If you ever travel to Concord, New Hampshire, you might see a friendly, older fellow who is excited to share his faith in God. The more I discussed spiritual matters with him, however, the more I felt like something was missing from his thought-process. Something was definitely wrong with this picture.
That’s when it came up. Genesis 3.
When I read Jesus' prophesy that many “Christs” would come in His name, I never thought I might receive a personal email from one of them. Apparently this "heavenly representative" found AbsoluteTruth.Net and decided to enlighten me with some “real truth” directly from what he called the “Office of the Messiah.”
Buddhists (approx. 6% of the world's population in 2005) share four primary beliefs, what they call the "Noble Truths."
1.) Life involves suffering, including things like sorrow, pain, and unfulfillment.
2.) Everything is impermanent and ever-changing. Our suffering is a result of our desire to have these temporary things.
3.) To be free from suffering, a person must eliminate all his desires for things that don't last.
4.) Desire can be eliminated when one follows the "Eightfold Path," including things like right thinking, right speech, and right meditation.
While a Buddhist's immediate goal is freedom from suffering, the ultimate objective is much more complicated. Because Buddhists believe that "self" is an illusion created by desires for impermanent things, they strive to eliminate desire so they can be "detached" from this existence and achieve nirvana, or, peaceful non-existence. Those who achieve this state of "peace" are considered to have reached enlightenment.
What does the Bible say to Buddhists?
1. Suffering is indeed a deviation from the real life that the Creator God intended. However, the objective is not to merely eliminate our ability to feel bad, but to eliminate the cause of human suffering -- evil. God has set in motion a plan to redeem the world from evil so that we can have true peace.
2. The peace that God offers us is not "non-existence," but actually a freedom to exist in the fullest possible way -- to experience "abundant life." God treats each individual as an important, unique creation whom He personally loves. The goal is not to merge into some "oneness" or "nirvana," but to fulfill the special, joy-filled purposes of the Creator.
3. Peace cannot be achieved by good works, no matter how "right" one's actions, thoughts, words, and intentions may be. God made a way for us to achieve final deliverance from evil, the cause of our separation and sufferings, and so we must put our faith in this "Way" -- the Lord Jesus Christ. Our faith in Him brings us peace, assurance, and the ability to live a new kind of life -- a life characterized by purpose, joy, and love.
4. It is true that all earthly things are temporary -- nothing that is seen is permanent. However, the Bible gives us good news: Jesus Christ and His kingdom will never end, and His character never changes. We can depend on Him as one who does not change like a shifting shadow (James 1:17). Thus, while the things of this world may be in constant flux, there is something real -- someOne, actually -- that deserves our love, devotion, and sacrifice.
Relevant Bible Passages: John 1:1-5, Romans 5:1-5, Titus 3:3-8, Revelation 21:3-7
Hindus make up some 13% of the world's population, although the number is much larger when one accounts for all those who adhere to Hindu philosophy (New Age practices, etc.).
The religion began in 1500 B.C. as a ritualistic polytheism practiced in homes, and over the years it has grown more and more complex, to the point now where there are millions of separate "gods" represented in Hinduism.
Although Hinduism is extremely diverse, there are some common elements most believers share:
1. Ultimate reality for the Hindu, "Brahman," is the impersonal force from which all things flow, and it is beyond distinctions, either moral or personal. The "self" is merely an extension of this universal oneness.
2. The problem with mankind is that most of us have forgotten the fact that we are part of Brahman, and thus have wrongly attached ourselves to separate "personalities" and "egos" (rather than remaining as part of the "one"). Because we are lost in individuality, we must now face laws of cause and effect, called " karma."
3. Karma follows a person through multiple lifetimes, as the "individual" is reincarnated until such a time as to be completely free from karma, at which point a Hindu believes they are "liberated" from life and death - reabsorbed into the universal "oneness" of Brahman.
What does the Bible say to Hindus?
1. Romans 1:25 speaks of a sad time when people worship created things rather than the Creator. It appears that Hinduism falls into this category, worshiping many different idol and spirit gods.
2. Humans were created in the image of God as individuals for specific purposes. The primary problem with mankind is not ignorance of divine connections, but rather rebellion against divine authority.
3. The laws of karma are certainly useful in understanding how evil impacts our lives. However, the Bible teaches that mankind only dies once, and after this, faces a personal judgment from God.
4. There is no provision for forgiveness of sins in Hinduism, only the prospect of endless lifetimes of suffering to "pay" for the bad karma accrued when doing evil. Jesus Christ's sacrifice can offer Hindus hope and cleansing from sin, so that people can be forgiven and free.
Relevant Bible Passages: Acts 17:16-34 , Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 9:27, Romans 1:18-32, 1 John 1:9
The religion of Islam (whose believers are called "Muslims") claims more than 1 out of 5 people on earth today. The word "Islam" simply means "submission."
Muslims believe in Allah (their concept of an all-powerful Deity) and their primary source of spiritual information is their holy book, the Koran (Qur'an). And, while Muslims do not dismiss the importance of Biblical characters such as Jesus, Abraham, or David, they believe the complete revelation from God was given through Muhammad a few centuries after the completion of the Christian Bible.
Muslims are required to participate in five activities, referred to as the "Five Pillars of Islam."
1.) Reciting of the Shahadah. "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger."
2.) Prayer. Muslims are required to go through "cycles" of prayer centered around five set-aside times each day. The minarets (similar to church steeples) announce these times in Muslim-dominated cities, interrupting all commerce and recreation for a moment of prayer and ritual.
3.) Fasting. One month every lunar year (Ramadan) Muslims are required to abstain from food during daylight hours.
4.) Giving of Alms. Muslims must give 2.5% of their income to the poor and needy.
5.) Making the Pilgrimage. In commemoration of the travels of Muhammad to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, Muslims who are able must make this journey once during their lifetime.
The goal of Islam is to enter "Paradise" after death, and to achieve victories for the Muslim cause during this life. Some Muslims believe that dying for their cause (typically associated with "holy war" and terrorist acts) will guarantee them a place in Paradise with many sensual pleasures for their eternal enjoyment.
What does the Bible say to Muslims?
1. Submission to the will of God is important, but the only way to wholly fulfill His will is to embrace the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. During His ministry on earth, He made it clear that no one could approach God apart from Him. Muslims are encouraged to read the New Testament Gospels for themselves and consider Jesus' claims.
2. When we look honestly at God's law, given by Moses, we see that it is impossible to "balance the scales" in our favor by involvement in holy rituals. We are too sinful to ever please a perfect and holy God. Our great need, then, is salvation and forgiveness of sins. The sacrificial work of Jesus was God's loving way of accomplishing this (see Romans 1-5 in the Bible for an explanation).
3. The concept of pilgrimage is appropriate in Christianity as well, but not to a physical location. Jesus called each of us to follow Him, to "take up our cross daily." He died on a Cross in order to make it possible for us to be with the Father - He calls us to walk that same path spiritually, "putting to death" our old self and becoming a "new creation."
Relevant Bible Passages: John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Luke 9:23-24, Ephesians 2:8-10
* Most Muslims have been misled as to the real teachings of the Bible, particularly the New Testament. If you are involved in Islam and have wondered about Christianity, be sure to read the story of Jesus for yourself. Access the Bible online; try starting with the book of Matthew. (English or Arabic)
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