In a society that prizes self-gratification, Christian values like kindness may seem foreign. But kindness is one of the core principles that help Christians to be loving towards others, even their enemies.
Right now, we’re exploring the Christian value of giving back. Stream the movie about four middle-aged ladies who find purpose by helping others in need on Pure Flix.
The Price
During Jesus’ three-and-a-half year ministry on earth, His miracles and life-changing teachings drew swarming crowds. But, after His death and resurrection, many followers seemed to drift away.
The Bible warns that being a Christian will cost you. The world will hate you, and people will be rude to you, insult you, and even hurt you for your faith. This is not an exaggeration. Countless Christians have been harmed, ostracized, and even killed for their convictions.
In addition to this, being a Christian can be costly to your relationships. A Christian must be willing to put their relationship with Christ above their commitment to family and friends. Often, this means that they will find themselves estranged from family members who refuse to accept their newfound faith. Even worse, they may be ostracized by co-workers who are offended by Biblical values like chastity and marriage. This is because the believer’s body becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit, and they must live according to God’s standard.
The Cost of Disobedience
Christianity is unique among major world religions in that it emphasizes a relationship with God rather than adhering to a set of rules. Christians believe that Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to earth as both fully man and fully divine. This is called incarnation, and it allows us to know God as our loving father.
It is important to understand that the Bible teaches that sin separates us from God, and Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross. He was buried and resurrected, thereby restoring the broken relationship between humans and God (Romans 3:23; 5:12).
It is also essential to know that disobedience has costs. For example, the pleasure of immorality is temporary compared to the suffering from sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS or the grief from stealing. The Bible warns that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). One of the most famous Christian missionaries was Paul, who was a former persecutor of Christians and wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament.
The Cost of Salvation
Christianity is a world religion with more than 2.2 billion followers. It is centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago and was crucified by Roman soldiers.
One of the core values that Christians are expected to live by is love. This is a selfless love that encompasses caring for others and giving back. It also includes forgiveness.
In addition to love, another important Christian value is faith. According to the Bible, those who believe in Christ are saved. Christians believe that the Old Testament prophets predicted a Messiah who would come to earth, die for mankind’s sins, and then rise from the dead. This is called redemption and it reconciles mankind with God.
Christians also believe that it is important to be part of a church community where the Bible is taught and where sacraments are administered. This is called the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23).
The Cost of a Christian Education
The cost of Christian education is the commitment to train children in a manner consistent with God’s Word. This includes the training of children to understand and obey God’s moral and ethical commands. Children are also trained to view the world through the lens of Scripture, which focuses their thinking on ultimate truth-that the universe was created by God; that human history is the record of man’s rebellion against God and His redemptive activity in Christ; and that the ultimate purpose of life is to glorify God in everything one thinks, speaks and does.
The religious features of a truly Christian education are not merely an add-on, but rather essential. While secular education is continually groping for a unifying principle, Christianity has the only valid one. Secular students may acquire a great deal of information, but they will never attain the true meaning of that knowledge, because they will not be able to relate it to God’s plan of redemption in Christ.
