By Dennis Gulledge
The religious world of today is vastly different from the one in which I grew
up. In 1958 The Yearbook of American Churches reported that a record 62% of
all people in the United States were members of a church. Certain polls taken
at the time revealed that 95% of Americans considered themselves Catholic, Protestant
or Jew. A tract written years ago by brother Batsell Barrett Baxter was entitled
Neither Catholic, Nor Protestant, Nor Jew. It affirmed the value of simple New
Testament Christianity. It argued that a person need be neither Catholic, nor
Protestant, nor Jew in order to be pleasing to God. If brother Baxter were still
living and were to write that tract today, he might title it, Neither Catholic,
Nor Protestant, Nor Jew, Nor...
Today, our religious world has changed dramatically. There are thousands of
religious cults and world religions dotting the landscape. The proliferation
of new religions with at least some semblance to Christianity has never been
greater than it is today. In our pluralistic society it is not unusual to find
that standard religious fare has given way to seemingly countless new religions
and spiritual fringe groups. Old-time cults like Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter-day
Saints (Mormons), Christian Science and Seventh-Day Adventism maintain their
grip on American society, and are growing around the world. A dear sister came
to me recently being disturbed that a relative was involved with Branhamism.1
You may go to yoga classes for relaxation purposes and find yourself in the
middle of a religion. New Age gurus, Apocalyptic cults, Jesus cults, Eastern
mystical imports and psychospiritual self-help cell groups have become increasingly
popular with the dawning of the twenty-first century. Along with these new religions
comes a new vocabulary and New World view to a public less than discerning.
In growing numbers of hotels the Gideon's Bible now keeps company with other
"sacred" volumes like, Book of Mormon, Teachings of Buddha, Science
and Health With Key To The Scriptures (Christian Science), and The Way to Happiness
(Church of Scientology).
The reaction to this state of religious discord is predictable. Some will question
the validity of any and all religion-consigning religion itself to the junk
heap. This conclusion is hardly justified.Others will go to the opposite extreme
and affirm that all religions are right (at least in part). Many women's magazines
today will tout the virtues of religion-whatever your choice! Still others will
choose whatever seems good to them out of all the religious systems with which
they are familiar.
The question for us is how do we argue the case for New Testament Christianity
vs. world religions? One answer is to show the genuineness of Christianity in
contrast to false human systems. The Bible is clear in teaching that there is
only "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5). That "one faith" has been
"once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). Also, we must be able to
show the superiority of Jesus Christ over any other religious rival. When the
inspired author of the book of Hebrews wanted to show the superiority of Christianity
over Judaism he made a series of contrasts:
Jesus Christ is superior to angels through whom the Law of Moses was given (Hebrews
1:5-2:18).
Jesus Christ is greater than Moses and Joshua (Hebrews 5-7).
Jesus' priesthood is greater than that of the Old Testament economy (Hebrews
5-7)
Another approach is to present Christianity as being proven true on the basis
of its historical claims. Peter wrote, "But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).
Did Jesus Christ really live? Anyone who wishes to examine the evidence cannot
deny the historical reality of Jesus. Philosophies of the East have little concern
for historical verification of their own belief systems. One can be a Buddhist
in good standing and deny that Buddha ever existed. Hinduism has no known founder,
prophet, priest, king or doctrine. Yet, as Wayne Jackson has correctly stated,
"The success of the religion o Jesus Christ can only be accounted for on
the basis of the divine origin of the movement, and that supernatural origin
is demonstrated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.2 We, as Christians,
will have to be prepared to defend the existence of New Testament Christianity.
To do so we will need a good understanding of apologetics.
CHRISTIANITY TEACHES A PERSONAL GODE
The God of heaven is an eternal, living Spirit (John 4:24). He is Creator
[through Christ] and Sustainer of our universe (Acts 17:24; Colossians 1:16-17).
In terms of character God is loving, merciful and just. He will punish sin (Romans
1:18), and reward the redeemed (2 Peter 3:9).
As Christians we have a personal relationship with God. We pray to him as "our
Father" (Matthew 6:9). We are exalted as his children (Galatians 3:26-27).
As such, we are his special people (1 Peter 2:9). We have this special relationship
through Jesus Christ his Son and our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).
There is nothing personal or personable about the gods of eastern mysticism.
Buddhists make much of the fact that they claim to follow "one God (Deuteronomy
6:4). They deny the idea of God in three persons as clearly taught in the New
Testament (Acts 5:3-4, 9), because it connects the human Jesus with God. The
Koran states, "So believe in Allah and His apostles and do not say, Three.
Forbear and it shall be better for you. Allah is but one God" (Sura 4:171).
Buddhism denies the existence of a personal God, period. Hinduism believes in
one real being called Brahma (non-personal god above all others). It is also
polytheistic, allowing for many lesser deities.
CHRISTIANITY HOLDS TO AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD OF TRUTH
According to the New Testament truth is objective [it originates outside of
man]. Truth is in God's Word (John 17:17). Truth is in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy
2:7). As an objective standard, truth can be known (John 8:32), it can be believed
(2 Thessalonians 2:12), and it can be obeyed (Romans 2:8). The gospel message
regarding Jesus Christ is "the word of truth" (2 Corinthians 6:7).
To the Christian truth is logical, systematic and consistent. "God is not
the author of confusion" (1 Corinthians 14:33). The Bible constitutes our
all-sufficient and infallible guide in all matters of faith and practice in
religion (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The cults disallow any objective standard of truth. To the Eastern mind truth
is subjective, that is, it comes form within one's self by means of meditation,
intuition or enlightenment. Transcendentalism, for example, teaches that truth
is perceived through intuition and that all authority-based religion is to be
rejected. To the Eastern mystic truth is neither logical nor consistent