Christianity's objective

[Zebra1552]

Pretty straightforward question. What is Christianity's objective?

This past Sunday, my church held a meeting and we decided what the mission, vision, and values of the church would be... again... and all the options sounded good, but they also sounded incomplete.

And after thinking about it, I'm not sure I can answer the question. To love others and love God is a great answer, but it's shallow and really, really broad. How does one love others and love God? Does one love others by spending time with them? By setting a good example for them? By talking about deep things, and helping them come to better knowledge and relationship with God? Does one love God by praying, by doing what He commands, or is it more traditional and along the lines of Bible study, worship, prayer, and fasting?

So. Discuss. What is Christianity's objective?

 

[ebia]

So. Discuss. What is Christianity's objective?

The Kingdom of God.

 

[Zebra1552]

The Kingdom of God.

Again, broad, and very vague.

 

[ebia]

Broad - yes. It is a broad objective, no less than the renewing of all creation. Vague - no.

 

[drich0150]

Pretty straightforward question. What is Christianity's objective?

This past Sunday, my church held a meeting and we decided what the mission, vision, and values of the church would be... again... and all the options sounded good, but they also sounded incomplete.

And after thinking about it, I'm not sure I can answer the question. To love others and love God is a great answer, but it's shallow and really, really broad. How does one love others and love God? Does one love others by spending time with them? By setting a good example for them? By talking about deep things, and helping them come to better knowledge and relationship with God? Does one love God by praying, by doing what He commands, or is it more traditional and along the lines of Bible study, worship, prayer, and fasting?

So. Discuss. What is Christianity's objective?

In Mt 28 Jesus tells us what the purpose of Christanity should be:

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

[ebia]

In Mt 28 Jesus tells us what the purpose of Christanity should be:

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

That's an action rather than an objective or goal.

 

[Look Up]

Hi Jaws13!

As drich0150 noted, Jesus ends His earthly mission by commissioning His disciples, among other things, to "teach[ the disciples' future disciples] to obey everything I have commanded you."

Matthew organizes his Gospel topically. Much of the topic of "everything [Jesus] commanded" His disciples as recorded in Matthew is collected into the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7.

As Jesus says in the Gospel of John, "if you love Me, keep My commandments."

Of course I am only giving a partial answer, but one that includes some specifics you seem to desire.

I might also quibble about the question "What is Christianity's objective?" as less preferable than "What is Christ's objective for His church?" Here is a general question that may deserve vague, but true responses like bringing God glory or becoming show cases of God's mercy, but if you want specifics, I think those must be discovered in the breadth and depth of Scripture and be Christ-centered.

And the question or questions, having been asked before, have received previous answers so that influential Christian books, catechisms, and confessions may be of use, although to be methodologically correct in my view, direct Bible study by each generation should be primary in coming to a response.

 

[wayseer]

Pretty straightforward question. What is Christianity's objective?

Pretty straight forward answer I would have thought - what was Jesus' objective?

 

[Zebra1552]

So what you all seem to be saying is that method doesn't matter, what matters is that the job gets done.

 

[drich0150]

That's an action rather than an objective or goal.

Was Jesus actually acting these things out? or was He giving His disciples more of an objective or goal to reach for after He was Gone?

To me And all of the missionaries who petition the church for a never ending supply of money say, the command to "Go out into all nations." is not something one could achieve in an afternoon. This is something that take carefully planning, time, and resources.. Again, One could even say it was more of a Long term Goal or long range objective rather than an immediate action. (One that Christ was clearly not engaged in at the time these words were spoken.)

 

[drich0150]

So what you all seem to be saying is that method doesn't matter, what matters is that the job gets done.

Method Meaning what?

 

[ebia]

Was Jesus actually acting these things out? or was He giving His disciples more of an objective or goal to reach for after He was Gone?

The commission is a task, an action, not a goal. It's part of the means to the goal, not the goal itself. A goal or objective isn't something you do, long or short term.

The Kingdom of God is a goal, mission is a means towards the goal.

 

[ebia]

So what you all seem to be saying is that method doesn't matter, what matters is that the job gets done.

you asked what the goal is, you didn't ask what the method was so you can't complain that the answers focus on the goal and not the method.

 

[Phinehas2]

drich0150 is correct. The best answer is Matthew 28 because it is a record of Jesus Christ's command to His chuch of the mission. Mark 16 could be added, John 14-17 could be added, obey all He teaches both in words and actions. All the epistles affirm the same, make captive everything to Christ.
The gospel of Christ is God's mission to humankind, the truth is Christ Jesus, what we can do through the Spirit to witness Christ Jesus as God's love for people.
Its not difficult, its simple, costly sacrifical love.

 

[callmeMurph]

The Kingdom of God.

I agree, but to answer the question a little more I think as a single church it is impossible to do everything that Christianity is about. We are a body so some churches will do certain things and other churches will do other things, together as the body of Christ we complete the objective of Christianity (or at least we try to).

 

[drich0150]

The commission is a task, an action, not a goal. It's part of the means to the goal, not the goal itself. A goal or objective isn't something you do, long or short term.

The Kingdom of God is a goal, mission is a means towards the goal.

goal

   /goʊl/ Show Spelled[gohl] Show IPA
–noun 1. the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

(The rest of the definations have to do with sports)

ob·jec·tive

   /əbˈdʒɛk

tɪv/ Show Spelled[uh

b-jek-tiv] Show IPA
–noun 1. something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; goal; target: the objective of a military attack;

Now will you also argue with the dictionary?

 

[Polycarp1]

drich0150 is correct. The best answer is Matthew 28 because it is a record of Jesus Christ's command to His chuch of the mission. Mark 16 could be added, John 14-17 could be added, obey all He teaches both in words and actions. All the epistles affirm the same, make captive everything to Christ.
The gospel of Christ is God's mission to humankind, the truth is Christ Jesus, what we can do through the Spirit to witness Christ Jesus as God's love for people.
Its not difficult, its simple, costly sacrifical love.

I very much like the point made by the sentence I underscored. If I may be so bold as to criticize what you and drich have advanced, the Great Commission is "necessary but not sufficient" (in the classic logic usage) to such a purpose statement. It would also include what we liberals call "social justice" and you conservatives used to term "Christian charity" before that phrase got hijacked for other purposes -- and if anyone has a good Biblical statement that encapsulates it, I'd be grateful. Micah's "do justice and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God" comes close. What I'm referencing is all the practical "corporeal works of mercy" from the Sermon on the Mount, the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, etc. These are no less our Christian duty than the Gospel message.

Perhaps saying "live out the Two Great Commandments and the Golden Rule. Included in doing so are...." and then enumerate all the many ways He teaches us to show love to others.

 

[Phinehas2]

Polycarp1,

I very much like the point made by the sentence I underscored.

I like that as well, but I like all of it.

If I may be so bold as to criticize what you and drich have advanced, the Great Commission is "necessary but not sufficient" (in the classic logic usage) to such a purpose statement.

Where it says everything Christ has taught, how could that not be sufficient?
It would also include anything that people call "social justice" or “Christian charity" if in line.
If one seeks to obey and live out all that Christ taught, then it corrects any false teaching such as homosexuality that tries to masquerade under the generalisation of love ones neighbour.

 

[Sojourner1]

Christianity's objective is the Great Commission. It's that simple.

 

[Zebra1552]

Christianity's objective is the Great Commission. It's that simple.

So our objective is only to make disciples?