What is Christianity? Religion, faith, worldview, lifestyle. Doctrine. For good reason Jesus Christ was called a Teacher. So Christianity is not just something you need to believe, but what to learn. But you are mistaken if you think it will be about dry religious dogma.
Let’s see what wanted to teach us a great Teacher.
1. Love
Jesus, this is the most important discipline. When asked: “Master! what is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said, “”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” — this is the first and great commandment; the second is like it: “love your neighbor as yourself”; on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).
Love, according to Christ, is the hallmark of His disciples: “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). But how can you learn to love? “A rule that exists for all of us, is very clear: don’t waste time pondering whether you neighbor; act as if you loved him,” wrote Christian philosopher Clive S. Lewis. Learn to do good, to see the problems of others, to help, to love not in words but in deeds.
2. To believe
Most of the errors in our lives we make because of a lack of faith. I would even say that sin is a disease caused due to vitamin deficiency of faith. It began in the garden of Eden when Adam and eve doubted that God wishes them only good. And is still ongoing. Jesus repeatedly emphasized the importance of faith: “If you can believe, all things are possible” (Mark 9:23), “thy Faith has saved thee” (Luke 7:50), “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29). Faith, indeed, plays a key role in our salvation: “yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ and we believed in Christ Jesus, to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law: for by the deeds of the law will justify no flesh” (Galatians 2:16). To the question: “What can I do to be saved”, Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
The Christian faith is not just agreeing with the doctrines of the Church, and a life full of confidence in God. This is the confidence that He loves you, wishes you the best and can do all the necessary and even (in your opinion) impossible. That’s life in accordance with that faith, for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). “And without faith to please God is impossible; for it must needs he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
3. Forgive
This is one of the most difficult disciplines, but to master it you must: “Forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses”(Марка11:25). To forgive does not mean to justify someone else’s crimes, to return him their confidence, to give a second chance. Maybe so, but not necessarily. To forgive means to cease to condemn and hate. As said, the hero of the film: “I Forgive only once, and to hate a whole life”.
4. Not to be selfish
“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). About what it means to “take up your cross” there are many versions. But to “deny himself” — obviously means abandoning selfishness, to fulfill its sinful desires in favor of the will of God and love of neighbor. The Apostle Paul writes: “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), “Not [only] every care, but every of other” (Philippians 2:4).
5. To communicate with God
Jesus himself, being the Son of God, needed the fellowship with the Father (Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12). We, weak and sinful, this is a must! Henri Caffarel, Catholic priest, author of “100 letters about prayer,” said: “Prayer is a time when man, freed from the illusion of autonomy, which he sometimes lends itself to, again conscious of its deep dependence (God — approx. ed.)”. About prayer you can say a lot, I just want to add that is important not only sincerity and faith, and constancy. “Be constant in prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving,” advises the Apostle Paul (Colossians 4:2). Every day find time and a private place for communion with God is not easy at first. But it is prayer that will help you master all other classes, without it in any way! Success in school!