essay about the relevance of christianity in people's everyday lives

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How Is Christianity Relevant in a Modern World?

Christianity, or following Jesus Christ and the truth found in the Bible, remains as relevant and powerful today as it was 2,000 years ago when Jesus was walking this earth. Christianity is centered around the belief that Jesus Christ is the Savior of this world. He came to earth to bridge the gap between people and God, which was created by sin. Although the concept of salvation is timeless, some may wonder if the other truths found in scripture and practices of Christianity are still relevant in our modern world.

Instructing and Informing our Faith Journey

Christianity gives us guidance on what it looks like to have a faith-filled life that is rooted in Jesus. Once someone receives the good news of salvation, provided by Jesus, it is necessary to continue growing in faith and love. Through studying the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians, it is possible to develop a deeper faith in Jesus and trust in the Lord. This guidance is helpful for those who are fully confident in who Jesus is but are also eager to learn more about Him and His ways.

Guidance for Daily Living

One of the key areas of relevance for modern-day Christianity is in how it provides wisdom and guidance for everyday living. Throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament we are provided with guidance and instructions for how to live a life in alignment with God’s best for us. In the Old Testament, we see this revealed as Mosaic Law is established, resulting in the Ten Commandments. We also see guidance for daily living provided in the New Testament as Jesus teaches in parables and provides a framework for how to apply our faith to everyday life, like in His instruction around forgiveness and resolving disagreements in (Matthew 6:14-15). Perhaps most beautiful though is that the Bible, in both the Old Testament and New Testament, provides guidance for daily living that is covered in grace — not a requirement for perfection.

A Framework for Facing Hardship and Heartache

Early in Genesis, we watched as sin was introduced into the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. There is no doubt that this world is broken by the impacts of sin. From disease to war, tragedy to natural disasters, there is no shortage of hardship and heartache. Christianity helps us find a way forward in faith. It instructs us to trust in God’s faithfulness through it all and prompts us to serve each other, when needs arise. Perhaps surprisingly to some, Christianity also teaches us that we can have joy, regardless of circumstances.

Steadfast joy is modeled for us by a key biblical figure, the Apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Phillipians, while actively imprisoned for his faith, and spoke extensively about our ability to remain joy-filled regardless of the oppression and hardship we face. While this world can be discouraging and disappointing, Christianity helps us navigate our challenges with a heart oriented toward God’s goodness.

Teaching Us How to Love One Another

Christianity has timeless relevance in its call to love others. In fact, Jesus poignantly instructs that the two most important commandments we have are to love God and to love others (Matthew 22:36-40).

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He consistently showed up to meet both the practical and spiritual needs of those He encountered. He loved in ways that at times surprised those around Him because of how relentless, unwavering, and sacrificial His love is. In the New Testament, we watched as Jesus healed blindness, raised people from the dead, cast out demons, turned water into wine, calmed raging seas, and provided an abundance of food to those in need. Each one of those miraculous acts was rooted in deep love and the opportunity to demonstrate His might and power as our Savior.

From the example of Jesus, we learn that we should also love sacrificially, serve others, and desire the best for those around us. Jesus ministered to the poor and brokenhearted, and we should follow suit.

Christianity Remains Relevant Today

The redeeming power of Jesus Christ will never fade in its relevance to us and for generations to come. Not only is He our savior and redeemer but through a life that is aligned with Him, we are provided guidance, instruction, and models for how to live in our modern times. Practicing Christianity, in a way that centers on a love relationship with Jesus, has the opportunity to inform every area of our life – now and forever.

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Caitlyn Scaggs

Caitlyn Scaggs is Executive Manager at New Hope Girls and author of Worth It & Wonderful . She is on a mission to positively impact others by encouraging the pursuit of whole-hearted living while reflecting a life that aligns with a faith in Jesus Christ. Learn more at boldlypursue.com or Amazon.com

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Christianity as a Way of Life

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Episode No. 173

https://faith.yale.edu/media/christianity-as-a-way-of-life

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Episode Summary

What would it mean for us to take Christianity seriously as a way of life, a set of practices and ways of being in the world—and not merely a list of beliefs? Theologian Kevin Hector (University of Chicago Divinity School) joins Ryan McAnnally-Linz for a discussion of his latest book, Christianity as a Way of Life.

Theologian Kevin Hector (University of Chicago Divinity School) joins Ryan McAnnally-Linz for a discussion of his latest book, Christianity as a Way of Life .

What would it mean for us to take Christianity seriously as a way of life, a set of practices and ways of being in the world—and not merely a list of beliefs?

Theologian Kevin Hector (University of Chicago Divinity School) joins Ryan McAnnally-Linz for a discussion of his latest book, Christianity as a Way of Life . Together they reflect on the practice of Christianity; the role of devotion to God in framing the importance of Christianity to a practitioner; the unique practices embedded in the life of Christians; the plausibility of Christianity today; what it means to see Jesus in people and look for the image of God in others; the practices of imitation and forgiveness; the conflicted character of Christian experience; loving God as loving what God loves; the significance of shame; and what it means to renarrate your life in light of the Gospel.

About Kevin Hector

Kevin Hector is the Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor of Theology and of the Philosophy of Religions; also in the College. His teaching and research are devoted largely to interpretive questions, particularly (a) how best to understand faith commitments, and (b) how the outworking of such commitments can shed light on broader cultural issues. Hector's first book, Theology without Metaphysics  (Cambridge University Press, 2011), thus defends a novel approach to the problem of metaphysics by developing a philosophically-informed and critically-articulated theology of language. In his second book, The Theological Project of Modernism: Faith and the Conditions of Mineness (Oxford University Press, 2015), Hector explores the idea of 'mineness,' in the sense of being able to identify with one's life or experience it as self-expressive, by tracing the development of this idea in modern theology. His third book, Christianity as a Way of Life: A Systematic Theology (Yale University Press, 2023) argues that we can understand Christianity as a set of practices designed to transform one’s way of perceiving and being in the world or, in sum, as a way of life. And in his forthcoming book-project, tentatively entitled “Life as a Theological Project: Creating a Usable Past,” Hector focuses on memoirs as a site of theological reflection, not least because memoirs shed light on issues that people wrestle with more generally.

Follow him on Twitter/X here .

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• This podcast featured Kevin Hector
• Edited and Produced by Evan Rosa
• Hosted by Evan Rosa
• Production Assistance by Macie Bridge, Alexa Rollow, & Tim Bergeland
• A Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/about
• Support For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

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• Religion in Everyday Life

Highly religious Americans are happier and more involved with family but are no more likely to exercise, recycle or make socially conscious consumer choices

Table of contents.

• 1. Highly religious people not distinctive in all aspects of everyday life
• 2. Essentials of Christian identity vary by level of religiosity; many ‘nones’ say honesty vital to being a moral person
• 3. Few Americans turn to religious leaders for advice when making major life decisions
• Acknowledgments
• Methodology

A new Pew Research Center study of the ways religion influences the daily lives of Americans finds that people who are highly religious are more engaged with their extended families, more likely to volunteer, more involved in their communities and generally happier with the way things are going in their lives.

These differences are found not only in the U.S. adult population as a whole but also within a variety of religious traditions (such as between Catholics who are highly religious and those who are less religious), and they persist even when controlling for other factors, including age, income, education, geographic region of residence, marital status and parental status.

However, in several other areas of day-to-day life – including interpersonal interactions, attention to health and fitness, and social and environmental consciousness – Pew Research Center surveys find that people who pray every day and regularly attend religious services appear to be very similar to those who are not as religious. 1

These are among the latest findings of Pew Research Center’s U.S. Religious Landscape Study. The study and this report were made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts, which received support for the project from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Two previous reports on the Landscape Study, based on a 2014 telephone survey of more than 35,000 adults, examined the changing religious composition of the U.S. public and described the religious beliefs, practices and experiences of Americans. This new report also draws on the national telephone survey but is based primarily on a supplemental survey among 3,278 participants in the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel, a nationally representative group of randomly selected U.S. adults surveyed online and by mail. The supplemental survey was designed to go beyond traditional measures of religious behavior – such as worship service attendance, prayer and belief in God – to examine the ways people exhibit (or do not exhibit) their religious beliefs, values and connections in their day-to-day lives. 2

To help explore this question, the survey asked U.S. adults whether each of a series of 16 beliefs and behaviors is “essential,” “important but not essential,” or “not important” to what their religion means to them, personally.

Among Christians, believing in God tops the list, with fully 86% saying belief in God is “essential” to their Christian identity. In addition, roughly seven-in-ten Christians say being grateful for what they have (71%), forgiving those who have wronged them (69%) and always being honest (67%) are essential to being Christian. Far fewer say that attending religious services (35%), dressing modestly (26%), working to protect the environment (22%) or resting on the Sabbath (18%) are essential to what being Christian means to them, personally.

The survey posed similar questions to members of non-Christian faiths and religiously unaffiliated Americans (sometimes called religious “nones”), asking whether various behaviors are essential to “what being a moral person means to you.” 3  Among the unaffiliated, honesty (58%) and gratitude (53%) are the attributes most commonly seen as essential to being a moral person. (Findings about non-Christians are discussed in more detail at the end of Chapter 2 .)

The survey shows a clear link between what people see as essential to their faith and their self-reported day-to-day behavior. Simply put, those who believe that behaving in a particular way or performing certain actions are key elements of their faith are much more likely to say they actually perform those actions on a regular basis.

For example, among Christians who say that working to help the poor is essential to what being Christian means to them, about six-in-ten say they donated time, money or goods to help the poor in the past week. By comparison, fewer Christians who do not see helping the poor as central to their religious identity say they worked to help the poor during the previous week (42%).

The same pattern is seen in the survey’s questions about interpersonal interactions, health and social consciousness. Relatively few Christians see living a healthy lifestyle, buying from companies that pay fair wages or protecting the environment as key elements of their faith. But those who do see these things as essential to what it means to be a Christian are more likely than others to say they live a healthy lifestyle (by exercising, for example), consider how a company treats its employees and the environment when making purchasing decisions, or attempt to recycle or reduce waste as much as possible.

Of course, survey data like these cannot prove that believing certain actions are obligatory for Christians actually causes Christians to behave in particular ways. The causal arrow could point in the other direction: It may be easier for those who regularly engage in particular behaviors to cite those behaviors as essential to their faith. Conversely, it may be harder for those who do not regularly engage in particular activities (such as helping the poor) to describe those activities as essential to their faith. Nevertheless, the survey data suggest that Christians are more likely to live healthy lives, work on behalf of the poor and behave in environmentally conscious ways if they consider these things essential to what it means to be a Christian.

But while relatively few people look to religious leaders for guidance on major decisions, many Americans do turn to prayer when faced with important choices. Indeed, among those who are highly religious, nearly nine-in-ten (86%) say they rely “a lot” on prayer and personal religious reflection when making major life decisions, which exceeds the share of the highly religious who say they rely a lot on their own research.

Other key findings in this report include:

• Three-quarters of adults – including 96% of members of historically black Protestant churches and 93% of evangelical Protestants – say they thanked God for something in the past week. And two-thirds, including 91% of those in the historically black Protestant tradition and 87% of evangelicals, say they asked God for help during the past week. Fewer than one-in-ten adults (8%) say they got angry with God in the past week. (For more details on how Americans say they relate to God, see Chapter 1 .)
• One-third of religiously unaffiliated Americans say they thanked God for something in the past week, and one-in-four have asked God for help in the past week. (For more details, see Chapter 1 .)
• Nearly half of Americans (46%) say they talk with their immediate families about religion at least once or twice a month. About a quarter (27%) say they talk about religion at least once a month with their extended families, and 33% say they discuss religion as often with people outside their families. Having regular conversations about religion is most common among evangelicals and people who belong to churches in the historically black Protestant tradition. By contrast, relatively few religious “nones” say they discuss religion with any regularity. (For more details on how often Americans talk about religion, see Chapter 1 .)
• One-third of American adults (33%) say they volunteered in the past week. This includes 10% who say they volunteered mainly through a church or religious organization and 22% who say their volunteering was not done through a religious organization. (For more details on volunteering, see Chapter 1 .) 4
• Three-in-ten adults say they meditated in the past week to help cope with stress. Regularly using meditation to cope with stress is more common among highly religious people than among those who are less religious (42% vs. 26%). (For more details on meditation and stress, see Chapter 1 .)
• Nine-in-ten adults say the quality of a product is a “major factor” they take into account when making purchasing decisions, and three-quarters focus on the price. Far fewer – only about one-quarter of adults – say a company’s environmental responsibility (26%) or whether it pays employees a fair wage (26%) are major factors in their purchasing decisions. Highly religious adults are no more or less likely than those who are less religious to say they consider a company’s environmental record and fair wage practices in making purchasing decisions. (For more details on how Americans make purchasing decisions, see Chapter 1 .)
• Three-quarters of Catholics say they look to their own conscience “a great deal” for guidance on difficult moral questions. Far fewer Catholics say they look a great deal to the Catholic Church’s teachings (21%), the Bible (15%) or the pope (11%) for guidance on difficult moral questions. (For more details, see Chapter 3 .)
• One-quarter of Christians say dressing modestly is essential to what being Christian means to them, and an additional four-in-ten say it is “important, but not essential.” (For more details, see Chapter 2 .)
• When asked to describe, in their own words, what being a “moral person” means to them, 23% of religious “nones” cite the golden rule or being kind to others, 15% mention being a good person and 12% mention being tolerant and respectful of others. (For more details, see Chapter 2 .)

The remainder of this report explores these and other findings in greater depth. Chapter 1 provides greater detail on how Americans from various religious backgrounds say they live their day-to-day lives. Chapter 2 examines the essentials of religious and moral identity – what do Christians see as “essential” to what it means to be a Christian, and what do members of non-Christian faiths and religious “nones” see as essential to being a moral person? Chapter 3 reports on where members of various religious groups say they look for guidance when making major life decisions or thinking about tough moral questions. On most of these questions, the report compares highly religious Americans with those who are less religious and also looks at differences among members of a variety of religious groups. For comparisons of highly religious people with those who are less religious within particular religious groups (e.g., highly religious Catholics vs. less religious Catholics), see the detailed tables .

Profile of those who are highly religious, less religious

In this report, “highly religious” respondents are defined as those who say they pray daily and attend religious services at least once a week. Overall, 30% of U.S. adults are highly religious by this definition, while 70% are not. 5

As this report highlights, these standard measures of traditional religious practice do not capture the full breadth of what it means to be religious; many respondents also say attributes such as gratitude, forgiveness and honesty are essential to what being religious means to them, personally. Nevertheless, these two indicators (prayer and religious attendance) are closely related to a variety of other measures of religious commitment.

For example, nine-in-ten people who are categorized as highly religious (91%) say religion is very important in their lives, and nearly all the rest (7%) say religion is at least somewhat important to them. By contrast, only three-in-ten people who are classified as not highly religious (31%) say religion is very important in their lives, and most of the rest (38%) say religion is “not too” or “not at all” important to them. 6

Nearly all people who are highly religious say believing in God is essential to their religious identity (96%), compared with only 57% of people who are not highly religious. Similarly, fully seven-in-ten people who are highly religious say reading the Bible or other religious materials is essential to their religious identity; only 18% of those who are not highly religious say this is vital to their religious identity or to what being a moral person means to them.

As might be expected, the religious makeup of the highly religious and less religious also are quite distinct. Fully half of highly religious American adults (49%) identify with evangelical Protestant denominations, compared with about one-in-five (19%) of those who are not highly religious. And while only a handful of highly religious people are religiously unaffiliated, about a quarter of less religious respondents (27%) identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.”

There also are important demographic differences between the highly religious and those who are less religious. 7  They also are more likely to align with the Republican Party than the Democratic Party, and they are somewhat older, on average, than those who are less religious. However, there are few differences by level of education.

If respondents who seldom or never pray and seldom or never attend religious services are analyzed separately from others who are “not highly religious,” many of these differences are even larger.

• Some previous studies have found that highly religious Americans Are more likely to volunteer not only for religious causes but also for secular ones. See Putnam, Robert D. and David E. Campbell. 2010. “American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us.” Chapter 13, pages 443-454. Some prior studies also have found linkages between religious behavior and better health outcomes, though the reasons for this are debated. See, for example, Blasi, Anthony J. ed. 2011. “Toward a Sociological Theory of Religion and Health.” ↩
• In recent years, religious leaders across a wide range of faiths have urged followers to put their religious beliefs into practice through everyday behaviors such as consumer choices, environmentalism, hospitality, charity, honesty, forgiveness and healthy living. See, for example, Pope Francis’ 2015 environmental encyclical “Laudato Si.” Also see Bass, Dorothy C. ed. 2010. “Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People.” However, the underlying question in this report is not normative – e.g., how religious people should behave in daily life – but sociological: Do Americans who are highly religious by conventional measures (prayer and worship service attendance) also have different beliefs or behave differently from less religious Americans in other areas of life? ↩
• Ideally, the survey would have asked about the “essentials” of religious identity across a wider range of religious groups. For example, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist respondents would have been asked if these behaviors are essential to what being Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist means to them. Because some respondents completed the survey by mail in a paper-and-pencil format, however, it was not feasible to program the questionnaire with language specific to more than a few religious groups. ↩
• Readers should note that surveys may overstate the extent to which respondents engage in volunteering, since people who participate in activities such as volunteering also are more likely to participate in surveys. For more details, see “ The challenges of polling when fewer people are available to be polled .” ↩
• Estimates of the highly religious share of the population come from the 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study national telephone survey. Among respondents in the supplemental survey, 28% are highly religious by the definition employed here, and 72% are not. ↩
• The question asking respondents how important religion is in their lives was asked in a previous wave of the American Trends Panel series of surveys; as a result, not everyone in the supplemental survey to the Religious Landscape Study was asked this question. For more details about the American Trends Panel, see the Methodology . ↩
• For more on the link between gender and religiosity, see Pew Research Center’s report “ The Gender Gap in Religion Around the World .” ↩

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What Role Does Religion Play in Your Life?

Did you attend religious services or observe religious traditions as a child? How has religion shaped who you are today?

By Nicole Daniels and Michael Gonchar

When you were younger, did you attend religious services or participate in religious observations with your family? Did you belong to any kind of religious community? What about now, as a teenager?

Has religion played an important role in your life? If so, in what ways?

In her recent Opinion essay, “ I Followed the Lives of 3,290 Teenagers. This Is What I Learned About Religion and Education ,” Ilana M. Horwitz discusses the effects of a religious upbringing on academic success:

American men are dropping out of college in alarming numbers. A slew of articles over the past year depict a generation of men who feel lost , detached and lacking in male role models . This sense of despair is especially acute among working-class men, fewer than one in five of whom completes college. Yet one group is defying the odds: boys from working-class families who grow up religious. As a sociologist of education and religion, I followed the lives of 3,290 teenagers from 2003 to 2012 using survey and interview data from the National Study of Youth and Religion , and then linking those data to the National Student Clearinghouse in 2016. I studied the relationship between teenagers’ religious upbringing and its influence on their education: their school grades, which colleges they attend and how much higher education they complete. My research focused on Christian denominations because they are the most prevalent in the United States. I found that what religion offers teenagers varies by social class. Those raised by professional-class parents, for example, do not experience much in the way of an educational advantage from being religious. In some ways, religion even constrains teenagers’ educational opportunities (especially girls’) by shaping their academic ambitions after graduation; they are less likely to consider a selective college as they prioritize life goals such as parenthood, altruism and service to God rather than a prestigious career. However, teenage boys from working-class families, regardless of race, who were regularly involved in their church and strongly believed in God were twice as likely to earn bachelor’s degrees as moderately religious or nonreligious boys. Religious boys are not any smarter , so why are they doing better in school? The answer lies in how religious belief and religious involvement can buffer working-class Americans — males in particular — from despair.

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The Impact of Christ-like Humility on Everyday Life

Jesus taught us differently, and it is often quite difficult for us humans to grasp – to even understand. We have this built-in resistance to getting something for nothing – thus, we struggle with the idea of not earning something, like our salvation.

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven . Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." -  Matthew 18:3 b – 4 ESV

Among other consistent threads in Jesus’s teaching is that what we humans find valuable in our lives here on earth is not viewed as valuable in the kingdom of heaven. Wealth, power, and possessions – all mean nothing in our eternal existence. Jesus continuously taught that God’s kingdom is nothing like the kingdom of this world. While we humans remain overly concerned with social status and appearances, clout, power, and prestige – the kingdom of heaven is nothing like that. We rank people by how they look, their houses, their cars, their education. Fame. Position in life. We need only look at the level of influence owned by celebrities and professional athletes – undeserved and unearned by anything other than fame and fortune, fed by their own egos.

Starting early on, we are taught how to succeed in life. It is a mentality, a state of mind. We want to top the list. Work harder. Dig deeper. The early bird gets the worm. Second place is the first loser. You get what you pay for. No pain, no gain.

Life and careers in our corporate worlds are not much different. Those who work harder and are willing to sacrifice their personal lives on behalf of the company excel. Those who simply see it as “a job and nothing more” are left behind. Even many pastors will admit this drive to “grow the church” often begins to dominate their lives over the gospel and their families.

But Jesus taught us differently, and it is often quite difficult for us humans to grasp – to even understand. We have this built-in resistance to getting something for nothing – thus, we struggle with the idea of not earning something, like our salvation. In other words, we resist the entire concept of free grace. It simply goes against every lesson and every instinct. What we know is “those on top get the rewards.” What Jesus taught is that those who are last will be first. 

"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." -  Matthew 19:30

I believe it is in this light that Jesus answered a question from his disciples with a lesson. 

Who Is Greatest in the Kingdom?

Shortly after the transfiguration , the disciples decided to ask Jesus about their standing in the kingdom of heaven. Perhaps Peter, James, and John were feeling their oats a bit after being called with Jesus onto the mountaintop to pray – and then to bear witness to the transfiguration. It had to have been overpowering and awe-inspiring. And perhaps their heads were getting a bit big for their britches. 

“Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  ( Matthew 18:1 b)   they asked. The question may have been innocent, but then again, they very well may have been seeking affirmation from Jesus as to which of them would be granted superior status when they stepped out into eternity. 

As was his way, Jesus gave them an example. Calling a child to him, Jesus said this:

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." -  Matthew 18:3 b – 4 ESV

While the disciples seemed to be hoping for commendation from Jesus, instead, they were told to be like children. They sought recognition, praise and honor – seeking to attain significant roles in the new kingdom they assumed Jesus was to establish on earth and instead were caught off guard with a wake-up call. Not unusual when following Jesus, I would guess. To the disciples, it was only a question of which among them would be most important. But Jesus had a sharp lesson for them.

But what is it about children that Jesus referred to? After all, children are not always the best behaved, most obedient, and certainly not naturally wise or pure or mature – nor innocent. But children are humble in that they instinctively recognize the need for their parents. 

Children are intuitively humble in the sense they know they are not in control of their own lives. They are completely dependent on us, their parents, to receive anything they need or may want. Children have no legal standing of their own in society – can’t drive, can’t vote, can’t work. They own nothing. Can buy nothing. No status in society in general – without an adult. 

Being a parent, perhaps the most important job we will ever be given, comes with no instruction manuals. We are blessed and have our hands full all at the same time. Yet, children innately trust us as they hold our hands to cross the street. As we drive them from place to place with no hesitancy about their safety. As they trust us to answer questions for them. And oh, so much more.

Here, we are blessed with this little human being in our lives who not only looks up to us but who counts on us. Who relies on us. Who trusts us completely. Who knows, deep inside, we would never do anything to harm them. These children know we will provide for them through all things. All things. 

When the lives of our children run into challenges or trials or roadblocks of some kind when they begin to have doubts – about themselves, their faith, their path in life, their chosen profession…to whom do they turn? Indeed, to their parents. To whom did Jesus turn? To his Father.

Lessons Not Learned

The disciples perhaps didn’t learn the lessons Jesus taught until later. After Jesus’ teaching about the greatest in heaven, John tells Jesus about a group he saw casting out demons in Jesus’s name. ( Mark 9:38 , Luke 9:49 .) John seemed to find this offensive. Jesus’ reply made a statement that what was important was the name in which the works were being done, not who performed those works. 

Then we see in Mark 10 (and Matthew 20:20-21 ) Jesus taught a similar lesson when James and John went directly to Jesus to ask for special treatment:

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” -  Mark 10:35-37

Upon hearing about this, the other ten “became indignant.” Indeed, outraged, maybe? Annoyed at the two brothers? Offended by their chutzpah? Then Jesus taught them again:

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (v. 42-15)

“….did not come to be served, but to serve.” 

Then, even at the last supper, another dispute arose among the disciples as they argued about who was the greatest.

"A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." -  Luke 22:24-27

Humility, trust, and service. These are the keys to the greatest in heaven. 

Practicing What Jesus Preached

Christians, it would seem, often have a difficult time accepting free  grace. We are raised to do better, do more, and work harder. Of course, that’s why they call it grace – there is nothing we can do to earn it.   

We must ask ourselves – what are we willing to give up here on earth? What claims in this life are we willing to forego for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ? Paul renounced all the status he had in his prior life, calling it garbage. Other versions use the word “dung.”

"But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." -  Philippians 3:7-9

The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is not based on who we are on earth, rather it is the one whose humility helps them realize how much they need Christ. Greatness in God’s kingdom has nothing to do with power, prestige, or privilege. Quite the contrary – it has more to do with our weakness. 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." -  2 Corinthians 12:9

His grace is sufficient for us. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses – not in our strengths.

The greatest, perhaps, are those most aware of that which he or she lacks. In fact, as we step into eternity, what we lack is surpassed in importance only by what we have through Jesus Christ - on the basis of what has been done for us. Helpless on our own, yet loved without condition.

I sense that I am not the only one who will find that understanding the teachings of Jesus is not nearly as difficult as actually living according to what he says. 

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Sasiistock

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The Relevance of the Bible to our Modern World

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2 of 3 Series: Is the Bible Still Relevant?

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• Relevance of Christianity
• April 30, 2019

One of the criticisms of the Bible today concerns its relevance. Is it just an ancient book that should have no impact on the way we live our lives in the 21st century? Or is it what it claims to be – the true Word of God, necessary for all generations?

Surely Not?

What do we mean by relevant? According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘relevant’ is defined as, 'Closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.' Applying this to the question in hand, I want to consider whether the teaching and ideas of scripture have any connection to our modern world.

Many consider it ludicrous to live one's life according to the words of a book written thousands of years ago. The world is an ever-changing place.   We are in a constant process of scientific discovery, technological development, philosophical refinement, and moral evolution.

Why should we constrict ourselves to the dogmatism of an ancient religion? After all, biblical teaching has often opposed scientific theory and cultural morality. Would we not do well to dispense with its message, thereby allowing humanity to flourish under our superior knowledge of the world?

"But what about the moral condition of the world? Is modern society more honest and the world more peaceful than it used to be?"

The Unsolvable Problem

Before we hastily write the Bible off, let us consider where secular thinking has brought us. For all our progress, have we arrived where we want to be? For all our advances, is the world today what we hoped for? Have two thousand years of investment in science and philosophy reaped the rewards we expected?

Few would dispute the many material improvements of modern society. Thanks to research and investment, healthcare, communications, transport and many other important features of life have developed immeasurably. But what about the moral condition of the world? Is modern society more honest and the world more peaceful than it used to be? Are we more unified in our understanding of what is true? Have our improved means led to improved ends in the moral condition of humanity?

What, throughout history, has been the cause of the world’s ills? Many lay the blame at the feet of religion, culture and politics. But these are not the deepest roots. Every act of evil can be traced further back than these conditional factors. Although many might blame religion or politics, the root of evil is in the human heart.

The problem isn’t just ‘back there’ in history, or ‘out there’ in society, but ‘in here’, residing within each one of us. Despite good education and some inbuilt awareness of right and wrong, every one has to confess that we are still guilty of wrongdoing. We have all been responsible for making choices we have come to regret, failing even to live up   to our own standards.

I do not think that this is purely theoretical.   In practice, we all recognise human wickedness. We lock our cars when they are not in use. Our homes are insured in case of break-ins. We keep online accounts secure with passwords. We tell our children not to talk to strangers. Why? Because we have no confidence in the morality of the society around us – and rightly so.

"What can we conclude from these observations? Growth in technology over the past centuries has been exponential. Improvement of human morality has been non-existent."

With this in mind, can we anticipate a brighter future? Do we think the days will come when the world will be at peace, when we are satisfied with our politicians, when our police force is redundant when we can trust our neighbours and we are free from personal failings and bad habits? There is no evidence that the world is heading towards such a utopia. The answer seems beyond the reach of science, education and law.

Richard is a graphic designer living in Northampton, where he attends Osborne Road Gospel Hall.

The Importance of Christian Morality: Why It Matters in Today’s World

Christianity is more than a religion; it’s a way of life that has been practiced for over two thousand years. At the heart of this way of life is morality , which refers to the principles of right and wrong that guide human behavior. Christian morality is essential because it provides a framework for making ethical decisions that align with God’s will.

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to understand the role that Christian morality plays in our lives. Many people believe that morality is subjective, and what is right for one person may not be right for another. However, as Christians, we know that there are absolute truths that govern human behavior, and it’s our duty to follow them.

This article will explore the importance of Christian morality in our daily lives, the benefits it provides, and why it matters in today’s world. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how Christian morality can help you navigate the challenges of modern life and live a fulfilling and purposeful existence.

Keep reading to discover how Christian morality can transform your life and the world around you.

Table of Contents

Understanding Christian Morality

Christian morality is a set of principles based on the teachings of the Bible and the life of Jesus Christ. The fundamental idea is to live a life that is pleasing to God and to treat others with kindness, compassion, and respect. Love is at the core of Christian morality, and this love is not limited to one’s family and friends but extends to everyone.

To understand Christian morality, it is essential to delve into the teachings of the Bible. The Ten Commandments are a great starting point. Christians are called to follow these commandments, which cover everything from honoring one’s parents to not committing adultery. Additionally, the teachings of Jesus provide guidance on how to live a life in accordance with God’s will.

Forgiveness is another essential aspect of Christian morality. Christians believe that forgiveness is an act of love and that it is necessary to live a fulfilling life. Forgiveness involves letting go of anger and resentment towards others and recognizing that everyone makes mistakes. By forgiving others, one can experience a sense of peace and move on from past hurts.

Christian morality also involves the concept of humility . Christians are called to be humble and to put others before themselves. This involves recognizing that one’s own needs and desires are not the most important things in life. Instead, Christians are called to serve others and to show kindness and compassion to those in need.

In conclusion, understanding Christian morality involves a deep understanding of the teachings of the Bible and the life of Jesus. It involves living a life that is based on love, forgiveness, and humility. By living according to these principles, one can experience a sense of fulfillment and live a life that is pleasing to God.

The Foundation of Christian Morality

Divine Law: The foundation of Christian morality is the belief in the divine law, which is the expression of God’s will. This law is based on the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ. It guides Christians on how to live their lives and treat others with love and respect.

Conscience: Christians believe that God has given them a conscience to help them discern right from wrong. It is the inner voice that tells them to do what is good and avoid what is evil. A well-formed conscience is essential to living a virtuous life and following the divine law.

The Bible: The Bible is another essential foundation of Christian morality. It contains the Word of God and provides guidance on how to live a moral and virtuous life. Christians believe that studying and meditating on the Bible is crucial to understanding God’s will and living according to His commandments.

Tradition: Christian tradition is the collective wisdom and practices of the Church, handed down from generation to generation. It includes the teachings of the Church Fathers, the saints, and the magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church). Christians believe that tradition provides a deeper understanding of God’s will and is essential to living a moral and virtuous life.

Understanding the foundation of Christian morality is crucial for living a life of virtue and following the divine law. By recognizing the importance of divine law, conscience, the Bible, and tradition, Christians can strive to live a life that pleases God and leads to their ultimate happiness.

The Principles of Christian Morality

Christian morality is based on a set of principles that guide individuals on how to lead a moral and virtuous life. These principles are firmly rooted in the teachings of the Bible and the life of Jesus Christ, and are considered the bedrock of Christian ethics. Love, justice, compassion, and forgiveness are some of the key principles of Christian morality that are essential for leading a virtuous life.

Love is the cornerstone of Christian morality, and is viewed as the greatest commandment. Christians are taught to love God with all their heart, mind, and soul, and to love their neighbors as themselves. This principle emphasizes the importance of selflessness and putting the needs of others before one’s own.

Justice is another important principle of Christian morality, which stresses the importance of fairness, equality, and impartiality. It calls for treating others with respect and dignity, regardless of their race, gender, or social status. Christians are called to work towards creating a just society and fighting against social injustices.

Compassion is a key principle of Christian morality, which encourages individuals to show kindness, empathy, and understanding towards others. It involves putting oneself in another’s shoes and understanding their pain and struggles. Compassion is essential for building meaningful relationships and fostering a sense of community.

Forgiveness is another important principle of Christian morality, which emphasizes the importance of letting go of grudges and resentments towards others. It involves showing mercy and grace towards those who have wronged us, and is a key element of Christian faith. Forgiveness allows individuals to heal and move forward, both spiritually and emotionally.

The Importance of Prayer in Christian Morality

Strengthening the Relationship with God: Prayer is a means of communication with God and a way to deepen the relationship with Him. It helps individuals to connect with God and seek His guidance and support in their lives.

Spiritual Growth: Prayer is an essential component of Christian morality as it helps individuals grow spiritually. It can increase their faith, provide a sense of peace, and help them overcome struggles and challenges in life.

Connection with the Community: Prayer also plays a significant role in building and strengthening the Christian community. It is a way to come together and pray for one another, share experiences, and support each other.

Alignment with God’s Will: Prayer is a means of aligning an individual’s will with God’s will. Through prayer, Christians can seek guidance and clarity on decisions they need to make, and discern what God’s will is for their lives.

The Role of Christian Morality in Society

Christian Morality plays a significant role in society today. It helps to shape the behavior of individuals, which in turn influences the way society functions as a whole. One of the main roles of Christian morality is to promote compassion and love towards one another. This helps to build stronger communities and fosters a sense of unity and cooperation.

Christian morality also serves as a guide for ethical decision-making. It helps individuals to distinguish right from wrong, and to make choices that are in line with their values and beliefs. This is important for maintaining a just and fair society, where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Another important role of Christian morality is to promote social justice. This means working towards a society where everyone has equal opportunities, and where resources are distributed fairly. This includes advocating for the marginalized and vulnerable members of society, and standing up against discrimination and inequality.

Christian morality also encourages individuals to take responsibility for their actions and to be accountable to others. This helps to promote personal and collective growth, and fosters a culture of honesty and transparency.

Ultimately, the role of Christian morality in society is to create a world where people can live with integrity, kindness, and compassion towards one another. It is a powerful force for good, and its impact can be seen in the positive changes it brings about in people’s lives and in the wider community.

Christian Morality and Social Justice

Christian morality has a significant role to play in social justice. It calls for treating all people equally, with dignity and respect. It demands that we act with compassion and fairness towards the poor, marginalized, and oppressed.

Social justice is a crucial aspect of Christian morality because it promotes the common good and seeks to eliminate systemic injustices. It encourages us to work towards a society where every individual has access to basic needs, including food, shelter, and healthcare.

Christian morality and social justice are also interconnected because they both emphasize the importance of loving our neighbor as ourselves. It urges us to work towards a world where everyone is treated with fairness and compassion, regardless of their race, religion, or social status.

Jesus Christ himself was a model of social justice, and his teachings and actions continue to inspire Christians today to work towards a just and equitable world.

Benefits of Christian Morality in Everyday Life

Inner Peace: Living by Christian morals gives individuals a sense of inner peace that can help alleviate stress and anxiety.

Improved Relationships: Christian morality places a strong emphasis on love, compassion, and forgiveness. Practicing these values can lead to healthier relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.

Personal Growth: By striving to live by Christian morals, individuals can cultivate positive character traits like humility, gratitude, and self-discipline. This can lead to personal growth and a greater sense of purpose in life.

Positive Impact on Society: Individuals who practice Christian morality can have a positive impact on society by promoting values like kindness, generosity, and social responsibility.

By incorporating Christian morals into everyday life, individuals can experience numerous benefits that can enhance their well-being and contribute to a better world.

Inner Peace and Fulfillment through Christian Morality

Christian morality provides a sense of purpose and direction that leads to a fulfilled life. It helps individuals to understand their true identity and gives them a clear vision of the kind of life they want to lead.

Through Christian morality, individuals find inner peace by living a life that is consistent with their values and beliefs. They are able to make decisions with a clear conscience and are free from the burden of guilt and shame.

Christian morality also teaches forgiveness and empathy , which leads to healthier relationships and a deeper understanding of others. Forgiveness allows individuals to let go of anger and resentment and to focus on the positive aspects of their relationships.

Finally, Christian morality helps individuals to cultivate gratitude for the blessings in their lives. By recognizing the good things they have, individuals are able to develop a positive outlook and to find joy in their daily lives.

By following the principles of Christian morality, individuals are able to live a more purposeful, peaceful, and fulfilling life. It helps them to find meaning in their existence, to develop healthier relationships, and to cultivate a positive attitude towards life.

Improved Relationships through Christian Morality

Love: Love is the foundation of Christian morality, and it is the key to healthy relationships. Christian morality teaches us to love one another unconditionally, just as God loves us. This love transcends boundaries of race, gender, and culture, and it inspires us to treat others with kindness, respect, and compassion.

Forgiveness: Forgiveness is another essential aspect of Christian morality that can improve relationships. Jesus taught us to forgive others, even when they wrong us. Forgiveness can help to heal wounds, repair broken relationships, and promote reconciliation.

Humility: Humility is also crucial in improving relationships. Christian morality teaches us to be humble and to prioritize the needs of others above our own. Humility helps us to avoid arrogance and pride, which can damage relationships.

The Impact of Christian Morality on Personal Development

Character: One of the most important aspects of personal development is character, and Christian morality emphasizes the development of a strong, virtuous character. The teachings of Christianity encourage individuals to embody values such as love, kindness, honesty, and humility, which can help them become more compassionate and empathetic human beings.

Self-Awareness: Christian morality also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, particularly when it comes to recognizing one’s own faults and areas for improvement. Through practices such as self-reflection and confession, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of themselves and work towards becoming better versions of themselves.

Resilience: The journey of personal development can often be challenging, and Christian morality provides a foundation of resilience that can help individuals navigate difficult times. The belief in a higher power and the promise of eternal life can provide individuals with a sense of hope and purpose, helping them persevere in the face of adversity.

Moral Integrity: Finally, Christian morality emphasizes the importance of moral integrity in personal development. By following the teachings of Christianity and striving to live a virtuous life, individuals can develop a strong sense of moral character and become role models for others. This can help them lead fulfilling lives and positively impact those around them.

Christian Morality and Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is one of the key components of Christian morality. It involves cultivating self-control and resisting temptation, which is necessary for spiritual growth and personal development. Through self-discipline, Christians can build habits that promote righteousness and avoid behaviors that lead to sin.

Self-discipline is also important for achieving goals in life. Whether it is in the spiritual realm or the physical realm, self-discipline is essential for success. It helps individuals to focus their energies on what is important and avoid distractions that may hinder their progress.

Practicing self-discipline can be challenging, especially in a world that promotes instant gratification and indulgence. However, through prayer, scripture study , and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians can develop the necessary discipline to live a righteous and fulfilling life.

Christian Morality and Personal Growth

Self-reflection: Christian morality encourages individuals to reflect on their actions, thoughts, and beliefs, which can lead to personal growth and development.

Forgiveness: Through Christian morality, individuals learn the value of forgiveness, which can help them let go of negative emotions and experiences, and promote personal growth.

Compassion: Christian morality teaches individuals to show compassion and empathy towards others, which can help them develop a more positive and fulfilling outlook on life.

By incorporating Christian values and principles into their daily lives, individuals can experience personal growth and development, leading to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Why Christian Morality is Relevant Today

Relevance to Current Issues: Christian morality provides a framework for addressing contemporary ethical dilemmas, such as the treatment of refugees, poverty, and inequality.

Personal Fulfillment: The principles of Christian morality can offer individuals a sense of purpose and direction in their lives, promoting self-actualization and well-being.

Community Building: Christian morality encourages empathy, compassion, and forgiveness, which can foster stronger relationships within families, workplaces, and society as a whole.

Christian Morality and Contemporary Issues

• Environmentalism: Christian morality emphasizes stewardship of the earth and its resources. Christians should care for the environment as part of their responsibility to God and future generations.
• Social Justice: Many contemporary social justice issues, such as poverty and inequality, are addressed by Christian morality. Christians should work to promote justice and fairness in society.
• Technology: Christian morality raises important questions about the impact of technology on human life and society. Christians should use technology in ways that promote human flourishing and protect human dignity.
• Religious Pluralism: In a diverse and pluralistic society, Christian morality teaches respect for people of different faiths and backgrounds. Christians should seek to build bridges of understanding and cooperation with those of different beliefs.

Christian morality provides a framework for addressing contemporary issues in a way that is both meaningful and relevant. By engaging with these issues in light of Christian teachings, Christians can contribute to building a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does christian morality influence personal behavior.

Christian morality emphasizes principles such as love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility. These principles shape a person’s worldview and guide their decision-making. They also encourage individuals to live a life of integrity and treat others with kindness and respect.

What role does Christian morality play in society?

Christian morality provides a framework for ethical behavior in society. It helps people to understand their responsibilities towards others and to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. This can lead to the promotion of social justice, the common good, and the respect for human rights.

How does Christian morality impact mental health?

Christian morality can have a positive impact on mental health by promoting inner peace, self-control, and the ability to cope with difficult situations. It can also provide a sense of purpose and meaning in life, which can contribute to a person’s overall well-being and happiness.

How does Christian morality relate to contemporary issues?

Christian morality offers a unique perspective on contemporary issues such as social justice, human rights, and environmental ethics. It provides a framework for understanding these issues from a moral standpoint and encourages individuals to take action to address them.

What is the relevance of Christian morality in the modern world?

Christian morality remains relevant in the modern world because it offers a timeless message of love, compassion, and forgiveness. It provides a foundation for personal growth and social responsibility, and its principles can be applied in a wide range of contexts, including business, politics, and everyday life.

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How does being a Christian shape our lives?

1. how ought we to live our piety.

If being a Christian means following the teachings of Jesus Christ, then by definition there are practical implications and effects to our life and faith. How we live out our Christianity has been called many things throughout the history of the Church our piety, our service, our lifestyle, our life commitment. Whatever one calls it, how we live our Christian faith is informed by many things including our parents, our culture, our Church. One of the goals of Sunrise Church is to identify from the Bible how we ought to shape our lives. How much of the modern Christian in North America is Biblical Christianity and how much has been passed to us by our families or our culture?

Some of the issues of lifestyle and piety that are important to us as Reformed Christians are:

Loving God:   We believe that God has called all people to love him. Not merely as an emotion but as a commitment and an expression of faith. As Christians we believe God exists as the sovereign and supreme being. If God exists as revealed in the Jewish and Christian scriptures, then he is worthy of our love, our commitment, our devotion. Each person is called to love God with all of their being.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:5)

Loving Others: (Benevolence, love and Biblical justice): God has been gracious to us through his forgiveness, mercy and provision. He loved and protected us when we did not deserve it. In light of his love toward us, we are called to extend similar love, mercy and justice to those around us even when they don’t deserve it.

Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Lev. 19:18)

Following Jesus:   (The Lordship of Christ): If Jesus, indeed, died on the cross, as the atonement for our sin, then such an act of immense love and grace demands a sincere response. The only worthy response to Jesus as our Savior is to submit to Jesus as our Lord. This means that Jesus demands on his disciples become an expectation for us to which we willing submit. Jesus has the right to rule over our priorities, opinions and desires. We willfully embrace Christ and His people.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matt. 28:19-20)

Worshipping God:   We believe that God has called all people to worship him. Worship happens on the Lord’s Day (Sunday, the first day of the week when Jesus arose from the grave) but it is also intended to be a daily way of life. Reformed Christians believe that all of life is religion. Thus, worship is not something that only happens for one hour on Sunday, or only in a church sanctuary, but rather everything we do, we should do to the glory of God. Therefore, worship at Sunrise Church is not about a polished performance. Rather our corporate worship is intended to be an expression of the diverse gifts God has give us and the diverse cultures from whence he has called us. We believe that worship should be both culturally relevant (contemporary) and historically honoring (traditional). Most of all, we believe that our worship to God should be focused on him, not upon ourselves nor our preferences. Worship is about God, not us.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrafice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

Sin, Salvation, Service: A summary of mankind’s journey from our condition of brokenness, to salvation through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross, and our goal of offering our lives in service to God out of a heart of gratitude.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)

Covenant Community: The call of believers to live in the covenant with God is also a call to live in community with fellow believers. If believers are made one with God through Jesus, then we are also made one with one another, thus called to love, forgive, and serve one another. As members of Gods covenant we have a relationship with God, but also a relationship with other Christians.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19, 22)

Responsible Christian Freedom:   Since all of life is religion, we believe how we live our lives on a daily basis matters. Since God won us by his grace, we respond by walking and living in grace, not according to the laws or rules of humans. Christians do not have to try to be holy. Christians ARE holy because Christ’s work on the cross made us so. Thus, we do not focus on rules in our covenant community. However, we urge each Christian to live out the holiness that God has given them with responsible freedom. We are made holy, called to glorify God, and empowered to be a witness to the world. Each of us is called to wrestle with what that means and how best to glorify God in the culture where he has placed us, responsibly seeking the good of those around us.

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. (Colossians 2:20-23)

How does a Reformed Christian view God, Creation and Humanity?

2. how ought we think about god our theology.

Some theological and Biblical themes that are important to us as Christians are:

We Hold a High view of God : We acknowledge and stress God’s kingship. We affirm He is at the center of creation and acknowledge His absolute sovereignty. We desire to have a high view of God and His gracious control of all things. Reformed Christians believe in and rely upon the Sovereignty of God, his sovereign grace for the salvation of believers, and his daily guidance.

The Scriptures: We believe the bible was written by human beings inspired by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the authority of the Old and New Testaments as our only rule for life and faith. Therefore, as Reformed Christians we focus on culturally relevant preaching, exposing and explaining the scriptures, so as to convict, admonish, and encourage believers in their daily lives and service.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

The Fallenness of Humanity:   Mankind is imperfect and has broken relationship with God through our rebellion. No human being is perfect. We all need to be reconciled to God, but because we are imperfect, we are incapable of reconciliation by our works or intentions alone. We need God to overcome our sin and brokenness. If we are to become holy, as he is holy, we need his help. Apart from God’s grace and power humanity is incapable of finding our way to him.

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-23)

Jesus as Son and His work on the cross : Reformed Christians believe that Jesus death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead is the essential work of salvation on behalf of those who will believe. We believe that Christians appropriate this atoning work by grace through faith alone. It is our faith in Jesus’ work on the cross that sets us free from our sins and makes us a new creation in Jesus Christ. Not only did the work of Jesus on the cross overcome the effects of sin in the lives of those who believe, but through Jesus’ work on the cross, God reconciled to himself, all things! The cross of Jesus is for our personal salvation. It is also larger than our personal salvation. Through Christ work on the cross, all of creation will be renewed.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:13-15)

Salvation by Grace through Faith: Reformed Christians believe that there is nothing that human beings can do to deserve salvation from God’s just punishment for our sin. Our salvation comes to us by grace, God’s unmerited favor, through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

We are held by God : Reformed Christians understand that it was God who called us, convicts us, redeems us, and empowers us. We also believe that God will be faithful to hold us fast in our belief. Just as he initiated a relationship with us, he will be faithful to hold on to us even when we fail to be faithful to him. Our salvation is about his faithfulness, not ours!

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. (John 10:27-30)

The work and person of the Holy Spirit: God’s sovereign grace is applied to the believer by the work of the Holy Spirit. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God convicts us of our brokenness, gives us faith in Jesus’ work on the cross, gives us the fruit of the Spirit for Christian character and holiness, and empowers us with spiritual gifts to encourage and build up other Christians and proclaim the good news of Jesus to unbelievers. If Christians are ever to accomplish anything of lasting and eternal value it must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Apart from Christ and his Spirit we can accomplish nothing of eternal value.

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:14-18)

God’s Kingdom:   God created all things, has redeemed all things through the work of Jesus Christ, and through Christ, God proclaims his Lordship over every square inch of creation. When Jesus came the first time he established his kingdom. When Christ returns again, he will consummate his Kingdom. We have a broad understanding of kingdom life and service. We believe that all areas of life come under the Lordship of Jesus. We believe Christians are called to participate in the building of His kingdom through the gifts and power of his Spirit actively proclaiming Jesus’ Lordship.

The Church : The Church is more than a building. Reformed Christians believe that the Church is the agent of the Kingdom of God in the world. God brings his Kingdom through empowering his people for service by the Holy Spirit. We believe that there is only one Church, that is Jesus Church. We see Sunrise as part of the one universal (catholic with a small c) Church. The Church of Jesus Christ is bigger than any denomination, defined as those chosen by God and filled with the Holy Spirit, and it spans the centuries, as well as the oceans. The priesthood of all believers: Reformed Christians hold that there is no one position in the church that is more important or more spiritual than another. Every believer has the authority and ability to come directly to God, without the mediation of any other human being. Christ is our great high priest.

A Reformed World and Life view:   Reformed Christians believe that we have been given a cultural mandate by God. That means we are to take Christ to our culture. Since God has reconciled all things to himself through Christ’s work on the cross, he is thereby, redeeming our culture. God redeems culture by equipping and empowering his servants to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ over every sphere of influence in our culture (education, agriculture, business, government, the environment, family, medicine, legal system, the arts, entertainment, science and technology). God is redeeming and making all things new. He accomplishes this by inviting us to join him in what he is doing.

The Importance of Religion in Human Lives Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Some contend that humans require religion to be moral, to instill in them a sense of right and evil, and to motivate them to act morally. It penalizes bad behavior and establishes a standard for good behavior. Others might contend that morality and happiness can be attained without religion. Cooperation and advancing the common good are the cornerstones of morality. There are various kinds of character, such as compassion, devotion, fairness, fearlessness, regard, justice, and property rights, because there are many different kinds of cooperation. Good and terrible human behavior are products of both nature and nurture. How we are raised, the people we interact with, and our culture all impact how we behave. And, while it is typically assumed that “the moral requirements of religion and secular moral requirements are essentially the same” (Wainwright 11), religion and morality are not always related to one another. Religion is far more recent than morality. Long before we became religious, we were moral beings. And other religions might not even be honest.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all emphasize their unique covenants with God, established through Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, respectively. While acknowledging God’s revelation to and covenant with the Jews, Christianity has generally considered itself as replacing Judaism with the arrival of Jesus. To appease everyone and ensure good fortune, many Buddhists and non-Buddhists hold similar beliefs, worship the same deities, and honor deities from other religions and their ancestral spirits. Christianity urges its adherents to take action to enhance their well-being, just like Buddhism does. Buddhism has a significant devotional component, just like Christianity. Faith in the Buddha is what makes this. Buddhism is apart from other religions in three ways: it does not require belief in a specific God, and it teaches the idea that there is no such thing as a soul or self, which implies that there is no permanent or enduring quality to living things. Scriptures, rituals, holy days, and gathering locations are part of every faith. Each religion instructs its adherents on how to treat other people in the world.

Works Cited

Wainwright, William J. Religion and morality . Routledge, 2017.

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IvyPanda. (2023, August 27). The Importance of Religion in Human Lives. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-religion-in-human-lives/

"The Importance of Religion in Human Lives." IvyPanda , 27 Aug. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-religion-in-human-lives/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'The Importance of Religion in Human Lives'. 27 August.

IvyPanda . 2023. "The Importance of Religion in Human Lives." August 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-religion-in-human-lives/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Importance of Religion in Human Lives." August 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-religion-in-human-lives/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Importance of Religion in Human Lives." August 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-religion-in-human-lives/.