| A person becomes part of the Christian
community through baptism--it is a matter of choice{{U}} (21)
{{/U}}birth. The Christian community is a gathered community{{U}} (22)
{{/U}}who believe that Jesus is the Christ and that they have salvation{{U}}
(23) {{/U}}. It is open to males and females of any age, race, or{{U}}
(24) {{/U}}. A Christian is normally affiliated with a particular
parish or congregation that is{{U}} (25) {{/U}}the care of a particular
clergyperson. A baptized person is usually{{U}} (26) {{/U}}a Christian
by all Christians everywhere; however, there may be some additional requirements
to meet if a person{{U}} (27) {{/U}}to a church of a different
tradition. Giving money and goods needed by others{{U}} (28) {{/U}}a part of Christian living. Some Christians engage in tithing, the{{U}} (29) {{/U}}of 10 percent of their income to support the work of the church,{{U}} (30) {{/U}}includes charitable services of those in need. Other Christians give smaller{{U}} (31) {{/U}}of their income to the church but contribute either directly to those in need or to organizations that serve human beings or lower animals. Although some Christians believe the world will continue to become more evil until Christ returns to earth,{{U}} (32) {{/U}}think that they{{U}} (33) {{/U}}improve the world. Christian service to God means,{{U}} (34) {{/U}}, not only charity to meet current needs but also altering institutions and structures of society in order to{{U}} (35) {{/U}}poverty, illness, and injustices. For some Christians, the social implications of the gospel are almost as important as the religious. John Woolman visited the slaveholders in the United States to{{U}} (36) {{/U}}them to free their slaves. Henry Ward Beecher openly supported a campaign to free all the slaves. Walter Rauschenbusch labored to improve living and working conditions for poor people in cities. Albert Schweitzer brought modern medicine to peoples in Africa. Martin Luther King used the{{U}} (37) {{/U}}resistance methods{{U}} (38) {{/U}}by Mohandas K. Gandhi to win recognition of civil right for black people of the United states. Mother Teresa worked to save abandoned children in Calcutta. These few examples give some idea of the{{U}} (39) {{/U}}of activities{{U}} (40) {{/U}}have fostered to improve the living conditions of their fellow humans. |