What is the Modern Christian's Role, According to the Bible

jacobm

Hello all,

If any other Christians can answer this:

What is the role of the believer in this day of the church (the body of Christ, not the building)?

Is preaching a main goal?

Other duties?

jhine

Yes preaching , but not door to door like the Witnesses say should be done to the exclusion of feeding the hungry , housing the homeless ,looking after orphans and all other good works .

Jan

David_Jay

I have to agree with Jan's great reply.

In my Roman Catholic tradition the role of the Body of Christ, the Church, is to make God's Kingdom a present and practical reality for people.

Being more than a mere static government, God's reign is expressed by Christians not by making doctrines into unfeeling stones to judgmentally throw at others, but by an active participation in God's love for humanity and the physical world around us. It is less about making new members or even demanding that people adopt our theology or religion, and more finding ways to meet the real needs facing individuals today.

People are often marginalized, suffering in systems that keep them poor and wanting, stripped of their dignity, or told that they would be loved by God only if they changed this or that about them. But God loves people whether they believe in God or not. All people deserve freedom from want, freedom to exercise their conscience as they see fit, and freedom from isolation. One cannot merely offer Bible education or demand that people convert as a requisite to your caring for them. And we often have to put our personal conflicts and doubts aside in order to genuinely love others in ways that move us beyond our personal conceptual boundaries. People are far more important than inner church doctrinal debates and political conflicts.

The modern world is composed of more than believers or those who are searching or even want to believe. All these people are, as Christianity teaches, children of God regardless. And as such all need to be treated with the love that the image of God in each person demands be given of us.

While it is vital to teach the Gospel through accurate instruction, it is far more import to live the Gospel by loving your neighbor as the image of God they truly, really are. Without that, there is no Gospel or Bible to teach.

jhine

Jacob , you are welcome .

David , amen to that .

Jan

Lieu

1. Love God with all your heart.

2. Treat your neighbors as you want to be treated.

That's pretty much it. Just about everyone on Earth knows the Good News about Christ, believers and non, so constant "preaching" is redundant.

3. Help those you see in need if you can.

Luke 6:27-36 NET

"But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either.

[30] Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away. [31] Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you. [32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full.

[35] But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:37-38 NET

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. [38] Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive."

FayeDunaway

I as a protestant completely confer with what David Jay said. In our church we are encouraged to do what we can to spread Gods kingdom on the earth now, trying to make the earth and our community better in everything that we do. And also to know Jesus so intimately that we become like him, and can be Jesus' hands on the earth, helping the old and the sick and the lonely wherever possible.

fukitol

You don't need religion to achieve any of those objectives, ignoring the absurd bits about some 'kingdom' and being required to 'love' an invisible, aloof and totally unprovable cosmic sky parent that says he loves you so much and will answer your prayers but cannot lift a finger to prevent evil and suffering cuz that's messing with your free will. Go figure.

If you have to go to church to learn to be nice to people and help the needy then there's something wrong with you.

What is the Modern Christian's Role, According to the Bible

Share this