Please skim through any of the gospels or any other New Testament book of your choice. Cite here a verse or passage that helps explain the success of Christianity as a "world" religion. If you are behind on blog entries, you may add comments on ideas from additional New Testament books. Please address each book in a separate blog comment.
Matthew 28:19 and 28:20
ReplyDelete19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
These verses are a direct command to the apostles to spread the word, recruit, and convert people everywhere. There is no equivalent commandment in Judaism this direct about seeking converts. So it seems from the beginning Christianity was to be a missionary religion.
Jerry,
DeleteDon't some of the textual scholars debate some of these admonitions as "additions/glosses" to fit in with the prevailing church dogma? Somewhere it seems as if I had read this. Dr. Marmorstein can perhaps enlighten us here.
Not quite sure what the question is. The earliest manuscripts of Mark's gospel end at 16:8, so the "Great Commission" verses aren't there. But as far as a I know, no one disputes the authenticity of the Great Commission verses in the Matthew passage Jerry cites. I tend to agree with Jerry that these verses point to a difference in spirit between Judaism and Christianity. Actually, there's a rabbinic tradition that, if someone wants to convert, your first job is to discourage them: you don't *really* want to convert do you?
DeleteLuke 6:23-"Rejoice in that day leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. I believe this speaks to all those who may have doubts of their salvation. To know that your saved and will one day be in Heaven can give comfort to all Christians.
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DeleteArtboy,
DeleteDon't I want to have a great discussion with you and learn at your feet. My great burden is: "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"
I personally enjoy reading about the scriptures that talking about judging others. For the sake of portraying the Word I'm familiar with, I will site it from the NIV version.
ReplyDelete(Mat 7:1) "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
(7:2) For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
(7:3) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
(7:4) How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
(7:5) You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye
This word pretty much speaks for itself, but it's managed to get me past some pretty heated arguments with others. It also seems to be saying that nobody is flawless. It's interesting how true this is. I've personally witnessed someone judging somebody else unjustifiably, when the faults they were poking at were ones that they were guilty of. I feel as if it is also saying not to blindly go in, giving someone advice about something that you're struggling with as well. First you must fix your own problems before you preach to others. This is universal wisdom that one can also find in other world religions, like Confucianism.
A prime example of this advice being put to good use is in John chapter 8, where the woman who committed adultery, and brought to Jesus by the Pharisees isn't stoned to death after all. Jesus showed them that nobody was perfect, or without sin (except for Jesus in this case).
It's sound universal wisdom like this that's found throughout the Gospels that makes it a successful world religion.
Aaron,There are many times when I have been handed a Gospel text to preach upon and have felt more than inadequate to do so. The "plank in my own eye" bit has come to bite me even before the sermon. I feel as if I must pray again and again the line from the Mass, "My sin, my sin, my most grevious sin."
DeleteAnother problem for me has been, as we discussed in class today, not so much forgiving another person(although that can be very hard at times), but it is forgiving myself for sinning against someone else even with their forgiveness or doing something dumb and/or hurtful to others in general. I tell myself I am fogiven, but my conscience keeps bring it up and up and up and up.
I think another element to Christianity that makes it so successful is the aspect of forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteIn Mark chapter 2, Jesus is eating amidst sinners and tax collectors, and after being questioned about it, he says...
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)
He is deliberately going out to forgive them; to save them. Perhaps another great example of forgiveness is Luke chapter 15. Both the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost son can be found here. In both, it signifies someone who has been led astray, but then ultimately is guided back or finds their way back. Each parable makes it apparent that there will be more rejoicing for those who were lost, and then found, so to speak.
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)
But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. (Luke 15:32)
Perhaps one of the best examples of redemption is the story of Saul converting to Paul in Acts chapter 9. He was initially trying to rid the world of Christians, and horribly persecuted them. He later became one of the greatest Christians ever known.
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)
Matthew 5:3-12 - The Beatitudes
ReplyDeleteI think that these show one side of why Christianity became a world religion. They give hope. They promise that better days will come if you do what is needed now. They are also easy to remember, even a person with little education can remember them. When i think of these the first thing that comes to mind is a song about them that we used to sing in church; what a simple way to spread the message that they hold, in a way that is easy to remember.
Acts 2.14-24: "But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power." This says that great things are coming and as long as you follow Jesus' teachings you will be saved by the grace of God. It does not matter what station of society, gender, or race you belong to; salvation will come to all.
ReplyDeleteThe entire book of Revelation speaks of a coming battle between Good and Evil. It speaks of the hope that Good will always triumph. Revelation is also an incredibly adventurous story,full of: battle, the supernatural, a hero, a villain, a timeline, natural disaster, strange beasts, the end of the world as we know it, and, most importantly, the vision of a 2,000 year earthly paradise afterward. All these elements speak to our emotions and dreams, even through any possible skepticism.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS NOT MY ANSWER TO THE BLOG, BUT AN INTERESTING POINT
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have learned, Christianity has had different basis throughout history. In the Middle Ages, there were those who believed Christian rules applied to different people. Queen Sibylla in "Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut)" says to Balian about adultery- "This isn't adultery, it's only washing. Even if it were adultery, the commandments aren't for us; they are for the others."
Another instance was when Dr. Lien asked our American History class about Christianity during the Renaissiance (sp?). He asked "Who did people believe earned salvation?" A student replied "People born of nobility and the rich" and at the same time I said "All those who believe in Christ."
He instantly pointed at me, smiled and said "That's too modern!"
My point is- John 3:16 is undoubtedly the greatest verse in terms of salvation through Jesus Christ and the primary "slogan" for Christianity. If that is today's stance on Christianity, what will be the faith's appeal 500 years from now?