Many modern-day Christians have a false depiction of what a life of Christianity entails. Many of these Christians believe that in order to get to Heaven they simply need to be baptized, recognize that Jesus is their savior, and ask for the forgiveness of their sins. Many only attend church when it is convenient for them and when it fits into their busy schedule. However, this is an elementary view of Christianity. St. Francis de Sales, author of Introduction to the Devout Life, describes and outlines what the true Christian life entails and how one can achieve an advanced relationship with God. St. Francis de Sales begins by defining devotion as “a spiritual activity and liveliness by means of which Divine Love works in us, and causes us to work briskly and lovingly, and just as charity leads us to a general practice of all God’s Commandments, so devotion leads us to practice them readily and diligently. (p. 9)” A life of devotion is a life of love that is given generously and is also received generously. However, what separates this love from any other type of love is that it flows from God. Finding the love of God through a life of devotion is not easy. There are many challenges and …show more content…
He immediately catches the reader’s attention and maintains that interest throughout the rest of the reading. De Sales also informs the reader that a life of devotion is not easy and is only obtained through diligence and hard work. However, he also gives the reader hope by explain that everyone has a unique way that they give their life to God. Dr. Myers also seems to carry this opinion throughout his lectures. He has shown the class many different ways to worship God and to obtain a deeper relationship with Him. However, Myers also explains that obtaining this deeper relationship with God will be challenging and will demand diligence and hard
Christianity is considered to be a living religion especially in terms of the reach for salvation. In the present through the practice of Baptism, Christians believe they die to the life of Original Sin and are born again to Christ, thus able to achieve Salvation. Thus, the tradition and sacred ritual of baptism implies that in order to be active adherents in the Catholic church, one must be baptised, just as Jesus was in the New Testament, “Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 2:38) Another way in which baptism demonstrate that Christianity is a living religious tradition, is through the teachings associated with the purpose of human existence. Through the act of Baptism, which is a direct display of the belief in Salvation through Jesus, the purpose of human life is presented in terms of adherent’s purpose to lov...
There are many facets of a relationship with God. They can be known in the Christian community as disciplines. Worship although identified as a Christian discipline is more about relationship, love and honour to the Father. It is the topic that will be discussed through out this paper.
Many Christians ask themselves why we are here on Earth today, and why christian character matters today in God’s Kingdom. N.T. Wright, author and also known as the Bishop of Durham, wrote After you Believe in order to help his readers reflect on why we are here which is to eventually become full human beings; full in the sense of being fully formed and, in other words, fully mature. The majority of Christians want to reflect God in their everyday lives, ultimately serving in His Kingdom and ending up in heaven as an eternal life. Reflecting God’s character involves those who worship and do mission, and this is done by allowing Jesus to lead us. In the beginning of the book Wright states, “The way this works out is that it produces, through
This is a spirituality steeped in monastic theology, aiming at wisdom rather than knowledge, seeking to draw lessons out of scripture to apply practically to a life of contemplation and devotion. The ever-pervasive influence of the Cistercian sermo means his writings assume a shared starting point of faith and outlook and press towards corporate encouragement. To this end, Bernard, with his abbatial burden, seeks to share with the reader, or hearer, the grace he himself has received from the Lord. A careful study leaves the reader assuredly edified towards a greater love for Christ. His emphasis on the will and its attendant desire and love offers a helpful corrective to our contemporary over-emphasis on reason, which often veers towards an evangelical rationalism. Bernard’s view of the Christian life through the metaphors of journey and relationship is useful in engaging the heart and mind and again provide a helpful corrective to contemporary decisionism and easy believism. Bernard presents a view of Christian discipleship not as a program or study plan, but as a headlong plunge into an experiential pursuit of the Spirit of Christ, seeking the threefold kisses of repentance, obedience and contemplative union. A union which through degrees draws the seeker away from a selfish love of God and others, to a divinely empowered love of God and others. Our evangelical minds can shrink back at the heights of love to which Bernard calls us to, even as those who believe the Bible, we are prone to temper his call to love with a divine self-forgetfulness, with rejoinders of the limitations of our fallenness this side of glory. And no doubt, the fullest experience of this perfect will requires glorified, perfected hearts, minds, souls and strength. This side of glory we only experience in part and see through a glass darkly. But our limitations should not cause us to
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3). The most confusing part of Christianity is the Trinity. Understanding God in three persons is difficult. He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Humanity is to trust in the Father’s providential care; trust in the Son 's forgiving, justifying work; and trust in the Spirit 's comfort and witness to the truth of the Word (Johnson, 2014). Christianity will therefore change the way a person thinks and behaves. To live for Christ and have the Holy Spirit means that one dies to themselves. Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians
A public form of Christian worship is a “Baptism”. A baptism is a rite that a young Christian would go through. In a baptism the child would be totally submerged under the water to try and cleans the soul. Another form of baptism includes pouring water three times on the forehead. Some Christians believe that a baptism is necessary for salvation. Salvation to Christians is that on the day they die their soul will be saved from the eternal fires of hell and it they will spend eternity in heaven with their lord. Another meaning of the word "baptism" has been used to refer to any ceremony, trial, or experience.
As we have looked in to the Christian worldview of God, our humanity, the Son of God, and the restoration of our lives back into God’s purpose. Now we have a better understanding of what it means to be a member of the Christian community. God wants believers to dwell in union and in community having the same mind that is in Jesus Christ (Phil 2:1-11). This paper showed how God and Jesus Christ are at the fundamental core of all Christian beliefs regardless of the countless differences many Christians may
Sacramental worldview directly affects the Catholic Church and it’s social teachings. Sacramental worldview is a belief that all things were created by God and communicate something about him, therefore everything is a metaphor. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has a set of Catholic Social Teachings that deal with the conduct of a moral human being. Sacramental worldview influences our approach to Catholic Social Teachings and injustice as it implies that it is a Catholics’ moral duty to serve the world and make it a better place.
Christian faith and Ethos is the class I am taking this term. The professor 's name is Reverend Leroy Leach Jr. The class is about God, the creation, and how to read the Holy Bible.
I’ve met many people who say they’re Christians but don’t really exhibit the Christian attitude. They don’t try to have a loving or patient attitude or try to spread God’s word to others. There are some who also don’t go to church. Personally, I think some of these trends have reasons. Some of the “non-dedicated” Christians may still be learning how to properly communicate God’s word. Also, attending church is not required. Faith in God is what truly makes one a Christian. There may be some people who don’t have true faith in God, but, as I said before, we should force feed God onto them. If they truly desire God, then God will go to them.
In volume 1 of The Christian Tradition, Jaroslav Pelikan carefully studied the ancient patristic heritage of the East and the West and explored its complex relationship with classical thought and culture. Pelikan’s knowledge and ability to follow the course of Christian history and to compare the different movements of theological thought within the church communities makes Pelikan's study so significant and useful to anyone who studies the Christian faith and doctrine. This volume of Pelikan's work is dedicated to the first six centuries of Christianity - the historical period in which the basic dogmas of the church were formulated and conciliarly approved. He describes the era of the Apostolic Fathers whose legacy remains one of the sources of Christian theology. This book will be
My worldview has two significant parts that I believe are connected at every avenue of life. The first part is about the Christian worldview that I hold, and it starts by my belief that God created the earth and everything in it, just as described in Genesis 1. I feel strongly that God has placed me on this earth to fully serve Him in everything I do and to live my life purposefully. I am certain that God created each and every one of us in a unique way because he has a very specific and unique plan for our lives. With that being said, I feel that God has placed a desire in all of us to serve, love, and show compassion and grace towards others. This is why I feel that it is important that children are taught how to serve others at a young
Some seem to have the church as if it were a restaurant, they come when they are hungry or as a cafeteria, they choose what they like, and reject what they do not like. Or, like the doctor, they come when they are wrong, or sick. Even Christians sometimes seem to understand the concept of membership in a local church. Christ, because they have the church as a group of believers with whom one joins, especially Sunday for worship; Eat dinner They come and go, freely, sometimes they do not congregate, or congregate in one local church, and then in another without taking responsibility in
“Through devotion, your family cares become more peaceful, mutual love between husband and wife becomes more sincere, the service we owe to the prince more faithful, and our work, no matter what it is, becomes more pleasant and agreeable”. When looking at devotion through the eyes of love there is not a clear answer to what it looks like. Although the connection between two people show the devotion is true. It is not the force of being together it is out of good will but emotions show the true meaning. Love can be shown in many different ways for example vacation but with the influences with social media and the culture changes. In the mindset of today’s humans to have a connection with another cannot be forced but yet automatically. “When you are devoted to someone or something, the object of your devotion becomes a part of you. Your own sense of well-being depends on whether they are flourishing. This makes devotion risky -- but also profoundly rewarding”. Devotion, it can be noticed as commitment, loyalty and promises. When bringing “love” into a definition that can
Is it possible to understand the gospel message, serve as an officer in a church, be sure of your salvation, and yet still not get into heaven when you die? Matthew, one of the original twelve disciples, answered this question clearly. Yes, on “that day”, many will stand before God and hear Him say, “I know you not; depart from me.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)