Christianity's objective

[Zebra1552]

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.

I most certainly did ask that:

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?

It's right there in the OP.

 

[Zebra1552]

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).

So one church or one Christian shouldn't try to do everything, but participate in the body of believers and use their gifts and talents to compensate for what other Christians or churches lack, forming a community. Is that what you're saying?

 

[Sojourner1]

So our objective is only to make disciples?

No. Let's break it down.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...

In order to make disciples you have to share the gospel of Christ. Once the person has accepted the gospel and is saved, you continue to disciple the person by...

...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Disciples are those who follow Christ and are conformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ through learning the commandments of God and obeying those commandments.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Jaws13. Jesus told us Himself: " I have not come to condemn, I have come to SAVE. " Jesus died that we might live, Jesus vanquished Satan on Golgotha, Jesus reconciled us to God, Jesus told us what to do to have eternal life, and Jesus is ready to lead us home again, where we came from. Christianity`s objective is to help changing us into loving sons and daughters, of our Heavenly Father. How? Jesus told us in Matthew, chapter 22, verses 35-40. " The first and great Commandment is: love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is likewise: love our neighbour as we love ourselves. On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Jesus told us again and again: Repent, exchange our selfish and unloving Character for: loving God with all our beings, and loving each other as we love ourselves. How? A good way to start is: treat all we know, and all we meet, as we would like to be treated: with kindness, courtesy, helping hands, encouraging words and smiles, and forgiveness, as God has forgiven us. We will find, this is getting easier and easier, and Jesus will give us His Love and His Joy to share with each other. " Ask and we will be given," and God will notice und He will approve by given us His Blessings. People will notice too, and life will become abundant, as Jesus told us. We will not find out, Jaws, unless we seriously give it a chance. I say this with love and encouragement. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ. P.S. Love is a Christian`s strongest weapon, and you will find, Love is CATCHING.

 

[ebia]

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?

It's not me that's out of kilter with the directionary. I'm describing the thing to be accomplished, the purpose (Kingdom of God), your describing the efforts to get there (mission).

 

[ebia]

I most certainly did ask that:


It's right there in the OP.

Well, that's not how I read it.

 

[wayseer]

Of course - it might be appropriate to ask - what is Christianity? Or, to be more accurate, to which Christianity does the OP refer?

I know the church is suppose to one, holy, catholic and apostolic but I think that is more fantasy as anything else - despite Küng's spirited defense.

So, is there more than one Christianity?

If there is more than one then it seems there will be a multiple of objectives.

Now, for those who will claim that Christianity is that which follows Christ I will preempt that question and ask - which Christ?

So, is 'my' Christ different from 'your' Christ?

I am reminded of that famous G. K. Chesterton quote

My point is that the world did not tire of the church's ideal, but of its reality. Monasteries were impugned not for the chastity of monks, but for the unchastity of monks. Christianity was unpopular not because of the humility, but of the arrogance of Christians ... The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.

 

[KCKID]

P.S. Love is a Christian`s strongest weapon, and you will find, Love is CATCHING.

*sigh* If only that WAS Christianity's objective. Actually, thses days (especially on Christian forums) it seems to me to be rather the opposite of that. But, obviously you find the above to be true regarding your Christian objective ...so, kudos to you.

 

[drich0150]

It's not me that's out of kilter with the dictionary. I'm describing the thing to be accomplished, the purpose (Kingdom of God), your describing the efforts to get there (mission).

So your saying Christ is not able to put forth the Goals or objectives of Christianity, because He did not word them in the same way you have? Because He chose to identify and charge us with the efforts that bring about His kingdom, rather than using your obscure references, to identify an "ultimate" goal that is completely devoid of any explanation what so ever... Because for some reason that has yet to be explained this is the Only acceptable way to identify the goals and objectives of Christianity.

Has Christ ever outlined or commanded that we simply will His Kingdom into being? Has He ever taught that The objective of the whole of Christianity is to bring about His Kingdom, And Yet Remain Completely Silent as to How that is to Happen? Did He command us to teach of this silence of His Kingdom as you have?

Then why not simply put the "Ultimate Goal" you have identified for us, and the Great Commission as Christ teaches together? For example:
We are to bring about the Kingdom of God through what Jesus says in Mt. 28 starting at verse 16...

 

[wayseer]

So your saying Christ is not able to put forth the Goals or objectives of Christianity

My response here is that there is no indication that Jesus was trying to establishing something called Christianity.

 

[ebia]

So your saying Christ is not able to put forth the Goals or objectives of Christianity, because He did not word them in the same way you have? Because He chose to identify and charge us with the efforts that bring about His kingdom, rather than using your obscure references, to identify an "ultimate" goal that is completely devoid of any explanation what so ever... Because for some reason that has yet to be explained this is the Only acceptable way to identify the goals and objectives of Christianity.

Has Christ ever outlined or commanded that we simply will His Kingdom into being? Has He ever taught that The objective of the whole of Christianity is to bring about His Kingdom, And Yet Remain Completely Silent as to How that is to Happen? Did He command us to teach of this silence of His Kingdom as you have?

Then why not simply put the "Ultimate Goal" you have identified for us, and the Great Commission as Christ teaches together? For example:
We are to bring about the Kingdom of God through what Jesus says in Mt. 28 starting at verse 16...

They do go together - one is the goal, the other is a task towards that goal. But that doesn't mean it's a sensible use of language to call the task a goal - that's a category error.

 

[Zebra1552]

*sigh* If only that WAS Christianity's objective. Actually, thses days (especially on Christian forums) it seems to me to be rather the opposite of that. But, obviously you find the above to be true regarding your Christian objective ...so, kudos to you.

Of course - it might be appropriate to ask - what is Christianity? Or, to be more accurate, to which Christianity does the OP refer?

I know the church is suppose to one, holy, catholic and apostolic but I think that is more fantasy as anything else - despite Küng's spirited defense.

So, is there more than one Christianity?

If there is more than one then it seems there will be a multiple of objectives.

Now, for those who will claim that Christianity is that which follows Christ I will preempt that question and ask - which Christ?

So, is 'my' Christ different from 'your' Christ?

I am reminded of that famous G. K. Chesterton quote

My point is that the world did not tire of the church's ideal, but of its reality. Monasteries were impugned not for the chastity of monks, but for the unchastity of monks. Christianity was unpopular not because of the humility, but of the arrogance of Christians ... The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.

I did not start this thread to let it become a Christian bashing contest. The Christ of the Bible, and the teachings He laid down, and from them, what is our objective as Christians, what is the goal of Christianity as Jesus started it, and how do we accomplish it? That is the question. If you want to answer, great, if you don't see the point in the question, then simply don't answer.

 

[razeontherock]

So our objective is only to make disciples?

2 Cor 5:19 God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

Sounds like a "yes" to me! But today the world says that is narrow minded, bigoted etc etc and preaching is no longer effective.

Good thing we choose to fear G-d rather than man!

 

[drich0150]

My response here is that there is no indication that Jesus was trying to establishing something called Christianity.

So it is your expert opinion that Christ's efforts and sacrifice did not result in what we know to be Christianity, nor that Jesus being God could not see what we would ultimately call ourselves.. Even though everything He did pointed to the future...

 

[drich0150]

They do go together - one is the goal, the other is a task towards that goal. But that doesn't mean it's a sensible use of language to call the task a goal - that's a category error.

So again when Christ issued His final "task" it could not be considered the goal of Christianity, because "that is a category error."

So let me ask, Did Christ ever mention the Proper Goal of Christianity, as you have represented it?

 

[rcorlew]

The objective of Christianity is to advance to Kingdom of God, to be the possible witness of Kingdom living right here and now. This goal is accomplished by making disciples of all nations, this action is accomplished by using what ever gifts you have in a righteous manner desiring to be like the moon by reflecting the Son. Salvation does not start when we die, that is as absurd as buying a house and not moving in until you pay off the mortgage, once Jesus has hold of you he will begin using the willing participant to further his objective.

In simple terms, the objective of Christianity is to gather as many souls for the King as possible.

 

[Mathetes the kerux]

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?

To glorify God

1. By evangelizing the world

2. By living a life that testifies to the worth and value of God

 

[Voice in the Desert]

The question seems strange to me, Jesus did not establish a religion he established his church, he ushered in a kingdom. Therefore the more appropriate question biblically to me would be what is the purpose of the church? But as the OP seems to be looking for something different I'm not quite sure what he's asking.

 

[Zebra1552]

I'm not referring to Christianity as a religion, so why should you or anyone else refer to it as such? I'm asking you, what are our beliefs for? What is the point of believing what we do? What reasons do we have to believe as we do, what is the purpose of our beliefs? What do we do with out beliefs?

 

[Sojourner1]

I'm not referring to Christianity as a religion, so why should you or anyone else refer to it as such? I'm asking you, what are our beliefs for? What is the point of believing what we do? What reasons do we have to believe as we do, what is the purpose of our beliefs? What do we do with out beliefs?

The purpose of Christianity is to glorify God.

"Father, glorify your name!" --John 28:12

"...that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" --1 Peter 4:11

"...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." --Phil. 2:11

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31