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Essay on pastoral care
Essays on pastoral care
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There are two main pastoral care issues within this situation. The first is the question of how churches should be hospitable during joys and concerns. The sharing of joys and concerns in worship has biblical roots (Romans 12:15 and Galatians 6:2 ). It is a practice that has been done in churches for centuries. There are a few different ways that churches go about sharing joys and concerns. This usually happens right before the pastoral prayer or the prayers of the people. The first method for doing joys and concerns is when the pastor opens up the floor for anybody to stand up and voice what they need prayer for and what they want to celebrate. The second way that this is often done is for congregants to write their joys and concerns on little sheets of paper and the pastor will read them, as they see fit, to the congregation. Many churches have moved to letting the pastor decide what the congregation hears because this time is sometimes unintentionally used for gossip. In Romans 12, Paul offers his thoughts on how Christians should be living together and treating one another. Paul commands us to take care of one another, live in harmony, and to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” What Paul is essentially saying is that if one member of the church is suffering, the church is to share in that suffering. If one member of the church has an achievement or a joy, the congregation is to share in that joy. When members of the church share their joys and concerns, the body of Christ and true hospitality becomes a reality. Another question that arises from this situation is how a pastor should react when someone offers up a something that is considered offensive or full of gossip. Personally, I ... ... middle of paper ... ...n to gain a mutual understanding of one another. When we develop friendships with Muslims as members of the human community from whom we have much to learn, we will be able to increase our respect and knowledge of Islam. Jim was genuinely afraid of Muslims and Sharia law. This fear and hatred that came out both in our worship services and in our conversation is the kind of attitude that is holding back better relations between Christians and Muslims. The action statement that closes out the resolution calls for local congregations to develop ongoing relationships with Muslims. It urges us to initiate conversations, programs, and dialogues that will lead to an understanding and appreciation of both Islam and Christianity. As a congregation of the United Methodist Church, Brownsville UMC is called to be in relationship with Muslims in the surrounding communities.
In 1961 James Baldwin met Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam movement at the time. Baldwin’s experience within the Christian Church prior to his meeting with Elijah helped him analyze the Nation of Islam. This also allowed him to draw parallels between the Nation of Islam movement and the Christian Church. How James Baldwin understood the way the Christian Church worked, and a close look at the Nation of Islam, brings to light the credibility of organized religions.
Race and religion are two concepts in American culture that can really tie people together, or clearly separate them apart. A group forged by strong common roots in both race and religion can be a powerful societal force, if it wants to be. The Nation of Islam is a small but growing religion in America that has become somewhat of a social movement because of its strong and radical ideas on race. In this paper, I will try to explore the beliefs of the Nation of Islam, and the ramifications it could and has had on racial relations in America. The Nation of Islam, or NOI, is a relatively new religion. The first temple of Islam was established in Detroit by Master Fard Muhammed in 1930. Much of the theology was based on the simple facts that: "Allah is god, the white man is the devil, and the so-called Negroes are the Asiatic black people, the cream of the earth."(1) And, in accordance with their bizarre view of creation, involving a mad scientist creating the white race from the black race, the twentieth century represents the time for black people to regain their rightful position as god¹s chosen people. (1) The Nation of Islam was spawned from Orthodox Islam, an age-old religion. However, Orthodox Islam has openly denounced the NOI as a heretic sect for three main reasons: the NOI¹s rejection of the belief in an afterlife, its tendency to view human leaders as deified figures, and its strong racist attitudes. (2) For a brief time, during the seventies, Wallace Deen Muhammed became the leader of the NOI and tried to take it in a new direction, more conforming to "true Islamic beliefs." This group is now called the American Muslim Mission and still exists in small numbers today. (1) ...
Paul offers advice to the Roman Church. He says that Christians should not boast and are to live a life of service. Because the end is near, Christians should not be self-centered. Paul called on Romans to be civically responsible. Paul discusses Christian relations and tolerance with regards to "the strong" and "the weak".
Burns, Thomas J. "Islam." Religion and Society. OU Campus' Dale Hall, Norman. 14 Apr. 2014. Lecture.
...agreed with, some that frustrated, and some that embarrassed me when my personal preferences defied logic or biblical mandate. I would recommend this reading to any who impact church worship (employee or volunteer). Not as a firm guide, but as thought-provoking advice on how corporate worship can impact an ever-changing culture. I think any worship leader would be impacted by Dawn’s questions:
... of talking to and working with each other, of talking and working with the non-Muslim world. We must go into the world in all of its dimensions, all of its every multiplying spaces and experiences and find within them a vehicle that would allow those ideas and values that we cherish to take root. There are no formulas here, no pre-mapped practices to specify how such experimentation at interchange should be conducted. Although steeped in a very particular "American history", much can be learned from the experiences of Black Americans and the generosity of spirit which has often characterized everyday relationships between Muslims and Christians. Whatever steps we as Muslims take, we should have sufficient faith in the power of our faith to know that we will persist through this and all things. We should know that it is within our capacity to bring America to Islam.
As a minister God expects his leaders to care for the people he has given them influence over with understanding and patience. There is no particular model to follow because all churches have their struggles and each minister has a gift to help influence the congregants through their conflicts.
Islam and Christianity both come from a common foundation as religions of peace, both of these religious traditions share the foundational element of peace of their beliefs. In both the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity peace is a virtue and is seen more as a sense of wellbeing than just the absence of conflict and violence. Overall peace is found in unity with God, for Christians and Muslims are taught to live a life a life of peace with others, not only in their own communities but the entire of human society. The Qur’an in Islam and the New Testament in Christianity are respectively the principal sacred texts for these religious traditions. The Qur’an and the New Testament both express the importance of peace and peacemaking as evident in Jesus’ Beatitudes “Blessed are the peacemakers”. The search for inner peace is the core message of the Qur’an and the New Testament and the adherents of both traditions are taught that inner peace will come through faithfully devoting yourself to God.
The human relationship perspective shows it is clear that nonbelievers that are together will do things that are immoral and ungodly. This is something that is likely to occur with someone that has a secular worldview. Paul writes about the dangers of turning away from God with the sins that are stated in Romans that include unnatural sex acts, perversion, depraved minds and in Romans 1:29, “They have become filled with every kid of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are filled with envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.” Christians following the biblical worldview must develop relationships together that reinforce their faith in God and that Jesus Christ is the redeemer. Romans 5: 1-2, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into his grace in which we now stand. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” I see the importance of developing relationships with people that have the same worldview. Developing relationships and working with others that hold the same ethic, values, and morals within the Christian community is important. Practicing my faith in Jesus with others in the Church is a practice that will enhance my relationship with
The Congregational Church is not a new religion in the United States today. This early denomination dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, a time in which England was involved in a revolt against the Established Church. This congregational way held new principles and views than the beliefs of the English church, many so radical that the followers were called Independents or Separatists. I have been raised in the Congregational Church, and it is truly a wonderful opportunity for me to describe here the practices and beliefs of the place where my faith was nurtured, and also incorporate the significance that hymns have played in my worship experiences.The central understanding in Congregationalism is that each local congregation is self-governing, which necessitates the full autonomy of the local congregation in matters of faith and doctrine as well as in other matters of governance. It acknowledges no authority outside of the local congregation, neither bishop nor presbytery. The Congregational Church is reluctant to give binding authority to creeds, for this is the ground on which they broke free from in early England. Preaching is extremely important, for the Word in Scripture is thought of as the constitutive of the Church. Ministry also derives its authority from the Word, and in my own church is a very vital part of our mission. Baptism and The Lord's Supper are practiced, although there is still an argument present on the b...
Throughout the years, religions have come together to bring about a new age of interfaith and interconnectedness. There are countless of examples where people have adopted two or more religions as there own, seeing and respecting the relationships and similarities between the two. In hand with this, people are now beginning to understand other religions and respect their practices. There is sort of a hybrid coming about of religions, where communities will pray with each other in a sort of collaboration of respects. However, this change in religion did not come about easily, it took much strife to bring about an interconnectedness that everyone is now a part of. Now that this interconnected and respect occurs in some areas, this can open up
In the traditional church service the creeds, hymns and preaching are the focal points of the service. Whereas in a contemporary service praise and worship are the focal points. In the early church tradition only apostles, bishops and elders taught the Word of God. McGrath stated that, “by their historical succession from the apostles, the bishops ensured their congregations remained faithful to their teachings and interpretations.” Sadly, there is little or no accountability for congregations to remain faithful to their teachings in the contemporary “church tradition”. I believe that adopting the practices of the early “church tradition” would be a great way for the contemporary “church tradition” to pass on the teachings of the apostles and enrich the life of the church.
Gulevich, Tanya, and Frederick S. Colby. Understanding Islam and Muslim Traditions. Detriot, Michigan: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2004. Print.
Based on the story of Islam Our Choice: Portraits of Modern American Muslim Women edited by Debra L. Dirks and Stephanie Parlove, I learned that not all people are born as lucky as we are. In this book, there are six short stories which are written by six different American Muslim women on how they encounter Islam. Each of them has their own stories about their background, carrier and their perspectives towards Islam before they become a Muslim. Truthfully, I enjoyed reading this book as it is written by those women who completely understand the limited freedom that they feel. Moreover, I also observed different culture in different society and how they see those differences as a unity instead of barrier to get close with each other.
Christians are not called to feel love for all persons, but to desire to act in a caring and just way towards all, which is the true reality of a believer’s unity with Christ. As we can see in Romans 8 it has already been establish that there is no condemnation for the ones whom God is sanctifying by the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that the primary cause of distinction between the true believer and all others is the existence and work of the Holy Spirit within. Within the chapter we all have received the proclamation that we have been freed from the bondage of sin and shame. Paul has taught us that our spirit plays a serious role in the sanctification of the believer. But, today many churches don’t teach much on the necessity of the process that is causing people to go astray doing what they want with no regard’s of what is set in order by God’s word. To truly understand this chapter one must understand text that appears in the text of Romans 6 and 7. This paper will give some of what Paul taught and what he shared about the concept of sanctification and how the spirit is involved with it all.