The Challenges and Blessings of Being a Christian in Modern Times

Practicing the Christian faith in the modern day is both a blessing and a challenge, but to truly connect with God, we must understand and connect with both the challenges and blessings that God presents us with. We cannot fully appreciate the blessings of our faith without experiencing and overcoming the obstacles that stand before us.

Read on to understand how to overcome some of modern life’s challenges through your Christian faith, and some of Christianity’s core blessings for us to be thankful for.

Challenges

Social Media Influence

The world we see on social media is often not real life; it is a curated reality built to influence and persuade. But this distinction is often blurred, making it difficult to recognise what is true and what is false. This can cause significant harm, creating unrealistic expectations and relentless pressure.

We can also be directly impacted by the misuse of social media, such as through hateful online posts and cyberbullying. Unkindness can be found in the most unlikely of places on the internet, and we have a very long way to go as a society before the internet becomes a safer place.

The Bible teaches us, “do not be deceived: bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33.) This reminds us to be mindful of who we surround ourselves with, including the kinds of people we consume media from online. As modern Christians, we can strengthen our connection to God on a daily basis by listening to his teachings and remaining vigilant about the kinds of social media content we consume and the types of people we choose to associate ourselves with through the internet.

This also extends to the way we care for our neighbour; when we see hateful rhetoric online directed towards others, making use of tools such as the report button is an excellent step towards caring for and looking out for those around us, as we would have done to ourselves by others.

Mental Health Struggles

Everything from social media pressures to financial worries and a lack of access to mental healthcare is contributing to people’s mental health struggles nowadays. The global pandemic, in particular, has led to a startling increase in the numbers of people with mental health concerns.

The Bible tells us that “the lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed… the lord comes to the rescue each time” (Psalm 34:17-20.) This reminds us that God is always there for us, even when and especially when we are not feeling like ourselves. We can always reach out to God for guidance during times of depression or mental struggle.

The Bible also teaches us to reach out to others during times of emotional struggle and need. In Galatians 6:2, the Bible asks us to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” As Christians, it is our responsibility to love one another, to bear each other’s burdens, and support and encourage each other when we are down. Importantly, we must acknowledge the unique crossover between faith and mental health by providing each other with access to supportive mental health resources and by fostering open discussions about mental health within our Christian community.

Blessings

Forgiveness for Our Sins

Sin is a common experience among all Christians; we all sin, and we all play witness to each other’s sins. The Bible recognises this, as seen in 1 John 1:8. What truly matters is the way we respond to our sins and the actions we take to repent; “sins need not hold power over us” (Romans 8:2.) It is a pure blessing of Christianity that we are able to seek and receive forgiveness for our sins and take steps and opportunities to absolve our souls.

Donating is a core part of the Christian faith, and an excellent way to earn forgiveness from God and from our fellow man. By giving to the disadvantaged through a Christian charity, we are reflecting our faith and commitment to the teachings of the Bible. The Bible contains many passages emphasising the importance of donating to charities, such as Matthew 25:35-40. This involves Jesus stating that caring for the disadvantaged is the same as caring for Him. Other examples include the story of the Good Samaritan, which embodies the spirit of selflessness.

A Caring Community

With the growth of the internet, the world is becoming increasingly digitised, leading to people seeing each other less often and leading to loneliness, which is a common problem for people in the modern age. God and the church gives us a deliberate place for togetherness and to find fellowship in one another, as seen in Hebrews 10:24-25.

Fostering and partaking in a community fostered around the teachings of Jesus is a true blessing of being a modern Christian. Regularly attending church events is an honour, providing us with a supportive network of people who share our faith and can offer us friendship, encouragement, love, and practical life through life’s many ups and downs, ensuring we are never alone. The church community reflects God’s staunch teaching that we are never alone and reflects the core Christian teaching of loving one another and sharing our burdens together.

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Julius Caesar Julius Caesar, a brilliant general and statesman, played a critical role in the shift from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire.

Augustus Augustus, the first Roman emperor, ushered in an era of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana.

Tiberius Succeeding Augustus, Tiberius, a skilled military leader, became a controversial emperor known for both stability and a later reign of terror.

Caligula Caligula, notorious for his cruelty and extravagance, ruled Rome for just four chaotic years.

Claudius Overcoming a reputation for disability, Claudius proved to be a capable emperor who expanded the Roman Empire and improved its infrastructure.

Nero Nero, the last emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, is remembered for both his early promise and later descent into tyranny.

Galba Galba, a seasoned aristocrat who rose to power after Nero's suicide, faced a turbulent reign marked by financial woes and military discontent.

Otho Ruling for only three months in the tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors, Otho seized power but was defeated and committed suicide.

Vitellius Briefly holding power in 69 AD during the Year of the Four Emperors, Vitellius was known for his indulgence and was ultimately overthrown and killed.

Vespasian Rising from humble beginnings, Vespasian restored stability to the Roman Empire after a civil war and launched an ambitious building program.

Titus Son of Vespasian, Titus became emperor known for both his ruthless conquest of Jerusalem and his generosity during disasters.

Domitian Domitian, the last Flavian emperor, strengthened the Roman Empire's borders and economy but was seen as a tyrant by the Senate.

Nerva Nerva, the first of the Five Good Emperors, ushered in a new era of stability after a period of violence.

Trajan Renowned for his military conquests and public works projects, Trajan led the Roman Empire to its greatest territorial extent.

Hadrian Hadrian, a philhellene emperor known for Hadrian's Wall, consolidated the Roman Empire and focused on internal development.

Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius, known for his peaceful reign and devotion to public works, was considered one of the Five Good Emperors.

Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors, was both a philosopher king and a stoic leader who fought relentlessly to defend the Roman Empire.

Commodus Son of Marcus Aurelius, his reign marked the end of the Pax Romana and is often considered the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire.

Pertinax A short-lived emperor, he ruled for just three months before being assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.

Didius Julianus Bought the throne in an auction held by the Praetorian Guard, his reign lasted just over two months before he was killed.

Septimius Severus Founder of the Severan dynasty, he secured his position after defeating his rivals in a civil war.

Caracalla Known for issuing the Antonine Constitution, granting Roman citizenship to all free men in the Empire.

Geta Co-ruled with his brother Caracalla, but was murdered by him after their father’s death.

Macrinus A usurper who became emperor after arranging the assassination of Caracalla. He was overthrown and killed.

Elagabalus Known for his eccentric and controversial religious practices, he was eventually assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.

Severus Alexander The last emperor of the Severan dynasty, his reign ended when he was assassinated by his own troops, marking the start of the Crisis of the Third Century.

Maximinus Thrax Learn how his military background, brutal tactics, and short-lived rule marked the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century.