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Expressions of Religious Identity - Coggle Diagram
Expressions of Religious Identity
Baptism
The significance of infant Baptism in Christianity with particular reference to Catholic and Baptist traditions
Paedobaptism
Infant baptism
Catholic, Orthodox
Cleanses from original sin
Initiates the infant into the Christian community
Confers grace
A covenantal act
Credobaptism
Believer's baptism
Baptist, Pentecostal
Requires an individual profession of faith prior to baptism
Emphasises personal accountability, conscious repentance, and fait in Christ
Immersion
Emphasises the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
Protestants & Paedobaptism
While they do baptise infants as a sign of the covenant and include them within the Christian community, the understanding of what this act accomplishes can differ from the Catholic view
Represents a promise of God's grace
A sign of the covenant, rather than an act of cleansing original sin
Scripture
Paedobaptism
Genesis 17:7
Credobaptism
Mark 16:16
Catholics & Paedobaptism
Cleanses the soul of original sin
The 'gateway sacrament'
Ritual
Water
Chrism Oil
White garment
Candle
Godparents
Baptists & Credobaptism
A public declaration of faith
Immersion
Reenactment of Jesus' own baptism
The Great Commission Matthew 28
Emphasis on personal faith and repentance
Arguments in favour of and against infant baptism
Paedobaptism or Credobaptism?
Paedobaptism
For
Viewing baptism as the NT counterpart to the OT circumcision
Household baptisms in scripture
Ancient roots
Means of grace and welcomes children into the Christian community
Against
Emphasis on personal faith
Mark 16:16
It is meaningful only if the individual consciously chooses to follow Christ
Personal faith and understanding are absent
Credobaptism
For
NT's portrayal of baptism as a response to personal belief in Jesus
Personal faith and repentance is necessary for salvation
Authentic expression of faith
Against
Unnecessarily delays the inclusion of children into the Christian community
Early Church tradition included infant baptism
Credobaptism can unintentionally downplay the role of grace in salvation, making it seem contingent on human action
Baptism
Embodies themes of purification, initiation, and spiritual rebirth
Holy Communion
Differing practices associated with Holy Communion, and differing understandings of Holy Communion and its importance, in the catholic and Baptism Churches
Introduction to Holy Communion
Theological significance
A memorial of Christ's sacrifice on the cross
A celebration of the new covenant between God and humanity
An anticipation of the eschatological efast in the Kingdom of God
Biblical foundations
Synoptic Gospels
Matthew 26:26-29
Mark 14:22-25
Luke 22:17-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Jesus instructs his followers to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of him
Links the act to Jesus' impending death and the establishment of a new covenant
Historical development
Dates back to the earliest Christian communities, who met for the 'breaking of the bread' as an integral part of worship
Acts 2:42, 46
The Reformation era saw significant developments in the understanding and practice of this sacrament among emerging Protestant traditions
Diverse practices and understandings
Key differences between denominations
Frequency of the celebration
Elements used
Mode of distribution
The theological interpretation of Christ's presence in the elements
Ecumenical perspectives
Powerful symbol of unity among Christians
Embodying the call to be one as Christ and the father are one (John 17:21)
Ecumenical dialogues explore the shared significance
Seeks to overcome divisions and celebrate unity of Christian faith
Practices and theologies in the Catholic Church
Theological foundation
Grounded in the doctrine of transubstantiation
The bread and wine become the actual body and blood if Christ while retaining accidents of bread and wine
The change is a real, ontological transformation
Eucharist a true encounter with Christ
Liturgical celebration
Takes place within the Mass, which is divided into 2 parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist
Offertory: bread and wine brought to the altar
Symbolises the offering of the Church and the faithful to God
Eucharist prayer: includes the words of institution
Consecration: bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ
Communion: the faithful receive Holy Communion
Unity with Christ
Communion with one another
Means of grace
Importance of the Eucharist
Not only a memorial of Christ's sacrifice but also participation in it
Anticipates the eschatological banquet of the Kingdom of Heaven, uniting the Church on earth with the heavenly reality
Frequency and requirement of participation
Frequently, even daily if possible
At least once a year, ideally during the Easter season
Euchcarist adoration
Underscores the belief in the real presence of Christ
Provides a space for prayer, reflection, and worship outside of Mass
The consecrated host is displayed in a monstrance for the adoration of the faithful
Practices and theologies in the Baptist Church
Symbolic act of obedience and remembrance
Commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus
View the Lord's Supper as an ordinance, a symbolic ritual instituted by Jesus for His followers to observe
Theological basis
Emphasises the memorial aspect of the Lord's Supper
'Do this in remembrance of me' Luke 22:19 and 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
The bread and the cup are seen as symbols of Christ's body and blood
Reminder of Jesus' time on the cross
Time for believers to reflect
Symbolic representation
The elements of the Lord's Supper remain symbolic
Do not undergo any change in substance
Focus is on spiritual experience
Emphasises personal reflection, communal confession, and a renewed commitment to live accordingly to the teachings of Jesus
Frequency and mode of celebration
No prescribed frequency
Allows flexibility and autonomy among individual churches
Typically celebrated during a regular worship service, with all baptised believers invited to participate
Community and fellowship
Celebration of the fellowship among believers
Symbolising believers' unity in Christ
Encouraged to reconcile with one another
Open/closed communion
Open communion: allows all professing Christians, regardless of denomination, to participate
Closed communion: restricted to baptised members of the local congregation
Different Christian understandings of the significance of Jesus' actions at the last supper, Luke 22:17-20
Differing Interpretations of Jesus' actions at the last Supper
Catholic interpretation
The Last Supper is understood as the moment when Jesus instituted the Eucharist as a sacrament
'This is my body... This is my blood' Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:18-20
Jesus is believed to have performed the first consecration
Holds the doctrine of transubstantiation
Baptist interpretation
A memorial and a symbol
'Do this in remembrance of me'
The breaking of the bread and drinking of the cup are symbolic actions performed in memory of Christ's sacrifice on the cross
Lutheran interpretation
'In, with, and under the forms of bread and wine'
Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, but not through a change in the substance of the bread and wine
Christ's body and blood are 'in, with, and under' the elements
Consubstantiation
Emphasising both the symbolic and the real participation in Christ's body and blood
Orthodox interpretation
Emphasises the mystery of the Eucharist
The change of the elements into body and blood is a sacred mystery
The faithful receive communion not only as a memorial of Christ's death and resurrection but as participation in the life of the Trinity
Reformed interpretation
John Calvin
More than a mere memorial but less than a literal change of substance
A spiritual presence of Christ in the Eucharist, where believers partake of Christ's body and blood by faith, nourished spiritually by their union with Him.
The mission of the Church
The Early Church and Apostolic Mission
Apostles and early believers spread the message of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire
Acts
The journeys of Paul and other apostles
Integral mission
Proclamation of the gospel and the demonstration of its implications for social justice
'God's mission'
Attribute of God
Redeem and restore creation
Unity among Christians and collaboration in service to the world
Contextualisation
Emphasises the importance of contextualising the gospel message
Making it relevant and understandable within different cultural settings
Inculturation
Missions involve dialogue and cooperation
Peace
Understanding
Action
Justice, peacemaking, and care
Case studies of mission today
Interfaith dialogue in the middle east
Between Muslim and Jewish communities
Reduce conflict
Food banks and literacy programs
Mission extends beyond evangelism
Environmental stewardship in Africa
Sustainable farming practices
Trees, education, creation care
Developments in Christian ideas of ‘mission’ from the early 20th century to today