al., (2007) explains that "Luther, then, touched life at every level - the individual, the family, the church, the state -- and he did so not as a dry-as-dust philosopher but as a flesh-and-blood, fallible human being, agonizing about the important issues which faced all his contemporaries. He was a theologian who lived his theology. He put the Bible at the center of everything and, as well as applying it to every problem of prince and peasant, he tried to live it himself" (p. 24). "Luther, however, insisted that there was another, higher, source of authority: the word of God written in the Bible. In his preaching and teaching -- but above all in his public confrontations with spiritual and temporal leaders -- he gave people permission to doubt everything the Catholic hierarchy taught; to judge it for themselves against the testimony of the Bible.
Leo Tolstoy, Dorothy Day, and C.S. Lewis all express discontent with Christianity and the Church, yet instead of absolute rejection or unreflective embrace, they wrestle with faith until they reconcile and identify Christianity as their own. Because the nature of an enduring autobiography is to share one’s life in a comprehensible, insightful, creative way, these authors share an ability to examine their environment, their relationships, and their internal selves through reason. This self-reflection is both a blessing and a curse for faith, and all three authors worry that Christianity invalidates rationality. In his education, C.S.
Everyone must accept God as their savior or they will go to hell. This is a very familiar message that is preached by Christian religious leaders in places of worship around the world. As simple as this message may seem, the way it is delivered to the people makes all the difference in either turning them into believers, or scaring them away from religion altogether. John Winthrop and Jonathan Edwards were both religious leaders that lived centuries before the present time. They shared the same goal in persuading people into Christianity, yet differed greatly in the way they chose to develop their sermons.
He discusses how it is a person’s job to better understand themselves in each individual role as well as how the various roles unite and also clash. This will eventually lead to getting back to treasuring the world that God has created and his absolut... ... middle of paper ... ...ands up for what is right. I feel that I can also take this opportunity to start over with my faith and see Christianity through a whole new viewpoint. I want to look back at my faith’s history and the Bible for guidance in redeveloping my faith to find where God and Jesus are truly leading me. Bonhoeffer showed me that believing in God is not merely just attending church, praying, and singing with the worship service.
“Sinners in the hands of an angry God” was undeniably a fire and brimstone sermon, which is perhaps one of Edwards’ most famous sermons. With his direct tone he has control over his sermon and his audience, while the Pastor persuades them to accept that the wrath of God is upon them. At this time the Puritans had become complacent in their religion, which is relevant today for a number of people of all denominations. Edwards preached this sermon to awaken and persuade the unsaved to accept Christ as their Savior and to become a Christian. The Reverend is urging his listeners to have hope, relief, and acceptance with Jesus Christ.
Biblical phrases ("child of my right hand", "my sinne was" and "all his vowes") are scattered through the text. Jonson's thoughts are deeply Christian ("tho'wert lent to me" and "the state he should envie"). "O, could I loose all father, now." Here he candidly expresses his feelings by crying out to God. He speaks bluntly about the grief he is experiencing, and tries to reason with it as well by using Christianity concepts, "For why / Will man lament the state he should envie?".
Through such literary devices as personification, religious symbolism and allusion, Bunyan teaches his readers the important concepts regarding the journey to salvation. The moral of the story is that Christians must struggle to overcome fear, spiritual doubt and temptation of worldly desires in order to be saved. In 2 Timothy 3:12, believers are told that “everyone who wants to live for Christ will suffer for it.” Suffering is part of spirituality but it is through the challenges that Christians grow closer to God.
He is a pastor, a teacher, a sought-after speaker and a prolific author. His writings and lectures consistently display an intense personal conviction that Scripture is foundation of Christian living and ministry. His other books include What Did You Expect: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage, Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry, and Sex and Money: Pleasures That Leave You Empty and Grace That Satisfies. All of these develop his theme of Christ-centered Biblical Counseling through various emphases. He presents his arguments as an experienced theologian and counselor with an appreciation of the difficulties of exhortation and encouragement toward life-change even in the context of the church.
For Christians the belief in God is what keeps them grounded. Imagine the hardships endured during these difficult times in American history, the British and the English, as well as the Spanish, fighting over too whom has control. For Jonathan Edwards as a philosophical theologian, even in these trying times found, “beauty and harmony in these surroundings and played a critical role in shaping the first Great Awakening” (MacDermott, 2009). He identified with others and understood self-peace must be brought to the forefront to offer a solace existence. While others may argue religion is only used to control a mass existence.
The letter falls conveniently into three sections as Paul deals in turn with what is regarded as three false i... ... middle of paper ... ...ues continually in his letters for the importance of doing the right things, but the works spring from faith and by leading a life in the ‘fruits of the spirit’ frees us from the law. (Galatians 5.22) It is faith that makes us love others and obedience to Christ that makes us offer others a helping hand. (6.2). ‘See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!’ (Galatians 6.11) This may be an implication that Paul had bad eyesight, but he may have been wanting to emphasise his final simple message: the cross of Christ is what matters. Paul ends this powerful letter with a simple summary of his message.