Expressions of religious identity

Mission as evangelism

• proclaiming the gospel, usually infront if non-christians

How has mission as evangelism changed

• Early church: St paul travelled around the Mediterranean and Thomas set up a church in India

• 19thC- travelled to non-christian countires, providing medical + education while teaching about Christianity

• 20thC- Focus went from coversion to otureach. churches partnered with missionary familes, giving them financial support

• Alpha course: 12 week, invite non-christians to discuss christianity over meal

• Fresh expresions- meet people where they are

Mission to the poor and disadvantaged

• based on the parable of the sheep and goats

How has mission to the poor and disadvantaged changed

• 19th C- rich Christians left money to poor Christians in their wills

• Children society- feeding and clothing orphans, became an adoption agency, the focused on social justice- encouraging underprivileged children to speak up for themselves

Significance of infant baptism

1. Washes away the Child’s orginal sin

2. It is a rite of passage- it gives access to other rites

3. It is a sacrament- an otuward sign, of inward spiritual grace- produces a permanent change in the soul

4. Allows the Holy Spirit to begin working in the child’s life

5. The child becomes a member of the church community

3 aspects to infant baptism

• Form- annoting in the child, pouring water- accompanied by words

• Matter- use of blessed oils and blessed water

• Intention- the priest’s intention to baptise the child

Believer’s baptism

• ordiance- following the great Commission

• Happens as an adult as they don’t believe in original sin- sola fide

• person gives a public testimony to faith + they repent for sins and accept christ as saviout

• they are totally immersed in the baptismal pool

• they rejoin the congreagation as full members of the church and may go onto fulfill mission

Why is believers baptism better?

• Jesus was baptised as an adult

• It is a personal choice- they fully know and understand what they are comitting to

• Symbols are unnecessary- should express faith by reading Bible and following what Jesus did

• Don’t believe in orginal sin- everyone is included in God grace from the moment they are born

Why is infant baptism better

• allows children to enter the kingdom of god even if they were to die young

• It doesnt matter that babies cannot understand- Baptism is a mystery as it depends on God’s grace which we cannot fully understand