There exist numerous religions throughout the world each with unique teachings and beliefs. Christianity is the most widely spread religion in the world accounting for up to 31.2% and the least being folk religions ranking in at 5.7% (Hackett and McClendon, 2017). In Christianity, several doctrines dictate how the followers behave, with each principle soliciting different opinions from the followers. Christianity is based on several tenets which include the Holy Trinity, the Eucharist and the Bible. All over the world, the Bible is closely associated with Christianity and has been considered to be the righteous book that Christians turn to for advice and hope in life. The article will discuss the importance of the Bible to Christianity and my opinions on how I think Christians perceive the Bible.
The Bible is believed to be an ancient book that was written by human prophets inspired by God. Christians think that the scriptures in the Bible portray the words of God directly as He stated them. The Bible is believed to contain God’s advice to humanity for them to live a righteous and fruitful life. The Bible includes scriptures that can directly be related to current situations humanity faces and even offers future events that are yet to occur (BBC, 2014). Additionally, it provides dilemmatic situations and ways in which each case can be tackled, thereby very important for Christians who strive to live an ethical lifestyle.
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Due to the above-stated reasons, the Bible is a fundamental doctrine to the Christianity religion. To usher in the discussion, I feel like Christians value the Bible above all other books in the world. It is part of them; there cannot be one without the other. Being God’s words, Christians believe that reading the Bible brings them closer to God and helps them abide by God’s instructions on how to live. Just as a father advises his children, Christians believe that God instructs them through the Bible. This is why where two or more Christians are gathered; it is paramount that they read the Bible to strengthen the bond between them and God.
Additionally, Christians turn to the Bible to remind them that God is always watching and whatever tough situation they are undergoing, someone else endured and was blessed (Skinner, 2015). This makes the Bible a beacon of hope for the Christians. A sign that a superior Being is watching over them and that all will be well no matter how long it takes. The most relatable scripture is that of Job which reminds Christians that despite there seeming there is no hope, and no matter how long it takes, all will be well in due time as God determines.
Christians also view the Bible as a moral guide in the way they live. Christians across the world all strive to live in accord to the teachings of the Bible. The Ten Commandments, contained in the Bible, act as ethical principles which dictate how Christians interact with other people. Moreover, other sections in the Bible, more so the New Testament, describing how God’s son, Jesus lived among humanity and still managed to live a moral life despite the many temptations that surround Earth.
All these factors portray my opinions on how I think Christians perceive the Bible. Christians consider the Bible to be the tool that brings them closer to God, a beacon of hope and also a moral guide through the treacherous world we live in. Religion is a complex human element that cannot be well deciphered since it involves a multitude of people from different walks of life, unlike culture where the people share a common understanding. This is the main difference between religion and culture. All in all, religion is a sensitive aspect that should be respected by all the people.
References
BBC. (2014). Christian scripture . Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/god/chrevelationrev2.shtml
Hackett, C., & McClendon, D. (2017, April 05). World's largest religion by population is still Christianity . Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact- tank/2017/04/05/christians-remain-worlds-largest-religious-group-but-they-are-declining- in-europe/
Skinner, D. H. (2015, October 05). Why do Christians read the Bible? Retrieved from http://www1.cbn.com/why-do-christians-read-the-bible