Christians allow their lives to be shaped in accordance to the beliefs, teachings and

practices of Christianity as they all in cooperation allow an experience of the will of God most

descriptively detailed in the Bible. By the guidance of teachings derivative from beliefs,

coupled with the practices that allow a deeper understanding and expression of these

beliefs; lives of believers are deeply shaped by this system through the ultimate aim to bring

about the Kingdom of God.

Christians are admitted as full members of the Church once they are Baptised in the act of

cleansing in water, removing the original sin and therefore given a place in the Kingdom of

God. “I believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins” Nicene Creed. Through baptism,

the Christian belief of Salvation is practiced when the water, oil of chrism and white

garments are used to symbolise the purification of the candidate towards the Holy Spirit and

the expression in one God. As believers, Baptism is extremely significant in shaping their

lives of as Baptism initiates them into the whole Christian life, implying a commitment to the

beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity. Similarly, the participant receives Salvation,

cleansed of their sins and take “the pledge of a clear conscience towards God” (1 Peter

3:21). Baptism as a whole is an outward sign conveying the obedience to follow through on

Jesus’ command with full dedication and trust to bring about the Kingdom of God, shaping

the lives of adherents to a full extent.

The Christian belief in the nature of God as a singular creator and sustainer of the earth is

the origin of the teaching that humans are made in the image and likeness of God, and

should therefore emulate His nature as the embodiment of all things caring and loving.

Christian adherents in their lives consciously work towards this goal and most recently have

focused this teaching intensely on Environmental Ethics through caring for God’s creation as

stewards of the earth in order to bring about the Kingdom of God. In St. John Paul’s
environmental encyclical ‘Laudato Si”, there was a call for a responsibility to preserve the

earth and foster sustainable development in turn for “throw away, consumer culture”.

Consequently, Christian organisations such as Catholic Care Australia, promoting

understanding of the sacred yet endangered nature of Creation while responding to St. John

Paul’s call for an ‘ecological conversion’. Therefore, Christians as caretakers and stewards

of God’s creation adopt Kingdom values from the New Testament of moderation, justice and

balance towards the environment, shaping key aspects in the lives of believers.

Furthermore, although beliefs, teaching and practices shape the lives of believers; certain

key individuals such as Pope John XXIII through the Second Vatican and his Encyclicals,

can be accounted for contributions and developments that allowed a long lasting impact on

Christianity and therefore, its adherents. With the aim to “throw open the windows of the

Church”, Pope John XXIII focused on the accessibility and modernization of Christianity by

forming the Vatican II. Here, his reforms of the Liturgy to be in the vernacular and increased

participation of adherents through songs, readings and proclamations massively shaped the

lives of adherents as their increased role to express faith and beliefs was impacted.

Similarly, through Mater et Magistra and Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIII reminded

believers of Christ’s commandment of love and highlighted the Church’s ongoing concern

for the dignity of the persons and sanctity of human life; imploring a significant impact on the

lives of adherents in actively living out this teaching in their everyday lives.