Christian Beliefs and Practices
People have their own beliefs and values and it is brought about by the different teachings they have learned from their spiritual leaders. There are many religions that have emerged and all of them have one single denominator which is faith. It has been said that the largest religion present in the world today is Christianity. This religion is based on the scriptures written in a sacred book which they call Bible. It contains the life and the different teachings of Jesus Christ as stated in the New Testament. Those who are part of this religion are called Christians. Christians deeply believe that Jesus is the son of God and he was sent by God to become the savior of humanity. He played a major role in the lives of the Christians. He sacrificed his life to save the people from their sins which led to his crucifixion and death. Jesus was then resurrected from the dead on the third day and opened the gates of heaven for those who live by him. His body was never found in his tomb and was believed to have ascended to heaven. It is also believed, that Jesus will return on what others call judgment day. Christians also believe that the ancestors of man had committed a great sin which was passed to their next generations and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was a form of reconciliation to God. These are the foundations of the Christian religion and these accounts are accepted by the believers as true. They consider the cross as a holy symbol which somehow has different interpretations by the Christian community but whatever their interpretations are; they still have one common denominator, love for Jesus. The Christians are guided by the messages of Jesus Christ which is reflected in the Bible known to them as Gospels. They believe that these Gospels should be applied to their lives so that they will be able to live up to what God wants for them and have eternal life when the so called judgment day arrives.
For Christians, their day of thanksgiving and worship is the seventh day of the week which is Sunday. For them, this is the day that God rested after he had created the world and the universe. They set aside all the other things that they have been doing for the entire week and gather on churches, listening to Gospels. They also receive God through their Holy Communion which is somewhat a re-enactment of the Last Supper. They receive the bread and wine which becomes the body and blood of Christ after the consecration. Christians communicate with God through their prayers and hymns. The Christians also incorporates in their practice the Seven Sacraments. Each child should be baptized with holy water which serves as an initiation to the religion. They also submit themselves for confession which is repentance of the sins committed. Other sacraments include Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Communion, Holy Orders and Matrimony. Some Christians based their worship on the Liturgical Calendar which comprises Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter and Advent. Christians also believe in the Holy Trinity which comprises The Father who is God, The Son who is Jesus and The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is represented by a dove which symbolizes peace and reconciliation. It is an important symbol in Christianity because it serves as a guide to the members of the religion.
The Christians believe in the existence of heaven and hell. Those who do good things and live their lives through the Gospels are welcomed in the gates of heaven and those who commit evil are burned in hell. They also believe that God has great love for humanity. He has provided humans with their needs and is righteous in making judgments. This has greatly affected the culture of many individuals. This provided them with many positive outlooks in life and had gained a lot from their beliefs. They are able to teach their children with the right things and stay away from those bad ones to be accepted in heaven. The beliefs somehow provide hope to those who suffer and who are lost in the tracks of life.
