MODULE Three

Christianity (Part 2)

INTRODUCTION

This module focuses on the basics of Christianity – Trinitarian origin, core teachings,
Sacred Scripture, doctrines, sects, rituals, religious traditions and the like.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the unit, the students will be able to:
a. discuss the summary of the origin of Christianity,
b. relate the core teaching of Christianity,
d. interpret the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and Beatitudes.

CORE AND RELATED VALUES

Faith and Prophetic Witness to Gospel Values

BIBLICAL REFLECTION

James 2:22
See you how faith worked with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

PRESENTATION OF CONCEPT
Christianity without Christ is no Christianity at all. Christianity teaches that the love of
God through Jesus Christ had redeemed humankind from eternal damnation.

There are three affirmations at the heart of Christianity: God, the Bible (Sacred
Scripture), and Jesus Christ. Christianity affirms God’s revelation in the person of Jesus Christ.
This makes Jesus more central than the Bible. Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “By
natural reason man can know God with certainty, on the basis of his works. But there is another
order of knowledge, which man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers: the order of divine
Revelation. Through an utterly free decision, God has revealed himself and given himself to
man. This he does by revealing the mystery, his plan of loving goodness, formed from all
eternity in Christ, for the benefit of all men. God has fully revealed this plan by sending us his
beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 50)
 WHO IS JESUS?

There are new approaches and methods that can help us enhanced our understanding
about who Jesus is. One of which is the historical-metaphorical approach which distinguishes
two periods: pre-Easter and post-Easter.

Jesus in the pre-Easter period is pictured as a Galilean Jew, a teacher without formal
training from Jewish rabbis and who scandalized most of the Jewish authorities, was betrayed by
one of his disciple, and was crucified. The gospels reveal at least five remarkable portraits of
Jesus: a Jewish mystic, a healer, a teacher, a prophet, and an activist.

Please do the activity 1.

Activity 1

Read Mark 2:1-12 or watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlBOmQ1PaMY.

THE HEALING OF PARALYTIC

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many
gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached
the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus
because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down
the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your
sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man
speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his
mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your
hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat
and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”— he said
to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have
never seen anything like this.”

Question: How is Jesus depicted in the passage or in the video?

 As what I saw in the YouTube it seem like Jesus was in Capernaum teaching a large crowd when he was
interrupted by a girl who talking about something healing a friend and believing he can do it and also by
four men who were bringing their friend to be healed. At the moment Jesus healed a person because of the
faith of others and their actions in cutting a hole in the roof and lowering him down. God gave Jesus the
power to heal person who believe in him and trust him that he can do miracles. Those miracles such as
healing someone came from the people hope and dreams for Jesus to treat them. Believing of what can
Jesus can do makes them curious and some also followed he’s path in his Journey on spreading his
knowledge about Christinaity.

One way of looking at the Gospel is how they use several titles of Jesus such as “Son of
God”, “Light of the World”, “Messiah”, “Lamb of God”, “True Vine”, “Bread of Life”, and
many others. Jesus had made a great impact on them to the point that the authors were able to
address Jesus with the highest praise and titles available. The titles of Jesus is the result of His
greatness that the community had experienced.

Do the second activity before proceeding to the next topic.

Activity 2

Talk or chat to at least five friends who knew about Jesus and ask them how they know
Him and what title they can give to describe Jesus based on how they know Him.

NAME TITLE FOR JESUS

1. Leslie Almighty God who art in Heaven

2. Hanns The one and only son of God

3. Shalwa A god, same as Allah.

4. Zaifa The believed Messiah

 5. Shala Savior of mankind

Among the major religions of the world, only Christianity had a founder who was
condemned and died in the hands of established powerful authorities. The Jesus’ Cross conveys
several interpretations or images: 1. rejection-vindication theory, 2. defeat of the earthly powers,
3. disclosure of the true “Way”, 4. revelation of God’s love, and 5. sacrificial lamb theory.

The rejection-vindication theory came from the idea that Jesus was condemned to death,
crucified and buried, but after three days, resurrected and ascended back to heaven.

The defeat of the earthly powers points out that the dominant powers during Jesus’ time
had caused His death but later was defeated by the power of God – the raising of Jesus from the
dead.

The disclosure of the true “Way” is a revelation of the possibility of living a life like
Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection are central to Christian life. In human life, we can relate
it with desolation and consolation that man experiences in his daily endeavors.

The Cross of Jesus relays the message about the revelation of God’s love. St. John stated
that God sent to us His Son not to condemn us (3:16) but to give us life and have it abundantly
(10:10). Through Jesus, God manifests His depth of His love for us, sacrifices His Son Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.

Jesus dies for our sin is the central understanding of sacrificial lamb theory. This popular
Christian view was only developed centuries after the New Testament.

Pease do the third activity before you proceed to the next topic.
Activity 3

Which image of the Jesus’ Cross have stuck you most? Why?

I believed when I saw the film the bible, the most shocking thing that stuck in my head
was Jesus being betrayed by his follower that lead him to be tortured by the government in their
era and sadly to say Jesus die while being cross alive but Jesus still as for the almighty god to
forgive those sinner since he stated that they didn’t know what are they doing.

BROADENING OF CONCEPT

We also have what we call Christian morality which is founded on three important
sources of Christian teachings: The Scripture, Liturgy, and Christian Theology.

Scripture or the Bible is the principal source of Christian moral beliefs and teachings.

Liturgy as an extension of the Scripture, reminds Christians of their moral obligations

through the rituals and images involve in the liturgy.
 Christian theology strengthens the faith and morality of Christians by providing sufficient
rational justification of its moral beliefs and principles. The Parable of the “Prodigal Son” is an
example of an important story in forming moral character and source of Christian moral
principles.

PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON

(Excerpts from Homily of His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, Closing Mass of
the LHS-LST  Jubilee Celebration)

We go now to the third parable, the lost son, whom by the way was also a lost brother. He
asked for his inheritance, virtually telling his father “I wish you’re dead, but since it is taking you
time for you to die, I cannot wait, please give me my share of inheritance.” How painful. But the
father gave it and he squandered it. And he came to his senses and reversed a line: “I am no
longer fit to be called your son, hire me as a servant. That is what I am right now, a servant.” But
then the father saw him, even from afar, and he broke all conventions, especially the protocol
that governs wealthy families. The father left the house, ran to the child, to his lost son.
Embraced him, literally fell on him. And before the son could even finish the reversed lines the
father stopped him. The father would not want him to be reduced to a slave, to a servant, and
restored him to the dignity of a son, with the clothing, with the sandals, with the ring. And again,
overacting, you have a feast. That is why we sort of understand the reaction of the elder son, who
did not, by the way, feel like a son. He described himself as a servant, “I labored for you.”
Naku, kawawa naman sya. Akala natin mabait na anak pero ang
pakiramdam nya pala nya, “alipin  lang ako.” And he refused to join the celebration.
 
Again, who is God? Who is God? In the first reading he is a God that recoils, recoils in his anger
because he remembers “they are my own.” In the second reading, there is Jesus who trusts
someone who persecuted him in his body and goes beyond it and even entrusts to his persecutor
the mission to be his great apostle. And in the gospel, a God who shows us the way to respond to
a lost sheep, a lost coin, a lost son, and even a lost the elder son who refused to join the feast. He
got out of the house again and begged the child, the son to come home. 
 
Who is God? And who are we? Salamat na lang sa Diyos na kung
minsan di natin maunawaan, tayo ay buhay, tayo ay may pag-asa pa rin na maging anak.
(Thanks be to God, whom we sometimes cannot understand. We are alive. We still have hope of
becoming his children.) We may be lost, we may be wounded, but we are never absent in God’s
mind and heart. If we are totally absent, God will not look for us. God will not search for us. We
may distance ourselves from God but we will never disappear from God’s heart. The gospel
invites us the way Jesus invited the Pharisees, those who could not accept this God, Jesus tells
them there is great rejoicing in heaven. Can you not rejoice here on earth when our God is
rejoicing in heaven? The Pharisees and scribes, they are not rejoicing, they are sad that God
through Jesus mingles with sinners. Who are we? On what side are we? Do we rejoice with
heaven or do we rejoice in our anger, our sense of righteousness, in our sense of justice? Do we
define ourselves in relation to God, the God who has his own ways and his own thoughts? The
God who is mystery, of fidelity and mercy. But thanks to this God no one is forgotten. No one is
totally lost. You are my own. You are my son. The only reason why God searches even for the
people that the world considers useless because “it is mine, it is my own.” That is our God and
that is the drama of life. Will we rejoice with God? Will we be with God or would we choose to
be with the God that we fabricate, very different from the God who saves. The God who gives
hope. The God who embraces the wounded, the lost.

The “Parable of the Prodigal Son” can be liken to as a parable of God’s forgiving love,
mercy and grace. Its moral message is that a lost sinner can and will be forgiven and accepted by
God if he or she repent sincerely.

Rembrandt van Rijn, The Return

of the Prodigal Son, c. 1661–
1669. 262 cm ×
205 cm. Hermitage
Museum, Saint Petersburg

www.wikipedia.com

This is your fourth activity. Do it before you proceed to the next topic.

Activity 4

Read Luke 15:11-32 known as the “Parable of the Prodigal Son”.

Write an essay using the guide questions:

What message and values can one get from the parable?
In what way do you see yourself? As “prodigal child”? “prodigal friend”? “prodigal
student”?

THE PRODIGAL SON

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the
share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent
everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired
himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed
to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses
he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but
here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I
have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me
as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While
he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He
ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his
servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on
his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this
son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the
celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared
the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked
what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has
slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and
when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his
father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet
you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He
said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must
celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and
has been found.’”

A story that everyone can relate, I am not a prodigal daughter because I always follow
my parent although sometimes, I make mistakes. Based on the story where the youngest son lost
his path and starts realizing what he lost in life after never expecting that his father did still
accept him when he come back while the older brother got jealous towards him but their father
make him understand that his brother that just came back home is a blessing and he should be
also happy about it because they are both his sons. Lesson learn that the fathers love is
irreplaceable no matter what you have done, A father will always loved and take care of you.

CHRISTIANITY TODAY

The following discussion presents the common practices of Christianity and its role in
some world issues. It has remained the largest religion in the world comprising 32% of the
world’s population according to 2010 Pew Research Center (PRC) survey.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Sacred Scripture (Bible) OLD TESTAMENT (46 Books)
PENTATEUCH (Torah for Hebrew Bible)
Roman Catholic Bible - 73 Books Genesis
Exodus
Protestant Bible – 66 Books Leviticus
Numbers
The deuterocanonical books (from Deuteronomy
the Greek meaning "belonging to
the second canon") are books and
passages considered by the
Catholic Church, the Eastern Joshua
Orthodox Church, the Oriental
Judges
Orthodox Churches and the
Assyrian Church of the East to be Ruth
canonical books of the Old
Testament but which are
considered non-canonical by HISTORICAL BOOKS
Protestant denominations. These
books are the following: 1 Samuel

● Tobit 2 Samuel
● Judith 1 Kings
● 1 Maccabees
● 2 Maccabees 2 Kings
● Wisdom of Solomon 1 Chronicles
● Sirach
● Baruch 2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Tobit
Judith
Esther
1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees

THE WISDOM BOOKS

Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs)
Wisdom of Solomon
Sirach
THE PROPHETIC BOOKS
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Baruch
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

NEW TESTAMENT (27 Books)

Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts of the Apostles
Romans
1 Corinthians
 2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

Celebrations and Feasts Easter / Lent

The resurrection of Christ is the most essential part
of the Christian belief and the summit of the
Christian faith because it is associated with
salvation. Easter is celebrated on a Sunday since
Jesus Christ resurrected on a Sunday.

● Ash Wednesday
● Visita Iglesia
 ● Station / Way of the Cross
● Pasyon
● Easter Vigil
● Salubong

Christmas is a colorful and joyous season in the

Philippines.

● Misa de Gallo / Simbang Gabi

● Christmas Eve

Christmas is the time of sharing and this is the very

teaching of Christ – to share the blessings and
happiness with those who are in need.

Liturgy Liturgy designates the official public worship of the

Church. It is also considered as worship because it is
prayer – prayer of a community of one faith and of
the Church.

Liturgy is a fixed order of worship which the

Orthodox and Catholic Christianity use to celebrate
the Eucharist. Orthodox calls it Divine Liturgy while
Catholics call it Mass.

Sacraments Orthodox Church speaks about sacrament as insight

of what heaven is.

For Catholics, a sacrament carries the grace of God

even though the person receiving it may be quite
apart from the effects of the grace.

WORLD ISSUES
Ecological Issues Humans have exploited so much Earth’s natural
 resources

Pope Francis, in response to this pressuring issue,

published the encyclical Laudato Si’ in 2015.

World Peace Some people think that they are solely the powerful
in this world. It is their self-centeredness that cause
war and violence that leads to human oppression.

Pope Paul VI wrote Evangelii Nuntiandi in response

to this crisis.

Ecumenism and Sexual Ethics A dialogue with other Christian sects.

Another issue deals with sexual ethics such as

contraception. homosexuality, same-sex marriage.

Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines

opposed to this because it hinders the natural process
of procreation.

Work on activity 5 before proceeding to the next topic.

Activity 5

What are the deuterocanonical books?

Some books considered deuterocanonical by Catholics are:
The Book of Tobit.
The Book of Judith.
The First Book of Maccabees, also called 1 Maccabees.
The Second Book of Maccabees, also called 2 Maccabees.
The Wisdom of Solomon, also called The Book of Wisdom.
The Book of Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus.

Why Catholics consider Sunday as the Lord’s Day?

Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the
first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world;
and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead

Give at least one encyclical written by a pope and explain briefly what it is all about.
I believe it talks about how having good religion and believe makes like lighter and
greater rather than being in the dark. The encyclical is the second published by Francis, after
Lumen fidei ("The Light of Faith") this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift
brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: "I have come as light into the world,
that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" ( Jn  12:46). Saint Paul uses the same
image: "God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts" ( 2 Cor  4:6).
The statement itself says having faith is having light and clear devotion to God.
CREED

Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Through the centuries many professions or
symbols of faith have been articulated in response to the needs of the different eras: the creeds of
the different apostolic and ancient Churches, e.g., the Quicumque, also called the Athanasian
Creed; the professions of faith of certain Councils, such as Toledo, Lateran, Lyons, Trent; or the
symbols of certain popes, e.g., the Fides Damasi or the Credo of the People of God of Paul VI.
None of the creeds from the different stages in the Church's life can be considered superseded or
irrelevant. They help us today to attain and deepen the faith of all times by means of the different
summaries made of it. (CCC 192-193) Among all the creeds, two occupy a special place in the
Church's life:

The Apostles' Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary

of the apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great
authority arises from this fact: it is "the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter the first of
the apostles, to which he brought the common faith".

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creed draws its great authority from the fact
that it stems from the first two ecumenical Councils (in year 325 and 381). It remains common to
all the great Churches of both East and West to this day.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED THE NICENE CREED

I believe in God, We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
the Father, the Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
maker of heaven and earth,

I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge
the living and the dead
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
and of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation,
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered died and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfilment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the
Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
 Amen. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy
catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

As on the day of our Baptism, when our whole life was entrusted to the "standard of
teaching", let us embrace the Creed of our life-giving faith. To say the Credo with faith is to
enter into communion with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and also with the whole Church
which transmits the faith to us. (CCC 197)

This is the last activity for this module.

Activity 6
What is the importance of the Creed or Credo in the Church?
Not really sure because I’m a Muslim but I saw this in the internet that the  creeds were
crucial elements of the Christian faith, and it was important for all to have clarity, because
through achieving clarity of the creed, one was able to understand the faith at a much deeper
level. The creed was an actual declaration of what the faith stood for.

How to use the Creed properly?

  I found this in the web that they recommend it by applying your Creed fragrance on each
of your wrists and each side of your neck. We also recommend spraying the back of your neck
so that you leave a scent trail behind you.

INTEGRATION
An open mind and heart is necessary in order to deepen one’s faith of a person and be
able to become prophetic witnesses of the Gospel values. There are lots of social issues that the
Church is facing today. The Church has always been engaging in the socio-political and cultural
affairs of men. It is not closing its door to the world because the world is its mission.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—
and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)

SUMMARY
The person of Jesus shapes Christianity’s way of thinking, feeling, and living. Its
morality is based on Jesus’ teachings. It is rich in tradition, practices, and rituals. Holy days are
being celebrated to commemorate and to remember tis history especially with the deeds of
Christ.
 Christianity is not a passive religion. Just like other religions, it is an organic community
indispensable to engage on issues as these issues affect its members.

ASSESSMENT
Online quiz through Google Classroom

PURPOSIVE ASSIGNMENT
Which among the Christian holy days or celebrations you like most? Why?

SUPPORTING RESOURCES
BOOK
Atim, B. C. (2016). Introduction to World Religions. Diwa Learning System, Inc.
New American Bible
Catechism of the Catholic Church

ONLINE JOURNALS
Tagle, L. A. (2016, September 11). Homily of His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle at
the Closing Mass of the LHS-LST Jubilee Celebration. https://www.lst.edu/community/article-
archives/983-homily-of-his-eminence-luis-antonio-g-cardinal-tagle-at-the-closing-mass-of-the-lhs-lst-
jubilee-celebration-on-september-11-2016

ONLINE VIDEOS
The Chosen. (2019, December 26). The Chosen scene: Jesus heals the paralytic [Videos].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlBOmQ1PaMY