I have been working on a writing assignment designed to summarize the essentials of Christianity. I have made two attempts. The first emphasizes more about what Christianity does for the individual and the second is more like a brief summary of History found in God’s Word.
Essay One
Christianity is the voluntary surrender to God and His transformation of our life through faith, careful study, and devotion to Jesus, born in Judea in 1 AD, and His teachings and radical claim to be the Son of God. He came to show us the way. He asked only for us to believe and follow him. His way leads us through the cross were He gave his life to pay the debt of believers owed God for disobedience to His Will, past the grave, and into everlasting life with God. He came to the world to save it one person at a time. The spread of His way came by His chosen disciples first to their fellow Jews and then to the rest of world. It is our duty once transformed to tell others of their deep need to be touched by the healing power of our Beloved Physician.
Essay Two
God made the universe. Man defied God, sin, and was banished from His presence. Man displeased God and was severely judged by water. In love, God chose the descendants of one who trusted Him. This tribe was given a moral code to restore God’s favor. The code included a penalty for sin, death. God promised a Messiah to restore His presence to man. Their faith often wandered. When faithful He rewarded them with peace otherwise with despair. The promised Messiah came to pay the debt demanded by the broken code, death. The risen Messiah demonstrated God’s love in death through payment of their debt. He reminded His chosen disciples to teach of God’s great love which He exemplified, to all until His glorious return, when all men will be judged under the code. Those defiant are eternally banished to fire. His true followers are forever rewarded with God’s joyful presence.
This may also help those who wonder if Mormons are Christians? I would like to see a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints write an essay describe the basics of Mormonism in 150 words.
September 5, 2006 at 7:07 pm |
God is our Father and we lived with Him in the beginning. He established a plan to test us and give us a fulness of joy. The plan ordained the Creation of the earth, the Fall of Adam, and our redemption from death and sin through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. God sent prophets and apostles to teach us Faith in His Son, repentance from sin and obedience to His commandments. In ancient and modern times, He inspired and authorized holy men to teach His will and to convey it to the world. They testify that God Himself was born of Mary, lived a sinless life, was crucified for our sins and rose again the third day; and through Him all mankind may be saved. Due to an ancient apostasy, God commissioned Joseph Smith to restore His church. He continues to reveal His will today through living prophets and apostles.
September 12, 2006 at 8:22 pm |
Thank You for taking the time to outline some of the essentials of your faith. Your effort is greatly appreciated and outlines many of the unique teachings of your church.
It has given me ideas for future topics to explore some of the differences between your faith and mine.
October 14, 2009 at 12:54 pm |
I am still modifying my paragraph. The overarching theme has become more important to me than the underlying subplots, but the paragraph still contains the bad and good news. Maybe I will try this assignment again on my blog. However, I still need to write on the Moderate Christianity topic. … Unfortunately, it is a much larger topic than Liberal or Conservative Christianity.