Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon
Among all religions, which one doesn´t practice proselytism? They all do it even though some of their adepts sometimes deny the obvious undeniable facts.
Why are christians accused of believing and declaring that theirs is the only way to God?
Isn´t it narrow minded, exclusive and offensive to people of other religions or atheists?
The reality backed up by facts proves that all religions practice the recruitment of disciples.
Why would anyone believe someone who said: I really don´t believe in the uniqueness of my religion, but I invite you to join us and to see the truth in master´s teaching as a way to reach God.
And yet, that is what I have heard as an argument to accuse christianity of narrow-mindedness.
Islam is notorious for his forcing conversion throughout history, so was the Catholic church.
Swami Vivekananda attended the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in1893 as representative of Hinduism.
Self-Realization Fellowship guru Paramahansa Yogananda followed in 1933.
(I once was an adept of Hindu meditation called Kriya yoga and a disciple of Guru Paramahansa Yogananda before being rescued by the Lord Jesus Christ.)
Who doesn´t remember the Beattles and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who first introduced Transcendental Meditation in the US In 1959,
So what is the essential difference which makes Christianity stand apart from all others religions or ideologies not classified as religions, but in effect are?
It boils down to man´s acceptance of God´s of divine grace and rejection of man´s works as the way of reconciliation between sinful man and a holy God who is the one who makes the rules because he is Lord and King and creator of the universe. No other way has been provided by God´s providencial provision for the salvation of mankind.
Peter and John Before the Council
…11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13When
they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were
unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had
been with Jesus.…
All other religions are based on the principle of work to gain entrance into the presence of God after death. Even some Christian denominations add works to grace as a way to merit salvation.
These statements in no way disrespect other people´s religions or their customs and traditions. God has given each of us human being freedom to choose whom to worship and serve.
What kind of father would
punish this children without instructing them beforehand of what is
right and wrong and warning them of the consequences of their
actions?
The first example of that admonition happened with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
…16And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16,17.
Have you heard an argument such as this one: Can millions of Hindus be wrong? (Wikipedia) Hinduism has approximately 1.2 billion adherents worldwide (15-16% of the world's population).
Old Testaments Scriptures
Psalm 49:7-9: None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) 9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Psalm 50:23:
“He who offers a
sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who sets his
way properly
I will show the salvation of God.”
Isaiah 42: God wanted the Jews to bring in gentiles to know and worship Him.
6“I,
the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take
hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant
for the people and a light to the nations, 7to
open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and
those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. “
New Testament Scriptures
Acts 10. the story of Cornelius
Cornelius Sends for Peter
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about the ninth hour,a he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?”
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.b”
21So Peter went down to the menf and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
23So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Peter Visits Cornelius
24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. 26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together. 28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour.g Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
33So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
Good News for the Gentiles
34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. 36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, 40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— 41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
(Acts 19:1–7)
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. 45All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.
The Prophecy of Simeon Luke 2: 25-32
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.e And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,
28Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
29“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
My own testimony in allegorical form of my journey in the
spiritual desert. https://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2017/09/mp3-audio-file-update-to-joshua-tree.html
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