What is Christianity?
In discussions with people that are not Christians and in reading internet sites and blogs on the internet, a theme that I run across is the misconception that Christianity is about leading a moral life. The attitudes or arguments that non Christians bring up is that being a non- Christian does not necessarily mean one is exempted from living a moral life or a happy, fulfilling life. In other words, non Christians claim that they can lead a moral, happy and fulfilling life and they can do this without being a Christian. They point out that other religions teach morality and that those from other religions can also lead a happy and fulfilling life. These claims are true.The great misconception about Christianity is that the purpose of Christianity is to lead people to a moral lifestyle. This is the greatest fallacy regarding the purpose of Christianity. Jesus did not come to teach about moral living. He had one purpose and that was to rescue sinners from sin, wrath and judgment. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Salvation means deliverance or preservation from destruction. It means a deliverance from the bondage of sin. What are Christians saved from? Christians are saved from condemnation. Christians are saved from the penalty of sin. The penalty of sin is death. Salvation is deliverance from the penalty of sin. Christians are saved from the punishment of separation from God and the judgment which is to come. This is what Christianity is about.
Leading a moral life does not grant one eternal life. By what measure does one consider a ‘moral’ life? The yardstick of man has changed over time. God’s criterion has never changed. It requires perfection. No person has been able to achieve absolute perfection and starting from Adam and Eve down throughout the ages; every single person has broken God’s law and is therefore condemned. Scripture states in Isaiah 64:6 “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” The righteous or good deeds of man is like a polluted garment in the eyes of God.
When confronted with the argument is that one does not have to be a Christian to lead a moral life or to be happy is to miss the purpose of Christianity. The purpose of Christianity is not morality but salvation. Morality is a result of Christianity as the Christian is being sanctified but deliverance from the penalty of sin – salvation – is the purpose of Christianity.
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3 comments
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hassanadnan
August 16, 2010 at 11:37 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hello All. I hope you are doing well, please follow this link to know about the Teaching of Jesus PBUH
Harlequin
August 18, 2010 at 2:40 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Wow! That’s really cool. Spamming a Christian blog to get people to come to your Islamic site. Despite any misconceptions ;0 you may have, Christians generally aren’t that gullible.
Have a good day and stay out of those airplanes.
Tishrei
August 19, 2010 at 11:53 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi hassanadan,
I haven’t been on my blog much lately so I have been really lax about reading comments. That being said, I am really loath to delete comments or moderate comments left on my blog. However, your comment is simply a plug for your blog as opposed to discussing what was written on my blog. Had you entered into a discussion, likely I would have left your link. I am removing your link only because I do not want my blog used as a means to promote another blog that is in opposition to my blog. That’s exactly what you’re doing — using this blog to promote your blog.
As a side, I am very familiar with the teachings of Islam. You might want to look at this post: Why I Left Islam
Topics about Religion » Christianity and Misconceptions
March 22, 2009 at 11:38 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
[...] The Daily Office added an interesting post on Christianity and MisconceptionsHere’s a small excerptWhat is Christianity? In discussions with people that are not Christians and in reading internet sit… [...]
What is Theology? - Fruit of the Word | Fruit of the Word
October 23, 2011 at 11:27 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
[...] Theology is nothing more than the study of God which is something all Christians should be doing. And that we do through God’s Word. It requires knowing the Word of God. The word theology comes from the Greek word “theos” which is the Greek for for God. “Ology” comes from the Greek word “logos” which means “word.” There you have it – theology – God’s Word, the study of God’s Word. [...]