Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1

A COMPARISON/CONTRAST OF CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

Rhodes, Ron. Islam: What You Need To Know. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, 2000.

"Quote" of the Week

"Pray...that the Muslim will see the futility of trying to live a life good enough to earn God's favor. Even the smallest failure brings condemnation (James 2:10). By contrast, talk about the wonderful grace of God and how God has offered salvation as a free gift for those who believe in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). -Ron Rhodes

HOW THE TWO MAIN BRANCHES OF BUDDHISM CONTRAST WITH CHRISTIANITY

Two of the most practiced schools of Buddhism are Theravada and Mahayana. There is a good chance that if one encounters a Buddhist, they will be associated with one of these two schools. The lesser known and practiced sects are Vajrayana, folk and Zen Buddhism. Below are charts that explain how the two main branches of Buddhism contrast with Christianity.

THERAVADA BUDDHISM/CHRISTIANITY

MAHAYANA BUDDHISM/CHRISTIANITY

Halverson, Dean C. The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996. pp. 59-60.

FINDING COMMON GROUND FOR EVANGELISTIC PURPOSES

Everyone has a unique view of the world that has been shaped by culture. This view determines how one understands the Gospel of Jesus Christ when it is presented. That is why it is essential for believers to become knowledgeable of differing belief systems when sharing Christ with others. The youth of Fellowship Bible Church in Fort Smith are learning about the major world religions and cults so they can properly communicate the Gospel message to people who have dissimilar beliefs and practices.

Yesterday we discussed Buddhism. When giving suggestions for evangelism, I shared with the youth a major point made by author and editor Dean C. Halverson. He asserts that Christians have to find common ground with Buddhists. Finding common ground involves reaching an agreement without compromising the truth of Scripture. For example, Buddhism teaches that desire causes suffering. Christians can also affirm that suffering can be caused by desire, but that not all desire is wrong. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). According to Halverson, “The issue is having right desire, not eliminating desire” (61).

Christians can also agree with Buddhists that discipline is necessary although the two disagree on why it is necessary. Buddhism is a “works-based” religion that teaches one can only achieve enlightenment by saying and doing only that which is required and through monastic living. Christianity is “grace-based,” which means that one is saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. Christianity, however, does teach that God’s people are to discipline themselves spiritually after conversion. Paul affirms that Christians are to “…discipline (themselves) for the purpose of godliness” (1Timothy 4:7).

There are also bridges of understanding that can be built for Buddhists by believers. The Mahayana Buddhists have bodhisattvas who have refused nirvana to assist others in achieving enlightenment. It is believed that they can transfer their merit to others who place their faith and trust in them. Believers can use this concept to communicate the truth of who Jesus is and what he has done. Buddhists need to learn that if they trust in Christ for salvation, they can be forgiven of sin, have Christ’s imputed righteousness and be restored to a right relationship with God.

Halverson, Dean C. The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996. pp. 49-64.

"Quote" of the Week

"If the person who comes from a Buddhist background rejects your message, ask why. It might be more an issue of misunderstanding than of a conscious rejection. As one author wrote, 'Most Buddhists have never heard the Gospel because they have misheard it' (Weerasingha, 62). It often takes several attempts to learn how to communicate the Gospel clearly to a Buddhist." -Dean C. Halverson

WHY IS HINDUISM SO APPEALING?

There is no doubt that our society has been influenced by Hinduism. All I have to do to prove my point is to mention words such as “karma, reincarnation, and dharma.” Because this is true one must ask the obvious question, “Why is Hinduism so appealing?”

One reason is because we have taken these foreign concepts and have made them more desirable in our cultural context. For example, some believe that because of reincarnation, one can attempt to learn more about who he/she was in a past life. Many have consulted psychics to see if they were, at one time, a famous celebrity or a powerful world leader.

Hinduism, however, teaches that reincarnation is not an exciting and/or desirable thing. In fact, their beliefs and practices are meant to liberate them from the endless cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth. Hinduism also teaches that human beings may have, at one time, been something as insignificant as an insect or plant. Hindus from Southeast Asia also teach that one cannot know who or what they were in a previous life.

Our society also teaches that that the effects of bad karma can be changed in this life. This is the concept of the hit TV show “My Name is Earl.” This show is about a man (Earl) who comes to realize that his bad fortune can be reversed by correcting all the wrongs he has committed.

Hinduism teaches, however, that the effects of karma are permanent until the end of a life cycle. For example, a person who is in a horrible way must remain in that condition as punishment for bad karma. Only when their life comes to an end do they have the chance to be reborn into a better situation.

Our society has taken a belief system and has added elements that are more hopeful and promising even though they did not exist originally. Elements of the Christian faith, however, provide hope that have not been added, but declared by God Himself. God’s word affirms that those who are in Christ will be glorified. This means that when one dies, he/she will not return to a life of suffering, but will enter into the presence of the Lord. There believers will no longer experience pain and death, but will be given resurrection bodies, like Jesus' resurrection body, and will live life as God intended.

Another element of the Christian faith that has not been altered is the teaching of forgiveness. Unlike karma, sin is not simply failing to fulfill specific duties, but is moral rebellion against God. Bad karma results in living life in a worse situation than experienced previously; whereas sin results in separation from God. The results of bad karma are fixed and cannot be overcome in a lifetime, but sin's removal is free.

Even though all have turned away from the profitable path; God demonstrated his love for us by sending Christ who lived the perfect life that we could never live and died as our substitute and perfect sacrifice (Romans 5:8). If we trust in Him for salvation we can be rescued from this desperate state of existence and restored to a right relationship with him. This message of hope should be shared with people of all faiths, especially Hindus. No world religion offers forgiveness of sins. What Jesus offers is extremely unique and is appealing to many who hear.

"Quote" of the Week

Bakht Singh, a convert from Hinduism and an Indian evangelist, once said, “I have never yet failed to get a hearing (with a Hindu) if I talk to them about forgiveness of sins and peace and rest in your heart.”

For the next few months I am teaching the youth of Fellowship Bible Church about differing belief systems within our culture and around the world. My aim is to help them mature in their faith and equip them so that they can be protected from adopting unbiblical philosophies that are ever present in our world. My prayer is that each student would develop a biblical worldview and teach/demonstrate to others that trusting in Christ for salvation is profitable for all.

A CHRISTIAN'S INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD

There are many passages of Scripture that speak of a Christian’s influence in the world. None, however, are more descriptive than what Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:13-16. This was spoken during His famous Sermon on the Mount, which creatively communicates what Jesus wanted His followers to be and to do.

It is clear from many of Jesus’ teachings that he wanted His followers to be set apart from, however, very much involved in their world. According to John Stott, “Jesus emphasized that His true followers, the citizens of God’s kingdom, were to be entirely different from others. They were not to take their cue from the people around them, but from Him, and so prove to be genuine children of their heavenly Father” (7).

Jesus asserts in vv. 13-16 that His followers are to be both salt and light in the world. Both of these complement one another even though one impedes and the other improves. For one to understand the salt/light reference, he or she must first understand the context. In those days, salt was valuable because of its ability to preserve not season. Salt was used to prevent decay, while light was responsible for illuminating the darkness. When explaining this passage, Stott affirms that believers are called by Christ “…to stop the spread of evil…(and) promote the spread of truth, beauty and goodness” (59).

When believers are not functioning as salt/light in their world, two negatives occur. First is that they lose their effectiveness. Just as tasteless salt is worthless, so is a Christian that is not combating evil in the world. The second negative is that their light is hidden. If Christians do not let their light shine, they look no different from anyone else and are unable to demonstrate to nonbelievers the glory of God and/or the love that comes from Him. According to Stott, “Probably the greatest tragedy of the church throughout its long and checkered history has been its constant tendency to conform to the prevailing culture instead of developing a Christian counterculture” (59).

Stott, John. Sermon on the Mount: 13 Studies for individuals or groups. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. 1987.

"Quote" of the Week

"Jesus says we give light by our 'good deeds.' It seems that 'good deeds' is a general expression to cover everything Christians say and do because they are Christians, every outward and visible manifestation of their Christian faith. They express not only our loyalty to God, but our care for others as well. Indeed, the primary meaning of 'deeds' must be practical, visible acts of compassion. It is when people see these, Jesus said, that they will glorify God, for they embody the good news of his love which we proclaim. Without them our gospel loses its credibility and our God his honor." -John Stott