Conflict and rejection are to be expected and Christians must trust Gods plans, which are that anyone who asks in the name of Jesus will be saved. Christians relationship with God depends on the death of Jesus as everyday we make sacrifices for him and God made the ultimate sacrifice of his only son, this makes Christians feel closer to God. For this Christians must respond with prayer and sacrifices of their own, and in baptism they are promised to receive their benefits.
Resurrection is the most important belief for Christians today. An example of a modern day Christian who has lived out resurrection is Mary Craig. Mary’s first child was born handicapped and died very young. Mary then had another child who was perfectly healthy but her third boy was born with Down syndrome and would need constant care and attention although it was difficult Mary described having Nicky as living through the resurrection for sheer joy and as an everyday Christmas present. She said Nicky was a gift from God as he gave her total love and affection.
Jesus’ resurrection is the foundation or our practise as Christians, without there would be no such thing as Christianity and because of Jesus’ sacrifice when he was resurrected it causes us to experience him to be present in all of our lives. Without the resurrection we would not be able to pray to him which is a big part of our religion, it is also the reason we celebrate Eucharist because if Jesus wasn’t crucified we wouldn’t be able to receive him at mass.
Our personal resurrection or our life after death gives us the duty to behave morally and gives us the responsibility to have good judgement. It also makes sense of why some people may suffer un-justly and un-fairly. It could also be part of the purpose of living.
A03 (Evaluation
“For Christians to die for his/her beliefs does not make sense it is better to live for them.”
This statement can be argued either way because some would say that, Christians believe death is not the end and that it is only moving on to another stage in life. It is not the end; it is being rewarded by being with God. However the point that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and died for us could be made and that our death is not needed as a result of this. Jesus made the one and only ultimate sacrifice we do not need to die.
Some people would say that when a person dies for their faith it is un-Christian and in a way selfish as they leave the suffering behind to their family and friends who have to pick up the pieces and Christianity is not about making people suffer. However others would state that some people who follow Christianity don’t have the choice of life and they are forced to suffer and die for their beliefs, such as the modern day Christians in Sudan who don’t have the choice to live and to have their beliefs.
Martin Luther King is an example of someone who stood up for what he believed to be right and was prepared to die for this belief. He was the leader of the battle against racism in America and was assassinated by someone who did not agree with him. This case shows that dying for your beliefs can work as racism is nowhere near as big a problem as it once was. Some people might argue however that although in that one case it worked Christians can do a lot more here on earth and they can help a lot more if they are alive. Christians can serve God and others by actions and living.
A good argument could say that Christianity is all about sacrifice and giving everything you can give to be pure. As Jesus said, “whoever wants keep his life will lose it and whoever wants to lose his life will keep it.” Some Christians would argue back and say that for Christianity Jesus brings atonement and that sacrifice is not needed. That death is overcome in the resurrection of Jesus, whereas in Judaism sacrifice is important part of their beliefs.
In conclusion I think that it is wrong to die for your beliefs in any way, shape or form, although admittedly it did work in the case of Martin Luther King a lot more can be done for God on earth. I think that if some one dies for their belief it is taking the easy way out and not facing the challenge as Jesus did that for us when he died on the cross for us. No good can come from dying only grief and agony for loved one which is not the Christian thing to do. A person can do far more with their actions on earth than they can do when they are dead.
