Christianity Definitions

Ascension

Going or being taken up; the event forty days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to glory in heaven.

Atonement

Making amends or payment for a wrong. The belief that reconciliation between God and humanity was brought about by the death of Jesus as a sacrifice.

Baptism

The sacrament through which people become members of the Church, symbolizing the washing away of sin with water.

Believers' baptism

Initiation into the Church, by immersion in water, of people old enough to understand the ceremony and who choose to live a Christian life.

Bible

A holy book containing both the Old and New Testaments, considered a source of wisdom and authority.

Catholic

The tradition within the Christian Church led by the Pope; also known as the Roman Catholic Church.

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

A Christian charity providing aid to the developing world.

Christ

Literally means 'Anointed One' in Greek; Christians believe Jesus to be the promised leader by God.

Christian Aid

A Christian charity offering aid to the developing world.

Christmas

The festival to remember the birth of Jesus.

Church

The People of God/Body of Christ, where Christ is believed to be present and active; a place of worship.

Creation

The belief that the world is God’s loving creation, bringing it into existence.

Crucifixion

The death of Jesus, a form of the death penalty used by the Romans.

Easter

Festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, ending with Pentecost.

Eucharist/Holy Communion

A sacrament celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus using bread and wine.

Evangelism

Preaching the gospel to convert people to the Christian faith.

Evil

The opposite of good, causing suffering and against the will of God.

The Father

The first Person of the Trinity, believed to be God as creator and sustainer of the universe.

Food banks

Places where people in need can collect food, often supported by churches and religious charities.

Grace

The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it.

Heaven

Belief that after death Christians can enter a state of being with God for eternity.

Hell

Belief in a place of eternal suffering, or a state after death of being in separation from God.

Holy Spirit

The third Person of the Trinity; believed to be present with believers since Pentecost and active on earth.

Incarnation

Literally 'in flesh', or 'enfleshed;' belief that God took on human form in the person of Jesus.

Infant baptism

Sacrament of initiation of babies and young children into the Church.

Informal prayer

Spontaneous prayers spoken from the heart which are personal and unique to the person/people at the time.

Iona

Place of pilgrimage founded by St Columba in the fourth century.

Jesus

Believed by Christians to be the Son of God, he was a first century Jewish teacher living and travelling in Palestine/Israel.

Judgement

The belief that God will decides whether each person should receive eternal life or eternal punishment based on their earthly life.

Just

Fair or equal treatment, a state of justice. Belief about the nature of God as treating all people justly.

Liturgical worship

A church service which follows a set structure or ritual.

Law

Rules or commands which must be followed; the law of God is revealed in the Bible.

Lourdes

Place of pilgrimage where the Virgin Mary appeared to St Bernadette in a series of visions and it is claimed that miraculous healings have taken place.

Lord's Prayer

The prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus; also known as the 'Our Father' and widely said by Christians in both church services and privately.

Mission

Literally ‘sent out’; the duty of Christians to spread the gospel (the good news about Jesus).

Non-liturgical worship/informal worship

A service which does not follow a set text or ritual; sometimes spontaneous or charismatic.

Omnipotent

The belief that God is ‘all powerful’.

The Oneness of God

The belief that God is one singular divine being (who can be manifest in the Three Persons of the Trinity).

Original sin

Belief human nature is flawed, and that we all have the tendency to sin; traditional belief held by some Christians that this came from Adam & Eve’s eating of the forbidden fruit as recorded in Genesis 3.

Orthodox

A denomination/tradition of the Church popular in some parts of Eastern Europe. There are two main Orthodox Churches – Greek and Russian.

Persecution

Facing hostility and ill-treatment; some Christians face punishment and death for practising their faith.

Pilgrimage

A religious journey to a holy site/sacred place, it is an act of worship and devotion.

Prayer

Communicating with God through words of praise, thanksgiving or confession, or requests for his help or guidance; listening to and speaking to God.

Private worship

A believer giving God praise and worship on their own.

Protestant

Christian denominations in which authority is generally based on the Bible, rather than Church tradition/teaching. (eg Anglican, Methodist, Baptist).

Reconciliation

Making up and rebuilding relationships between two groups/sides after disagreement.

Resurrection

• Being raised from the dead; the event three days after the crucifixion when it is believed that God raised Jesus from the dead.

• The form that many Christians believe the afterlife will take, referring to either physical or spiritual bodies.

Sacrament

The outward and visible sign of an invisible and spiritual grace. (eg Baptism and the Eucharist are recognised as sacraments by most Christians).

Salvation

Being saved; belief that through God’s grace, Jesus’ death and resurrection brought about salvation for humanity. Saving of the soul and being able to enter eternal life in heaven.

Set prayers

These are prayers written throughout the centuries which many Christians worldwide use (eg The Lord’s Prayer).

Sin

Behaviour which is against God's laws and wishes/against Christian principles of morality.

The Son

The second Person of the Trinity; Jesus believed to be God incarnate.

Son of God

A title used for Jesus; the second Person of the Trinity. Shows the special relationship between Jesus and God.

Street pastors

A Christian organisation involving people working, mainly at night, on city streets giving care to those who need it.

Suffering

An effect of evil; undergoing pain and hardship.

Tearfund

A Christian charity that provides emergency and long-term aid to the developing world.

Trinity

The belief that God as One includes God also being manifest in three Persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Word

In the Bible, John 1 describes God creating the world through his eternal Word. This links the eternal Word to Jesus in the statement: ‘”The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Worship

Showing adoration and reverence; offering praise to God.