Christianity
There are tons of questions about Christianity and Jesus Christ, as well as a lot of misinformation available. For this reason, I've listed some basic information about the Christian faith.Basic Christian Beliefs
- God loves us and would like for us to live eternally with Him in glory.
- Because of our sin (= willful rebellion), we are separated from God.
- We cannot overcome sin by our own efforts.
- Because God loves us, He came to earth in human form (as Jesus) and died on the cross to take the penalty for our sins.
- Because Christ has died for us, salvation (= forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God) is available as a free gift to anyone who is willing to receive it.
- We receive salvation by making a life-changing commitment to Christ, not merely by accepting doctrines or joining an organization.
Jesus of Nazareth
- Jesus was a Palestinian Jew born in Bethlehem around 4 B.C. The title Christ ("Anointed one") was applied to Jesus by his followers.
- Jesus displayed unusual religious insight at an early age, but until age 29 he apparently worked as a carpenter with his (adoptive) father, Joseph. Then he began to preach and work miracles, gathering around him a group of twelve apostles ("sent ones").
- At age 33, Jesus was arrested by the Romans, who were responding to the demands of an angry mob. He was turned over to local authorities who gave him a hasty trial (violating their own laws and procedures) and executed him on charges of blasphemy. He suffered a cruel death on a cross and was buried. Then, according to the Bible, he rose again and later miraculously ascended into heaven.
- Christians believe that Christ is God in human flesh (not merely a human being with godly attributes) and that he has existed for all eternity as part of the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Christian Morality
Christian morality is quite similar to morality in other religions and cultures, and to pre-existing Jewish morality."Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them." — Jesus, Matthew 5:17Christians emphasize two things that modern western culture tends to neglect:
- Intentions matter just as much as effects.
"You have heard that it was said... 'Thou shalt not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who hates his brother shall be liable to judgment." - Jesus, Matthew 5:21
- We distinguish sin from temptation. Human nature is corrupted by sin, and you cannot be good by simply following your natural instincts in their present, damaged form.
"Temptations to sin are sure to come." - Jesus, Luke 17:1
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to mankind. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." - St. Paul, I Corinthians 6:13
Christians and other relitions
"It is the atheist, not the Christian, who has to believe that nearly all the people that ever lived have been mistaken about one of the things that mattered to them most." - C. S. Lewis, paraphrased.Christians don't believe that other religions are totally false -- only that they are less complete or less accurate than Christianity. Because only one God actually exists, all concepts of the divine throughout the world must come from Him. It is nonsense to claim that "all religions are equally true" since some religions directly contradict others. In particular, most religions assume that people can overcome sin by working hard to better themselves. Christians insist that forgiveness of sin is a free gift from God.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is it that Jesus was born in 4 B.C., not 1 B.C. or 0 or 1 A.D.?
People did not start numbering years from Christ's birth until about 700 years later. At that time, the medieval monk who reconstructed the chronology got it slightly wrong. The New Testament records dates relative to specific emperors and governors, rather than using numbers. Even today there is still some uncertainty. - How can Christians justify the cruelty of [the Crusades / medieval kings / some so-called Christians today / whatever]?
We can't and we don't. Through much of history, whenever kings or politicians wanted to do anything dubious and avoid criticism, they said they were doing it for Christ. This shows only that the name of Christ had prestige which all sorts of people tried to borrow. Nowadays, whenever politicians want to start a war, they often say they're doing it "for world peace." Does that mean "peace" is a dishonorable cause? - Are there any prominent scientists who are Christians?
Plenty. Some that come to mind are D. E. Knuth, computer scientist, Stanford University; John Polkinghorne, quantum physicist, Cambridge University; Owen Gingerich, astronomer, Harvard; and H. F. Schaefer, quantum chemist, University of Georgia. The late Georg Cantor, founder of set theory, was a devout Christian. The proportion of Ph.D. scientists who attend church is almost exactly the same as that of the general population. - What do Christians believe about birth control and abortion?
First of all, these are two separate issues. Even the Catholic Church, which is opposed to both, clearly states that it objects to them for two totally separate reasons. Before addressing these issues I want to point out that all Christians reject the secular notion that people have a right to "sexual freedom" defined as sexual intercourse without consequences. Complete intimacy between man and woman is an important and glorious act which should not be reduced to the level of a mere physical sport, and modern technology has not changed this fact. If you train yourself to experience physical intimacy without love or commitment, you have made yourself less of a human being. Most Protestants see nothing wrong with birth control within marriage as a way of regulating the size of one's family. After all, women are already naturally infertile most of the time, and birth control merely uses technology to help nature do what it already does for itself. The Catholic objection to birth control is that it is wrong to artificially deprive sexual intercourse of its most important natural function, which is reproduction. The way they see it, if you are completely unwilling to conceive a child, you should not be having sexual intercourse. But it is legitimate to take advantage of naturally occurring periods of reduced fertility. Abortion is a more serious issue since it destroys an embryo or fetus that already exists, rather than preventing one from coming into existence. Most Christians hold that a fetus is either a human being, or something so close to a human being that it has nearly the same rights. If you believe that a premature baby is a person, then you must believe that a fetus is also a person, because they are the same thing. Accordingly, abortion is justifiable only in the most extreme circumstances (e.g., to save the mother's life -- not merely to avoid inconvenience, not even serious disruption of one's career). Abortion is not justified in cases of rape or incest because the baby is a completely innocent victim. Even abortion to save the mother's life has to be approached carefully, because there is no reason to assume a priori that the mother is more valuable than the baby. Christians provide various kinds of practical assistance to women faced with unexpected pregnancies. Just look in your phone book under "Abortion alternatives" or contact a local church. Christians do not believe that a woman's body is her own. Our bodies belong to God, not ourselves. Christians believe that men as well as women must take responsibility for the effects of their sexual activities. - What is the Christian position on [disarmament / gun control / deficit spending / whatever]?
There is no "Christian position" on most political issues. The controversies that exist outside the Christian community also exist within it. Naturally, Christian morality sets some limits, but it does not prescribe a specific form of government or specific government policies. - Do Christians believe in evolution?
All Christians are "creationists" in the sense that we believe the world was created by God. None of us believe that evolution is a complete explanation of how life came into existence. But then, neither do biologists. "Young-earth creationism," the idea that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old, was popularized by the Seventh-Day Adventists in the late 1800s as part of their distinctive scheme for interpreting biblical prophecies. Although it has its adherents, young-earth creationism does not reflect the majority opinion of knowledgeable Christians. Most Christians believe that God created the world through a gradual process, and that the first chapter of Genesis explains who and why, not how. (This does not mean that we "take it allegorically" -- we take it to be true as given, but we don't try to extract information that it doesn't give.)
Christian denominations
Most divisions within Christendom arise from the following events:- 1054 A.D: After centuries of tension over the increasing political power of the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe splits with the Orthodox Church in the eastern Mediterranean and Russia.
- 1521 A.D: Protesting abuses within the Catholic Church (which the Church itself later condemned), Martin Luther starts a movement intended to reform the church, but ends up splitting it. Numerous Protestant churches are formed (Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, etc.).
- In the 1500s, the Church of England (Episcopal Church) takes a "middle way" between Catholicism and Protestantism, forming a church that is locally governed but preserves Catholic traditions.
How to become a Christian
Being a Christian is more than just attending a church or trying to live a good life. To become a Christian, you must personally commit yourself to Christ by praying a prayer in which you confess your sins, accept His forgiveness, and give Him control of your life. That's all. Christ's grace is given freely to anyone who will accept it. You will not necessarily feel any different; not everyone's conversion is a mind-blowing emotional revolution. (In fact, be suspicious of those that are; they tend not to be genuine.) Nor will sin leave your life. You will still face the same temptations as before, and sometimes you will fall. The difference is that now you are a forgiven sinner. Not only that, but you are empowered to overcome sin, although the fruits of victory will not be immediate. Join your fellow Christians for worship and instruction. If you belong to a church, attend it; if you do not, join one (see below). Share your faith with others. "Fly your flag." Make sure the world knows you're a Christian.How to choose a church to attend
Don't choose a church by its social prestige, architecture, or type of music. Instead:- Look for sincere devotion to Christ and a clear sense of what is important in Christianity.
- Look for a church that will give you the instruction and fellowship that you need in your own spiritual growth.
- Look for a church in which you can worship God sincerely and effectively.
- Look for a church in which you can serve as well as be served.
- Avoid churches whose Christianity has been watered down to accommodate non-Christian lifestyles.
- Avoid churches whose faith has degenerated into secular political activism (either right- or left-wing).
- Avoid churches that don't do anything to help people in need or to make the world a better place. (In a spiritually mature church, this kind of activity is often behind the scenes, out of the public eye. You may have to inquire about it.)
- Avoid churches that manipulate you by making you doubt your salvation. God is not a bureaucrat who sets up hoops for you to jump through! Remember, it's him saving you, not the other way around.
Additional References
- Canticles of St. Romanos Melodos -- selections in English
- The Christian mind: Can a thinking person be a Christian?
- How do we know God exists?
- Science vs. Christianity, part 1: Scientific method
- Science vs. Christianity, part 2: Evolution
- Where did the Bible come from, and can we trust it?
- Who is Jesus and did He really rise from the dead?
- Can non-Christians go to heaven?
- Explaining Christian sexual morality to a non-Christian world
- Notes on the Original Greek Text of the New Testament for information about the original text of the New Testament and how it reached us
- Some family-oriented advice about Internet safety, ethics, and law
- Urban legends and hoaxes relating to Christianity
Recommended reading
Paul E. Little, Know Why You BelieveKreeft and Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Richard Swinburne, The Existence of God (a technical book addressed to scholars)
R. Giere, Understanding Scientific Reasoning
C. S. Lewis, "The Funeral of a Great Myth," in Christian Reflections.
Edward J. Larson, article in September 1999 Scientific American on the number of scientists who believe in God
Edward J. Larson, Summer for the Gods (about the Scopes "monkey trial")
This page and it's author
Andy Hughes is a Christian living in Silverton Oregon, he attends Silverton Friends Church. Much of the information on this page was gathered from The Covingtons page. This web page is not maintained by a church or evangelistic organization. If you would like more information about Christ, we urge you to contact a local church or an organization such as Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship or Campus Crusade for Christ.About the Christian fish symbol
About tolerance
The differences between beliefs and religions
What if I've chosen the wrong religion?
Christianity and Abortion
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