Christianity
Jesus
- the Expected One
- Jews were a divided people, looking for deliverance
- Jesus the Jew
- unusual birth
-Galilean, carpenter, disciple of John the Baptist
- ministry
- calls disciples (those who follow)
- leads a wandering and dependent style of life
- mission: to proclaim the rule of God at hand
- healings and teachings
- simple word and touch, sometimes only a word
- wonders; stilled storms, fed multitudes
- gathered great crowds
Jesus’ Mission & Teaching
- summed up in “The time has come; the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.”
- the time when Israel’s hope and the promises of God would be fulfilled
- Jesus saw himself as the Messiah, come to save his people
- called himself the Son of Man, an enigmatic figure representing ultimate deliverance and triumph
Kingdom of God
- not a place, or community; an activity
- more accurate descriptive words are the reign, realm, or rule of God
- acknowledgement that God is in control
- subjects accept his sovereignty
- inaugurated by Jesus, in his activity (teaching, healing)
- fulfilled when he comes again
- earliest confession of Christians was “Jesus is Lord”
Repent
- the Greek word for repent means to turn
- 2 ways to describe turning
- 1st to God
- turning to God is also a turning away from sin
- a call to turn in loyalty to God
- first of all, to his people
- after his resurrection, he sent his disciples to all nations
- entrance in God’s kingdom is open to those who are not born as Jews
- those who are born turned away from God need to be turned to God and born in Baptism
Good News
- believe the good news (gospel)
- those who turn to God will find forgiveness and a new life in God’s kingdom
- characteristic of God to be merciful, kind, with steadfast love
- focus of his teaching; the call to turn and become members of a new people of God, forgiven and restored through his life, death, and resurrection
- followers taught to depend on God with a child-like trust; to embrace an unselfish, uncalculating love; and give themselves over to the service of what is good for others
Fulfillment of the Kingdom Is Yet to Come
- Life in the World (Mt. 13:24-30, 47-50)
- since the rule of God has been inaugurated, but not fulfilled, Christians live in a mixed environment; one foot in the rule of God, one in the world
- a fish net gathers fish of every kind, which are sorted at the end time by angels of God
- wheat and weeds grow together in a field until the harvest, then separated by the angels of God
- Christians are not separatists, nor isolationists
Jesus Became a Religious Threat
- Jesus became a threat to religious establishment
- would not recognize barriers separating people
- mixed with ostracized classes; e.g., lepers
- ate with tax collectors and sinners
- women had high place in his ministry
- mixed with Samaritans
- welcomed faith of gentile soldier & Syrian woman
- free attitudes
- Sabbath made for man, not man for the Sabbath
- ignored ritual cleanliness; food, gentiles, diseases, conditions of blood loss & dead
- purity of heart matters more than ritual purification
Opposition Develops
- set himself against Pharisees and scribes
- denounced heartless legalism
- set himself against the Sadducees, priestly rulers
- taught the nation was ripe for God’s judgment
- predicted the destruction of the temple
- purified the temple by expelling the traders
- crowds of people left because they were disillusioned
- expected military messiah who would overthrow the Romans and establishing the kingdom of God on earth
- Jesus’ idea of salvation was not a political one
- the twelve (those who are sent) deserted; one was traitor, another denied Jesus
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
- Jesus goes to Jerusalem to do what Jews are supposed to do, celebrate the Passover
- people treat him as though he is entering to claim his throne as Messiah
- enters the city on a peacable donkey, not a war horse
- is not entering to overthrow the Romans
- demonstrates against the temple
- engages in bitter exchanges with the religious authorities
- arrested by the Jewish authorities with the help of
one of his disciples
Trial of Jesus
- tried according to Jewish law; charge was blasphemy, claimed to be Messiah
- Jewish authorities could not put him to death, only Roman governor could
- Jewish authorities pressed for a charge of sedition against Rome
- irony: Jesus, who lost his following because he would not take up arms against the Romans, was crucified by the Romans
- crucifixion was a public execution meant to humiliate the crucified and intimidate the population
Non-violence of Jesus
- as fully human, he is limited in what he can do
- while in the gospels, Jesus can still storms, he cannot make his own disciples believe
- the law of God says “you shall not kill”
- as the son of God, Jesus could have saved himself
- to do so means he would have had to engage in violence, but he would not
- to claim his kingdom on earth means he would have had to engage in violence
Execution and Resurrection
- culmination of Jesus’ life occurs in Jerusalem
- the events of Jesus’ last day can be spelled out in the streets of Jerusalem
- pilgrims trace the path of Jesus through places where significant events happened
- the last significant place is the tomb of Jesus where is dead body is laid
- the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- maintained by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians
- The Garden Tomb
- discovered and visited by Protestants
- in both venues, the emptiness of the tomb is its significant feature
Resurrection of Jesus
- tomb is empty, but could mean Jesus was moved
- chosen witnesses encounter the resurrected Jesus
- resurrection gives the cross meaning
- while the world said “No!” to the life of Jesus
- God said “Yes!” through resurrection of Jesus and his way of life
- God will not let the life of Jesus end in sin and disgrace
- the life of Jesus will last forever
- it is the resurrection of Jesus that brought the disciples back to Jesus
- it formed the focus of the early preaching
- the risen Lord is worshipped
Christianity in Today’s World
Worldwide
- Christianity has the most adherents of any religion
- in 2020, 32% of the world’s population is Christian
- members by nation
- USA, while by law not a Christian nation, has the largest number
- followed by Brazil, Mexico, Russia, and China
- the three main Christian branches
Roman Catholicism - 49%
Protestantism - 23%
Eastern Orthodox - 12%
- world Christian population has remained steady for 120 years
- decline in Europe and USA due to secularism is offset by gains in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
Distribution
- Roman Catholicism - global tradition with large numbers in Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, & USA
- Eastern Orthodox - largest numbers in Russia & Greece
- Protestantism - largest numbers in USA, China, Nigeria, & Brazil
- diverse expressions
- Quakers in Kenya, Mormons in Utah, Coptics in Ethiopia
- diverse practices
- hymn singing with pipe organs, rock bands with lyrics projected on walls
- diverse languages
- original Hebrew & Greek translated into the people’s common languages
Christianity 101
Beliefs Shared with Judaism
- existence of one God
- human beings are made in the image of God, but have rebelled
- God is righteous judge, also gracious and merciful
- God revealed himself to and called nation of Israel
- God would some day establish his rule through a Messiah
- practice of a moral life is given and expected
Fundamental Difference
- followers of Jesus realized that Jewish hope of a coming Messiah to set up God’s rule had been fulfilled in Jesus.
- rejection of this identification is what creates decisive difference between Jews and Christians
- rejection is due to the way in which the rule was established
- Jews thought there would be a military overthrow of their enemies
- Jesus did not speak against enemies; proclaimed the need for a change of heart in everybody.
- the way of violent revolution is firmly rejected
Sin as Orientation
- notion begins in Judaism of Jesus’ time
- sin is non-alignment with God, spelled out in breaking of a commandment
- Jews were aligned with God by virtue of their birth
- non-Jews were sinners, not aligned with God
- this means that non-Jews are born out of alignment with God (born in original sin, the sin of Adam)
- which is expressed in not following the Law
- being sinners, they are outside the benefits of alignment with God through covenants
- how can they be saved, aligned with God?
- through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Sins as Actions
- acts expressing orientation away from God, rebellion
- effect is separation; brought about by a person when he/she chooses to go against God
- also involves separation from community which follows God
- involves intellect, intentions, and dispositions
- actions of Adam and Eve are not only what they did, but also what they wanted, to be Gods and know good and evil
- sins are forgiven upon a person’s acknowledgment that he/she sinned, sorrow over what the sin brought about, and amendment of life so that he/she does not sin again
Three Decisive Events
The difference between Jews and Christians is spelled
out in three decisive events.
1) The Death of Jesus
2) The Resurrection of Jesus
3) The Gift of the Holy Spirit
The Death of Jesus
- the death of Jesus was understood to cancel sin
- displays love of God for sinners
- sinfulness brings separation from God
- accounts of what brings reconciliation vary
- cancellation involved payment, punishment, purification, or righteousness
- one means of reconciliation is “righteousness”
- what covers sin is righteousness unto death
- the righteousness of Jesus’ faithfulness unto death covers faithlessness of humanity
- Jesus is sent by God
Changes in Jewish Practice
- worship is expression of thanks for Jesus’ provision of an acceptable offering/sacrifice of life.
- approach to features of Jewish life changed.
- end to ritual law of the Jews
- end to gaining God’s favor by keeping the law
- proper relationship is that of faith, obedient trust in what God has done, not what Christians do
- emphasis on the prophetic character of OT
- result was that gentiles need not follow law, enabled Christianity to become a world faith
The Resurrection of Jesus
- seen as the vindication of Jesus
- affirm his way of life, says “yes”
- ascends above all earthly powers, enthroned
- consequence of this belief: Having been exalted to heaven, Jesus remains active and living in the same way as the Father is the living God.
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
- belief in a spirit of God was part of Judaism
- Feast of Pentecost was birthday of the Church
- spirit was associated with the ability to speak in different languages, associated with word
- Christians became conscious of the gift of the spirit given to each personally
- a second, spiritual birth gives a new life in Jesus
- giving different abilities to different individuals
- fostering qualities of love and freedom from sin
- seen as personal agent of God, being divine in same way as Father and Son
- led to Trinity; one God in three persons
Christian Life
- acceptance of the gift of salvation involves faith and works
- early Christians did good deeds in the world, participated in the ritual of baptism and Eucharist
- over time, they came to emphasize works in salvation
- 16th century protestant reformers emphasized the
importance of “faith” in salvation
- exemplars of Christianity are recognized for their lives
- called “Saints” (holy ones)
- Protestants emphasize those of great faith
- Orthodox and Roman Catholics recognize those who do great works
Christian History
Christianity Arises out of Judaism
- Jesus of Nazareth is a Jew
- raised as a Jew, redeemed in temple, circumcised, named, primitive form of bar-mitzvah
- Galilean
- associated with John the Baptist
- after John is arrested, Jesus begins his ministry
- establishes home base in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee
- wanders throughout Galilee, and regions to the north, goes to Jerusalem
- mission? Preaches that “the time is fulfilled, the rule of God is near, turn to God, and believe in the good news.”
- gathers disciples
Pauline Christianity
- although Paul of Tarsus is considered an apostle, he did not follow Jesus in his earthly ministry
- he was a Pharisaical Jew who persecuted Christians
- on the road to Damascus, he had an experience which converted him to following Jesus
- although he is a Jew, he was also a Roman citizen and influenced by Greek culture
- became the apostle to the gentiles
- those who were gentiles did not have to follow the Jewish Law to follow Jesus
- no circumcision
- moral life spelled out in terms of characteristics, attitudes, or skills; among which are faith, hope, love
- unity is in Christ who is the head of a diverse body, with many different members (hands, arms, feet, and legs)
Creeds, Confessions, & Variety
- Church Councils discussed beliefs, established Creeds, and identified errors in thinking
- three creeds (from credo, “I believe”)
- Apostles Creed (a Roman baptismal creed)
- Nicene Creed (formulated at the Council of Nicea)
- Athanasian Creed (a very long, definitive creed)
- the word “confession” can apply to beliefs as well as sins
- that God cannot be fully understood leads to diversity.
Sacred Writings
- bible comes from Greek “biblia” and means “the books”
- two sections: Old Testament; New Testament
- Old Testament is much larger
- Christians consider themselves as legitimate heirs to the religion of ancient Israel
- Hebrew scripture is canonical
- Roman Catholics include the Apocrypha (later Jewish writings in GK)
- protestants read for interest, but not considered scripture
New Testament
Gospels:
- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
- like biographies of Jesus
- Matthew, Mark, and Luke are similar, Synoptic History (of the Early Church): Acts of the Apostles
Letters:
- From Paul to churches in cities and provinces (Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonika)
- From Paul to people (Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews)
- Letters from people (James, Peter, John, Jude)
Apocalyptic: The Revelation of John
Inspired Writings
- comes from God
- writers not passive channels
- personalities of writers are detected in their writings
- wrote own language and in their historical setting
- but directed by God
- Bible reveals not only God’s acts, but God’s mind and will
Authority of the Bible
- accepted as authoritative for actions and beliefs by all Christians
- not all Christians agree on what that means
- reformation placed scripture above human reason
- protestants of 18th C. enshrined reason as the ultimate guide of truth, not divine revelation
- resurgence in interest in Bible in Roman Catholicism after Vatican 2
- any recognizably Christian faith must be based on the Bible.
The Spread of the Christianity
- throughout the Mediterranean quickly
- From Jerusalem, it’s leading center
- To Rome, within 15 year of Jesus’ resurrection; then Constantinople, and Alexandria
- spread through trade routes, by merchant class
- expansion into Greek speaking regions led to the exploration of the relation to themes of Plato
- expansion put Christianity in conflict with emperor cult
- Christians were penalized and persecuted for worshiping only Christ
- significant persecution took place under Decius, CE 249-51
Religion of the Roman State
- Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, 313CE
- Controversies marked the early history
- over the nature of God
- after resurrection of Jesus, all functions of God were seen to be exercised through Jesus
- trinitarian; relationship of father to son, spirit to father and son, Council of Nicaea, 325CE
- humanity/divinity of Christ as “true man & true God”, Council of Chalcedon, 451CE
- two geographical centers developed; Rome (Latin) in West, Constantinople (Greek) in the East
- fall of Rome in 476 brought insecurity to West
- stabilization was achieved through monasteries and rise of papal power
- Christianity in the East flourished
Eastern Orthodox Churches
- different views on how to view the nature of Jesus resulted in a minor schism in the 5th century
- Council of Chalcedon saw Jesus as one person in two natures (divine & human)
- some Churches claimed Jesus was only divine
- a major schism between Eastern & Roman Catholic Churches occurred in 1054
- the Western churches added a phrase in the Creed that appeared to demote the status of the Holy Spirit
- this kicked off a discussion of more issues separating the churches, a schism, and a feud between the two denominations that lasted until 1965
Orthodox Practices
- as name implies, “right doctrine” and right practices of the Apostles are followed
- consists of over 12 self-governed branches, each with its own head (patriarch, metropolitan, or archbishop)
- the branches recognize an Ecumenical Patriarch, but he is not considered infallible
- at the heart of Orthodox practice is the Divine Liturgy (same basic content as Mass, Eucharist, Lord’s Supper)
- sense of sight is important with painted “icons” of Christ, Mary, and saints on the walls of the church
- recognize seven sacraments & marriage of priests
- sacraments called “mysteries”
- practice “negative theology,” what God is not
Christian Renaissance in the West
- prominent in the renaissance was 10th & 11th Cent. Spain; works of Aristotle, Maimonides
- marked by consolidation of political and social influence, and “scholasticism” of Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus (13th C.)
- European renaissance emphasized returning to simple language and imagery of NT
- humanist movement studied the Bible in its original languages, not Latin of the Vulgate
- rise of Islam in 7th C. had impact on Christianity
- Islamic armies took Constantinople, CE 1453
- by early 16th C. armies of Islam were poised to enter Europe
Thomas Aquinas
- a Roman Catholic friar in the Dominican order who taught theology in the University of Paris
- refused to choose between faith and reason, Jesus and Aristotle
- sought to reconcile philosophy and Christian theology
- influenced by Averroes, a Muslim philosopher, and Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher
- wrote Summa Theologica (1265-1274CE)
- renowned in the Roman Catholic Church as a saint and theologian
- originator of a school of theology called “Thomism,” which is still influential to this day
Mystics
- at the same time philosophers sought to understand God and the world, mystics sought communion with God
- some were skeptical about what can be said about God
- spoke of what God was not (negative way)
- not created, not bound by time, no needs
- sought an experience of the divine
- Meister Eckhart spoke a divine reality beyond space and time
- Francis of Assisi, a wealthy soldier, traded in his wealth and sought communion with God in nature
- Julian of Norwich reveled in the feminine aspect of God as mother
Reformation
- prior to CE 1500 there were only two branches of Christianity: the Roman Catholic Church in the West; the Orthodox Church in the East
- in the West, Martin Luther, John Calvin, & Ulrich Zwingli pressed for reform of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Martin Luther was interested in how to enter into a right relationship with God, and all that entails.
- John Calvin reimagined Christian theology
- Ulrich Zwingli was interested in reform of the morals and institutions of the Church
- intense controversy made the reform of the Roman Catholic Church impossible. Led to reforming communities outside the Roman Catholic Church.
Martin Luther (1483-1546 CE)
- an Augustinian monk in the Roman Catholic Church
- taught Bible at the University at Wittenberg
- upon his reading of the Apostle Paul’s writings, he sought to reform the church’s practice on indulgences and the notion that salvation is achieved by works
- purgatory was a place in which people enter after death in order to cleanse themselves of debts owed God due to sin
- the notion was that living loved ones could purchase indulgences to help pay off the debt
- providing money for the building of St. Peter’s was one such opportunity for an indulgence
- from Paul, Luther taught that such works do not merit salvation
- those who are right with god will live by faith
John Calvin (1536-1564 CE)
- French lawyer and theologian who wrote “Institutes of the Christian Religion”
- Calvin’s Reformed theology influenced Puritans of New England and early American political life
- two core principles: absolute sovereignty of God, and total depravity of humans
- Calvin is noted for turning Geneva, Switzerland into a theocracy
- run by pastors, lay leaders, and himself
- all vestiges of Roman Catholicism were swept away
- crucifixes, fasting, prayers in Latin were outlawed
- Calvinism taught believers to discipline themselves in hard work and see their professions as sacred “callings”
Radical Reformers
- Ulrich Zwingli, Swiss Protestantism
- while some wanted to stop doing what the Bible forbids, Zwingli practiced only what is taught in the Bible
- churches were stripped of religious images & organs
- Anabaptists (rebaptizers) in Zurich opposed Zwingli
- insisted on baptism of adults upon confession of faith
- insisted on total separation of Church and state
- considered Constantinian Church a wrong turn
- refused to swear oaths, pay tithes, and wage war
- Mennonites & Amish emerged out of Anabaptist tradition
- followers of Menno Simons
- Quakers, pacifists opposing nuclear arms, also emerged
Counter-Reformation
- in the mid-16th century, the Roman Catholic church began its own renewal in response to the challenge of the reformation
- religious orders were reformed and new ones begun; one such was the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
- many of the beliefs and practices which reformers such as Luther found objectionable were eliminated.
Challenges in the West
- political uncertainty
- hostility toward the Roman Catholic church contributed to the French revolution
- created an atmosphere of instability
- which extended over Europe, especially Italy
- Christianity was viewed as intellectually untenable
- Ludwig Feuerbach; religion was projection of human mind
- Karl Marx; God was invented by people to console themselves in face of social and economic hardship
- Sigmund Freud; religion is illusion, wish-fulfillment
- Russian revolution set up first atheist state
Missionary Activity Resumed
- discovery of Americas led to interest in spreading the gospel abroad, especially by Franciscans and Jesuits
- Jesuits also went to India, China, and Japan
- protestant missionary activity in colonialism spread the gospel in Africa, India, and Oceania beginning late in 18th C.
- emigration from Europe to America spread the Church beginning in the 16th century; from England, Scandinavia, Germany, Ireland, and Italy
- Christianity in Africa and Asia is growing rapidly today
Christianity in the United States
Deism
- dominant form of Christianity at the founding of the USA
- God and afterlife is known by reason alone
- since reason is common to all, religion is universal
- portions of Christian teaching were rejected
- one God, no Trinity
- God is watchmaker, wound universe to run on own
- Jesus was a great moral teacher
- Thomas Paine wrote in his “Age of Reason”
- Christianity is a “strange fable”
- theology is the “study of nothing”
- the Bible is “the word of a demon”
- George Washington, John Adams, & Thomas Jefferson
- Deism took the forms of Unitarianism in Boston and Transcendentalism of Thoreau and Emerson
Evangelicalism
- four distinguishing marks:
- conversion experience
- divine inspiration
- doctrine of atoning death on cross
- missionary and evangelistic effort
- two awakenings in America
- 1st is in the eighteenth century, doctrine & intellect
- Jonathan Edwards
- revivalism
- heartfelt preaching, repentance, conversions
- 2nd is in 19th century, experience & emotions
- defied authority, aristocracy, and tradition
- made up sermons on the spot with gesticulations
- focus on heart over brain made a “nation of forgetters”
Liberalism
- Friedrich Schleiermacher in late 19th cent.
- shifts focus from doctrine to experience
- from teaching about God to divine in daily life
- emphasis on experience dismantled church authority of Roman Catholics and biblical authority of evangelicals
- read Bible more metaphorically than literally
- saw divine as immanent rather than transcendent
- saw humans as basically good
- emphasized Jesus as rabbi over his passion
- focused on this world rather than the next
- social gospel brought ethics to the fore
- original sin not problem; injustice & oppression are sins
Fundamentalism
- a 20th century response to liberal Protestantism
- based on a series of books called “The Fundamentals”
- biblical infallibility
- virgin birth
- atonement
- resurrection of Jesus
- miracles of Jesus
- later half of 20th century, linked with political conservatives
- formed the “New Religious Right”
- worked with “Moral Majority” and “Christian Coalition”
- helped send a series of Republican politicians
- Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George H. Bush
Lived Christianity
Lord’s Supper
- also called Holy Communion, Eucharist, Divine Liturgy
- Sunday liturgy originates in two practices
- Synagogue service of word and prayer
- meals of Jesus w/ sinners, feedings
- prayers of thanksgiving over bread and wine
- earliest was full meal; Agape – love feast
- abuse led to bread & wine only
- weekly on 1st day of the week (early; 6PM, Sat.)
- at last supper, Jesus invested the meal with new meaning; present in assembly, bread & wine
Baptism
- origin is Jewish proselyte baptism of cleansing
- at Jesus baptism new meaning is given
- seen as death to old life, rising to new life
- norm was adult baptism
1) 40-day period of instruction (Lent) before baptism (catechumenate)
2) made public confession of faith (creed)
3) water rite is a symbol of death (drowning) and new life (womb)
4) laying on of hands for gift of Holy Spirit
- Baptism at Easter
- later: baptism of infants based on sponsors’ and parents’ faith; unto youth’s affirmation of faith
Distributive Justice at Sunday Liturgy
- gifts were gathered for those in need
- at worship, between liturgy (public work) of word and liturgy of meal
- men and women would bring gifts of bread, wine, olive oil, flour, cheese, money, etc.
- amount given freely based on their ability to share
- some wine & bread would be transferred to the table for Lord’s supper, rest distributed to needy
- money was sent for churches in other cities
Family and Society
- Jesus & family
- entered the world in a family setting
- had brothers
- no evidence that Jesus was married, or not
- means neither is important for the story of redemption, or it would have been mentioned
- only one reference to any of the apostles being married, Peter’s mother-in-law was healed by Jesus
- when his family tried to pull him away from arguing with the scribes from Jerusalem, he announced that his brothers, sisters, and mother are those who do the will of God (MK 3:31-35)
- community takes precedence over family
Family in the Early Church
The Apostle Paul
- church constitutes body of Christ, not family
- if Christians were married, stay married
- if not married, remain single
The Early Church
- had an ascetic flavor
- marriage, sexual intercourse, children & family were distractions
- can notice a change within scripture, later writings have “household codes” counseling obedience ; slaves to master, children to parents, wives to husbands
- ascetic flavor remains in the form of monasticism
Family in the Constantinian Church
- attitude towards marriage and family begins to change
- as Roman families joined the Church, the view of family began to change
- Augustine of Hippo, CE 354-430 gave a theological defense of marriage so long as sex and marriage were used instrumentally for the begetting of children
- however, marriage remained inferior and subordinate to church and monastery
Family in Reformation
- degraded monasticism and upgraded the family
Roman Catholic - Religious vocation meant being a monk or nun
Protestant - Religious vocation was identified with the duty to marry and raise children, not with monastic calling
- structure came from Old Testament, was patriarchal
- male was head of household, took responsibility for its moral and economic welfare - his “vocation”
- women’s vocation was limited to domestic duties
- options for women were closed down, no new trades
- showered praise on discharge of domestic “calling”
- for protestants, church and family equally important
Family in the Modern View
As Christian control over other aspects of society ebbed, domestic sphere was one in which Christianity could still witness
- post-reformation Roman Catholics followed Protestantism in giving dignity to marriage and family
- a sacrament (holy rite) in Roman Catholic church Challenges facing Christian view of family
- sexual liberation in 60’s, the pill, emancipation of women has had more affect on culture than on the Church
- however, not all Christians agree with the traditional teachings on the family
- has led to difficult times in some denominations
Contemporary Controversy: The Browning of Christianity
Christianity in the Non-Western World
- remarkable growth is occurring in the non-West
- while eastern Africa was Christian, from the 2nd Century in Ethiopia, Western & Southern Africa has had great growth in the 20th Century
- while bible was translated in China in CE 635, Christianity has grown 10-fold since 1949
- phenomenal growth also occurred in Latin America
Significance of World Christianity
- missionizing often meant transporting Western culture
- nowadays, cultures influence the missionizing
- church looks different in cultures that stress the community above individual rights
- socialist countries in Latin America
- theology takes surprising directions in cultures relatively unaffected by Western modernity
- Africa and Asia
- non-Western churches are overwhelmingly poor.
- growth in many different kinds of nations can occur because Christianity is not bound to any earthly government; tolerates any government that allows the gospel preached.