Idealism

In the beginning the word, pagan, did not assume a person to be evil, but that it is not in line with that the orthodox person believes.  I am a pagan (foreigner) to the Muslim religion, and the Muslim is a pagan to my religion.  In its ideal the word, Gentile, was used, not meant at the beginning as opprobrium, but as identification.  The negative denotation/connotation accrued for terms, like Jew or Gentile, especially for some religious contenders, cannot be denied.  During the first centuries after Christ, the Christians were often persecuted as pagans for not accepting the Roman gods.  Later Christians reduced pagans for not worshipping Christ, sometimes persecuting Christians because of some doctrinal differences that only God might interpret.  Today there are Muslims, alleging authority, who continue an ancient practice of executing pagans for a faith they identify as violation (Gentile). Christianity should treat pagans with the same human respect as faith Christians, even though some pagans are taken by negative thought/conduct.

However, there are differences in pagans who believe in some sort of god as personal and those who do not.  All persons not Jews in biblical identity were Gentiles.  That does not mean Gentiles were not good people.  They were simply not those of our faith.  That the terminology became something more, especially in attachments of good and evil, we recognize, but that was not the first and best intent, and not what God would identify as related to identity.  In the Page for this date in the Junior Series there was listed the main factors of Christianity as any person lives out Christianity in earth life as Christianly in culture, but not lifted to spiritual redemption.  We would be clear in identifying this pattern as fundamental to Christian faith, but that word also has taken on baggage so that the emerging term for basic Christian belief and conduct, drawn from Scripture is now evangelical.  Even though there are specialties accented in the various groupings of evangelicals there is presumed basic agreement.  Time is challenging even that.

1. Faith in God as Father/Son/Holy Spirit in One.  (God is a personality, but more than that in mystery.)
2. Love originates in God’s nature as unconditional, and is model to mankind to follow as human life nature.
3. Truth is in the declaration of reality whether natural or spiritual, with appropriate obedience as conduct guide.
4. Peace is health in all matters contributing to Christian brotherhood, beauty, tranquility and freedom.
5. Forgiveness is the assurance there are healed relationships between concerned persons, even societies.
6. Holiness is, like love, in the nature of God, and is the foundation and model for human righteousness.
7. Service to mankind and other creation is recognized by God as service to him, so taken as devotion.
8. Devotion includes various sub-factors, like thanksgiving, all identified in prayer constancy.
9. Commitment (righteous/right) is self-declared openly, and maintained in that identified as faithfulness.
10. Joy is evidence to self and others that the matters of love, faith and hope are personal and fulfilling.
11. Freedom is important to the claims of choice, under God, in anything in life including God.
12. Immortality is perceived at faith’s end in the physical context for conscious life transition.

The student of Christianity and history finds that: these statements are simple enough for persons to grasp and believe.  Belief and conduct factors are not always easy to apply in life.  There is nothing else that matches either earthly benefits of faith or that which follows natural life.  The factors offer meaning that serves others who are careful in following the pattern; and, it is not meant to judge those who do not adopt its context.  Christian growth is found in biblical maturity respecting God’s perfection and mercies.