Christianity Practices

What are two types of Christian prayer

Liturgical/non-liturgical, public prayer or private prayer

Give two contrasting ways in which pilgrimage is experienced in Lourdes

Some go to drink or bathe in the water of the spring in the hope of a miraculous cure whereas others go to be cleansed from sin or to confess their sins

Some bathe/submerge in the water to symbolise baptism and some will take holy water back for their families and loved ones who cannot make the journey

Some go to Lourdes because of its dedication to Mary the mother of Jesus whereas others might go because the site is famous among Christian’s generally

Explain two reasons why evangelism is important for the Christian church (5 marker)

The mission of the Church is to evangelise, this is clear from Matthew 28 where having appeared to the 11 disciples after his death, Jesus commissions them to ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you…’

Many Christians therefore feel it is important to use their skills to spread the good news about Jesus and this might be done by preaching, teaching healing or any particular skill that they feel called to use

God says ‘faith if not accompanied by action, is dead’ so Christians are encouraged to practice their beliefs by encouraging others to as well

‘Christmas is the most important Christian celebration’. Evaluate this statement. (12 marker)

Arguments in support

• Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the saviour and founder of the Faith so without Jesus’ birth there would be no Christian faith, so Christmas is the most important Christian celebration

• Christmas is ‘Christ Mass’ Mass being the Eucharist/Holy communion where Christians remember that Christ died for the sins of humanity and was resurrected by God so Christmas includes the main theme of Easter - resurrection - so it is the most important celebration

• Christmas celebrates the birth of the Messiah, believed by Christians to be the ‘Prince of Peace’ prophesied by Isaiah so it celebrates the fulfilment of prophecy

• Christmas also celebrates the incarnation of God. This has deep meaning for Christians because Jesus was born as a human, by which God understands what it is like to have human needs and what it is like to suffer and die

Arguments in support of other views

• Easter is a more important celebration than any other Christian festival because it focuses on the whole point of the Christian message - the love of God and resurrection after death

• Holy Week celebrates the anticipation of Easter, it begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, it continues to Maundy Thursday where the mode changes to reflect the Last Supper and Jesus’ arrest and Good Friday marks the crucifixion and death of Jesus and the seeming hopelessness of his death

• Easter Sunday then celebrates the major triumph of the Christian message with the resurrection and all this entails I.e.sacrifice to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity

• There is great emphasis on human suffering undergone by Jesus and his obedience to God’s will. All these celebrations depend on each other

• Easter is celebrated by the gift of chocolate eggs for example symbolising the gift of new life through Jesus