B. Penchalaiah

Christianity from 15 Countries - Live and Let Live Peace Ambassadors: Christians-multinational Perspective B. Penchalaiah

God-Centered Faith results in peace of mind; right mindedness, prosperity, success and advancement -Almost as much as worldly success, religion is expected to produce a kind of 'Spiritual Euphoria1. Roy Sckardt calls this the cult of "Divine - human Chumminess" in which God is envisioned as "Man upstairs", a 'Friendly neighbour who put on our back when we feel blue. Lord is, so to say, an extra emotional Jag that keeps us happy, it is also 'all sense of owe before divine Majesty, 'all sense of Judgment and accountability before the divine holiness'. God is, in Jane Russel's inimitable phrase, a "Livin Doll". He is also God, who confronts sinful man as an enemy. The measure of how far contemporary Christianity falls short of the Authentic tradition and Christian way of life is to be found in the chasm that separates Jane Russell's "Livin Doll" from the living and loving God of Scripture. The Christian culture is looked for and varies greatly with the community, the denomination and the outlook, status and behaviour of the Church members. Liturgy is valued as aesthetically and emotionally "rewarding", interesting, enjoyable, educational and provocative.