Christianity

Christianity is based on service, self-sacrifice, and surrender to God. In short, “Loving thy neighbor as thy self.” Faith in Lord Jesus as the Son of God on earth is essential to the devout Christian. It is this faith that makes Jesus and his teachings a living presence in the Christian heart.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea and grew to manhood as the son of a carpenter in the town of Nazareth. His ministry began in earnest at the age of thirty with his baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

During the following three years, he traveled throughout Palestine with his twelve disciples and many followers. He performed miracles, healed the sick, and taught “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus spoke the pure truth without fear, despite the disapproval of those in power. Eventually, he was crucified on the cross, under Roman law, as a criminal in Jerusalem. Three days after the death of his physical body, Jesus rose from the grave, appeared to his followers, and ascended to heaven.

Several generations after his crucifixion, the drama and lessons of Jesus’ life were recorded in one of history’s most influential books, the Holy Bible. The teachings of Jesus recounted in the Bible stress forgiveness, love, inward purity of heart and mind, and the return of good for evil.

In this modem world of fear and distrust among nations, the words of Jesus spoken in his Sermon on the Mount, ring through the ages with the power of love and truth:

“You have heard that it hath been said: thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven. For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Christianity Display in LOTUS All Faiths Hall