Defending Your Faith

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Defending Your Faith

Defending your faith is one of the cornerstones of Christian faith. The Church is a community that exists to serve both God and the world. The church serves as a witness to the Kingdom and is part of the unfolding of God’s plan across all creation. Christian faith has been around for thousands of years, but it continues to change as the world changes. The New Testament teaches the importance of baptism. The apostle Peter instructed the multitude on the Day of Pentecost to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, which leads to receiving the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul was baptized by Ananias, who exhorted him to do so. In fact, Paul even prayed in Christ’s name after being baptized.

There is also a strong belief in miracles. Although miracles are controversial in the modern church, there is no record of a time when Christians were not experiencing them. Miracles were common during the early centuries of Christianity, and were performed by Jesus and the apostles, as well as by everyday Christians. Some believe that God stopped working miracles during the medieval period, but church history does not record a time when miracles ended.

A charismatic faith is different from a formal conversion. It is an active commitment and performance that produces a “new creature” within a community. In charismatic Christianity, putting on “the whole armour of God” involves a process of de-subjecting oneself, and then re-subjectivating. Such subjectivation can involve rigorous physical exercise, and can produce a militant Christian subject.