Christian Living Today Book two

Christian Living Today Book two. 

The Life Themes of CHRISTIAN LIVING TODAY

There are five major themes in this two-year course: two in Book 1, and three in Book 2.

1 The first major theme, MAN IN A CHANGING SOCIETY, considers some aspects of life in today's rapidly changing world: living with change, working and leisure. Change is all around us: what is it? how should we react to it? What is work? why do we work? what does our work do for us and for others? What is leisure? what does it do for us? how is it changing today? We live, work and recreate in society, with many groups of people. These groups need to be well organized so they can help us to live humanly.

2 That is why we take for the second major theme ORDER AND FREEDOM IN SOCIETY. Justice and freedom are the goals of society, not order alone. Some people are asked to lead; their authority is to be used in the service of people, who in turn are to respond in loyalty. What is loyalty in these changing times?

3 Having considered aspects of living, we go ahead to look at LIFE itself. What is the meaning of life? where is it leading us? can we hope for happiness in this life or only in the next?

Our unending life has already begun. Success in life is related to our goals and values.

4 The fourth theme follows from this: MAN AND WOMAN. We have been created male and female. We are persons, whatever our sex differences and separate roles. Men and women are to complement each other. Courtship is a preparation for the stable relationship of marriage. People live and develop in groups; the basic group is the family community.

5 It is not enough to know about life; man must commit himself to it. The final theme, therefore, is MAN'S RE SPONSE TO GOD THROUGH FAITH AND LOVE. Man's vocation is to develop his relationship with God through love of his neighbour. Man needs a correct attitude towards God, which he can express in his life. Religion is about man's relationships: what are they? how can he develop them? There are two dangerous extremes to avoid: to try to leave everything to God, and to try to explain and achieve everything without reliance on God. The balance must be found in commitment to Christ, which leads to involvement in the world.