Here is the last question in this series. Are all religions the same? The answer is no, they are not. But then again I believe that being a Christ follower is a relationship not a religion. With that said, take a look at this week's study and decide for yourself whether or not all religions are equal.
Acts 17
“Christianity has become the most
universal religion in history, with believers today a majority of the
population in two-thirds of the world’s 238 countries.” So says
the second edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia (Oxford
University Press, 2001). A different survey reveals some
interesting information about Christianity in particular and religion
in general [Associated Press,
“New Book Tallies Religions,” January, 17, 2001].
- “Christianity began and ended the century as the world’s biggest religion with 555 million believers or 32.2 percent of world population in 1900 and 1.9 billion or 31 percent as of last year [2000].”
- “Those Christians are divided among 33,820 denominations or similar distinct organizations. Some 386 million believers are in independent churches.”
A further look at self-described
Christian denominations throughout the world only highlights the
diversity within this religious tradition. There are:
• 135 Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox
denominations
• 72 Lutheran and Reform
denominations
• 38 Presbyterian denominations
• 52 Brethren and Congregationalist
denominations
• 24 Methodists denominations
• 16 Holiness denominations
• 96 Baptists denominations
• 98 Pentecostal denominations
• 17 Mormon denominations
• 100+ distinct unclassified
denominations
• 1000’s of independent churches
with no formal denominational label
To summarize, spirituality is booming
in America and around the world. The individual seeking spiritual
connection can now sample an endless smorgasbord of religious
choices. With so many groups and beliefs, it is no wonder there
is so much confusion about God. As a consequence, our culture has
come to believe several myths about religion in general. Those false
conclusions are reflected in much of the religious polling done in
America. [See Parade national
poll on spirituality, 10-4-2009; USA Today, poll on “Nones” on
9-22-09].
There are five major, popular myths
about religion in America.
Myth #1: There is
no way to know who is right. Twelve percent of Americans believe that
no religion is valid.
Myth #2: It is
arrogant to suggest that you alone have the truth. Surprisingly, only
twelve percent believe that only their religion is right.
Myth #3: All
religions basically teach the same thing. Nearly three out of five
[59%] believe that all religions are equally valid.
Myth #4: I can be
spiritual without being religious. One quarter of Americans call
themselves “spiritual but not religious.” Another fifteen percent
of so-called believers in God do not identify with any religion.
Myth #5: It doesn’t
make a difference anyway. One out of two rarely or never attended
worship services.
Those myths evoke several
important questions.
1. What gives legitimacy to a religion?
2. Is the concept of God enough to
unite us?
3. Are there multiple paths to God?
4. What distinguishes Christianity from
all others?
5. Isn’t sincerity enough?
6. Why does this matter at all?
Let’s look at the last question by
outlining four keys to understanding religion and the significance of
believing properly.
1. A religion’s
validity depends on the object of its worship and adoration –
17:16, 22-23.
False gods have always existed. Paul indicated that
idolatry grows out of both rebellion against the Lord and a darkened
heart that desires to pursue unrestrained iniquity [Romans 1].
Consider the objects that people worship. They come from one of five
sources.
- Manifestations of nature [animal, plant, planetary, or phenomenon such as lightening]
- Creation of idols, images or imaginations
- Elevation of humans or human passions [Greeks]
- Veneration of spirits or Satan
- Revelation of God
Likewise, carving a stick or sculpting a stone will not make it a god despite what you call it. A religion’s credibility depends on the reality of the God it worships. The first four objects of worship listed above are nothing more than man-made inventions or imaginations of God. Surely God is more than we can see or touch. In answer to a critic, Abraham Lincoln asked, "How many legs does a cow have?" "Four," was the reply. "If you call her tail a leg, how many does she have?" "Five," was the answer. "No," Lincoln said, "just calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg." Making something and calling it god does not make it so.
II. The one true God is
more than the common denominator of conflicting denominations or
religions – 17:23-25.
What is it that makes people think that all religions are basically the same? They believe that all religions have one common denominator – the concept of God. But as we have seen already, a mere concept of God does not necessarily equate with God.
Exodus 20:1-3: Then God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me.” As we study Acts 17 we find six God claims to remember:
There is only one God: “The God”– 17:24.
God dwells in heaven: “not dwell in Temples” – 17:24.
God is not the creation of human hand or thought: “the divine nature is not like…an image fashion by human art or imagination.” – 17:25, 29.
God is self-existent: “as though He needed anything” – 17:25.
God is the source of all life: “in Him we live and move and exist” – 17:28.
God demands exclusive allegiance: “God now commands all people everywhere to repent” – 17:30
God, according to His self-revelation,
exceeds all human understanding. Any religion that rejects His
self-revelation is simply an invalid religion. It reminds us of
Joshua’s challenge to his people shortly before his death. Joshua
24:15: “And if it seem evil unto
you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;
whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other
side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye
dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
III. Jesus distinguishes
Christianity from all other religions - 17:18,
31.
- Everyone has an opinion about Jesus.
- The Jews say He was a good teacher or prophet, but not the Messiah.
- The Hindus say He is not god, but one of the many “avatars” [saviors] of Vishnu.
- Buddhists say He was a good teacher, but lower than Buddha.
- Muslims say He was a prophet, but lower than Mohammed.
- In contrast, Christianity recognizes Jesus as the Son of the living God.
- Jesus is the central figure of our faith.
- The Apostle John tells us that to reject Jesus is to reject God altogether.
- He writes, “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either.” 1 John 2:23.
- Even a proper view of Jehovah that rejects Jesus is insufficient for salvation for Jesus paid the price of redemption.
- But what is it about Jesus that makes Him distinct of other religious teachers? While many have claimed deity, there are some distinctions between Christ and them. How is Christ distinct?
- His sinless life.
- His substitutionary death.
- His bodily resurrection.
- His offer of forgiveness by grace through faith.
“During a British conference on
comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if
any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating
possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of
gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions
had accounts of return from death.”
“The debate went on for some time
until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. ‘What’s the rumpus
about?’ he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were
discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world
religions. Lewis responded, ‘Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.’
After some discussion, the conferees had to agree.”
IV. Eternity hinges on the
God you follow – 17:26-27.
- Someone might ask, “Why can’t we just be open minded, tolerant and accept anything as God?
- The answer is that eternity hinges on the ability of your God to save you.
- Jesus said that humans are on one of two roads [Matthew 7:13-14].
- If you examine all religions you will find that they fit into only two categories: [1] Works based, or [2] Faith based.
- How can you know which religion is right? The ultimate test of a religion is simple. When you come to death can your God deliver?
- Perhaps you have heard of Pascal’s wager.
- Blaise Pascal was a scientist and philosopher of the seventeenth century.
- In seeking to disarm religious skeptics, he penned the logic that if God does not exist, one loses nothing by believing in Him; but if God does exist, one can gain eternal life by believing in Him.
- He then argued that belief in God is the only logical response.
- Although countless people have taken issue with Pascal’s logic, it is nonetheless very logical. [Parade, Sept. 22, 1996, p. 20]
Conclusion: “When
I was about age six, a tall, pale white man stumbled into my home
village of Dibagat in the northern jungles of the Philippine island
of Luzon. The man didn’t speak our language, so our elders asked
him the best they knew how, ‘Why are you here?’
“’I’ve come to learn your
language,’ he said. ‘I’d like to write it down and then give
you God’s Word in your language.’ We started teaching this man,
Dick Roe, our language. Maybe his God could free us from the
spirits.”
“When I was about thirteen, Dick had
to return to the United States to raise support for his ministry.
Before he left, he translated the gospel of Mark and gave me a copy.
Sitting on top of a rock, I read the gospel of Mark in my heart
language. It felt like I was actually there, seeing the characters.”
“The further I read, the more
distressed I felt. A mob of people came to get Jesus out of the
garden of Gethsemane. What did he do wrong? They accused him of all
kinds of false things. They mocked him, spat on him, beat him, and
took him before Pilate. Then came the scourge and the crown of
thorns. It was excruciating to read that they forced him to carry a
wooden cross and then nailed him to it.”
“Deep in my heart, a hatred of God
swelled. I shook my fist and shouted, ‘I hate you, God, for being
so powerless! Why should I believe in a powerless God like you?’ I
threw the gospel of Mark down to the rocks and started walking home.
I couldn’t understand why God wouldn’t protect his own Son. Our
headhunters defended us to the death. Because of them, no one could
touch us. I wanted a god like that, someone who would protect me from
the spirits that demanded we sacrifice our cows, chickens, pigs, and
dogs. This God didn’t even save his own Son.”
“Suddenly God reached down into my
heart. ‘Nard, don’t you understand?’ I heard him say. ‘That’s
how much I love you. I gave my Son on your behalf.’ For the first
time, I understood grace. I understood how much God loved me.”
“’God, if you love me that much,’
I prayed, ‘I want to give you my life, my heart. It’s all yours.’
I went back and began to read further in Mark. I read that Jesus rose
from the grave on the third day. Nobody in all of Dibagat, nobody
from among the Isnag people, had ever risen from the grave. The
resurrection story changed my life.” [Nard
Pugyao, Decision, “Penetrating Power,” July – August 2006]
The Lord God has the ability to save
all those that come to Him through Jesus, His Son.
No comments:
Post a Comment