...Patrick Trainor THEO – 104 What it means to be a Christian What it means to be a Christian; hmm. Prior to this class I thought I knew all I needed to know about being Christian: read the bible, attend mass, work hard, and be good to my family, the usual. After going through this course and reading more about the bible itself and conversing with those in the class I definitely feel more enlightened to what it takes to be a Christian. The day to day lives that we all live nowadays tend to consume us so much that I think we forget why we are what we are. And I think this class has helped to reaffirm why I am a Christian. Everyone knows that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, but no one actually talks about why this is important; to them or to Christianity. To me this is kind of like a director foreshadowing in a movie. GOD was able to see that having Jesus born of a virgin would only enhance the believability of his deity by having this occur. Human skepticism is way too advanced and this just seems to be the obvious reason for setting this up this way. Just think had Jesus been born of a normal woman, in a normal setting, normal family, everyone would just assume he was normal. There would be no added credence to his power, knowledge, and compassion. It has in many ways added incentive for people to believe in him. So GOD was able to see into the future that we as a race would question, protest, and even take contrarian points of view in a unified opposition had this not...
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...What Does It Means to Be a Christian Name:Kuwantu Cammon What does it mean to "be a Christian " and how to be a Christian in today's world ? In some ways being a Christian is easy. Christian is a pupil and friend of Christ, both of these concepts are adjacent, although there are differences. On the one hand, we are disciples of Christ and His followers, and therefore must learn from Him through the Gospel that in which he believes the way he teaches us to live. During its development, Christianity experienced numerous changes, changes in the structure, rituals, views on certain things. As for the ritual, then I think it is worth to consider related to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and a milestone in the history of Christianity - the emergence of Calvinism and explain its features, its content and the filling, the difference. Meaning of Baptism for us is that if we dare to participate in it, then we are free to live the kind of life that does not apply to death. Instead of living in fear, we are able to love - to love God (it's not as easy as it sounds ), and to love our neighbor ( it's even harder ). Calvinism is the name given to a system of philosophical thought, we have inherited from Jean Calvin. He is recognized as the spokesman of the system, but not the generator of ideas in its foundation. Calvinism is not just a set of ideas shared by Calvin and his followers, but the organic...
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...on who we ask. The foundation of this answer though, will always include some type of relationship with the lord Jesus Christ. Many Christians see him as their savior or father figure. There is a Christian belief that exists that any amount of good will an individual performs will not be enough to get them into Heaven. The only way to make it to Heaven after death is to accept Jesus Christ as your lord and Savior. This belief helps us to answer the question of what it means to be a Christian because it eliminates a lot of myths surrounding the topic. For example, going to church every week does not make you a Christian. Spreading God’s word does not make you a Christian. Even volunteering for those less fortunate than you does not make you a Christian. All of these activities are external however, and can be performed by anybody. According to Christians, there needs to be an internal shift in our mindset and beliefs (putting your faith in Jesus) in order to truly be saved....
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...Being a Christian in the workplace is very hard with an ever present changing society. However, having a Christian worldview is important in any field of study and workplace. In this essay I will seek to show how the belief that mankind is created in the image of God is Foundational to the Christian faith, and explain how this belief affects the way I interact with people within my chosen vocation. To begin, a person who has a Christian worldview perceives the world from a biblical standpoint. George Barna wrote in Think Like Jesus, “That having a Christian worldview means that you think like Jesus and practice your faith in every aspect of your life” (Barna, 2003). This is how we make sense of the world, through a Christian worldview and living this life style. We choose to have a Christian worldview. We choose to live a life like...
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...Summary of Paper “ What is faith” is the title of my paper. I am going to look into both doubt and faith in our christian lives The lack of faith is not because we don’t believe. It is because we are doubtful of the outcomes. There is a time where we all both baby Christians and mature christian face a area in our lives that we have a lack faith. The outcome is usually looked at the natural aspect of life. We as Christian need to look at what is really our faith. Do we return to the days of doing thing as a normal or can we act on our faith and expect the blessing of God into our live. What does it really mean to be a christian? That is the question at hand. Are we a season christian that looks at doing thing our natural way or do we place our faith and let God be God. It is not just being a christian in word but in acts. What does it mean to be a christian and what is necessary to be a christian is a question that must be ask and answered. This is important because being a christian mean the we believe trust and have faith. The faith as small as a mustard seed but faith in itself is faith. I will look into the opposite of faith which is doubt and where can doubt enter our lives. Is it a turmoil experience or was it cause by fear or confusion. The choices we make all have a result by our actions. What is the result of being a christian with faith or one a christian doubting one faith. The important aspect of this paper is faith and the question comes that mind is it a process...
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...the world mostly due to the Roman Empire and apostles such as Paul (Early Christians, n.d.). Holy sites in Christianity include Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ died and rose again on the cross and Bethlehem, which is the place where Jesus was born. Another holy site is Nazareth, which is where Jesus Christ grew up as a child and today where the largest Christian church in the Middle East is located. Rites of Passages/Rituals A confirmation in Christianity is where an already baptized person strengthens their relationship with God and becomes a full member of the Christian community. During this ceremony, the individual...
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...The Christian Life Professor L. Swinson BIBL 425 – BO4 LUO Dana R. Peebles May 23, 2015 Introduction For centuries, Christians have looked towards the Bible for insight and guidance on how to live a life of righteousness and be free from the bondage of sin. In looking at The Christian Life and comparing it to what The Book of Romans has to say, we can see that the Spirit is integral to this process. According to Romans 8, this process is part of our sanctification. It is because of God’s grace that we have the ability to decide daily to die to ourselves and accept the opportunity to live as his children. As God’s children, often times we have very different perspectives. In many ways, these different views create debates. The controversy over the issue of God’s grace and gift of salvation, along with our response is one that should not be taken lightly. When looking at what the Apostle Paul says when he stated, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,” it is obvious that this comment leaves individuals with unanswered questions. [1].What does Paul mean by the expression of “God foreknew?” How do we fathom the election of the “predestined” individuals who are saved and sanctified? And, how are we to understand God and his “foreknowledge” of our eternal security without knowing what it means to be righteous or “conformed to the likeness of his Son?” (Romans 8:29). It...
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...THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Presented to Dr. Timothy Swinson for BIBL 425 – Romans by J.W. Cullen L23879492 11 Aug 12 Introduction The believer putting to death the corrupted deeds of the body by the Spirit and the renewing of the believer’s mind to discern the things of God characterizes the Christian life, according to Paul’s teaching depicted in Romans 8:13 and 12:2. A Christian must continually put to the death sin, by the work of the Holy Spirit, which originates within their hearts and within their bodies, that is the expression of the sin within the heart. Christians are set apart for God’s use and according to Romans 8:29, God conforms believers to the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The life of every Christian is a continual renewal or development to the likeness of Christ, who is the perfect image of man. Romans 8 depicts a transformation of a life dominated by the flesh to a life led by the Spirit of God. A Christian’s mindset is reshaped by the Spirit and is focused on to the things of God and not on the world. The motive for Christian living is intellectual in which it begins with the mind. What a Christian has been already made in Christ is now what they are called to do. Ultimately, the end result of the Christian life is to bring glory to God. Thus God is glorified when man response to Him by placing his trust in Jesus Christ and turns from a lifestyle of sin, which is characterized by obedience and devotion to Him. Corrupted Deeds...
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...How Do I Know God's Will for a Marriage Partner? Introduction: Christians have a variety of views regarding selecting a husband or wife according to the will of God. Many Christians fear that they might go out of the will of God or miss out “on God’s best.” Many believe that there is only one person whom the Lord has selected for each Christian and it is up to each Christian to find that person. This person is the “right one” according to the will of God. Finding the “right one” is the key to finding God’s will and marital happiness over a lifetime. Many believe that If a Christian should marry someone else by accident or by desire, then he or she will not be in God’s will. They can still be happy, but will not have God’s best. However, those who marry the wrong person also risk the possibility of divorce. Christians often feel that couples get divorced because they have married the wrong person. Are all these beliefs true? Are these principles what the Bible teaches? The answer is no. They are not true and the Bible nowhere teaches these views. "Is he or she the right one?" is the wrong question to ask. "Is he or she the right one?" is the wrong question to ask. The right question, which the Scriptures teach is this one, “Is he or she the right kind of person to marry?" Prov.18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds what is good, and receives favor from the Lord." In other words, it is good for a man to find a woman and get married. The converse is true as well. It is good for...
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...CHRISTIAN DRESS AND ADORNMENT Chapter 7 PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN DRESS Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Andrews University In every age men and women have bedecked and bejeweled their bodies. The desire to adorn the body with colorful cosmetics, costly jewelry, and eye-catching clothes has left few untouched. Thus, it is not surprising that our survey found, throughout Biblical and Christian history, frequent calls to dress modestly and decently, without glittering jewelry or luxurious clothes. Such a call is especially relevant today when modesty and decency are out, and nudity and sensuality are in. To bring into sharper focus the relevance of the Biblical teachings on dress and ornaments for our time, I shall endeavor to formulate seven basic statements of principle which summarize the highlights of this study. This brief review will help the reader to gain a better overview of the fundamental Biblical teachings on dress and adornment that have emerged in the course of our investigation. PRINCIPLE ONE: Dress and appearance are an important index of Christian character. Clothes and appearance are most powerful nonverbal communicators not only of our socioeconomic status, but also of our moral values. We are what we wear. This means that the outward appearance is an important index of Christian character. The Bible recognizes the importance of dress and ornaments as indicated by the numerous stories, allegories, and admonitions that we have found regarding appropriate...
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...the year. The next forty days are filled with preparation for the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. As the foundation of my religion, Easter is a holiday heavily celebrated by millions around the globe. Now, if you aren’t a Christian, please try and refrain from rolling your eyes, moving to another page, or de-friending me on Facebook. Lent has inspired me to move away from my mommy blogging for a post or two and focus on something that is huge in my life. To talk about a person who has made me a better human being. Because, yes, I am mother. I am wife. I am a daughter. I am a sister, friend and good neighbour. I love reading and am fascinated by Canadian politics. I enjoy kicking...
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...Islam have a communitarian dimension: what the church is to Christianity the"umma" is to Islam. Despite these significant similarities, however, these two world religions have a number of significant differences as well.I would like to comment on these -- not to engage in any kind of polemic (since I consider polemic a sign of religious immaturity)but to foster better understanding. A true dialogue between religions can be built only on nuanced understanding and not caricature. I will discuss these differences under four general headings: I -- The Understanding of God ============================= Muslims and Christians believe there is only one God / Allah. The basic testimony of Islam is called the 'shahada', the first clause of which states that "la ilaha illa Allah" -- "There is no god but God." This is certainly a statement that Christians would affirm. But how Christians and Muslims conceptualize God in their respective theologies is actually quite different. The emphasis in the Islamic theology of God can be summarized by one word: 'tawhid', which means "absolute unity." Muslims insist that there is no distinction within the Godhead. God is sublimely one. Thus the Islamic polemic against Christianity has centered on the doctrine of Trinity. This is the central doctrine that causes problems for Muslims when they consider Christianity. Muslims have caricatured Christians as tritheists guilty of "shirk", that is...
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...Justification for the Christian Chaplaincy 5 The Chaplain’s Present Ministry 6 The Future of the Christian Military Chaplain 9 Conclusion 12 Bibliography 13 Introduction The chaplaincy in the American Military is as old as the United States of America. Chaplains fought alongside General George Washington in the revolutionary war and served as officiators over many ceremonial precedings in the early days of United States history. Today’s military chaplain still fights alongside military men and women in austere environments around the globe. He is responsible for providing meaningful worship materials and services for the variety of faiths that are represented by individuals in the United States Military. It is through the policy of pluralism in an attitude of tolerance and compassion that the military chaplain is able to minister to service men and women of various faiths. Recent policy decisions by the United States Pentagon, the last few presidential administrations, and the leaders of the armed forces have created an increasingly difficult environment for devout Christians to minister as chaplains in the United States Military. This paper will focus on the activities of the current Christian military chaplain in regard to their legal boundaries, their theological justifications for being a chaplain, their present ministry, and their future ministry. Looking ahead, a larger portion of this paper will focus on the future of the Christian military chaplain....
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...Biblical theology is a Christian approach in which the theologian studies the Bible from the perspective of understanding the progressive history of God revealing Himself to humanity and following the fall and throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. Biblical theology is an attempt to articulate the theology that the Bible contains as its writers addressed their particular settings. It particularly focuses on the epochs of the Old Testament in order to understand how each part of it ultimately points forward to fulfillment in the life mission of Jesus Christ. Because scholars have tended to use the term in different ways, biblical theology has been notoriously difficult to define. Biblical theology is also study of the Bible that seeks to discover what the biblical writers, under divine guidance, believed, described, and taught in the context of their own times. Biblical theology is an attempt to understand God as He is revealed in the Bible. It seeks to discover what the biblical writers understand, believe and what they are taught. It’s based on the Bible first and then it takes scriptures from the word of God. Biblical theology pays attention to the soil of history. It studies revelation in the progressive sequence in which it was given. Also biblical theology finds its source in the Bible. Relation to Other Disciplines Biblical theology is related to but different from three other major branches of theological inquiry. Practical theology focuses on pastoral application...
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...beginning the christian life “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ...” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, then you are a Christian. According to the New Testament, you are also a new creation. You are beginning a whole new life! And just as a newborn baby needs certain things in order to be healthy and to grow up, so do you, as a new Christian, need certain things to grow spiritually. First, you need to be in fellowship with other Christians. It is through fellowship that you will learn more about God and about how to live as a Christian. You should plan to attend church regularly and join a kinship group so that you can develop close friendships with other believers. Vineyard has many kinship groups that meet on different days and in different locations throughout central Ohio. Choose one that is convenient for you so that you can be encouraged in your new relationship with God! Second, you need to pray, which is simply talking to God. Prayer is how you will grow in your relationship with God and how you can begin to allow Him to work in areas of your life. And third, you need to read the Bible on a regular basis. It is through the Bible that God will speak to you about Himself and your life needs. Beginning the Christian Life Series was developed by Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Columbus for new...
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