christianity report editing

2

Jenna Horgan

St Thomas University

REL 2300

Professor Laino

October 31, 2022

Christian Symbols

A common Christian symbol is a cross. It is a significant symbol for many reasons. The cross symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also signifies the devotion of God to sacrifice his only son for the redemption of the human race. Crosses were used before the Christian era; however, their use cannot be labelled as faith-based or not. The widespread use of the cross began in the 4th century when emperor Constantine became a Christian, prohibited the death penalty by crucifixion, and promoted the cross as a symbol of Christianity. The cross has been used by many popular figures, including the pope, who is the head of the catholic church, where it forms part of the regalia and paraphernalia. Christians use the cross in many ways. Some Christians use it for prayer, while others use it as a protective tool against evil spirits. It is also worn as an expression of faith.

Sacred Scriptures

Many scriptures in the Bible guide the practice of Christianity. Every scripture in the Bible is regarded as sacred because the Bible is said to contain a word from God. The scriptures are divided into two; the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament gives a synopsis of the history of Christianity, a revelation of God's heart, and provides the foundational basis for comprehending the New Testament. On the other hand, the New Testament disseminates the life and significance of Jesus and his mission on earth and guides the practice of Christianity. They facilitate the various stages of Christianity, such as salvation, death, growth in spiritualism, baptism by water, and the spirit of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, these sacred scriptures play a significant role in churches.

Beliefs and Practices

Salvation and redemption are significant tenets of Christianity. The religion by itself alludes to followers of Christ dedicated to living a righteous life and abiding by the dictates of God's kingdom. However, to qualify as a Christian believer, the son of God, you need to be reborn. To be reborn is a metaphor symbolizing accepting salvation, abandoning the old life, and embracing the new life under the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Salvation and redemption are significant phases in Christianity. The scriptures indicate that a person can only go to heaven after accepting Christ as lord and personal savior. That is the ticket to heaven and the afterlife. When people die without salvation and redemption, the religion presupposes an afterlife in hell full of suffering and tribulations. Going to heaven is the objective of Christianity, and it is only through salvation that an individual is qualified to go to heaven after death.

Prayer and Worship

The notion of prayer and worship is a critical aspect of Christianity. Every religion has ways of appeasing its gods through songs and invocations (Ruth and Lim Swee Hong, 2021, 87). The religion has accepted some rituals as the only way of communicating and experiencing the presence of their gods. Without such an experience, the notion is that accessing the gods shall be an impossible task. The same applies to Christianity. Prayer and worship are channels through which Christians can communicate and experience the presence of God. Voorst (2017,41) contends that “Deities or spirits are not worshiped in a detached way; they are ritually invoked and engaged as inhabitants and agents of the world itself.” For the faithful Christian religion, there is the belief that the church is where God communes; therefore, it becomes important for people to congregate in churches for spiritual nourishment. The church helps Christians grow spiritually by offering a platform where the word of God can be shared for everyone's benefit. Church Is normally regarded as a gathering of saints to praise, worship God and enrich the soul.

Morality – Code of Ethics

Sin and forgiveness are reoccurring teachings in the Bible, especially in the New Testament. The Christian God is full of mercy and always wishes good for his people. The Old Testament provides a deeper understanding of how God dealt with transgressions. Cities were destroyed, and people lost lives through brimstones, floods, and plagues. The New Testament, however, shows a God who was merciful to his people and proved himself by sending his only son to earth to be crucified so that the sins of the people could be forgiven. The Bible emphasizes forgiveness and states that people should forgive their enemies seventy by seven times daily. That teaches us that we should be quick to forgive and not hold grudges. In the same measure, the Bible admonishes those who sin to always ask for forgiveness from God every day before the sun sets. In the same breath, the wages of sin are death, and Christians are encouraged to walk in the counsel of the righteous to avoid temptations.

Christianity in Context

In every society, conflicts will always arise due to divergence in beliefs, opinions, traditions, or objectives. Human beings are predisposed to conflicts. However, understanding the concept and principle of sin and forgiveness can assist Christians in navigating through those challenges (Patterson, 2010, 102). Anything that causes strife, discomfort, and conflicts manifest sin and can condemn a person to hell. As Christians, we must understand that maintaining conflicts is sinful. It is cogent for Christians always to find solutions to problems. Forgiveness should always be extended to those that wrong us, and we should seek forgiveness from those we offend. It will not be easy to coexist peacefully without understanding the concept of forgiveness. Understanding sin and forgiveness is crucial in determining the value of our interpersonal relationships.

References

‌ Ruth, Lester, and Lim Swee Hong. 2021.  A History of Contemporary Praise & Worship. Baker Academic.

Van, Robert E. 2020.  RELG : World, 4e. Boston, Ma: Cengage Learning ; 4Ltr.