Christians might argue that the mediation of Christ assists conformity to God's will in human terms and clarifies the obligations of believers. It has not always been clear, however, that following Christ is radically different from copying Christ and some traditions have become outmoded and irrelevant because they did not allow their faith to adjust to changing life patterns. In terms of human response, Christianity has not developed fully the dialogical emphasis present in Judaism. This is partly because of an emphasis on Divine sovereignty in the salvation process which tends to make humans more passive, as if faith and passivity were identical. This was most clearly exemplified in the worst examples of predestinarian theology.
Faith leading to understanding through inquiry is a basic requirement for Christian education.
The Christian emphasis on fulfilment of God's promises through Christ has doubtless given Christians confidence and hope for the future and is an important aspect of Christian belief. Despite this it must be acknowledged that this realized eschatology can and has led to an uncritical complacency with the present state of society, as if individual salvation and security were the answer to all of this world's problems. Another aspect of the above emphasis is that it has resulted in an exaggerated concern with correct doctrines rather than with appropriate actions. Doctrines too can be learned and meaninglessly repeated without proper understanding. Christians historically seem to have had difficulty in humbly admitting to limits to their knowledge as well as to their freedom.