Benchmark - Gospel Essential
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Benchmark - Gospel Essential There are many components which contribute to making up a worldview. An individual's stance on topics of Jesus, Humanity, Restoration, and God, all make up his belief system. A person's actions, thoughts and the way he chooses to live his life are highly influenced by his beliefs. The Christian worldview is positioned on the idea of one God, a God-centered purpose for humankind, the journey to salvation and the work and actions of Jesus Christ. Taking the same position in these areas will result in a life, which is being lived for the honor of God. An analysis of these aspects of Christian worldview helps in the understanding of the fact that how Christians and their lifestyle is influenced by these views. Studying the topics of humanity, God, restoration and the importance of Jesus Christ will give an insight of Christians thinking patterns, actions, lives and how they prosper through life. In addition, it will reveal how Christianity impacts a person’s behavior and thinking.
The central aspect of Christianity, and nearly all monotheistic religions, is God. In the Christian worldview, God is the Supreme Being who is unique and different from any other creation, and thus cannot be compared to them in any way. Christians regard God to be omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and sovereign. The Bible reveals many aspects and attributes of God to give an idea to everyone how He is like. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). The verses suggest that mercy and love are two attributes of God. Moreover, Christians view God to be living, self-existent, having personhood, immutable, unlimited in space and time, and to be One . According to the apostle Paul, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1: 20). It shows that God is invisible, but his existence can be seen through all that He created. The beautiful and vast creation that a Christian views everywhere indicate to him that they have a Creator, who is unique and incredible, and has control over all of the creation.
The Christian worldview is also heavily based on their view of human nature and the natural characteristics of man. One of the key characteristics of humans described in the Bible is that humans are created in the Image of God (Genesis 1:27), he created man in his own image ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"a1sh5i7k7rb","properties":{"formattedCitation":"{\\rtf (\\uc0\\u8220{}Bible Gateway passage,\\uc0\\u8221{} n.d.)}","plainCitation":"(“Bible Gateway passage,” n.d.)"},"citationItems":[{"id":586,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/3NAS99ZQ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/3NAS99ZQ"],"itemData":{"id":586,"type":"webpage","title":"Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 1 - New King James Version","container-title":"Bible Gateway","abstract":"The History of Creation - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.","URL":"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NKJV","shortTitle":"Bible Gateway passage"}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“Bible Gateway passage,” n.d.). God created human beings to recognize and know him in order for them to live in a way that he likes them to. Therefore, the purpose of humanity is to worship God and live a life full of devotion, thankfulness, and happiness, praising God as they enjoy the thing in life He created. However, humanity is plagued with sin, ever since their parents; Adam and Eve's choice to disobey. The Christian worldview holds that human beings are born sinful and are inclined to sin (Romans 7:18). Following God requires that we battle the desires and lusts within us to avoid sin, but as the apostle, Paul says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Worldly cravings and desires lead man to forget his purpose and fall short, but he can be saved through God's grace ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"atjdnsm2mh","properties":{"formattedCitation":"{\\rtf (\\uc0\\u8220{}Chapter 7,\\uc0\\u8221{} 2013)}","plainCitation":"(“Chapter 7,” 2013)"},"citationItems":[{"id":590,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/5I54CR34"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/5I54CR34"],"itemData":{"id":590,"type":"post-weblog","title":"Chapter 7: “Humanity as Creature, Sinner, and New Being in Christ”","container-title":"Project Augustine","abstract":"When you hear or think about the term “image of God” what immediately pops into your mind? Has your view of the term changed after reading this chapter? On page 143, he writes about the general te…","URL":"https://projectaugustine.com/theology/faith-seeking-understanding-an-introduction-to-christian-theology-2nd-ed-by-daniel-migliore/chapter-7-humanity-as-creature-sinner-and-new-being-in-christ/","shortTitle":"Chapter 7","language":"en","issued":{"date-parts":[["2013",11,21]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“Chapter 7,” 2013).
Jesus Christ is the most important figure in Christianity, and the entire worldview is centered upon his identity. Christians regard Jesus of Nazareth to be God's son who lived on Earth as a man, taught the people about God and spread his word ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"a1c8de4gpqg","properties":{"formattedCitation":"{\\rtf (\\uc0\\u8220{}Jesus Quotes - 30 Powerful Teachings and Words,\\uc0\\u8221{} n.d.)}","plainCitation":"(“Jesus Quotes - 30 Powerful Teachings and Words,” n.d.)"},"citationItems":[{"id":588,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/BAJPVAQV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/BAJPVAQV"],"itemData":{"id":588,"type":"webpage","title":"Jesus Quotes - 30 Powerful Teachings and Words","container-title":"Bible Study Tools","abstract":"Read some of the most life changing quotes that Jesus spoke. The teachings of Jesus are timeless, healing, power-filled truths!","URL":"http://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/jesus-quotes/"}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“Jesus Quotes - 30 Powerful Teachings and Words,” n.d.). He performed many miracles curing and helping the people, but was rejected by many around him, and ultimately put to death. His followers gathered and spread the message of God that they received from him. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by giving up his life on the cross for the sins of mankind. This act signifies mankind's relationship with God through Jesus, as he became humanity's savior to deliver them from sins, as it serves as a gateway for the relationship between them and God. God is regarded to be one, but Jesus Christ serves as the mediator between mankind and God. The relationship is important to the extent that without this belief, the Christian worldview would disintegrate.
In the Christian worldview, the ultimate solution to humanity's problems is salvation through Jesus Christ. All the problems that human beings have to face are rooted in spiritual causes and therefore require spiritual solutions. Faith in God and his Grace, and its connection to Jesus and the cross, play a key role in the Christian view of salvation. Faith in Jesus and the idea that he sacrificed himself for mankind's sins helps one attain that salvation, which helps them reach heaven and live a life of eternity with God. A society's transformation and progress are therefore highly dependent on its relationship to God. This relationship helps people in society discover their purpose and thus transform themselves into someone who aligns his goals with that purpose. It helps them avoid sin and that which is harmful to himself and others to become a better person, which eventually leads to the transformation of those connected to them in society.
A Christian worldview brings innumerable benefits to a person the foremost of which is forgiveness and salvation. The concept of salvation is heavily rooted in the belief in an afterlife. For a Christian, the afterlife serves as the ultimate objective for which they seek salvation and help in Jesus, which helps their community draw strength from their faith. Moreover, there is a strong sense of community and family life in the Christian way of life. Together the family and the community spread the message of God to others and create an encouraging environment where people can learn about God and develop higher moral values and virtues, while the faith that Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for them helps the community experience a sense of love and connection to God in all situations. A confusing aspect of the Christian worldview is the acceptance of different and often destructive lifestyles. The idea that everything is forgiven if you only carry a certain set of beliefs sometimes lead those that do not understand the purpose of this is to start following their whims and temptations. So, one could still be forgiven for stealing and murder even if justice has not been served on earth. This results from people having a different understanding of ethics and morals, which stem from their differences in knowledge and recognition of the truth.
In my opinion, the Christian worldview I hold is not just important for my salvation but for the betterment of my workplace, community as well as my family. It is powered by the belief that a spirit lives inside us that is connected to God and guides us towards the path of Jesus. Therefore, I should be doing my utmost to love God with all my heart and soul. God of Bible has extended its mercy towards His people and all the creatures ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"aue95bvnm6","properties":{"formattedCitation":"{\\rtf (\\uc0\\u8220{}The Beginning of Wisdom an Introduction to Christian Thought and Life,\\uc0\\u8221{} n.d.)}","plainCitation":"(“The Beginning of Wisdom an Introduction to Christian Thought and Life,” n.d.)"},"citationItems":[{"id":582,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/RZASGFE8"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/2RJg7y7G/items/RZASGFE8"],"itemData":{"id":582,"type":"webpage","title":"The Beginning of Wisdom an Introduction to Christian Thought and Life","URL":"https://lc.gcumedia.com/cwv101/the-beginning-of-wisdom-an-introduction-to-christian-thought-and-life/v2.1/#/chapter/Introduction","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",3,14]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“The Beginning of Wisdom an Introduction to Christian Thought and Life,” n.d.). Religion serves as an important tool to maintain our connection to God and helps us live a considerably more moral and ethical life inspired by God’s message. It serves as the foundation on which our worldview is formed and determines the way we perceive the world around us. For me, developing an understanding of my own individual as well as the Christian worldview is highly significant because they serve as the criteria which determine my personal ethics, moral code and the foundation for the other beliefs I carry. For instance, the importance of a family is something I value, and which naturally affects my relationship and ways of dealing with others; which stems from my worldview. In effect, my worldview allows me to grasp a picture of all the reality around me and how I relate my knowledge and experiences, enabling me to understand and guide my life's choices towards a better outcome.
In conclusion, it is essential to understand our personal worldview because this is how all aspects of life, the world around us, and our position in it can be assessed. According to the Christian worldview, laws of logic are inflexible and universal because they reveal the nature of living God. My research on worldview disclosed that these components profoundly affect how I shape my decision, thoughts, experiences, and education. The Christian worldview and the way it supports Christianity is vital in making a bond with the "living God." People across the world hold personal viewpoints about God, ethics and knowledge and they make efforts in making their religion perfect, which is crucial to establish a relationship with the creator.
References
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 1 - New King James Version. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NKJV
Chapter 7: “Humanity as Creature, Sinner, and New Being in Christ.” (2013, November 21). Retrieved from https://projectaugustine.com/theology/faith-seeking-understanding-an-introduction-to-christian-theology-2nd-ed-by-daniel-migliore/chapter-7-humanity-as-creature-sinner-and-new-being-in-christ/
Jesus Quotes - 30 Powerful Teachings and Words. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/jesus-quotes/
The Beginning of Wisdom an Introduction to Christian Thought and Life. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2019, from https://lc.gcumedia.com/cwv101/the-beginning-of-wisdom-an-introduction-to-christian-thought-and-life/v2.1/#/chapter/Introduction
