Christian Life Research Articles

Prefigurative Peace in Philippians

Paul refers to peace twice in Phil. 4:7 and 4:9. This paper argues that the peace of God is a prefiguration of the eschatological peace to come in God’s world. It is be proposed that as Philippians is dealing with a social order (i.e., that of life in Christ) that is distinct from the dominant social order of the Roman empire or that of the colony of Philippi, political implications are at the very least a corollary of what Paul is writing to the Christ devotees in this city. The main points that will be argued are that peace is best understood as a key dimension for God’s upcoming new world that is already present “in Christ”. The Philippian community is called upon to stand firm in Christ (Phil. 4:1), which is, due to devotional and ethical practices, to result in the experience of God’s peace or the God of peace. This must be understood as both a present and a future reality. Accordingly, the Philippian community can be seen as prefiguring God’s future world by inhabiting this world now already in their communal life.

Eksposisi Kolose 2: 6-8: Generasi Z Yang Terpapar Sindrom Fear of Missing Out

The aim of this article is to provide a theological alternative for resolving the phenomenon of Fear of Missing out syndrome. Fear of Missing out Syndrome results in psychological problems, consumerism, materialism, impaired concentration or focus (excessive social media trends) and negative emotions due to gadget use. The author understands this problem by examining the theological principles in the text Colossians 2: 6-8. The theological principle is the Bible as the basis, foundation, foundation of all life. This means that God is the center of the Christian framework of thought in all aspects of Christianity. The author uses a literature review approach from various sources, as well as hermeneutic analysis to study the text of Colossians 2: 6-8. As a result of the research, the author found that in the text Colossians 2: 6-8, it provides a theological solution for the zoomer generation who are exposed to the Fear of Missing syndrome, that the main thing in the Christian life is accepting Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is the source of life, the source of everything humans need and is able to provide satisfaction in all aspects of human life. Second, removed, wake up in Christ and live in thanksgiving. The zoomer generation and humans will be stronger and stronger in facing life's challenges, especially the trend that faces humans by building their lives in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace Unveiled: The Charm of חסד in the Book of Ruth and Its Transformative Message for Christian Life

This article delves into the significance of Hesed, or loyal love, in the Book of Ruth, examining its theological implications for both human-divine relationships and interpersonal connections. It investigates how Hesed is depicted in the narrative of Ruth and Boaz, elucidating its role in worship and daily life. Methodologically, the study involves a close textual analysis of the Book of Ruth, employing a theological lens to interpret God's message of steadfast love. The findings reveal a profound understanding of God's inclusive and universal Hesed, with implications extending into the New Testament through the actions of Jesus Christ. This underscores the significance of God's unwavering love as a guiding principle in our relationships with both God and fellow humans, shaping a life reflective of the values encapsulated in Hesed.

The Embryological Interpretation of Gen 2:7 and its Use in Dyophysite Christology

Abstract This article traces the rise of the embryological interpretation of Gen 2:7 and how it came to provide arguments for dyophysite Christology. By the late 4th century, many Christian writers saw in the formation of Adam a depiction of the formation and ensoulment of a human embryo. Moreover, authors around the 5th century connected the embryological reading of Adam’s formation with the life of Christ in the womb. But in the 6th and 7th centuries, this interpretation of Gen 2:7 became controversial. Debates about Christ raised the stakes of disagreement over the time of human ensoulment, and embryological readings of Adam’s creation were caught up in these debates. In this context, East Syrian Babai the Great (551–628) deployed the embryological reading of Gen 2:7 against Christological rivals in defense of his theory of Christ’s delayed ensoulment in the womb. In doing so, he offers a biological account of Christ’s pre-ensouled life as a plant and zoophyte. But the connection between an embryological reading of Gen 2:7 and dyophysite Christology also prompted opponents to turn to exegetical strategies that excluded any analogy with delayed ensoulment. This article thus presents an example of how theological controversy and the history of science affected biblical exegesis.

Pathfinders. István Török (1903–1996) in the Church – Against the Church – For the Church

The life and theological work of István Török (1903–1996) clearly illustrate the alternations of Protestantism in the 20th century and at the same time reflect the changes in the circumstances of the Hungarian Reformed Church. From the beginning of his career, first as a teacher at the Papal Reformed Theological Academy and then as a professor at Tisza István University of Debrecen, he participated in the theological debates. These reflections helped the orientations of the Church. During the years of communism, his publishing activities were limited, and after 1956 he was suspended from his teaching position. Nevertheless, he delivered many lectures to his former students at the so-called “black conferences”. In the period around the regime change (1989–1991), he rejoined the public life of the Church with several writings. Significant theological turns require freedom, when the Church paves the way for the eternal, even at the cost of conflict or self-restraint. Keywords: Protestantism in the 20th century, dialectical theology, ethical dimensions of Christian life, freedom of the church

MENINGKATNYA RISIKO CYBERBULLYING PADA ANAK-ANAK AKIBAT RELASI KELUARGA YANG KURANG BAIK DALAM PERSPEKTIF ANALISIS KOLOSE 3:18-21

The family unit constitutes the smallest social structure, comprising of a father, mother, and their offspring. Within the family context, the cultivation of harmonious relationships between spouses and children is imperative. When these relationships falter, it can significantly impact the developmental trajectory and character formation of children. Consequently, children may exhibit undesirable behaviors within their family and the broader societal framework. One prevalent consequence is their susceptibility to cyberbullying, either as perpetrators or victims, resulting in various adverse effects on their academic, social, physical, and emotional well-being. These consequences are particularly pronounced in children who are vulnerable and lack the capacity to effectively address such issues. Therefore, there is a pressing need for an analysis aimed at addressing the escalating risk of cyberbullying among children stemming from suboptimal family relationships. This analysis adopts the perspective of Colossians 3:18-21, which addresses marital and familial relationships within the context of Christian life.

The Humanity of Faith: Kierkegaard’s Secularization of Christianity

The nature and practice of Christianity is a major, if not the primary, topic in Kierkegaard’s authorship. What it means to live a Christian life is a persistent topic in many of his major works, and yet, he spends most of his authorship criticizing traditional ways of practicing Christianity. While his critique of institutionalized Christianity and merciless unmasking of the hypocrisy of self-proclaimed Christians is rather clear, namely that they are not actually Christian, it is more difficult to get a clear idea of Kierkegaard’s alternative. What is a true and sincere Christian life for Kierkegaard? The argument of this article is that Kierkegaard’s famous existential approach to Christianity amounts to a secularization of Christianity and as such can be seen as a critical development of and not a rejection of the Enlightenment critique of religion. The article uses Kant as an advocate of the Enlightenment critique of religion that Kierkegaard inherits and develops critically, and after having examined Kierkegaard’s existential dialectics, an outline of Kant’s transcendental approach is, presented against which Kierkegaard’s existential alternative is examined in more detail. Kierkegaard’s existential approach is radical with its insistence on “that single individual” and on the existential challenges of human freedom that Kant banned from his analysis of both morality and faith. While Kant presents us with the transcendental possibility of faith, Kierkegaard is concerned with the existential reality of faith. It is argued that Kierkegaard’s existential analysis of faith helps us to find the connection between radical individual choice and the rational morality that is not always evident in Enlightenment—and especially Kantian—accounts of morality.

ORTHODOXY IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE FORMATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL, JOURNALISTIC, SCIENTIFIC-HISTORICAL AND ARTISTIC SOCIAL SUBCULTURES IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE 19TH CENTURY (ACCORDING TO NATIONAL CORPUS OF THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE)

The second quarter of the XIX century became the era of the reign of Nicholas the First, when the number of texts with the lexeme “Orthodoxy,” according to the materials of the linguistic academic resource “National Corpus of the Russian Language,” exceeded their volume for the entire XVIII century. We can say about continuation of the formation of an academic tradition of objective description of confessional, ethnic, ethno-confessional and religious communities in a multi-confessional country of the Enlightenment, combined with the formation of the so-called “protective” direction in politics. In search of compensation (consent) between the court, legal, journalistic, church and scientific elites, new denotations and connotations are formed (for example, “Orthodoxy of the Greek-Russian Church”, “Christian Orthodox Catholic Faith of the Eastern Confession”, etc. in the texts of laws), a romantic understanding of “Orthodoxy” is developing as “the unanimity of the people” (I.V. Kireevsky), normative requirements for the work of writers called upon to create literary works “in the spirit of autocracy, Orthodoxy and nationality” are being constructed (N.A. Polevoy). Along with this, the importance of “inner Christian life” is recognized (V.A. Zhukovsky). The article sets out the position of social philosophy with an orientation towards the approaches of modern philosophical religious studies.

TRANSFORMASI SPIRITUALITAS

The research addressed the gap between the theological concept of the new man in Christ and its implementation in everyday Christian life, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of this concept to address uncertainties and misconceptions among believers. Through a qualitative theological approach, the study explored the subjective meaning of religious beliefs, religious practices, and biblical texts. Findings indicated that the concept of the new man emphasized the importance of spiritual transformation and the embodiment of values of love and truth in Christian life practices. Implications included shifts in self-perception and perceptions of others, conflict resolution, and understanding of true life purposes. The novelty of thought lay in the comprehensive application of the concept of the new man in the text of Colossians 3:5-17, aiming to bring positive impacts to individuals and communities. Thus, understanding and embodying this concept called believers to live in freedom, sanctity, and authentic love.

능력주의 사회에서 기독교인의 인성과 교양 함양을 위한 교육 －기독교철학의 관점에서 본 포도원 품꾼 비유를 중심으로－

The world we are living in today is still entrenched in the midst of meritocracy. While it may seem somewhat out of place in a society where the values of meritocracy reign supreme, the author seeks to reinterpret Jesus’ “parable of the vineyard workers” from the perspective of Christian philosophy. The ultimate aim of doing so is to reveal the dangers posed by meritocracy or the all-encompassing belief in merit, which can destroy our own lives, sever relationships with our neighbors, and ultimately even annihilate human nature itself. Furthermore, in the socio-cultural landscape of Korea, which has embraced this meritocratic ideology, the author aims to define the identity of Christians and present guidelines for the cultivation of Christian virtues, exploring what constitutes a mature Christian life amidst the prevailing meritocratic ethos. To achieve this, the author first reviews various interpretations of the “parable of the vineyard workers” and proposes Martin Buber’s model of human relationships from “I and Thou” as a basis for the Christian philosophical interpretation of this parable. Next, the author analyzes the types of human relationships represented by the vineyard workers from the perspective of Christian philosophy and elucidates their characteristics. Finally, the author aims to conclude the discussion by mentioning why constant cultivation is necessary for the cultivation of Christian virtues and culture, focusing on the importance of continuous labor while tying the discussion back to the parable.

«Мысль», «ум», «мышление» в стихотворениях Пушкина, Лермонтова, Соловьева, Лосева

The article identifies and analyzes, for the first time, one of the permanent motives of Russian lyrics – the motive of thinking. The thematic lines of the classical period (God, world, man, poet's path) are rooted in the religious tradition; the poets' reflections on thought are stimulated by the demand for attention to inner life and to the mind in the practice of Christian life. The process of thinking becomes the object of intellectual reflection of poets under the influence of German philosophy. Thought, as one of the phenomena of the world, enters into a wide sphere of poetic perceptions, becomes an object of contemplation primarily in the works of Pushkin and Lermontov. Numerous lexemes “to think” in the XVIII century were used outside the philosophical context; the analyzed reflections of the poets of the XIX century form a kind of poetic epistemology – the knowledge of thought. The motive of thinking that runs through all Russian lyrics is presented in the article as a separate aspect of philosophical poetry as a whole, it forms the metatext that is significant for describing the poet's worldview. Solovyov and Losev gained the experience of both contemplative and mental comprehension of the truth. In Solovyov's poems, thinking is the basis and generating condition for visions. In Losev's poetic treatise “Justification”, the mind is affirmed as the mental basis of the heart's life, and love in its elevation to meaning – as the mind. Thus, the philosophical poets expressed in poetry the fruitful unity of two paths that are significant for Russian culture as a whole – mind and heart, intellectual reflection and contemplation, philosophical thought and poetic image.

The Practice of Christian Life in “Ojcze nasz” by August Cieszkowski

Niniejsza praca ukazuje etyczno-religijny wymiar traktatu Ojcze nasz autorstwa Augusta Cieszkowskiego. Wpierw rozpatruje praktykę jako podstawowe kryterium przyjęcia bądź odrzucenia wiary — jej wpływu na życie człowieka. Następnie rozwija definicję wiary jako trzech relacji (do Boga; do siebie; do innych) w kontekście pozostawionych przez Cieszkowskiego komentarzy krytycznych odnośnie do stylu życia ówczesnych chrześcijan. Dzięki temu wydobywa religijną motywację filozofii Cieszkowskiego, jego głębokie zatroskanie o realizację chrześcijańskiego pryncypium naśladowania Jezusa w życiu społecznym poprzez czyn.

Preface

The 20th issue year 2024 of Icon of Faith (Icoana Credinței), International Journal of Interdisciplinary Scientific Research (IFIJISR) encompasses a group of articles on various themes, dedicated to the areas of Theology and Christian life.

Kajian Ilmu Filsafat dalam Identifikasi Iman serta Relevansinya dalam Kehidupan Orang Kristen

In this article discuss about the complexity of the definition of faith in the context of theology and philosophy and the need to understand the rational basis for religious belief. His research problem involves the question of how philosophy can help christians understand, explain and strengthen their faith. In this study, central concepts of the christian faith such as faith in God, the exsistence of evil in the world and human freedom are analized analyticallly using a philosophical approach. The main results of this research indecate that phylosophy provides a rational framework for understanding fait and provides tools for Christians to reflect on and strengthen their faith. Through philosophical analysis, christians can explore the theological implications of their beliefs more deeply and understand the relationship between faith and rational thought. Additionally, this research emphasizes that the use of philosophical knowledge in the context of Christianity helps strengthen the intellectual foundations of this faith, which in turn can strengthen the resilience of the faith and clarify difficult questions of this world. Christians know that God is the source of truth. All truths formulated by philosophy are never higher than God's truth, namely the truth of the Bible which is the valid source. This. as Christians, we must need criteria to be able to test truth, views and understanding, in the midst study confirms that philosophy plays an important role in identifying the christian faith and the daily lives of christians. By profiding an analytical framework, philosophy helps deepen understanding of faith

The Parable of the Good Shepherd in Contemporary Life in the Gospel of John 10 verses 1-21

This study examines the application of the parable of the Good Shepherd in contemporary life, focusing on the aspects of spiritual leadership, protection and sacrifice, recognition and obedience, rejection and acceptance, and resurrection and eternal life. Through literature analysis, this study identifies how the concept of the Good Shepherd in John 10:1-21 can be implemented in the daily lives of Christians. Jesus is portrayed as the Good Shepherd, who leads, protects and sacrifices Himself for His sheep. Spiritual leaders in modern times can take this example to guide and serve the congregation with genuine love and sacrifice. This study highlights the importance of knowing and obeying the voice of Jesus, discerning between truth and deception, and living in awareness of the promise of resurrection and eternal life. The results show that this parable remains relevant and provides meaningful guidance for the spiritual and practical lives of Christians.

Peningkatan Pemahaman Mengenai Konsep Keselamatan Kepada Jemaat di GSJA SYALOM Perumnas Pagar Batu

This research aims to examine how seminars can increase young people's understanding of safety concepts at GSJA SYALOM. This research method uses a case study approach and involves steps such as interviews, observation and documentation. The research results show that seminars can be an effective strategy to increase young people's understanding of safety concepts. Seminars held at GSJA SYALOM help young people understand the meaning and apply the concept of salvation in Christian life. The research results also show that seminars can increase young people's awareness and concern for religious and spiritual values, as well as help them develop a deeper concern for Christian life.

Corporate Embodiment as the Pedagogical Foundation of the Pentecostal Tradition

Abstract This article examines the pedagogical foundations of Pentecostal theology that are responsible for shaping and sustaining this theological tradition. The formative mechanisms of the Pentecostal tradition are found in the embodied logic of corporately embedded patterns of spiritual practices formed around the “full gospel” of Jesus Christ. The article traces how the Pentecostal tradition emerges from and yields practices associated with the apostolic experience of Jesus intensified with Pentecost by categorizing the dominant corporate forms of embodying the doctrines of salvation, sanctification, Spirit baptism, divine healing, and the expectation of God’s kingdom. This typology suggests that the corporate embodiment of faith identifies most closely the particular contribution of the Pentecostal movement to the Christian life.

SELF-TORTURE AND ASCETICISM IN THE SEMIOSIS OF THE LEGEND ABOUT ST. MARGARET

This paper examines Medieval hagiography about St. Margaret from the viewpoint of self-torture depiction. Suffering, physical pain and humiliation in the form of self-mutilation belong to the basic means of her achieving holiness. Semiosis of the legend reveals an anthropological discourse (psychological and sexual aspect) alongside a purely religious interpretation. Anthropological horizons are hidden behind semiosis with religious intentionality. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the traditional religious interpretation that St. Margaret underwent self-torture with an effort to resemble the suffering Christ could also be supplemented by other reasons. Following interpretation focuses on the then reality in touch with literary tradition. It shows intertextual connections with the Bible as well as with other medieval and ancient hagiographies. Asceticism as a practice of self-discipline, self-denial, or self-renunciation to achieve a spiritual goal applies in the life of St. Margaret in five ascetic practices: fasting, sexual abstinence, poverty, self-inflicted pain and seclusion. Alongside with topoi, this paper points also to the idiosyncratic motifs, unique in the genre of medieval legends. It notices contrasts and hyperbolization to emphasize heroism of St. Margaret. Practices of medieval female saints are also compared with those of men. Since the lives of saints described in legends were to serve as examples of Christian life, this text also shows a change in Christian life practice – exemplary in the Middle Ages it is today considered to be no longer appropriate.

Pengajaran Tentang Hari Penghakiman (Amos 5:18—20)

Judgment is the process of assessing a person's wrongdoing and determining an appropriate punishment, both in worldly and spiritual contexts. In Christianity, the Day of Judgment is when God fully reveals the truth and gives the final verdict on each individual's fate based on their deeds. The Book of Amos, written around the 750s BC by the prophet Amos, warns Israel that the "Day of the Lord," which they anticipated as a day of victory, would actually be a day of darkness and judgment because of their sins. This study examines the relevance of the teachings about the Day of Judgment in the Book of Amos (Amos 5:18-20) to contemporary Christian life. Amos' message emphasizes the importance of living righteously, avoiding sin, and treating others with justice and love. These teachings serve as a guide for Christians to live meaningful and responsible lives before God and others

Pentingnya Pendidikan Agama Kristen (PAK) Dalam Pembentukan Karakter Mahasiswa

Christian Religious Education Lessons on the formation of a person’s character is a very serous thing to be improved and fostered. The example of a Christian’s life will be even more important if that person can bring a very good Christian life and be able to implement his faith in the midst of his own social life. Christian religious education must be seriously improved, because it is related and is an intergal (whole) part in the development and improvement of human life as a whole. Which is assigned to every human being as God’s representative in proclaiming the Word of Truth in the midst of the world. Someone who has studied Christian education well is able to show positive behavior (good character), has different strengths in his actions. He has healthy ideas, faith, hope and optimism. Positive ideas emanate from his mind, as well as the law of attraction, where positive results will be attracted to people who think positively. Realization of Christian Religious Education is said to be isgnificant because it is beneficial in increasing the formation of good character and having a positive self-concept. So thus someone will appear confident with all the capabilities and wholeness owned.