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Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

The Chapter 2 of our manuscript revolves around five

key points in which each paragraph evident is based,

specifically on: (1) belief systems of devoted and non-

devoted Christians, (2) depth of engagement of devoted and

non-devoted Christians, (3) consistency of practice of

denoted and non-devoted Christians, (4) sense of

accountability of devoted and non-devoted Christians, (5)

synthesis.

Belief System of devoted and non-devoted Christians

Based on the study of Collins & Jun (2019), every

culture develops on its basic bases of belief systems,

spirituality, and religion, which influence social rules,

individual and group behaviors, and values. While rituals

and beliefs are common examples of how these cultural

elements appear, they also have an impact on less obvious

things like gender roles, class systems, report phrases, and

moral systems. Organizations such as government, healthcare,

and education are closely linked to cultural values and

frequently represent and uphold certain religious or

spiritual ideas. Additionally, the dynamic interaction of

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belief systems and culture fosters both harmony and conflict

as individuals negotiate their unique and common identities,

adding to the complexity and richness of human communities.

According to Uso-Domeñech & Nescolarde-Selva (2014),

the stories we tell ourselves to establish our unique

perception of reality are known as belief systems. Every

human has a belief system that they use, and it is via this

method that each of us makes sense of the reality in which

we live. Belief systems influence and modify sign systems,

which in turn shape how perceived reality is produced.

Though they might aid in explaining individual

commitment, psychological processes like conceptual

consistency may not always account for the

interconnectedness of belief systems in human society. The

actual content of belief systems varies in a nearly endless

manner.

Aiken & Teasley (2023) define a belief system as a set

of rules or precepts that aid in a person's self-instruction

about the outside world. It supports their worldview and

enables them to behave in a way consistent with their ideas.

An ideology or set of values that guides our understanding

of the world we live in is called a belief system. A

multitude of factors both shape and impact these ideas.

These systems are subject to alter throughout time in

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response to external stimuli, such as shifting societal

ideals. The most readily available source of examples of

belief systems is religion.

As stated by Drew (2023), belief systems are

fundamental to forming who we are and how we make decisions.

They offer an overview for comprehending the outside world

as well as a sense of purpose and importance. People can

understand why particular beliefs and perceptions are held

and the motivations behind people's actions by researching

belief systems. This comprehension can foster communication

and understanding between various groups and increase

empathy. Researching belief systems can also help create a

society that is fairer and more peaceful.

Belief systems are essential in forming our moral

compass and guiding our behavior. They give people a basis

for knowing what is right and wrong, which affects the way

they behave in various areas of life. Be they religious or

based on personal values, people's ethical standards are

frequently derived from their beliefs. The "do no harm"

doctrine applies to medical practitioners, who are committed

to making decisions and acting in a professional manner that

puts patients' safety and well-being first. Furthermore,

belief systems not only affect how people behave

individually but also how society standards and expectations

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are formed. Religious doctrines or philosophical precept

serve as a basis for moral behavior in many societies,

influencing social structures, legal frameworks, and

institutional procedures. The significance of belief systems

in promoting societal values and directing moral behavior is

further supporter by this larger cultural background.

Additionally, belief systems facilitate moral decision-

making and encourage responsible behavior in a variety of

contexts by acting as both frameworks and personal guides

(Wattenberg, 2019).

Depth of Engagement of Devoted and

Non-Devoted Christians

According to Francis et al. (2019), Christian's level

of engagement is one of the reasons and paths leading to

Christian growth. Factor and reliability analyses

differentiated between four distinct pathways to growth

(growth through church worship, growth through group

activity, growth through Christian experience, and growth

through public engagement) and two indicators of Christian

growth (depth of discipleship and strength of vocation).

While public engagement added weight to the depth of

discipleship and group activities added weight to the

strength of vocation, regression analyses that took

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individual differences in sex, age, education, church

support, and challenges to faith identified growth through

Christian experience as the most important factor in helping

Christians grow. Christians who are committed or who are not

devoted may differ in their level of engagement. A strong

commitment to their beliefs and active participation in

religious rituals and activities are characteristic traits

of devoted Christians. They frequently value spiritual

development through prayer, Bible study, and worship and

frequently have a close personal relationship with God. Non-

devoted Christians may identify as Christians but may not

place a high value on regular religious rituals or have a

close personal relationship with God. Instead, they may take

a more relaxed or inactive approach to their faith.

The paths of personal experience advance individuals’

depth of engagement to explore their beliefs and

spirituality on a deeper level. Through personal

experiences, individuals can connect with their faith in a

more meaningful way and develop a stronger sense of identity

and purpose (Francis et al., 2020).

The study of Poon (2015), says that Christian social

engagement, and globalizing are all connecting and orienting

concepts. Christianity professes a universal faith that

transcends temporal, spatial, and political boundaries, and

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therefore conceptually stands at a critical relationship

against any this worldly ordering of human society. To be

Christian is both socially unitive and subversive. Social

engagement puts in focus the different ways in which

Christian’s resource their faith in their situation and

bring it to hear on the public life.

Several medium-sized churches had years of decreased

attendance after experiencing strong growth. Many of them

are situated in areas where substantial expansion may be

possible. Some once-growing churches appear to have lost

sight of the best ways to serve the needs of the families

that make up their surrounding communities and to reach out

to them. This phenomenon draws attention to the difficulties

medium-sized churches have in modifying their outreach plans

to interact with their changing communities and meet the

requirements of their families. It is becoming more and more

necessary for churches to reevaluate their approaches to

ministry and community participation to stay relevant and

dynamic hubs of spiritual activity as societal dynamics and

community demographics change (Haskell et al., 2016).

The community's growth depends critically on the

engagement of young people in the church. The church is in

decline, and the pews are vacant where the youngsters of the

past have gone (Amankwa et al., 2022).

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Consistency of Practice of Devoted and Non-Devoted

Christians

As stated in the study by Viars (2016), the consistency

of practice among devoted Christians is often rooted in

their belief that faith is not just a part of their lives

but the core foundation that shapes their identity and

guides their decisions. They believe that their relationship

with God is the foundation upon which they build their

lives, and they strive to align their thoughts, actions, and

values with their faith. For devoted Christians, faith is

not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of growth and

transformation. They recognize the importance of consistency

in nurturing their relationship with God and seek to deepen

their understanding of His teachings through regular prayer,

Bible study, and participation in the Christian community.

Most church leaders, according to Yarnell (2021),

aspire to create enduring communities whose members continue

with them through good times and bad. Two factors are

essential to the continuation of church practices:

dedication and regularity. The terms "consistency" and

"commitment" may mean different things to different people.

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For example, the word "consistency" may evoke an enduring

pattern or habit that bears fruit over time. Furthermore,

"commitment" could allude to a long-term partnership or a

dedication to a career, volunteer opportunity, or objective.

A church culture that is committed and consistent would

essentially encourage members to come together regularly and

consistently for corporate worship, teaching, communion, and

prayer (Yarnell, 2021).

The study by Laugerud (2015), says that religious

communities and practices are the vertical aspect that every

religion needs to survive. Christianity cannot endure if its

vertical practice of rituals does not touch the hearts of

its adherents, as rituals do not provide magical means of

protection or control. Therefore, all ritualistic activities

in a Christian setting must eventually turn into devotional

activities. Most of these practices have an obvious

instrumental (material) component, such as the use of

devotional objects, pictures, melodies, or a book, prayer

pattern, or daily schedule. That is a characteristic of

practical piety. The fact that something must be done in a

certain way to discover and organize pure thoughts in

addition to pure ideas themselves is inherent in practical

piety. Devotional acts are therefore how a living religion

must manifest itself. Order and function are fundamental to

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these kinds of practices, and they establish a major

relationship with memory, culture, and the sense of a

dynamic tradition, all of which are connected to the more

general concept of shared ritual.

According to Volf & Bass (2018), Christian practices

are based in a world that a merciful and righteous God

created and is currently using Christ to pull this world

back. Christian practices meet needs that are fundamental to

the human condition and do so in ways that are consistent

with God's design for humanity. Engaging in such activities

allows Christians to become more deeply aware of God and

creation by participating in God's creative process of

creation and new creation. It is vital that this be done

with other people, regardless of their age or cultural

background. Furthermore, it is always carried out

incorrectly, at times even in a way that is so twisted as to

become evil. We believe the definition that follows will

make it clear how we use this term differently from other

uses. More than that, we hope it will highlight some of the

traits of an abundant lifestyle, whose enrichment is our

primary goal. Christian practices are the ways that people

engage in human interaction with God to meet the needs of

both creation and one another.

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Sense of Accountability of devoted and non-devoted

Christians

Being accountable means being answerable, implying that

an individual is held responsible for others, either for

specific outcomes or in a broader sense. Genuine

accountability begins with acknowledging our imperfections,

requiring honesty with ourselves to accept correction, and

communicating truth with love to others. Being accountable

enhances reliability and consistency, bringing greater joy

and fostering a deeper faith. Ultimately, our primary

accountability is to God through His word and His Holy

Spirit (Adams, 2023).

Active, functional organizations establish positions

with genuine accountability, claims Dive (2020). Being

accountable is having someone to answer to and having

responsibility for something. In general, one must take

accountability and responsibility for all their actions in

life. When someone acts freely and has motivations for their

actions, they can explain what they do and is responsible

for what one does (made up of those "reasons").

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As stated in the study by Chadwick (2021),

accountability in the church is essential for healthy growth

as it ministers to each other through heart-level

relationships. While each of us must watch ourselves, we

should also seek to be transparent and answerable to others.

We need all the help we can get in our fight against

temptation and sin.

A study by Tumiwa (2017) says that Christian values

embodied in church accounting practice can provide spiritual

persuasion for church management. Spiritual persuasion helps

to build the character of management so that in presenting

the financial information, one is always obedient, stays

alive in love, and is an example that can be validated

objectively by the congregation and the wider community. In

other words, Christian values can give moral strength to

church management in accounting for credible financial

statements by the congregation.

Awareness of the divine is the consciousness that

causes a person to always realize the presence of God. The

presence of God always is a response to the present

conditions and is associated with the accounting and

accountability of the church with Christian values.

Christian values are crucial to be used as guidance in

overseeing and controlling the behavior of management in the

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accounting and accountability of the church. Christian

values are values that are based on the word of God. Mr.

Benny Iskandar said that the word of this God can provide a

set of principles or rules that are useful as a frame of

reference, the guidelines of thinking in the development of

accounting practices, and the accountability of the church

(noema).

Christian morality, according to Carney (2014),

encompasses three levels of accountability. The first level

involves responsibilities applicable to all individuals or

those occupying socially defined roles, emphasizing

commitments, honesty, respect for others' property, and

fulfilling one's role-related duties. The second level of

accountability in Christian morality includes self-sacrifice

for others, strict responsibility, and vicarious

responsibility. The third level shifts focus from actions to

an individual's personality, encompassing character, morals,

and virtues, and comes from an analysis of accountability

for actions.

Accountability and understanding the fear of the Lord

involve being accountable to God. He argues that

demonstrating excellence in an accountability relationship

reflects a virtue, especially valuable when directed toward

God. The main drive for someone with the virtue of

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accountability isn't fear of punishment but a genuine desire

to do what is right for its own sake, grounded in an

appreciation of the standing of the one to whom they are

accountable (Evans, 2021).

According to Thorsen (2020), there are at least three

ways in which Christians view non-Christians. Firstly,

salvation is asserted to be exclusive to those who

explicitly acknowledge Jesus as their savior and Lord. This

narrow perspective on salvation has long characterized

Christianity throughout history. Secondly, pluralist

perspectives argue for the equal validity of all religions,

provided they serve as paths for salvation, knowledge, and

self-actualization. However, Christianity rejects this

pluralist stance, viewing it as undermining the distinct and

singular redemptive role of Jesus Christ. Thirdly,

inclusivist viewpoints propose the possibility of

alternative paths to salvation that may align with the

teachings of Scripture.

According to figures like Vatican 2 Catholic theologian

Karl Rahner, individuals who lead virtuous lives outside the

Christian faith, often referred to as "anonymous

Christians," could potentially attain salvation and eternal

life in heaven. Other Christians also argue that God may

give people the chance to accept or reject after their

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deaths. All of this simply explains that there are many ways

to be saved. They may not be saved through ordinary orders

of salvation, but they might find salvation through

exceptional methods that consider their consciences,

opportunities for evangelization after death, or miraculous

interventions leading to the salvation of all.

People who are not committed to Christianity are still

seen as morally responsible for their actions, based on the

belief that all individuals, irrespective of their faith,

will be held accountable by God. Moral responsibility is

seen as universal, as it is believed that God's law is

written on the hearts of everyone, not just Christians.

While Christians may have higher standards due to their

faith, the idea is that all people, being made in the image

of God, possess a conscience (Bill Muehlenberg, 2020).

Synthesis

Belief systems not only affect how people behave

individually but also how society standards and expectations

are formed. Culture develops on its basic bases of belief

systems, spirituality, and religion, which influence social

rules, individual and group behaviors, and values. While

rituals and beliefs are common examples of how these

cultural elements appear, they also have an impact on less

 33

obvious things like gender roles, class systems, report

phrases, and moral systems. Christians who are committed or

who are not devoted may differ in their level of engagement.

A strong commitment to their beliefs and active

participation in religious rituals and activities are

characteristic traits of devoted Christians. They frequently

value spiritual development through prayer, Bible study, and

worship and frequently have a close personal relationship

with God.

The consistency of practice among devoted Christians is

often rooted in their belief that faith is not just a part

of their lives but the core foundation that shapes their

identity and guides their decisions.

Being accountable enhances reliability and consistency,

bringing greater joy and fostering a deeper faith.

Accountability in the church is essential for healthy growth

as it ministers to each other through heart-level

relationships.

It is crucial that these related studies exhibit more

similarities than differences, as most of them produced

nearly identical results to this study, which proposes the

reasons why Christians have gaps in their belief systems and

some factors that influence their way of life as an

individual in a Christian community. Furthermore, by

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emphasizing the convergence of findings, researchers can

provide comprehensive insights into the obstacles and

potential for increasing unity and understanding among

varied Christian communities.