of Jesus Christ, including healing the leper and raising Lazarus; his crucifixion and subsequent death; his burial; and his resurrection after three days. Moreover, they also believe in the infinite Mercy and Grace of God, which God showed by sending his only son to die for humans for their salvation. There are many similarities in the ethics of the two groups as well; there is an emphasis on moral uprightness in both the groups, but, both believe, that there is no salvation for us except through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us. There are, however, many differences between the two, I will mention two big differences here. Firstly, there is no central authority for Baptists. Unlike the Catholics who have the papacy, whereby a group of priests elect a Pope, the Bishop of Rome, who is the considered to be a successor of Saint Peter, the Baptists do not have a central authority that ensures that beliefs are kept identical throughout the various Churches of the denomination. For Catholics, the pope gets to decide the policies and rules that will be binding on all Catholics; the Catholics consider the authority of the Pope on all contemporary issues to be binding and final. The Baptists, on the other hand, do not have similar or exactly identical beliefs across their various Churches. The Baptist Churches are free to choose any side on a contemporary issue, irrespective of where the other Baptist Churches stand on the same issue. Another big difference between the two denominations is that the Baptists believe in the complete separation of church and state. They believe that the religion has no place in politics and that both should be kept separately. However, the Catholics hold that while everyone should be free to practice their religion freely, politics and religion go hand in hand. The Catholic belief is that the Church should get to speak up on political matters as well, as religion should be used to guide people on contemporary issues so that the powers of the state are kept in check. The Holy See of the Catholics ensures that beliefs are universally identical, and that there is no deviation from them. Because Baptists do not have any such authority, they ensure that a diverse group of people are welcomed into the fold, and are able to accept Jesus Christ in their life. The diversity of the Baptists makes them a much more accepting and tolerant group; they do not condemn varying practices, nor do they turn anyone out of the church based on them. The Inquisition is a good example of how the inability to allow for divergent beliefs can result in extreme intolerance. Similarly, a separation of Church and State ensures that no religion is favored and that people are fairly treated irrespective of religion. The insistence of Catholics on not separating the two can, and does, result in the minority religions feeling sidelined, and ultimately persecuted. Again, the tolerance of the Baptists shines through. Part 3 I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, just like God intended and clearly laid out in the Bible, and I do not endorse same-sex marriage at all. Today it is clear that homosexuality has become “normal” and classified as a “lifestyle”, and that society is slowly but surely accepting it. The media of our country not only accepts it but celebrates it, which further promotes the idea that homosexuality is not out of the ordinary. This idea has been perpetuated to such an extent that today a lot of the countries across the world, and states within our own country, are going ahead and legalizing same-sex marriage; where it is not legalized, there are groups that are actively campaigning for legalization of same-sex marriage. It is clear to anyone who has read the Word of God that same-sex marriage is definitely frowned upon by God. The Bible makes it clear that marriage is only between a man and a woman; even a cursory reading of the Bible is enough to gather that God does not condone homosexual relations. God says in Leviticus 18:22 “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” Also, in Timothy 1:8-10, those who practice homosexuality are considered at par with other sinners like slave traders and liars and perjurers. Furthermore, in Romans 1:24-28, the Bible talks about punishing homosexuals who received “due penalty for their error”, which clearly shows that God does not take homosexual relationships lightly. I do believe that everyone, be they homosexual or heterosexual, are loved by God and do have the chance for salvation only through the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I also believe that even practicing homosexuals, if they repent and ask for forgiveness, can receive salvation and are loved by God as His children. My belief is that homosexuals (or any sinner) are able to repent and transform themselves and come to Christ. But I do not think that practicing homosexuality is a “norm” or is a “lifestyle” choice. I believe in the traditional marriage set up by the God; a covenant between a woman and a man. A traditional marriage not only follows natural law, it also ensures that a child always has both a mother and a father in his/her life, which is necessary for his/her wellbeing. Such a marriage is the only viable way of ensuring that the human race procreates and a family is created; this is simply impossible in same-sex marriages as they are naturally sterile. Clearly God had traditional marriage in mind when He said in the Bible, Genesis 1:28-29, “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it” because there is no way other than traditional marriage that couples can multiply and fill the earth, hence, proving the sanction of God for traditional marriage. Read More