Comparing Christianity

A Common Perception is That All Religions Teach Essentially The Same Thing and Worship the Same God

THE TRUTH:

Other Religions are just like Christianity "except" for their view on God, Scripture, Human Nature, Sin, Suffering, Salvation, Meaning, and Destiny.

In other words, the belief that all religions are essentially the same is naive, misinformed, and altogether inaccurate. Informed people know better.

Essentials

The Bible, Not We, Define What Essential Christianity (orthodoxy) Is

Evangelical Christian Belief

• Inspiration of the Holy Bible
• The Holy Trinity
• Deity of Christ
• Virgin Birth
• Literal, Physical Resurrection of Christ
• Substitutionary Atonement of Christ

The Inspiration of the Holy Bible
2 Tim 3:15-16

What Inspirations Means:

Supernatural influence by the Holy Spirit on the human authors of the Holy Bible resulted in an accurate rendering and record of what God told them to communicate, resulting in the "Written Word of God"

Why It Matters

Because if the Bible isn't inspired, it isn't infallible, nor is it inerrant, nor would it be authoritative. It would be a lie.

The Holy Trinity
John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9; Acts 5:3-5

What the Trinity Is:

The eternal existence of one and only one True God, the God of the Bible, who revealed Himself as a triune (3 persons in 1 deity) being, possessing all possible moral and amoral attributes

Why It Matters

As the only faith claiming God exists in Trinity, without it, the Biblical God isn't God, the Holy Spirit isn't God, nor in you, and Jesus isn't God, but an impostor... OR the Bible God is true.

Deity of Christ
Col 1:15; Col 2:9; Jn 8:58-59

Deity of Christ

Jesus of Nazareth was and is, literally, God in the Flesh (God Incarnate), a fully-human being endowed with the complete divine nature, God-Man; the fullness of the Godhead, bodily

Why It Matters

Without it, Jesus wasn't sent by God, wasn't God, didn't speak for God, wasn't a mediator, and cannot save anyone.

The Virgin Birth
Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-37

What the Virgin Birth Is

In fulfillment of 800 year-old prophecies, that the Savior of the World would be conceived without the aid of man, through the non-sexual, supernatural aid of the Holy Spirit, causing the Virgin to conceive

Why It Matters

Without it, prophecies were incorrect and prophets were false, Jesus wasn't virgin born, Jesus was only a man with a sin nature, and Christianity offers no savior and no hope

Literal, Physical Resurrection
1 Cor. 15:14; Luke 24:38-39

Literal Physical Resurrection

That, days after his fatal crucifixion, the Power of God healed and regenerated Jesus' dead physical corpse into an everlasting, glorified body to substantiate His claim of deity

Why It Matters

Without it, the Bible and Apostles are a fraud, Jesus has decomposed and remains dead, and we have no hope of eternal life or salvation

Substitutionary Atonement
2 Cor 5:19-21; 1 Pet 3:18

Substitutionary Atonement

Jesus' bloody death secures peace with God, resulting in salvation by grace through faith alone, to all who believe on Christ as their only hope for acceptance by God

Why It Matters

Without it, no substitute exists to help you have peace with God, no divine savior exists, and you will face God's holy judgment on your own merits without grace or mercy

Terms to Know

Orthodoxy:
The awareness and affirmation of the fundamental-minimal beliefs (essentials) of the Christian Faith.



This is not to be confused with “Orthodoxy” as in the “Orthodox Church.” Sometimes called the Byzantine or Eastern Church.

Orthodoxy/Minimal Convictions

• Inspiration of the Holy Bible
• The Holy Trinity
• Deity of Christ
• Virgin Birth
• Literal, Physical Resurrection of Christ
• Substitutionary Atonement of Christ

Apostasy
The repudiation of a fundamental belief (essential) by a person or church who previously claimed to be Christian, resulting in the person OR church no longer adhering to the minimum biblical convictions of Christian faith. Gal 1:6-10; 1 Jn 2:19, 2 Peter 2:1-22

Heresy
Not ignorance, but obstinate disbelief of or active teaching against a fundamental tenet of the faith by a professing Christian. Whereas an “apostate” has disavowed the faith, the heretic may yet remain in a church or still consider himself a Christian.
Jude 3-16

Sacrilege:
Words or actions that mistreat, injure, disrespect, or otherwise dishonor the things of God (any Christian thing sacred or devoted to God and His use-honor)

Comparing World Religions

Keep In Mind:
All Religions Aren't Essentially the Same Because We Differ on All Major Areas of Belief

Who Is God?

God is Brahman. A Pervasive, Divine Consciousness and Supreme Spirit.

Brahman is Expressed in Many Deities of Different Character, including Unusual and Deviant Sexual Behavior

There is no God, viz., Supreme Being. There is No Self, No One to Worship.

God is 'like' nothing because one doesn't exist. Believe in Yourself.

God is Allah. He is Eternal, One, and Not a Trinity.

He is Invisible, Non-Bodily, Good and Possesses All Moral Perfections.

God is Father, Word, and Spirit. A Trinity. Eternal. Supreme. Good.

He is Personal and Knowable Through Jesus Christ, God the Son.

What is Scripture?

Scripture are the Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Gita, Among Others

These tell people Hindu legends, how to live and practice Hinduism.

Scripture are the Sutras, Tripitaka (Pali Canon), and Tibetan Book of the Dead.

These teach how to take personal responsibility to escape suffering.

Scripture is the Quran/Koran said to come to Muhammad from Gabriel.

Quran teaches people to submit to God and reject Jesus as Son of God.

The Bible Reveals the Nature and Identity of the One True God.

The Bible Tells God's Story & How to Have a Relationship with Him Through Grace.

Who Is The Problem?

Bad Actions Cause Bad Karma and Endless Reincarnations

Desire Causes Suffering that Motivates Bad Actions, Bad Karma, and Reincarnations

People Refuse to Submit (be Muslim) and Must Come Under Submission to Allah and Sharia. All of Life is to Submit and See Others Submit.

Pride Caused Us to Freely Rebel Against a Loving God, Breaking That Harmonious Relationship, Resulting in Guilt. We Are Responsible for Our Sin and Are Required To Address The Situation In This Lifetime

What/Who Is The Solution?

We Must Be Continually Reborn Until We Finally Balance the Totality of Our Evil With Good Motives and Actions Through Our Own Actions

Like Hinduism, We Must Continually Be Reborn Until We Overcome Personal Evil by Balancing It With Good Motives and Actions

We must submit to God through the Five Pillars and help Allah bring others under His Subjection in the House of Islam

God Has Provided a Way to Sooth His Righteous Anger and Restore Our Relationship Through Receiving His Love Through Christ. We Should Accept God's Grace, Begin a Relationship with Him, and Help Others Find Peace with God As Well

Conclusions

The gods mentioned in Hinduism and Buddhism vary widely from the character of God of Christianity

The attributes of the Biblical God and Allah of Islam stated in both the Bible and Quran are Surprisingly Similar, But Muslims Reject Christ as the Son of God

Quran and Bible presents God as all-knowing, all-powerful, and good. Both recognize the existence of one God. Both portray God as self‑existent, the sovereign Creator of heaven and earth. Both exalt God as merciful, and that God will someday judge the world. Both teach the oneness of God-- but the Biblical God is a Trinity. Both affirm that God has sent prophets and has given sacred scriptures. Both unfold a paradox of divine transcendence and divine immanence.

In Islam, Allah reveals His "Will" but Not How to Have a Relationship With Him. This notion is Absent and that Reconfigures the Entire Faith to Something Foreign to the Bible and Christianity.

Jesus is revealed as God-Man and the Means to Relationship and Love with God, but Allah reveals no real emotions. He is distant and only to be feared and obeyed. He is hard to know, love, or experience.

Only in Christianity do we have a God who loves us First, loves us back, and provides then pays the way for us to be reconciled to Him and to enter into a love relationship with Him.

Q & A