Christianity

Outline Baptism

• Baptism is a significant initiation rite, welcoming adherents into Christianity

• It can either be performed as an adult (Pentecostalist and Baptist churches) or an infant (Orthodoxy and Catholicism)  official proclamation of faith

• Involves

  • Welcoming rite

  • Questioning of the recipient (adult) or Godparents (infant)

  • Exorcism, Anointing

  • Blessing with baptismal water

    • Sprinkling, pouring or full immersion up to three times to represent the trinity

• Not all denominations baptise (Quakers and Salvation Army)

Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Belief that Jesus died for Christians’ sins, and rose again from the dead after three days

• Allows adherents to participate in his death and resurrection

  • Paul believed that baptism was the burial and rising to new life under Jesus: “We were baptised in union with his death… so that we might live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4)

  • Practice mirrors his death and resurrection: Crucifying their old life to rise and live a new faith in Christ

• Baptismal candle: “be baptised in the name of

  • Jesus is the guiding light of Christianity

  • Adherents are called to follow his steps and be baptised  mirrors death/resurrection

  • Are baptised so that they can be the light for others

  • “Pardoned, cleansed, sanctified by Christ” (WCC, 1982)

Salvation

being saved from sin and death (eternal life in Heaven)

• Water symbolises the washing away of sins: “This water symbolises the baptism that now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21)

• White robes worn by the recipient

  • Symbolises their spiritual purity and rebirth after receiving baptism

  • Due to them being cleansed of sins

• Necessary for salvation for Catholics and Orthodox

  • Through baptism in the name of Christ, humans can purify themselves from original sin and the sins of their actions

  • “Repent and be baptised… in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38)

Nature of God (Trinity)

• Trinitarian use of water → different methods but still express same belief

  • Orthodoxy: fully immerse infant three times in water

  • Catholicism: baptised in the “name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mark 28:19)

• Baptism is believed to be the entry into life with the Holy Spirit

  • Body becomes a “temple for the holy spirit” (1 Corinthian 6:19) during baptism

  • Believed to be a gift from the holy spirit: “you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38)

  • Allows adherents to become a part of the body of Christ = share his life and mission

Sig to com:

Reminds the community of their own baptismal promises, renewing and affirming their faith.

• Watching a recipient get baptised = reminds them of their own baptism

  • The Celebrant says: “Do you reject Satan and all his works?”

  • Renew their commitment to faith

  • Reminds them of the presence of temptation and the Christian way of living

• Allows adherents to renew their baptismal promises

  • Reminds them of their vocation and need to live out the teachings of Jesus/the Church

  • “Baptism is… administered during public worship, so that… the congregation may be reminded of their own baptism” (WCC, 1982)

Sig to com:

Allows them to partake in their mission of spreading the Gospel.

• Christians are called to spread the word of Jesus: “Go forth and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)

• Through baptism, they are participating the building of the Kingdom of God

  • Part of an individual’s transition into faith

  • Allows them to fulfill their calling as disciples of Jesus

  • Demonstrating their faith

Sig to com/indv:

Unites the Christian community under shared beliefs

Baptism expresses principal beliefs → E.g. death and resurrection, salvation, trinity

• Unites adherents of their common beliefs and attributes

  • Allows individuals to develop a sense of belonging/connection to a like-minded community

  • (For Catholics and orthodox) The achievement of salvation unites them with the other believes who have achieved this too

• For the Rite of Infant Baptism, the Celebrant states “the Christian community welcomes you with great joy.”

Sig to indv:

Official proclamation of faith, welcoming individuals into the Christian Church

• Initiation rite into Christianity = recipient become a part of the body of Christ = allowing to start their new faith journey

• Baptism represents the beginning of a new life

  • Reflects the belief in how Jesus overcame death to reach eternal life

  • “We were baptised in union with his death… so that we might live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4)

• Roman Catholic Church: is the first step on the path to grace from God, modelling oneself on the teachings of Christ where one is called to do good works.

Sig to indv:

Cleanses them of their sins and allows them to be spiritually renewed, deepening their faith and connection to God.

• An act of repentance: “Repent and be baptised… in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38)

  • Removes original sin

  • Guides recipients towards living a Christian life

• Baptismal water = spiritual rebirth, White garments  spiritual purity

  • Cleanses one’s sins = renews their dedication and faith

  • Encourage them to continue to do good deeds and live the teachings of Jesus

Environmental ethics: Teaching 1

Stewardship of creation

• Believe that humans were created as stewards: “the Lord [put man] on the Garden of Eden… to take care of it” (Genesis 2:15)

  • Human’s duty to care for and prioritise the needs of creation

• Interpret “dominion” (Genesis 1:28) as a responsibility to sustain and protect the environment

  • Preserve it for future generations

• Since humans were made in God’s likeness, they must show creation the love that God shows them: ‘So God created mankind in his own image’ (Genesis 1:27)

Environmental ethics: Teaching 2

The intrinsic goodness of Earth and respect

• Believe nature is good because it is how God expresses his love: “For since the creation of earth… God’s eternal power… has been clearly seen” (Romans 1:20)

• God is present in creation and thus there is a responsibility to treat creation with reverence: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31)

• Preserve its goodness by respecting the earth and treating it with integrity

  • “The world, as God’s handiwork, has its own inherent integrity” (WCC, 1998)

  • Treating the Earth with compassion

Application 1: Global warming

Christian view on issue:

• Humans as stewards should look after creation and preserve it for the future

• Actions contributing to global warming = Christians not fulfilling their duty

• Must restore their responsibility to protect environment by fighting against Global warming

Example 1: Laudato Si

• "We need to think about the kind of world we are leaving for future generations” (Pope Francis, 2015)

• Catholic Church encyclical written by Pope Francis in 2015

• Stresses the need for action on current environmental issues such as global warming = preserve the earth

• Christian conscience urges adherents to fulfil their responsibility as stewards

Example 2: The Uniting Church Climate Action Plan

• “Our words are not enough. This Climate Action Plan is intended to drive that action.”

• Make the uniting church net zero by 2040

• Reduce their carbon footprint to model stewardship for creation

Application 2: Animal Cruelty

Christian view on issue:

• Animals (part of creation) are intrinsically good

• Humans must treat them with respect due to their “inherent integrity”

• Animal cruelty and abuse violates this teaching = not showing respect

• Christians must fight against it

Example 1: St Francis of Assisi

• Catholic patron Saint of Animals

• Animals’ manifestations of God’s love = by treating them with cruelty, humans are likely to treat others with cruelty as well

• “Men who… exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion… will deal likewise with their fellow men.”

Example 2: Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals (ASWA)

• “We believe that the Bible teaches us to care for animals”

• Promotes the inclusion of animals in church life to restore duty to respect them

• Annual Animal Welfare Sunday services

  • Prayers/sermons focus on animal care and compassion

  • Some churches hold pet blessing services  recognise the value of animals in God’s creation and people’s lives

• ASWA Remembrance Service for Animals in War

  • Held London each November.

POT: Contribution

Missionaries

• He travelled around Europe and Asia minor establishing Christian communities and Churches  spreading the gospel and preaching to Jews and Gentiles alike

• Chosen messenger to spread the word = demonstrating the importance of his contribution as he was chosen by God himself:

  “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name” (Acts 9:15)

• He participated in the Council of Jerusalem (50 AD)

Impact of missionaries

• Opened up Christianity to gentiles and clarified that they did not have to follow mosaic law

  • Built on the belief that God’s Church was for all: “you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)

  • No longer a Jewish sect

• He allowed Christianity to develop into an international religion

  • Evident in how it is one of the five major faith traditions

  • In 2010, there were 2.2 billion Christians (Pew Research Centre, 2015)

• The impact of contribution was emphasised by Pope Benedict 2016 in 2002, saying “how can we not thank God for an apostle of this category?”

  • importance of Paul’s work in facilitating the spread of Christianity through his missionaries

POT: Contribution

Epistles

• Letters he wrote to the Christian communities he established

• 13 books of the New Testament are attributed to him

• Through them, he communicated his interpretation of scripture

  • Guided early Christian communities

  • Developed the Christian way of thinking (theology) and ethical teachings

  • These are still followed today

• Established a unique style and structure of worship  distinct from Judaism

POT Impact on theology

His interpretation of scripture in the epistles laid the foundations for the Christian way of thinking, inspiring Christian theologians who further expanded on his work

• Contained his interpretations of principal beliefs like salvation: “men are not saved by the works of the law… but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16)

• Martin Luther used this to write his 95 Theses = based on the belief that faith alone was required to obtain salvation

• This led to the reformation = development of new denominations (Anglicanism, Protestantism)

• Denominations are still being practiced today = timelessness of Paul’s interpretations & continued impact

• St Augustine of Hippo further expanded on Paul’s work: “men are not saved by good works, but by the grace of God through faith” (the Enchiridion of Faith, Hope and Love)

POT Impact on ethics

His epistles provided a moral framework to help guide the decision-making process of early Christians, influencing their actions and practices.

• These teachings remain relevant today

• He established the teaching of agape (unconditional love) as a unifying principle: “love is patient, love is kind” (1 Cor 13:4)

  • Christians should prioritise showing love to God and their neighbour when making decisions

  • Mirrors the greatest commandment: “love the lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31)

• He highlighted the sanctity of life due to how “the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 6:19)

• Not practice circumcision: “circumcision… will be of no benefit to you” (Galatians 5:2-4)