Christianity, based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, does involve some rituals and religious practices. However, rituals and religious observances are not the core focus of the Christian faith. The Bible emphasizes having a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ over adhering to strict rituals or religious requirements.
That said, the Bible does mention some practices that Christians partake in, including baptism, communion/the Lord’s supper, worship, prayer, fasting, and giving. The purpose and meaning behind these rituals is more significant than the rituals themselves. Christians believe participating in these practices helps them draw closer to God, remember Christ’s sacrifice, strengthen their faith, and live out biblical principles.
Here is an overview of some of the main rituals and religious observances that the Bible mentions for Christians:
Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance practiced by Christians whereby a new believer is immersed in water or has water poured over their head. This ritual symbolizes the washing away of sins and being cleansed spiritually. It also represents dying to your old sinful life and being reborn in Christ (Romans 6:3-4). Baptism publicly demonstrates a commitment to follow Jesus.
Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river, setting an example for Christians to follow (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus commanded his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Most Christian denominations practice baptism, though views differ on the appropriate method, proper age, and whether it’s required for salvation. Many believe baptism is a public declaration of faith and connected to conversion, so infants or young children would not be baptized until old enough to profess faith.
Communion/Lord’s Supper
Also known as the Eucharist or Lord’s table, communion commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus. Christians consume bread and wine (or juice) as symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:19-20).
Participants are reminded of the enormous sacrifice Jesus made to redeem mankind. They profess their faith in Christ as Savior and renew their pledge to follow him. Taking communion together also symbolizes the unity of believers as one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
Jesus initiated this practice during his Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion. He instructed them, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Therefore, Christians regularly observe the Lord’s Supper, though traditions differ across denominations regarding frequency and other details.
Worship
Worship is a central practice of Christianity whereby believers offer adoration, praise, thanksgiving, and glory to God. This can involve singing, music, prayer, scripture reading, communion, hearing biblical teaching, and other expressions of reverence.
Individual worship is encouraged, but corporate worship as a gathered church is also emphasized in the New Testament. The book of Acts describes early Christians devotionally meeting together, “having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47 KJV).
Jesus said God is actively seeking people to worship him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). Christians believe worship brings delight to God’s heart, transforms our hearts to be more like Christ, and draws us closer to God.
Prayer
Prayer is how Christians communicate with God and build a relationship with him. Believers are encouraged to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), bringing their cares, petitions, thanksgiving, and praise before God.
The Bible presents prayer as a privilege available because of Christ’s sacrifice. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
In addition to personal prayer, Christians pray together during church services and in small group settings. Jesus promised that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).
Fasting
Though less common today, fasting is mentioned in the Bible as a spiritual practice appointing times of extended, intense prayer and separating oneself from distractions to seek God. Common fasts include abstaining from food, technology, media, or other things that tend to pull attention away from God.
Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness while being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:2). He spoke of fasting paired with appropriate spiritual motives like repentance and seeking God’s will, not to just follow religious duty (Matthew 6:16-18). Occasional fasts can revive and strengthen believers’ faith.
Giving/Tithing
Christians believe everything they have comes from God, so giving back to him and his work is an act of worship and stewardship. This includes financial offerings along with volunteering time and using talents to serve God.
The Bible instructs believers to give cheerfully, generously, regularly, and in proportion to how God has blessed them (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Many churches promote tithing 10% of one’s income. While not strictly mandated, Christians aim to have a giving spirit since God gave us his greatest gift in Christ.
Sabbath
The principle of observing a Sabbath day of rest comes from the Old Testament command to honor the seventh day as holy and set apart (Exodus 20:8-11). Most churches meet on Sundays in honor of Christ’s resurrection.
While keeping the literal seventh day is not obligatory for Christians, practicing regular Sabbath rest is beneficial. Setting aside a day of worship, spiritual renewal, and taking a break from work is wise and biblical.
Additional Practices
Other rituals and traditions practiced to varying degrees in some Christian circles include confirmation, child dedications, wedding ceremonies, anointing of the sick, foot washing, Lent, Advent, and godparent baptisms. Which observances a church or denomination follows depends on their specific beliefs about biblical requirements.
Purpose Behind Rituals
More than just going through habitual motions, Christians believe these rituals provide opportunities to deepen faith, encounter God’s presence, stir gratitude, profess commitment to Christ, identify with his sacrifice, remember his works, and reinforce core biblical truths.
That said, rituals themselves have no merit for salvation. Christians are saved only by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). External rites serve to strengthen that inner saving faith but are not prerequisites for justification.
In fact, Scripture warns against relying on rituals devoid of sincere devotion. Passages like Psalm 51:16-17, Isaiah 1:11-17, Amos 5:21-24, and Micah 6:6-8 emphasize that God desires inward repentance and righteousness more than empty offerings and procedures.
So rituals have value for Christians, but should arise from genuine love for God. They are meant to boost existing faith through biblical discipline and remembrance, not replace or earn salvation.
Cautions Against Legalism
While affirming the place of spiritual practices, the New Testament also warns against legalism – rigidly following rules and rituals as a obligation rather than flowing from faith. Performing certain rituals does not make someone righteous.
The Pharisees followed extensive regulations but lacked grace and mercy. Jesus rebuked them saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23 ESV).
Galatians, Colossians, and other epistles contend against requiring circumcision, holy days, food laws, or other Jewish customs. Obeying religious rules alone cannot justify you before God apart from Christ.
Therefore, Christians aim to observe spiritual disciplines with the right heart motivations. The rituals themselves are not as important as the focus of faith and spiritual renewal behind them.
Freedom in Christ
Beyond avoiding legalism, the New Testament grants liberty in how precisely Christians carry out rituals and religious practices.
Romans 14 discusses disagreements over observing holy days and eating foods. Paul concludes, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5 ESV).
So there is room for wisdom and personal conscience in deciding which spiritual disciplines to pursue and how to observe them. Christians have gracious freedom in Christ to adapt practices according to convictions and culture, while maintaining biblical priorities and purposes.
Centrality of Christ Over Rituals
The bottom line is that Christianity centers on Christ – having faith in his finished work on the cross – more than completing a checklist of rituals.
The entire book of Hebrews explains how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law and sacrificial system as the final atoning sacrifice for sins. “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26 ESV).
Rituals have value to strengthen faith, but only Christ’s sacrifice can actually cleanse believers’ consciences and save them (Hebrews 9:9-14). Affirming salvation through him alone is what matters most, above any religious observances.
Gospel Above Outward Acts
While rituals can beneficially disciple and remind Christians, they are meaningless without sincere devotion to Christ. Believers must guard against merely going through the motions without the motivating power of the gospel.
After converting from legalistic adherence to Judaism, Paul considered all his pre-Christian accolades as “rubbish” compared the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:2-11). Outward rituals apart from inward faith carry no weight.
If religious practices ever become “works righteousness” instead of responding to gospel grace, they hinder rather than promote godliness. The essence of Christianity remains centered on Jesus’ finished work, not human effort.
Balance of Faith and Discipline
In summary, rituals do have a place within Christianity for spiritual development but require balancing faith and grace with spiritual disciplines.
Believers should avoid either legalistic rule-following or antinomian rejection of religious practices. The right perspective recognizes that disciplines like prayer, fasting, worship, baptism or communion contain immense value for growing closer to God when practiced from a place of gospel freedom.
Rituals reinforce faith in what Christ accomplished. But only Christ’s atoning sacrifice justifies believers before God. Christians walk in liberty, led by biblical wisdom and the Spirit on how to apply rituals, not compulsory regulations.
So the scriptures commend spiritual disciplines that edify and point to grace, while warning against empty rituals devoid of sincere devotion or elevated above simple faith in the gospel.
With the heart of the gospel as their foundation, Christians incorporate important rituals to boost their worship, remembrance, spiritual formation and closeness with God for his glory and their good.
