The number of Christians has steadily been growing in the recent past. However, there is a constant gap between the believers of Christian faith and the non-Christians (Cosgrove 34). The perception of the world sometimes does not reflect the exact representation of Christians leading to misunderstanding and conflict in addressing religious, social, and economic concerns. The article below focuses on the fundamental elements of the Christian worldview and their effects.
God
The description of God has been considered fiddly in the sense that no statement or phrase in its full description can be able to illustrate a personality that is infinite (MacArthur 123). Any description will limit and confine God to just a fraction of His attributes. God is infinite, eternal, just, holy, sovereign, and supernatural being. He is love and grace and desires for fellowship with man. God cannot be limited to a given number of characteristic even though He is known to be divine, omnipresent, omniscient gracious immanent merciful and holy in nature.
The biblical story of creation in Genesis gives the initial interaction of humanity and the creator (Cosgrove 78). God displays His authority and power by the words of His mouth. Everything was miraculously made from nothing. Creation is the supernatural existence of everything in the way that God intended it to be by His direct acts and not an innate progression.
Humanity
Humanity is what makes us unmistakably human. Our inclination is unmistakably distinct from rest of the creation. We are the only part of the creation that can reason and have direct interaction with our creator. No other animal has this capacity, and doubtlessly this is a novel blessing presented by God to us. No other piece of God’s creation has a nature equipped for this kind of relationship.
The Bible clearly indicates that God made humans in His image. The above implies that He empowers humans to comprehend him and His vast and complex nature. Our human instinct mirrors some of God’s traits, in spite of the fact that we are limited. We acknowledge that we are made in the image of the God according to first John 4:16 (The Holy Bible 679). Being like God, we are expected to behave and live like God. However, this nature is mutilated by sin, which additionally dwells in our personality.
Our purpose and reason of our being are for God’s eminence. As it were, the original will of God is for us to acclaim, adore, and tell of His goodness to every living creature (Sanneh 127). Hence, in this, we find that God has given us a purpose for our existence. As indicated by His word, God made humans with the intention that they may accomplish what He desires of them.
The source of human problems is sin. As such, the fall of man in the creation separated man with God. The world has become an evil place to be because of disobedience and choosing a path that is not ordered by God. God has given everybody the power to choose the right or wrong. It is out of the will of the person and not forceful.
Jesus
Biblically Jesus Christ is God. His existence was there even before the beginning of time. He created both in the heaven and on earth all things visible or invisible. He is the divine son of the almighty God through whom the universe was created. He once existed in the form of human and walked on earth.
During His time on earth, Jesus’ intention was to establish the kingdom of God on earth. He accomplished miracles, healed the sick, and raised the dead. Apart from these, He showed outstanding characteristic in humility considering that He was in the very nature of God. He dedicated all His life to service. In his walk on earth, he sought to help others in many ways including the provision of food. He lived a prayerful life and always accomplished his father’s will. Jesus was finally the ultimate sacrifice to humanity.
The coming of Jesus renewed the relationship between humanity and God. Jesus was the atonement for the sins of humanity giving humanity an opportunity to repent and be right with the creator. Jesus’s deeds are the perfect examples of how a Christian should live to be able to inherit the kingdom of God. His coming in human form and being born of human parents is an encouragement to humanity, which is possible to live a holy life in the present world of temptation since He also overcame.
Restoration
Restoration begins with humanity understanding that our relationship with God was not broken because of Him but rather because of our sin. Acceptance is the initial step towards solving the worldly problems. We need to accept the will of God and live in His perfect desire this way we are born into the family of Christ. Our spirit is then reconciled to that of the father of the universe. In this way, our minds will do away with evil and start functioning according to the will of God. The flesh should be subdued to the spirit, which is under the command of the spirit of God. It is only through this that humanity will attain their redemption.
The concept of salvation is not through acts, which define us. It is through the unmerited favor of God even though we do not deserve it. Salvation is not justified by what we do and is really against the standard thinking of humanity who wants to earn everything through their efforts. The wrath of God would have otherwise consumed the world were it not for His grace, which He freely gave to us.
Salvation begins with faith; one has to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and believe in the power of salvation, believe that Jesus died and resurrected. One has to accept their sinful nature so that they can be atoned and be accepted into the family of God. Grace and faith make the basis of Christian belief. Christians believe that transformation of self and society happens only through total submission to God. He alone has the capacity and power to transform humanity and help it turn away from their evil deeds. Being the creator, He is the only one who has the full understanding of the good of the society. Submission has to be willful and not through coercion or forceful means.
Analysis
Christian belief makes you be one with your creator. One is believed to be a part of the family of Christ and enjoys all the privileges that come with it. Secondly, the justification for being the sons of God gives peace to the believers while also experiencing the love of Christ. You will also have inseparable love with Jesus all your life.
Christianity is based on the principles of love and unity. However, it is a disturbing observation to note that a majority of the believers have not embraced these principles. Most Christians have been blamed for looking down on those who do not share the beliefs with them rather than embracing them and winning them over through love as Jesus did. Christianity is transformational experience it influences both the spirit and a person’s will. There is a willing desire to do well and share the goodness of God to others.
Reflection
Christian worldview has to be practical in that one renews oneself with the word of God through reading the Bible. Additionally, one has to be in constant relationship and communication with the creator through prayer. Being in touch with God is the only way to overcome evil and sustain your belief in Christ.
Conclusion
It should be noted that the perception of the world sometimes does not reflect the exact depiction of Christians leading to misunderstanding and conflict in addressing religious, social, and economic concerns. Christianity in the view of the world including the Pentecostal and the evangelical has a specific perception of God, creation, grace faith, and redemption. Some denominations believe in purgatory while others do not. There are other complicated issues like the concept of unforgivable sin, which just shows the variation of the Christian worldview. Even with all these, Christians believe they are one, and they serve one sovereign God.
Works Cited
Cosgrove, Mark. Foundations of Christian Thought. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2006. Print.
MacArthur, John. Think Biblically!. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2003. Print.
Sanneh, Lamin. The Changing Face Of Christianity. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.
The Holy Bible. New York: Nelson, 2013. Print.