Hinduism, part 1
In this series of articles we will be looking at
Hinduism and comparing it to Christianity. I will not be comparing
Christians and Hindus or individuals of each religion.
Hinduism is a very old religion, about 3000
years old. No one knows when it started and who started it. It is not
evangelical in its nature and focuses on the inward man. Hinduism has several
religious books. It is not an organized religion in the western sense. It has
no hierarchy of priests or an organizational structure. There are no
standard set of sacraments or rites of initiation practiced by all who confess
to be Hindu.
Hinduism is interested and welcomes ideas from
other religions and philosophies. The Red Vera states "Let noble thoughts come
to us from all directions". It also believes in a supreme being and that other
belief systems are as valid as it's own. "The whole world is its family."
We can note several differences between Hinduism
and Christianity here.
James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father
is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself
unspotted from the world." God has a religion. James describes what it is
in its "Pure and undefiled" state. Anything man would add to it would
contaminate it. Christianity is a closed revelation where Hinduism is not. God
is the authority on His religion. How does Hinduism decide what is noble?
This is a big problem when it comes to the wisdom of man.
Christianity is evangelical in its nature. What
we have as Christians is so magnificent that it needs to be shared with all.
Salvation is a gift from God and He has entrusted us with His message to give
to all of mankind. Heaven is the goal.
In Christianity there can be unity through our
Lord Jesus Christ. John 14:6 is very clear on this. Jesus said to him, "I am
the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me." If there was more than one way to God then the sacrifice of Jesus and His
shed blood is useless. Because of the resurrection of Jesus John 14:6 is
true and absolute. It may sound hard but the religion of Jesus is the only
valid religion.
The information in this article has to be used
in a loving manner. Our fellow man who believe that there are other ways to God
need to know the truth because we want them to share in the same grace we stand
in.
From the road and in Christ,
wally
