Controversial aspect of Christianity
Introduction
Christianity is considered as an Abrahamic and monotheistic religion that is based on the teachings and the life of Jesus. These developments and accounts are given in the New Testaments writings and canonical gospels. They are also recorded in the Old Testament and the believers in this faith and in Jesus Christ are referred to as Christians. The sole belief is that Jesus is the one and only true son of God, and that He is the savior of the humankind as was prophesied in the books of the Old Testament. Jesus is believed to be the Messiah or the Christ. The ecumenical creeds of the earlier times express the foundation of the Christianity theology, which predominantly was accepted by those who are the following of Christ Jesus. Jesus suffering, death, burial and resurrection are professed in these professions and it is believed that through His death, then the Christians have a remission of their sins. There is an emphasis that Jesus ascended into heaven and is reigning from there alongside the Father, who is God. The history of Christianity can as well be traced back in the first century, in which it began as a Jewish sect. the Middle East’s Levant Religion is believed to be the mother of Christianity, which later spread to Asia, Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia. This was later to expand into other regions, making its way into the Roman Empire into the Fourth century. Despite Christianity having huge following, there are several controversies that have rocked this religion. (Martyn, 1924)
Scriptural irregularities
There have been problems in the Biblical scriptures, which are inherent in the fundamentalist and literalist interpretation. There have been questions with regards to whether some of the scriptures make sense. Some have argued that an Omnipotent God, as is the attribute to the Christianity God, should and is supposed to see into it that such contradictions and irregularities do not exist in the bible. However, I think that inconsistencies should not necessarily be viewed to be contradictions despite the fact that the two terms are usually referred to as being synonymous. My belief is that these inconsistencies just amount to the lack of uniformity, steady continuity, regularity or ultimate agreement in the verses that are cited. There are a number of contradictions that have been listed in the Bible.
For instance, in GE 1:3-5, it is stated that ‘On the first day, God created light, then separated light and darkness.’ A look at GE 1:14-19 give a contradictory statement, that the sun that separates night and day was created on the fourth day. A further look at GE 1:11-12, 26-27, man was created after the trees. However, GE 2:4-9 indicate that the trees were created after Man was created. In GE 1:20-21, 26-27, the scriptures indicate that man was created after the birds were created but this fact is contradicted by GE 2:7, 19 in which Man was created before birds. More of these controversies are in GE 1:24-27, where the scriptures state that the Man was created after the animals were created but GE 2:7, 19 indicate the other way round. The creation scriptures bear more contradiction in GE 1:31, where it is indicated that God was indeed pleased with his creation but in GE 6:5-6, the scriptures indicate that God was not pleased with his creation. There are also a lot of contradictions on the attributes of God across the scriptures. In DT 32:19-27, GE 4:15, and IS 34:8 God is described as a vengeful god, EX 15:3 and IS 42:13, He is describe to be a consuming fire: in EX 20:5, 34:14 and in DT 4:24, 5:9, 32:21 God is a jealous god. However, in 1JN 4:8, 16, and 2CO 13:11, 14, God is described as love, with GA 5:22-23 describing God’s fruits as being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Kaatz, 2012)
Doctrinal disputes
There are disputes in Christianity based on the theology and evangelical doctrine fundamentalists. The first dispute is based on the fact that there is disunity among the believers who are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. There has been claims that Christians need the Holy Spirit in order to help them understand the bible and to interpret it well. However, it is controversial for the same Holy Spirit filled Christians to disagree on countless number of doctrines and to have different interpretation of the same Bile, yet they are filed with the same Holy Spirit. Other doctrinal disputes include the issue of Sabbath Day. There are some who believe that Sabbath Day is on a Saturday, basing their beliefs on the Old Testament. Others believe that Sabbath Day is on a Sunday as indicated in New Testament in Corinthians 16:2 while there are others who insist that Sabbath Day can be any day in the week. There are Christians who insist that baptism is supposed to be a requirement for salvation while others believe that it acts just as an outward sign and is not considered to be part of the actual salvation. Speaking in tongues is considered as a sign of salvation and spirit filling while others believe that this is a sign of the devil’s work. There have been controversies on salvation, with some insisting that salvation cannot be lost but others insist that one loses salvation once in sin. (White, 2005)
Christianity and modernity
Constant conflicts have been elicited by modernity, in which religion and Christianity has tended to respond to. Scientists believe in providing the correct technical explanations of the natural phenomena. There have been responses that the Bible should be viewed as a complementary aspect for what science presents to the modern world. For instance, when God is spoken about to be riding in thunder clouds, this is to show the power and might of God, a different description to the hydrological cycle. Christianity has also offered response to the scientific ability to predict the structure of the nature. Christianity indicates that science is unable to offer an evaluation of the origin of nature and cannot answer the questions related to the functioning of the universe. Furthermore, it is observed that science cannot ascertain the temporarily of the laws of nature and the Creator’s ability to change these laws. In my view, modernity has failed in the attempt to present Christianity as fictions as more people are still into religious beliefs and Christianity. In Fact, Christianity is greatly benefiting from the modernity criticisms as there is a renewal in confidence in Christianity by the people.
Christianity and contemporary issues.
Christianity and the Bible have various takes on the contemporary social issues. Among them is marriage. According to Christianity, marriage is a God ordained act and is a plan by God of providing companionship that is intimately bonded, provides an avenue for procreation and should be respected. These views are expressed in Gen. 2: 18 and in Eph. 6: 1-2. The Bible also has some responses to sexuality and sexual ethics. It is believed that sex is only acceptable in the boundaries of marriage as that is the time that man and woman are to become one in flesh. Sexual immorality is condemned as the body is considered to be honorable and holy. These principles are applicable to homosexuality, adultery and premarital sex. They are contained in Eph. 5: 31 and 1 Thess. 4: 3-5. Finally, the bible talks of obedience to the government and civil authorities by stating that they are God ordained and that people should respect the government. This is echoed in Rom. 13:1-7 and in Mat 22:21. In some instances, the Bible talks of obeying God rather than the men in Acts 5: 29. (Burnap, 1935)
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