Analytical Essay: Baptist Ministry Of The Apostle Paul

This sermon provokes the one who has had their own hearts weaken to seek holiness from the transformation of love. Wesley desires every Christian to attain the status of perfect love, where the love of God and neighbor would reign in their hearts. As evidence he quotes St. Paul, “Earnestly desire the higher gifts, and I will show unto you a more excellent way.” (The More Excellent Way,

The Roman Catholic Church has built quite a reputation amongst the general public. The church is known for its infamous history of contradictory practices. I was raised amongst the teachings of the Baptist Church which holds an distinct level of animosity between the two. Being aware of this stigma the search for answers became that much more enticing. Therefore a visit would help me gain a sense of enlightenment amongst the two practices. Also challenging me to be able to identify such issues, and if discovered learning its purposes. Located in an area where the population is surrounded by numerous distinct churches I chose to attend one that held an particular status of popularity, while also being convenient.

Paul's letters to the church, also known as epistles, are considered some of the most important documents in the New Testament. Paul's writings continue to shape and forge church even today. His letters were written in some of the darkest, most intense moments of Paul's life, but they also celebrate the grace, love, and life changing power of Jesus. Paul's journey in faith is shown in raw, unapologetic honesty, and inspires Christians to maintain a forward momentum, and to run the race Paul speaks so passionately about in Hebrews 12:1. Paul is able to write with both confidence and humility as he writes about the Christian journey.

By acknowledging each individual’s status as a child of God, the damning effects of fear, deception, and hatred can be eradicated by the powerful love of Christ. For Thurman, the true spirit of Christian relationships rests in the ability to love one’s enemies. Although this specific teaching is not new or unique, its application to Christian relationships (especially between the “disinherited” and the “privileged”) is extremely pertinent. Enmity between two individuals or two groups of individuals causes a physical and spiritual disunion that obstructs the individual’s ability to experience the power of Christ. Therefore, I must resolve to always demonstrate an attitude of love toward my enemies in order to preserve the unity that is so vital to genuine spiritual experience. Ultimately, I found Howard Thurman’s theory on the “disinherited” to be both logically valid and extremely thought provoking. In truth, I experienced a deeper engagement with Thurman’s ideas than any other spiritual practitioner that I have explored thus far this semester. This study has caused me to reflect on my own status as a “privileged” individual, realize my need to identify with the “disinherited,” and remember to demonstrate love to my

Jesus is the center of Christianity, but without Paul, Christianity would never exist. Paul organized Jesus’s disciples after Jesus’s death. Paul introduced Christianity to Non-Jewish people. He was extremely talented at converting others. The New Testament is largely based off Paul’s teachings. Paul also shaped the way Christianity thinks, he was the man who took a small cult and shaped it so that it would become a world religion; Paul was the most important figure to the growth of Christianity, even more than Jesus of Nazareth.

The Bible states that one day you will own your doctrine. The denomination of one’s faith affects them in their life and eternity. Therefore, Christians need to recognize the importance of sect distinctions. While I am trying to complement each denomination, I am highly in favor of the Southern Baptist denomination and how it holds true to the Word of God and His plan for His children. John 3:16 explains the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. I want to recognize how different or similar the plan of salvation is for each of the three sects. The Bible warns us to be careful about what we believe, which is our doctrine, because we will teach others what we know.

In the religious project I choose to attend a church of a different domination. While I grew up Baptist and the Baptist culture are very familiar to me. the church I decide to attend was Holy Ghost Catholic Church. The reason I choose a Catholic church was because I have always been curious of their worship service. Right away, I noticed the pulpit and as in the Baptist culture this too seemed to be sacred. As only the priest and his helpers were allowed in it. The next thing that stood out to me was the church pews. That I thought all had foot rest. I soon realized that it was for their knees for praying. My experience was very eye opening as I went there not knowing what to expect. I didn’t find the music or choir selection as fun or energetic as in the Baptist

Edwards’ begins his writing by further commenting of Peter’s words on persecutions. Further explain how trials of one’s faith serve as opportunities for a Christian to achieve true virtue and to test whether one’s religion is true or false. If one’s has true religion successful response to trials further purifies, refines, and increases her religion. Edward remarks, “True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections.” (141). Edwards further defines affection as one’s ability to follow the inclination of one’s soul. The soul holds two faculties: the first facility holds the task of understanding. The second facility controls inclination. Edwards reveals the physiological connection of our body and affections stating: “from

"This team of servant-leaders will teach others to have fervent love for one another by using the precepts of the Gospel and by following the examples set by our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Love covers the multitude of sins and helps others discover God's plan and purpose in their lives." 1Peter 4:8

DH Williams. Retrieving the Tradition and Renewing Evangelicalism: A Primer for Suspicious Protestants. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

It seems strange that so little is known biographically about one of the most important figures in Christian history, but this only serves to add to the mystery and grandeur surrounding the Apostle Paul of Tarsus. Much, however, is known of the time after his conversion to Christ and what he did to contribute to Christianity in this period, and it is this that leaves a greater legacy than the simple facts of his life. The contributions that he made towards the cause of Christ and the spreading and formation of Christianity are what he is perennially remembered for.

Reformation and reclamation are words that could accurately describe apostle Paul’s life. For much of his younger life Paul persecuted people for their faith, even bearing false witness against people to get them put in prison for their faith. Paul even persecuted christians after Jesus’s death; that all changed after his experience on Damascus road though. Paul went through a conversion after this experience, in which Jesus came to talk to him about his persecution of Christians. From being a zealous persecutor of Christians he became a zealous Christian believer. He has even gone from town to town preaching on three separate occasions.

Effectively, living a Christian life in Romans 6-8, Paul markedly illustrates the shift in the old nature has a conflicting disposition against God; the new nature has a favorable disposition toward God, a renewed birth. Paul sought to impart how the Gospel can change our life, especially our struggle with sin, and he clarifies the slavery to sin, yet the sweetness to salvation. Encompassing, how Paul designates in what manner Christ died for our sins. Accurately, Christian believers are dead to sin and habitually practice righteousness, receiving His blessing, and are unambiguously alive to God

In Baptist history there has always been differences in doctrine. This has unfortunately resulted, at times, to separate believers from one another. This can be evident from comparing two American Baptist confessions. The most notable difference in doctrine between The Philadelphia Confession of 1742 and A Treatise on the Faith of the Free Will Baptists, 1834 and 1948 is the doctrine of Calvinism versus free-will. The Philadelphia Confession supported Calvinism and the Free Will Baptists supported Arminianism. A closer look at these two confessions show that throughout Baptist history certain doctrines remain constant while others are debated and cause separation of believers. However, this has not stopped the Gospel message to be preached

In general, due to my upbringing, I became emotional damaged from my parents’ divorces and sworn I would never allow my children to go through such trauma; therefore, well-intended and stupidly, I stayed in the confusion, trying to count off the years. Thus, I continued to struggle with what I assumed existed as a Christian woman’s life; yet, always yearning and praying for a sincere loving relationship with my husband. Notwithstanding, through this extensive journey (eighteen years) I read books relentlessly, talked to numerous counselors, psychiatrist, psychologist, preachers, priests, and prayed persistently. Always searching for answers, while hoping this level of consciousness would cultivate; for I craved an intimate closeness with true love. Alas, my marriage existed as the ideal example of the Bible’s warning ‘not to be unequally yoked together,’ (2 Cor. 6:14), for we were miles apart in our philosophy and religious beliefs. Conclusively, ‘this brief’ accounting endues as merely a tiny proportion of my marital nightmare; however, I wanted to relate how religiously imbalanced those years occurred. Thus, even though religion appeared to generate problems in my marriage, I still devotedly sensed that Christianity had all the answers and in my spirit, I would always gravitate back to researching Christianity’s mysterious existence. In due course, I grew outwardly detached from the majority of what “appeared religious;” still, reclusively, I cultivated an intense ongoing