I grew up in a Christian home and my parents were very good about instilling Christian dogmas and doctrines into my mind from a young age. That being said, I most likely first heard the word theology from them, but I cannot remember the specific instance since I was only a mere child. If I did not in fact hear it from them first, the only other likely option would be that I heard the term while attending church. My parents played the biggest part in exposing me to theology in my house. Most nights when I was younger they would read me stories from the Bible, they would always discuss with my brothers and I what we learned in Sunday school after church and they played a major role in helping me attend extracurricular activities like small …show more content…
The people that have shaped me at my church are pretty obvious selections such as: my pastor, church elders and leaders, the teachers that taught my Sunday school classes and the friends that attend my church. Since I have gone to church my entire life, I have been constantly exposed to theology and the doctrines and dogmas that go along with it, even though for most of my life I did not even know what these words meant. Luckily for me, I grew up in a community with multitudes of believers so I was able to have friends at school that could help to grow my faith and knowledge of theology. Personally, I do not like reading that much and I have not spent much time reading Christian literature (or many other books for that matter), but the book that has influenced me the most is without a doubt the Bible. Pretty much everything I learned about theology prior to this class was made possible by that …show more content…
I believe that there is only one God in all existence and I have a whole list of adjectives that could be used to describe what God is to me including: omniscient, unchanging, infinite, omnipotent, transcendent, immanent, holy, faithful, just, truthful, love, gracious and merciful. I also believe that the Holy Trinity is the best three for one deal ever known to man, meaning that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all one in God. I believe that God made the universe from nothing in seven days and that it was good. I understand that during this process God made us in his image. I think that Adam and Eve allowed sin and death to enter the world after they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There is a lot to do with redemption that I agree with. The Bible claims that Jesus was both God and man and I agree with that. I understand that Jesus was born from a virgin and that he lived a sinless life. I believe that Jesus died for our sins, but rose from the grave three days later and eventually ascended into Heaven. I agree with the biblical statement, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me '" (John 14:6). I think that we are the body of Christ and that he
Everyone has a worldview and a way they see life. Christian teachers should be willing to use their own biblical worldview to help the students in class develop a strong set of beliefs by integrating biblical truths into their lessons daily and encouraging their students to apply what they learn in class to not only their biblical worldview, but to their life.
I believe God is absolute and eternal. I believe the world I live in is temporary and preparing me for eternal life in Heaven.
Throughout history there has been one common denominator in Christian congregations worldwide. The single most important aspect that is universal of each Christian denomination is the belief that God and Jesus are one. As defined by the Trinity, The father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit make up God. The truth of the unification of Jesus and the Father is manifested in multiple ways. God has the sole power to create in the universe and in the Bible it says that through Jesus all things were created. The union of God and Jesus is also shown in the Forgiveness of Sins. According to the Old Testament forgiveness of sins is a power reserved exclusively for God the Father and in the New Testament it very clearly displays Jesus as one who was sent to forgive us of our sins. The Nicene Creed is right in saying that Jesus and God are one because creation and forgiveness of sins are actions reserved for God that Jesus also carry outs. Since Jesus possesses the ability to do things that God has left for himself, it is apparent that Jesus and God are one.
I believe in God as my savior and that if I follow his word and do not sin that I will gain eternal life and go to heaven. I have a relationship with God try not to sin and if I do I do ask for forgiveness. There are so many things that he does for us that so many people do not get to experience as they do not believe. It opens your eyes when you do experience a “sign” that God is there leading you to do something without even second doubting yourself as you just know it is the right thing to do as there is no other reason for it except one,
Christian theology is the thinking and talking all Christians engage in so they can learn
As I reflect on spiritual disciplines it is easy for me to look at them and weed out the ones that I do not think apply to me and the ones that I am drawn towards. But as I press into God and ask him what he sees fit and what I need more of, the picture begins to looks different than what I thought I saw before. Since I am so obviously human, I would rather see my life through a different more accurate lens than one that is tainted and imperfect like those of my human eyes. When I look at my life spiritually it is easy for me to see the spiritual disciplines that just come naturally to me such as worship and service. Since I know that those are areas of my faith that I thrive in, I tend to gravitate towards those to try and satisfy my spiritual life but I leave other parts to suffer. I want to gain better understanding of my faith and ultimately cultivate a deeper relationship with the Father.
The conception of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is monotheism, the belief in the existence of a single indivisible God. The three of religions maintains that there is only one God, who is active in and concerned about the world. These religions are also patriarchal, male-dominated, which has resulted in God being described as “He.” However, how Christians, Judaism and Islam conceptualize God in their respective theologies is actually quite different. In Christianity, God is the supreme creator and ruler of the universe. Christians believe God is infinite, omnipotent, all-powerful, perfect, personal, eternal, unchanging, holy, all-knowing, and all-loving. Their idea of God is shown in the belief of the Trinity. God is one, but with three aspects: God is Father, the creator, ruler, and sustainer of all life, and divine judge; God is the Son, who is Jesus, God made incarnate and savior of humanity; and the Holy Spirit, who is God working in the world. Both Muslims and Christians love and respect Jesus, however, the major difference between Islam and Christianity is the Christians insistence on the supposed divinity of Christ. In Christian scriptures, God never claimed divinity while the emphasis in the Islamic theology of God is “absolute unity;” God is sublimely one. Muslims think that by believing in the Trinity, Christians believe in three Gods. For them, God is One God. Judaism views the existence of God as a necessary prerequisite for the existence of the universe, and the existence of the universe is sufficient proof of the existence of God.
What do I believe to be true? I believe that God exists and that he is the creator of everything that exists. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, John 1:1” (NIV). This is biblical proof that God exists. The verse that explains that God has always existed is, “Revelation 22:13, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (NIV). God has been alive forever, since before my start and before the start of everything I know. God is the originator of creation itself. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, Genesis 1:1” (NIV). God created the heavens, earth, animals, humans and everything else that exists in six days and rested on the seventh day as stated in the Bible. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26” (NIV). God created me and takes care of me day by day, and provides for all my needs.
One common perception of God is that God is not so much a being, but according to seventeenth century philosopher Benedict Spinoza, that "God is everything, identical to the universe itself." That is to say that God is a part of all humans, all animals, all objects, and all matter in the universe. This particular view is called pantheism, which is literally defined to mean that there is no God, but only the combined forces and laws that are manifested in the existing universe. According to Spinoza, we are each and all an integral part of God, not as individuals or even humanity as a whole but as an integral part of what Spinoza called the "One Substance." He also believed that we are each and all components of some greater being, a being so unimaginably large that we are each nothing more than tiny parcels of matter in that being's blood.
Maddix, M. A., & Thompson, R. P. (2012). Scripture as formation: the role of Scripture in Christian Formation. Christian Education Journal, S79-S93.
I am a Christian and I believe in the Holy trinity: God, the Son, the Holy Spirit.
The following essay will evaluate the importance of the journey that takes place from Systematic to Practical theology; this view will be explored through Ronelle Sonnenberg’s research done regarding ‘being together’ in a youth setting. This essay will first build on the basis of Practical Theology; furthermore addressing the importance of the community aspect within a youth setting; this will lead to the process that takes place between a Systematic stance, leading to a Practical theological stance.
“Most Christians would rather die than think; in fact they do” (White, 17). This quote from Bertrand Russel is thought provoking and a most appropriate way to start a book on using your mind for God. A Mind for God by James Emery White is a fantastic piece of literature that delves deep into what it means to truly follow God with your mind. In just under one hundred pages White explains why, how, and what we need to follow God with all of our mind. “And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, ESV).
My definition of religion has mostly stayed the same, but my perception of it has changed. At the beginning of the class, I assumed religion was something you believed based on your moral principles. I now believe that those moral principles are based on the religion that you believe in. Your religion changes your perception of the world and how to go about in it. Your religion tells you what is right and wrong in the world and answers all of the big questions one asks. Religion according to our book is, “A pattern of beliefs and practices that expresses and enacts what a community regards as sacred and/or ultimate about life” (Van Voorst 6). That definition was one thing that really got me thinking about my own personal idea of what religion
Growing up I was raised in a religious household, so, of course, I’m a big believer in God and my faith. To me, God is the creator of all and I believe Judgment Day is going to come very soon.The definition of faith is the belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion. My faith and the reason for my faith goes hand in hand because it makes me know the truth and opens my eyes to this world. Also, I get clarity of why I’m in this world which is to make it a better place. But seeing the world as faith with reason or reason with faith has a few challenges and can make things a little bit difficult. Same goes for science and religion which butt heads a lot. Some may feel that the Big Bang Theory created