Christian Religion: What It Is and Why It Matters

Understanding Christian Religion Is Key to Understanding Western World Views

10^th January 2022

Christianity is one of the world’s major organized religions that emerged from Judaism in the Middle East. Contrary to the initial statement, Christianity is not a form of Islam; rather, both Christianity and Islam have roots in Judaism. Collectively, they are referred to as Abrahamic religions. This article examines Christianity in comparison to other world religions, including African traditional religions and Islam.

What Is Christian Religion?

Christianity, referred to here as the Christian Religion, is currently the largest religion in Africa and globally, with Islam being the second. Christianity, along with Judaism and Islam, are categorized as Abrahamic religions due to their shared origin from Abraham, a patriarch in Jewish tradition. Worldwide, Christianity has billions of followers.

Additionally, Christianity is recognized as one of the world’s organized religions, distinct from African Traditional Religions, which are predominantly practiced in Africa. The Christian Religion, similar to Islam, acknowledges the existence of Satan, depicted as the embodiment of evil, and hell, where sinners and Satan, along with his demons, receive eternal punishment. It also upholds the belief in heaven, a realm of tranquility and everlasting life for those who are devout.

In contrast, African Traditional Religions do not have concepts of heaven or hell, nor do they focus on Satan, fallen angels, or divine angels allied with God. Instead, these religions recognize the presence of evil as an aspect of God. According to African Traditional Religions, God is capable of both benevolence and malevolence, aligning with His intentions and purposes, as exemplified by His creation and subsequent destruction of formidable beings like dinosaurs, among others.

In Christianity, belief in God through Jesus Christ is essential for forgiveness and entry into heaven. According to this faith, Jesus serves as the sole mediator between God and humanity, as stated in 1 Timothy 3:5-6.

The God described in the Bible is regarded as the only true God. Other representations or revelations of God, including those found in African Religion beliefs, doctrines, teachings, and traditional practices, are not seen as reflecting the same deity.

This raises several questions. If Christianity is the exclusive path to God, does it imply that Christian faith is inherent in other world cultures and traditions, including African Religion, as suggested by Rick Warren and other teachers of universalism? Consequently, is belief in the biblical Jesus necessary for salvation? Furthermore, if one never encounters the name of Jesus until death, does this result in automatic condemnation to hell?

Where did Christian Religion come from?

The Christian Religion (CR) began in Israel in the first century of the current era, following the death of Jesus, also known as the Christ—a title signifying ‘the anointed one’ in both Hebrew (Messiah) and Greek (Christos). The New Testament of the Bible details the prophecies, birth, life, ministry, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection marked the inception of the religion.

After his resurrection, Jesus is said to have appeared to his disciples and other followers before ascending to heaven, where he is believed to remain until his return to judge the living and the dead. This belief is shared by Christianity and African Religion, which hold that the deceased are at rest but will one day be resurrected.

Christianity is seen as a fulfillment of the Jewish God’s promises to Israel, conveyed through the prophets and scriptures of the Old Testament. However, many Israelites still await the Messiah, not recognizing Jesus of Nazareth as the prophesied one for various reasons.

In Africa, Christianity arrived directly from the Middle East before the advent of Islam in North Africa, which isolated the African church from Rome and Israel. Christianity’s roots in Africa predate Western influence, as evidenced by the account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts of the Apostles chapter eight, who brought the faith to Africa around 33 A.D., along with some of Jesus’ disciples who traveled to North Africa, including Carthage.

How did Christians use their religion?

Christians worldwide practice their faith in daily life and share their beliefs with others. They are eager to spread what they see as the sole path to God. The question often arises as to why God would choose such a singular, difficult path for salvation.

Christianity spans a broad spectrum, from the far-left, representing Christians who are less concerned with their faith, to the far-right, denoting those who are highly religious and spiritual. The middle ground is occupied by those neutral towards their faith. Personally, I lean towards spirituality over religiosity, believing it to be the innate state of all individuals. As the Creator of our world and ourselves, God has, does, and will continue to reveal Himself to humanity in various ways.

You can discern my background now, can’t you? To confine God to a religious figure seems to me a limited and foolish perspective. It reduces God to a mere idol, rather than recognizing Him as the Creator and the lover of all humanity and creatures. We might consider other animals as insignificant compared to us, but is that really accurate? God is for everyone and in everything. I am a Christian, an African Christian who believes that my ancestors are in heaven, because there are believers in every culture worldwide. Otherwise, it would mean that Satan triumphs if so many are doomed to hell simply because they were unaware of the path to heaven.

It wouldn’t be just for them to suffer in hell for lack of opportunity to choose. This illustrates the peculiarities of Christianity and other organized religions: they can be restrictive and superficial. Christians interpret the world and find meaning in life through their faith, buoyed by the hope of eternal life found solely in Christ Jesus, their Lord and Savior. This hope infuses life with meaning and purpose. Consequently, Christians are instructed to live as foreigners on earth, as they truly belong elsewhere.

Why did Christians use their religion?

Like any religion, Christianity is embraced for various reasons by its adherents. For some, the fear of hellfire is a compelling reason to become Christian. This was my primary motivation for seeking baptism as early as possible, to avoid damnation. Additionally, it was appealing to understand God in a new light, particularly for African children introduced to the novel perspectives and teachings of Christianity.

We quickly developed contempt for our parents, perceiving them as devil worshippers living in profound darkness. We believed we were enlightened, and they were not, mainly because the African Religion wasn’t taught to us, and hence, lacked written doctrine. It’s considered less structured than other global religions, yet it shares many similarities with Jewish beliefs, doctrines, teachings, and customs.

Although I wasn’t born in Israel, I was a Nazarite from birth, a fact I only discovered when the Old Testament was translated into our Dinka Padang language in 2012. Observing Nuer and Dinka cultures reveals numerous parallels with Jewish traditions, such as wife inheritance and levirate marriage, practices rooted in the same biblical reasons: to maintain the legacy of deceased brothers.

Christians often integrate their faith into their daily lives and use it as a means to share their worldview, ideologies, and lifestyle with others, particularly by Westerners in Africa. This has historically been a method to introduce Africans to Western ideologies, beliefs, doctrines, teachings, and cultural practices that are perceived as Christian but may not be in essence. For instance, the practice of monogamy is considered Western rather than biblical.

The Bible provides various perspectives on marriage, suggesting that whether one marries or not, and whether to one or multiple partners, is a matter of personal choice, as indicated by Jesus. He acknowledged the diversity of human nature, implying that a single rule cannot apply to everyone. Some individuals are meant to remain unmarried, while it is natural for all productive and healthy males not to be limited to one female partner.

The conflation of Western ideologies with Christian religion has led to the creation of laws in Africa that have various negative impacts on our societies. One such impact is the scenario where a man legally marries one wife but has additional hidden relationships that become public only at his funeral, with all partners and their children claiming their inheritance. This raises the question: which is preferable, secrecy or honesty?

What is the importance of Christian Religion?

The Christian religion is significant because it offers hope for a future world of peace and harmony, even if it may be a fictional and human aspiration. It encourages us to lead responsible lives, reminding us that we will be accountable for our actions in the afterlife. It instills in us ethics, love, and compassion towards others, as well as resilience in a world fraught with violence.

Christianity is crucial as it aids in our search for life’s meaning, a quest not fully answered by traditional African spirituality. African spirituality does not focus on defining God, His preferences, or concepts like heaven and hell, angels and demons. Instead, it emphasizes a dynamic relationship between humans and the divine, encompassing both good and evil.

In African belief systems, God is seen as both benevolent and malevolent, overseeing all life aspects, including what is considered good and evil. God bestows blessings or curses according to His will and purpose. Thus, there is no notion of an evil being contending with God for power, as is suggested in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

The Christian faith uniquely describes God as a loving father, a perspective not shared by all world religions. This view is pivotal as it transforms the perception of God into that of a paternal figure. Some Christians regard this as a personal relationship with God rather than a religion. In Christianity, there is no need to appease God, as He has already acted to save humanity from sin and eternal damnation. Hence, the Christian religion holds its importance.

My Final Words

If you’ve been reading from the start, you’re aware that Christianity is one of the world’s major religions, with billions of followers globally. However, it’s also clear that Christianity isn’t the sole path to God; otherwise, many would be eternally lost without the opportunity to embrace Christ or know God in His way.

You may have noticed that Christianity varies significantly across continents as people integrate it with their indigenous beliefs and customs. In Africa, for instance, the practice of Christianity differs from that in the West, East, or Middle East, which is crucial to recognize.

It’s important to approach this subject with simplicity, avoiding becoming overly religious. Religiosity and spirituality are distinct; equating a single path as the only way to God is not just belittling and absurd, but also narrow-minded. God, the Creator of all, is omnipresent and reveals Himself to the world in diverse ways beyond our understanding or control. Consequently, perceptions of Him vary greatly across different continents.

I trust this article has been enlightening for you. I invite you to take a moment to share your reflections in the comments section below. Your feedback is highly valued and will be deeply appreciated. It would also benefit other readers to hear your perspective on this topic. May God bless you and keep you safe during and beyond the pandemic. This is my heartfelt wish and prayer for you. Peace be with you.

Further Readings

• Christianity—Wikipedia.
• Christianity—History.
• Christianity Fast Facts—CNN.