Tag: religion

Categories
Salvation

Exclusive vs. Inclusive – Aren’t All Religions the Same?

Many people get “put out” with the exclusive claims of Christianity.
They indicate that Christians ought to be more inclusive. They may hold to the personal idea that “No matter which religion I choose, as long as I’m sincere, each one will lead me to heaven.”
But is this true? The answer from the Bible is a resounding, “No.”

Chess pieces with one off to the side symbolizing the idea of one being exclusive and set apart from the others
Exclusivity – Does One Stand Alone?

Alistair Begg and Peter Cotterell point out:

Truth simply is not a matter of pride or humility. Truth is a matter of fact.

Islam says Jesus wasn’t crucified. We say he was. Only one of us can be right.
Judaism says Jesus was not the Messiah. We say he was. Only one of us can be right.
Hinduism says God has often been incarnate. We say only once. Only one of us can be right.
Buddhism says that the world’s miseries will end when we do what’s right. We say you can’t do what is right, the world’s miseries will end when we believe what is right.

The fact is, the world’s religions may agree about the peripheral matters, but they disagree precisely about the most important matters of all.

Any intelligent person could decide that all religions are wrong.
Any intelligent person could decide that one is right and the rest wrong.
But no intelligent person can seriously believe that all religions are essentially the same.

The simple logic that Begg & Cotterell use clearly points out that in each of the cases above, only one religious group can be right. These ideas are not compatible with one another. They are mutually exclusive. Upon the most cursory of investigations we find out that these different religions disagree with each other on major points. Therefore, all roads cannot lead to Heaven.

And so I encourage you to investigate the truth claims of Christianity. As you do so you will find that Christianity stands the test of scrutiny. As you test it, you may find what many others have… That God is drawing you to Himself.

Alistair Begg again:

You may be a Prodigal Son or Daughter who has been running away from God.
Now He is drawing you to Himself because of His love for you.
The Father is saying to you: “Come on, son; Come on, daughter.”
And then He starts to issue instructions:
Get him a robe for status;
Get him a ring for authority;
Get him sandals for his feet, for only slaves are barefoot, and all of God’s children have shoes.
And let’s go have a feast and a celebration!

I want you to receive that pair of shoes from the Father and for you to join the celebration with us! But that requires you to realize that the claims of Christianity are exclusive, but that they do lead down the only path of salvation.

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Categories
Christian Living

Follow Up Thoughts on Persecution from Albert Barnes

In my previous post, I asked the question – If I’m not persecuted can I be a “good” Christian? Today, I want to have a short follow-up on this idea of persecution.
two goats butting heads - symbolizing standing against persecution
Albert Barnes helpful definition of persecution indicated that it comes in many forms, including ridicule, insults, or even simple exclusion from a group due to your Christian beliefs or behavior. Not only did he provide a defintion of persecution, but he also provided some practical thoughts about the issue:

(1.) Christians should prepare to be persecuted. One of the proper qualifications for membership in the church should be our willingness to bear persecution and to resolve not to shrink from any duty in order to avoid persecution (which included ridicule, insults, or even simple exclusion).
 
(2.) They who are persecuted for their opinions should consider that this may be an evidence that they have the Spirit of Christ, and are his true friends. They should remember that, in this respect, they are treated as the Master was, and are in the good company of the prophets, apostles, and martyrs; for they were all persecuted.

However,
(3.) If we are persecuted, we should carefully inquire, before we avail ourselves of this consolation, whether we are persecuted because we “live godly in Christ Jesus,” or for some other reason.
      For example, a man may embrace some absurd opinion and call it religion; he may adopt some mode of dress that is unbelievably ludicrous, and may call it conscience; or he may be lacking in his manners, and rude in his demeanor with others, outraging all the laws of social life, and may call this “standing against the world.” For these types of behaviors, he may be condemned, ridiculed, and despised. But let him not believe that he is to be enrolled among the list of martyrs for this exclusion. The persecution which will properly furnish the evidence that we are the friends of Christ must only be that which is “for righteousness’ sake.”
 
(4.) Let those who have never been persecuted in any way inquire whether it is not an evidence that they have no religion. It is easy for a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he yields to others at every point in which his religion is opposed to the world. But he needs to consider that if he finds himself yielding at every single point, then he may not be entitled to the Christian name.

—Albert Barnes (from the mid-1800’s)

Are you standing strong for Christ where others would have you bend?

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Categories
Christian Living

A Step In The Right Direction

In Honduras, I met several young men who were wrestling with a commitment to Christianity. The want to take a step in the right direction, but haven’t yet taken that first step. I wonder if they ever have these internal thoughts:

“How do I fathom what life is all about? Here are all these great philosophers across the centuries with better minds than I have, and one religion says this and another religion says that. Maybe one religion is as good as another. Who knows?…How can a person like me be sure?”

To that question, Catherine Marshall writes:
“Somebody very wise anticipated your question. All thoughtful men ask the same question sooner or later. So He left us a way so that we can be sure. It’s as specific as a doctor‘s prescription or as an algebraic equation. Here, I’ll write it down for you.

“Miss Alice went over to a little desk in the corner, sat down, opened one of the desk’s cubbyholes, took out a piece of notepaper, and began to write.… she folded it, and handed it to me. “Whenever you receive a written prescription from your doctor,” she said, “the first step after that is yours. You move on this,” she indicated the folded paper she had given me, “and then God will move.close-up of a person's shoes as they are taking a step in the right direction I‘ll guarantee it. And as for religion being vague—well, it isn’t. It’s been the delight of my life to find God far more common-sense and practical than any human I know. The only time I ever find my dealings with God less than clear-cut is when I’m not being honest with Him. The fuzziness is always on my side, not His.”

The piece of paper lay warm in my hand. I wanted to look at it but Miss Alice had not quite finished; “More people than not think religion dull. Some religions are dull. But believe me, Christianity isn’t. It‘s the most fascinating, delightful thing I know. You‘re standing poised on the threshold of great adventure. Now, you’re dying to see what I wrote…. Go—and take that first step.”

Maybe some of those Honduran guys are having these same thoughts.
Maybe you are too.
Maybe you would love to know what was on that piece of paper.
You might find yourself disappointed… When Christy opened the paper, it read:

“If any man will do the Father’s will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

She then states – “I read the words over two, three times trying to comprehend. I felt let down. Why did the Bible always disappoint me this way? Other people seemed to get meaning out of it. Why couldn’t I? What had I expected? Some magic, obviously. Then I tried to recall her exact words. “Go and take the first step.”

To take that first step… that is the secret – a step in the right direction. Seek to do His will and to know Him. He tells us in His Word:
“You will seek Me & find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Have you taken the first step today to seek Him, or are you passively waiting for something to happen?

— brian rushing

(Quotes from the book “Christy” by Catherine Marshall)