Comparisons of Non-Judeo-Christian Rituals and Symbols
Matthew 28:18-20 says: "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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.'"
In response to this call, Christian churches send missionaries to other cultures to spread the gospel, plant churches, and disciple people in those cultures. In this process, missionaries communicate important rituals and symbols of the Christian faith as well as learn about non-Judeo-Christian religious symbols from the cultures they are evangelizing. As a result, it’s important to understand the meaning of these religious symbols when conveying the gospel message and forming discipleship relationships.
For this assignment, you will research the symbols and rituals of a non-Judeo-Christian religious organization or culture.
Then, in 500-750 words, compare the symbols and rituals they use with those of mainstream Christianity. How are the two sets of symbols and rituals similar? What makes them different? How could someone apply this knowledge to accurately convey the gospel, aid missionaries in teaching other cultures to obey all that Christ has commanded, and avoid theological misunderstandings that may be expressed in that cultures symbols and rituals?
In addition to your textbook, you should use two to three reputable and authoritative sources.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Non-Judeo-Christian Rituals and Symbols
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Comparison of Symbols and Rituals
There are many forms of religion, such as monotheistic, atheistic, polytheistic, eastern, and western religions. Religion has always been there since the beginning of time. God communicated his will to the people through religious leaders He had chosen. Scriptures, symbols, and rituals were used in ancient Christianity to mark religious ceremonies and faith in God( Boyett,2016). Presently, non-Judeo-Christian religions still perform rituals and use symbols differently from mainstream Christianity. Also, their way of spreading the gospel is different from indigenous Christianity.
The cross is the first symbol commonly used In mainstream Christianity and the most recognized symbol today. The book De Corona by Tertullian describes how it was a tradition for Christians to repeatedly draw the cross's sign on their faces as a show of faith ( Steffen,2018). Even though early Christians used the cross, the crucifix was introduced to be used in the 5th century. Additionally, the iconic fish symbol is the most significant in ancient Christianity. According to substantial sources such as the tomb, the fish was used by ancient Christians as a symbol of identity with believers in the first decade of the 2nd century.
Nevertheless, Christianity has believers with different views about the scripture. Regardless, the common belief is that God inspired individuals to communicate his will and wishes to the people. Thus, other religions use different liturgical timetables to convey God's word and organize their devotion. Beliefs such as roman catholic, traditional presbyterian, and baptists include Christian holidays such as easter to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christmas to celebrate the birth of the Messiah, and Pentecost to commemorate the d...