We live in a time when we are no more than 24 hours away from any spot on the earth. Even in the Northwest we encounter many different cultures and religions, among our neighbors, coworkers and peers in school. The question naturally arises as to whether or not Christianity is unique among world religions, or is it only a variation on a basic theme running through all religions? To put it another way, "Does not the sincere Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or Jew worship the same God as we do, but under a different name?" Or, quite bluntly, "Is Jesus Christ the only way to God". (Know Why You Believe. Paul Little p. 144)
I. The Question of Truth:
'Sincerely believing something does not make it true, as anyone will testify who has ever picked a wrong bottle out of a medicine cabinet in the dark, no matter how sincere or how intense the faith is. Believing something doesn't make it true any more than failing to believe truth makes it false. Facts are facts, regardless of people's attitudes toward them. In religious matters, the basic question is always, "Is it true?"' (Little p. 146) (Genesis 37:33; Proverbs 14:12; Acts 26:9; 2 Peter 2:5; Luke 17:27).
II. The Concept of God:
'Even the fundamental concept of God, on which there is a plea that we should agree, reveals wide divergences. To say that we can unite with all who believe in God, regardless of what this God is called, fails to recognize that the term God means nothing part from the definition given to it' (Little p. 149)
A. THE HINDU CONCEPT OF GOD:
'The God of pantheism is not personal..an impersonal force. In addition, the pantheistic God is incomplete without creation; he is dependent on the creation for the attainment of the perfections that lie latent in his own infinite potentialities..Pantheism is the belief that God is the world and the world is God'. But the Bible presents a God distinct and separate from the Creation (Hebrews 1:10-12; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1:1). In addition, the God of the Bible is self-sufficient (Acts 17:25); and already perfect (Matthew 5:48).
B. THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF GOD:
'God in the objective, personal sense does not fit into the 'Buddhist system'..the founder taught neither prayer nor praise; he offered neither redemption, nor forgiveness, nor heaven; he warned of no judgement and no final hell. He refused to speculate on ultimate reality or the First Cause..he was silent regarding any future life. Buddha, contrary to popular belief, never claimed to be deity. In fact, he was agnostic about the whole question of whether God even existed'. This presents a big problem with Hebrews 11:6.
III. The Concept of Heaven:
A. THE HINDU CONCEPT OF HEAVEN:
'Some will be admitted to Paradise, where they will recline on soft couches quaffing (to drink deep in a hearty or thirsty way) cups of wine handed to them by the Huris, or maidens of Paradise, of whom each man may marry as many as he pleases'. Then was Jesus wrong? (Matthew 22:29-30).
B. THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF HEAVEN:
'Buddha persistently refused to give a plain answer to the enquiries of his disciples whether he would, nor would not, enjoy any kind of existence after death'. How do we harmonize this with the teachings of Jesus and His disciples? (Matthew 5:12; Philippians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Rev. 21:7)
IV. The Resurrection:
Hinduism: 'Any idea of an eternal union of body and soul is
an embrassment and anathema. There is not place whatever for
the idea of the resurrection of the body in the Hindu scheme of
things'. (John 5:28-29) The same would be true concerning Buddhism,
for both religions are based upon the concept of reincarnation,
which eliminates the need for a resurrection.
V. The Death of Christ:
A. ACCORDING TO ISLAM:
The Koran denies that Jesus died upon the cross:
"and have said, verily we have slain Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of God; yet they slew him not, neither crucified him, but he was represented by one in his likeness, and verily they who disagree concerning him were in a doubt as to this matter, and had no sure knowledge thereof, but followed only an uncertain opinion. They did not really kill him" (Koran. pp. 78-79. Translated into English by George Sale. 1864) How does one harmonize with the above, the following words from the lips of Jesus? (Matthew 16:21; Luke 24:46). And what is left of Christianity, if you remove a crucified Jesus from it? (1 Corinthians 1:23; 15:3-4)
'Sin for the Hindu, is not the personal moral guilt it is for the Christian and the Jew. It is a sin (in Hinduism) to call a man a sinner'. (The World's Religions. Edited by Sir Norman Anderson pp. 144-145) Did Jesus then sin? For He called people 'sinners'. (Matthew 9:13; John 8:24,34). Both Hinduism and Buddhism, contain no need for a Saviour, both are basically a "keep trying until you get it right" salvation system. In both of these faiths man truly saves himself; neither faith contains a need for a Saviour. How does this square with John 3:16?
VII. Jesus being the Son of God:
'The deity, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are affirmed by Christianity, this is what Christianity is ultimately based upon (Matthew 16:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 17-18). This is the heart and soul of the gospel message, and preaching any 'other gospel' brings upon one the curse of God (Galatians 1:6-9). Islam denies each of these very crucial points, the very foundation upon which Christianity rests. Obviously, one of these views must be wrong, Islam and Christianity cannot both be true. The Koran makes the following statements:
'They are infidels, who say, Verily God is Christ the son of Mary' (p. 84)
'Christ, the son of Mary is no more than an apostle' (p. 92)
'Christians say, Christ is the Son of God. This is their saying in their mouths, they imitate the saying of those who were unbelievers in former times. May God resist them' (p. 152) (John 1:1; 5:18-23; 10:33; Hebrews 1:8)
'Of the great religious leaders of the world, Christ alone claims deity. It really doesn't matter what one thinks of Muhammad, Buddha or Confucius as individuals. Their followers emphasize their teachings. Not so with Christ. He made Himself the focal point of his teaching'. (Matthew 16:15; John 8:24; 6:29; Matthew 10:32 'Confess what'? (Romans 10:9).
VIII. Judaism and Jesus:
The Jewish concept of God is closest of all to the Christian. Some might say, 'Isn't the God they worship the God of the Old Testament, which we accept? Surely we can get together on this!' But on a closer examination, we find that the Jews would not admit that their God was the Father of Jesus Christ. In fact, it was this very issue that precipitated such bitter controversy between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. (John 8:42) Jesus makes a very strong statement in the previous verse. Jesus plainly asserts that 'God being your Father', is DETERMINED by whether you accept Jesus or not. The truth is, you cannot accept the God of the O.T. without accepting Jesus as the Son of God. (Matthew 10:40). The O.T. spoke of Jesus (John 5:46; Deut. 18:15). In addition, there are too many 'evidences' that link Jesus with Jehovah. (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 7:31)
The last verse presents a good question. If Jesus is not the Messiah, then what could a future Messiah accomplish that Jesus didn't? What was left undone?
The truth is, Jesus didn't give us a choice of many religious roads which all lead to God. Jesus presented only one road. (Matthew 7:13-14; John 8:24; John 14:6). The New Testament Church preached salvation in Jesus-period. (Acts 4:12)