What is Christianity - Assignment Example

Christianity `What is Christianity? Christianity is a form of religion based on the teaching and miracles of Jesus. Christianity began in the 1st A.D as a sect of the Jews, and it later spread to the rest of the middle-east countries over the following four centuries such as Syria. Over the Middle Ages, Christianity spread over the entire Europe and later spread to America, Australia, and Africa later on. Jesus, according to the Bible, is the Lord’s chosen one and Christians believe God the father sent him from heaven to the world. Jesus coming to the world was a fulfillment to the Old Testament of the bible, which prophesied that he would come be born to a virgin, die on the cross and rise three days afterwards; in order to give eternal life to those who believed in him. The many miracles which he performed were recorded in the New Testament in the gospel books by eyewitnesses. He was human and divine in nature making him credible to worship. Christians refer to Jesus as the messiah, which means they have received their prophesied deliverer. Christianity teaches that only one supreme being who is God. Christians believe that God is the creator of everything the universe knows of and that they are yet to discover. They also believe that God created the first human beings who were Adam and Eve in His own image meaning he gave them a likeness like that of his own in terms of character. For this reason, Christians do not by the scientific argument of evolution from a sine celled organism to the modern complex organisms which including the human beings. God created the first beings, put them on the Garden of Eden, and continued to give them the freedom to choose between right and wrong. He however gave them a condition, which was if they choose evil they would be punished and this came to be later on. Sinning was contrary to the nature of God and the punishment for their sin was being throne of the Garden of Eden and having to work to fend for them-selves. They would also be subject to death and suffering. Their descendants would also inherit the sinful nature of their ancestors. Children did not have to learn but were sinful since conception and the sinful nature would come out naturally this made it necessary for the coming of the messiah who was Jesus. Christianity also teaches that God is made up of three entities which are god the father, god the son and God the spirit. The three make up the trinity. It also teaches that one is only saved from self-distraction only when they believe and Grace and Faith receive that salvation in the works of Christ on the cross but not by our action on earth. It goes further to teach that, ones a person is saved the Holy Spirit abounds in them the person is transformed to a new man. Is there Christianity or Christianities? Christianity is the original from which evolved to the various kinds of the indigenous Christianity all around the world found today in the modern world not excluding the exotic one. In the Twentieth Century, there were diverse changes in the history of theology. This is due to the many dynamics at time that lead to the eventuality of diversity in the original church. Christianity suffered major loses through secularization and persecution. This has lead to the birth of Catholicism, independent churches, Protestantism spreading to the entire world when Christianity had become a global religion. The diversity that had become in Christianity in terms of practice and belief makes difficult to decide whether Christianity is made up of one or several things (Bradley, 2006). The idea of Christianities comes to reality when we consider facts that cannot be ignored such as the importance of culture, language, geography and political diversity shaping Christianities all over the world. The Christianity orthodox that arises from the varying bible translation, use of technology, the style of worship and practices and the production, establishment of religious architectures and pilgrim journeys, and distribution of their literature. Christianity is therefore the bass upon which all these religions are based upon. Christianity Compatibility with Other Religions Most of the people tend to believe that their religion is the only true religion and for that reason fail to hold the other religions with the same regard as they hold their own. They therefore believe that all the people who follow any other religion other than theirs’ bond to damnation. However, this may work for them though this is contrary when it comes to Christianity and the Christian teachings. The bible teaches otherwise that some Christians still do not by the existence of Christianity with other religions (Ming Ng, 2008). Many Christians hold diametric perceptions when it comes to the question of their take on Christianity and other religions. They can be categorized into two groups, one group is that of the people that read and understand the bible literally and those that read the bible and understand it as it should be under the modern day context. Those that read the bible and understand it literally argue that they are among the few that fall into Gods’ plan for only a minority of the entire population of the world. For this reason, they justify their stand and believe that any one that is not a Christian is domed. However, the Christians who read and understand the bible correctly argue that instead of excluding believers in other religions they should show compassion. They believe that God is a god that is all loving and those that live in love are born of Christ and are within the command of that he gave that is “love one another as you love yourself”. It is the believe that god came to God cares for all of us. Christ himself broke many rules that bound him to only interacting and teaching to only those that were of the same faith as him but he broke the rules and wet forth to teach and spread the gospel to them. Christ himself went head and said that He never came to save those that had already seen the light but also those who were wayward and needed saving, the lost sheep (John 10:16). It’s therefore a shared feeling that the Christianity more than any other religion should be compatible with other religions. Christianity is unique in its own way but should not be exclusive of non-Christians. This because it is built on unconditional love, for example, that was shown by Jesus Christ when he offered his only son to come and die for the whole world. When God the father sent Jesus to earth to come and die on behalf of the world, he did not exclude any religion it was an open deal that any person that wanted in would only have to believe in Christ and would receive redemption. Despite these wide and deep teachings, greatest wars and genocide, which have been perpetrated by man in history come, began from religious conflicts. There is civil unrest in the Middle East until today due to the disagreement between Muslims and Jews. The question whether Christianity is compatible with other religions is a quagmire since they can only be compatible with those religions that are willing to collaborate. It should not be a problem because all religions advocate for more the same things. Christians whoever should be open to any regions that are willing to come together Can Christianity in corporate into its discourse other cultures and remain as Christianity? Since the church began, there has been a constant challenge along of the way Christians should balance between their culture and their ways of life, which is their culture. How the believers are supposed to carry themselves in the rest of the society of which they are a part of and the teaching and their beliefs as Christians. Many Christians find it difficult to balance the between their earthly culture with Christianity. They carry their earthliness into the church even without their consciousness. The bible, which is the guide of Christians, warns the believers against dragging their earthliness into the church. People tend to be programmed according to the worlds culture other than carrying the gospel from the church to the world the world to create an impact as was the original purpose of the church the opposite is what is happening (Romans 12.2). In the book of Colossians, the bible warns Christians not to adopt any philosophy according to the tradition of men but follow the philosophy of Christ alone (Geffre, 1995). Christians therefore have no option but to live in opposition with the culture and live up to the standards stipulated in the bible. It is, therefore, not possible to bring the way of life into the church and claim that you are still a Christian. When Christian adapt to the standards of the earth and those of Christianity either of them have authority over our lives and one therefore choose one between the two. If all cultures were brought into the church then the church would cease to be what God had original designed or purposed it to be due to the great dynamics that society has when it comes to their cultures. It is, therefore, not possible to make Christianity open for culture incorporation and continuing to call it Christianity. The Future of Christianity Christianity is the largest form of religion on earth. Overtime, Christianity has under gone major transformation and is still bound to undergo a major transformation in the future. As of now, Christianity has played a major role in the civilization and the development of the world despite the dynamic changes day by day. The largest religion the world has known therefore continues to hold hope of taping into its potential and with time realizing its largest goal, which is development and improvement of the human race. It’s however bound to face challenges as carrying on of persecution of Christians as it’s happening in china as of now and other Arabic countries (House & Jowers, 2011). Religion is also subject to the rapid change in culture to the now trending poop culture research has however shown that Christian scholarship will whoever have a strong impact in hold religion together since there will better understanding and a better way through which the message will be communicated and taught. The new thinking and the whole approach to Christianity is more than proofs that Christianity will stand the test of time (Hallowell, 2014). The implied rise number of atheist is questionable and there no major grounds for ageing so. The Christian biblical Christian point of view is very positive and is bound to revolutionize the way Christianity is perceived and Christian philosophy will eventually become a popular culture with the coming generation. Pioneers in Christianity will however have to venture to new fields to make sure to tap and make sure that they reach a larger crowd of the young people. The young people are the major driving force in the world and if they are lost before they learn of the good and bad they will be miss guided. It is, therefore, important that where their interests seam to lye they should be taught using the relevant media. Areas, which would be great impact, would get involved in the entertainment industry such as Hollywood. As much as atheism is feared to be on the rise Christianity also has found roots in major way which are capable of transforming the whole perception of Christianity the young people and creating a force in Christianity to reckon with come the next generation. References Bradley, I. (2006). The Cambridge History of Christianity: World Christianities c.1914-c.2000. The English Historical Review, CXXI(493), 1152-1154. doi:10.1093/ehr/cel250 Geffre, C. (1995). CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE. International Review Of Mission, 84(332-333), 17-31. doi:10.1111/j.1758-6631.1995.tb02686.x Hallowell, B. (2014). Philosopher Reveals His Predictions for the Future of Christianity in America.The Blaze. Retrieved 2 December 2014, from http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/01/01/philosopher-reveals-his-predictions-for-the-future-of-christianity-in-america/ House, H., & Jowers, D. (2011). Reasons for our hope. Nashville, Tenn.: B & H Academic. Hunt, S. (2013). Christianity and Western Culture. Implicit Religion, 16(3). doi:10.1558/imre.v16i3.329 Ming Ng, P. (2008). Timothy Richard: Christian Attitudes towards Other Religions and Cultures.Studies In World Christianity, 14(1), 73-92. doi:10.3366/e1354990108000063 Morrison, C. (1940). What is Christianity?. Chicago: Willett, Clark & Company. Read More