S2 Brunet Christian Beliefs

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Colorado Christian University *

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205A

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Philosophy

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Feb 20, 2024

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1 Christian Beliefs Amanda Brunet Colorado Christian University PHL-205A Worldviews Instructor Haverty January 28, 2024

2 Christian Beliefs Christians believe God makes himself known in nature and the Bible. These two forms of revelation establish a worldview- a pattern of ideas, beliefs, convictions, and habits – that leads us and others to flourish (Myers & Noebel, 2018, p.29). As we look into Christianity, what are the core beliefs? What beliefs must an organization hold on to to be considered Christian? A closer look into Christianity, we see that the basics must cover who God is and what he has done, an ethical stance and morals, and natural life and its origins. With this laid out, we can establish what beliefs an organization, like a church, must hold on to be considered Christian. At the core of Christian beliefs is the theology of who God is. It is a belief in the full nature of God or the essence of God. Understanding the Times states, "The Bible describes God as active in his creation, specifically in overcoming humanity's fall into sin and bringing the subsequent rescue, or redemption, of what he made (Myers & Noebel, 2018, p.29). God is active in creation in that he was a purposeful designer who brought us into existence “in his own image” ( The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, Genesis 1:27). Humans can relate to God spiritually and morally, also known as the communicable attributes of God (Erickson, 2000). These attributes are the corresponding characteristics found in human nature. While we cannot become God, we can become like him by imitating his communicable attributes. God is holy, loving, just, good, merciful, gracious, faithful, truthful, patient, and wise. When we talk about being “conformed to the image of Christ,” this is the list we are describing. These things show us how to reflect who God is as Christ did (Wilkin, 2018). Next, we look at how Christ wants us to live since creating us and giving us a temporary home, Earth ( The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, 2 Corinthians 5:1). The line we draw or bar we set

3 when considering what is right and wrong is the foundation of our moral compass, what forms these moral standards in our lives as Christians found in the Bible. The basis of Christian ethics found in Jesus's instruction is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves (Myers & Noebel, 2018, p.243). Myers and Noebel go on to point out that the apex of Christ's ethical teaching is found in the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Matthew, chapters five through seven. While some doctrine can be taught in such a way that we understand its universal application, “God uses our efforts to convey his truth in a form as understandable as possible. What we must do is to retain the essential meaning of the biblical teaching while we apply it in a contemporary setting” (Erickson & Hustad, 1992). We thrive in living in the example of and teachings of Christ. Finally, a look into our natural life and its origins can be found early in the Bible. The writer of the Book of Genesis says the breath of God gave life to humanity by breathing into Adam ( The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, Genesis 2:7). Biology, the study of life, and the battle between faith and science has plagued humans despite how meaningful it is for building a Christian worldview. Except for a difference in a few details, Myers and Noebel point out that most origin-seeking groups agree that the universe, and especially life on Earth, bears the marks of a designer- God created humankind (Myers & Noebel, 2018, p.271). Life, or the state of being alive, may refer to a physical life that is biological in nature or a spiritual life that is active in the spiritual realm (Erickson, 2000). Erickson defines life in the Spirit as the Christian's life under the Holy Spirit's indwelling ( The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, Galatians 5:13-26). As a Christian, I believe in life created on earth by the Holy God for everlasting life in Heaven with Jesus. Now that the basics of Christian belief are set out, for this paper as a worldview base, we can explore how an organization, such as a church, would be considered Christian. A church is a

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4 local group of believers organized into a worshipping and ministering fellowship (Erickson, 2000). The church, made of God's people, represents Christ in divine union and should be a "continuation of the Lord's presence and ministry in the world " (Erickson & Hustad, 1992). The Holy Spirit’s indwelling in the church creates a sensitivity to the Lord’s leading the church ( The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, John 16:7). Erickson and Hustad further note that while the church is a divine creation, it is made up of imperfect human beings and will not reach perfect sanctification or glorification until the Lord’s return. For a Christian, according to Myers & Noebel, the moral order is as real as the physical order- some say even more real (Myers & Noebel, 2018, p.246). The apostle Paul, in the book of Corinthians, says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal ( The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, 2 Corinthians 4:18). Christians understand being human as being free and capable of observing God’s character and responding or not responding accordingly (Myers & Noebel, 2018, p.244). By following Christ, we experience how to focus on God's glory, and not what is temporary, with a respect for that which God has brought to life. In reflecting on this week's reading, challenge, and adaption of my worldview and a society that believes it can be anything it wants, the greatest commandments and teachings from the lips of Jesus will guide us forward. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” ( The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, Matthew 22: 36-40).

5 References Erickson, M. J. (2000). The concise dictionary of Christian theology . Crossway Books. Erickson, M. J., & Arnold Hustad, L. (1992). Introducing Christian Doctrine . Revell Myers, J., & Noebel, D. A. (2018). Understanding the times: A survey of competing worldviews . David C Cook Publishing Company. The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1973) Wilkin, J. (2018, May 15). 10 things you should know about God’s communicable attributes . Crossway. https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-gods- communicable-attributes/

S2 Brunet Christian Beliefs

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