What is Christianity?
Christianity is a living faith and the Church a living community of men, women and children. We share with other religions a belief in one God, the creator of all things. We believe that faith in God makes sense of the world and what it means to be human. This faith gives meaning and hope, and helps us to live responsible lives, caring for others.
As Christians we also believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Lord. We believe that God, who reveals himself in many ways, chiefly revealed himself in Jesus Christ. Jesus, born a Jew 2000 years ago, was not only a prophet, who taught about God’s kingdom and healed the sick. Jesus also showed himself to be the Christ, God’s anointed one. Put to death on a cross, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples, and having ascended into heaven, he remains present to his people.
One of the founding experiences of the earliest Christians (followers of the way of Christ), was God’s outpouring of his Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Through this Christians were affirmed in the ongoing living presence of Christ. They were renewed in worship and belonging together, and sent out to witness and serve the world. Our Church today, after 2000 years, is part of this tradition of bearing witness.
At the heart of what Christian believe about Jesus Christ and following him is that God is love, and he has revealed this love in Jesus – something we ourselves share in through faith and the life of the Holy Spirit today.
So what does this mean for us, as people living and worshipping in Birstall & Wanlip or beyond?
It means that, for those of us who call ourselves Christian, we have discovered that responding to the love of God through His Son Jesus is the most transforming experience a person can have.
It means that we welcome, as a Church, all people, whatever their experience, background or beliefs… we exist, as a living community, to serve God and our local community, just as we ourselves have found life through the Church.
It means that, as God brings hope, we too are called to bring this hope into the various situations that we face in the wider world today, being concerned for the life of city, county, nation, one world and the environment.
It means that there is, in our community, a special place give to prayer and silence and searching; to responding to the living presence of Christ; to teaching, learning and serving others.
The New Testament describes the experience of God in Jesus Christ as ‘Good News’ or ‘Gospel’. This message is made real in the life, teaching and worship of the local Church. At its core is the possibility of forgiveness, trust and hope.
Rev'd James Shakespeare, Rector
Would you like to know more? We'd love to talk to you so ring or email us by going to our Contact Us page. Or find out more about Christianity by visiting one of our recommended sites.