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Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion

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Lanny Carlson 12/04/2013 01:31
Syncretism is the fusing together of differing points of view, usually ignoring real differences. The Dalai Lama rejects such attempts, suggesting that to call oneself a "Buddhist-Christian," for example, is like "putting a yak's head on a sheep's body." But that doesn't mean we can't recognize similarities and learn from one another. One of my favorite writers is Thich Nhat Hanh, who makes clear that his intention isn't to convert Christians to Buddhism but to them to better Christians. And I know he has done that for me.

As for being "born again," or make accurately to be "born from above" means to me to be reconnected to the Spirit which Genesis describes as being breathed into us and which is within each of us as it was in Christ but from which we have allowed ourselves to become in a sense separated, becoming re-animated if you will by the Spirit which controlled the life of Jesus and is meant to rule our lives as well, to be re-born as the children of God we were created to be.(it's late and I may be rambling, but you asked, and I'm trying to answer the best I can.)

And I believe that was the mission of Jesus - to demonstrate God's love and to call us to recognize and respond to that love in a life like his, taking up our own cross and following him in a life of sacrificial love. Or put another way, Jesus came to walk with me as my Brother that together we might know and share the love of the Father.
Catholica 12/05/2013 09:43
I think the key problem for Gandhi is that he implicitly or explicitly (I'm not aware of all the details of Gandhi's life) rejected Jesus. I believe that this demonstrated that, while Gandhi may have done many naturally good things (which I believe are made possible by Jesus who redeemed the human race) he did not have supernatural faith nor sanctifying grace.

It shouldn't be a scandal to anyone that people do good deeds for their neighbors. There are many atheists who send money or even help out personally when a disaster happens. They sometimes donate to charities who do very good things for people. And while doing these things are rightly considered _good_, they are not meritorious acts in the eyes of God. It doesn't matter how well a person treats his neighbor, nor even if he gives his life for someone that he loves. It is not supernatural faith.

A supernatural faith believes in the one true God. A supernatural faith forgives one's enemies. A supernatural faith believes things that have been revealed even when they cannot be proven. A supernatural faith can (at times) cause a man to lay down his life rather than deny his God.

A natural faith trusts that natural laws will hold. A natural faith believes that something that another person said will work will work (like the faith to board an airplane which flight depends on software-driven electronics). A natural faith can even recognize the existence of God by God's attributes of power evident all around them.

Without supernatural faith (which is the kind the Bible speaks of when it uses the term) it is impossible to please God. This supernatural faith is a gift from God. And supernatural faith is over and above natural faith, and a person with supernatural faith will also do the sort of things a person with natural faith will do, but there is something more to it than we can recognize from a human point of view. I can't judge Gandhi, that is against my beliefs. Yet it seems that, having knowledge of Jesus and having read the Bible (apparently) and even possibly having people witness to him, he would have a hard time standing at the judgement, which is judged by Jesus, and having to live up to his rejection of Jesus. If he had never heard of Jesus, in my belief, it would eliminate or reduce this culpability greatly, but really I'm not sure if Gandhi would have an excuse, and that is really a critical problem. But only God knows how that judgement went.
rhysy 12/06/2013 00:50
Catholica, I'm pretty much the same page as you.

I think the best definition of 'born again' is found in Ephesians 2:1-10. We are born spiritually seperated from God and therefore dead. But by God's grace, God' people have salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God gives his people faith and are regenerated to love and enjoy him.

As God's people are regenerated, we love him more and more. They put their idols to death and worship God.

There is no doubt people who have not been born again can do 'good' things, but what is good? I believe, simply put, good is to love and live for God. No one is good because we live for ourselves, but by God's Spirit, we can live for him.
rhysy 12/06/2013 00:52
Sorry - one more thing.

What seems good in our eyes may not be good in God's as he sees our heart and motives. As Catholica said, though, only God can judge that.
rhysy 12/08/2013 20:30
It is funny how God works. I have never really explored ‘syncretism’, but over the last two weeks, friends, family, my boss and DAB have been discussing this. God is at work!!

I have been praying through and studying Acts. I highly recommend John Stott’s commentary on Acts. It has been very insightful and helpful.

As I was reading, I felt compelled by the interaction between Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10-11:18). It is amazing how Cornelius, who I believe was not born again prior to this interaction, was labelled a God fearing man, who did many generous acts, i.e. a good religious man. But, through the work of the Spirit, Cornelius became compelled to hear the gospel.

After Peter’s comprehensive presentation of the gospel (more about this in a tick), Luke accounts how those who heard were given the Spirit, and what I believe, were born again.

How this relates to our discussion so far. Lanny spoke about Gandhi. He did many amazing things for his people and brought about great change. Luke, in Acts, says similar things about Cornelius. They both did many good deeds, but they were not born again (obviously, I pray Gandhi repented before death). Although Cornelius did many good deeds and was a God fearing man, he still needed faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, please note how Peter states the gospel entails Jesus life, death, which was planned beforehand by God, i.e. “hung on the tree” Acts 10:39; Deuteronomy 21:23, and resurrection. Without these, one is not preaching the gospel of Jesus, but rather a false gospel.

Finally, if one follows or worships someone other than Jesus, outside of this gospel is not following Jesus. They are outside of Christianity. Thus, the Christianity Today article tends towards syncretism and false teaching.
Lanny Carlson 12/08/2013 20:31
I'm sorry it took me so long to respond.
Andre, I have to say that Gandhi did NOT "reject Jesus."
As is clear from his own writings, he had a deeper and more profound appreciation and understanding of Jesus than many who claim his name.
http://practicalspirituallife.com/jesus-means-mahatma-gandhi/
The great evangelist and missionary E. Stanley Jones was a personal friend of Gandhi,
and wrote an excellent biography of Gandhi.
And evangelical writer Philip Yancey has a whole chapter devoted to Gandhi in his book, "Sopul Survivor."
I also was struck by your words, Andre:
"A supernatural faith forgives one's enemies. A supernatural faith believes things that have been revealed even when they cannot be proven. A supernatural faith can (at times) cause a man to lay down his life rather than deny his God." That's a pretty good description of Gandhi, the values he believed in (drawn in large part from the Sermon on the Mount) and the life he lived, a life that deeply inspired Martin Luther King. It's the same kind of life I see reflected in Thich Nhat Hanh (who Martin Luther King nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize).
Gandhi had no problem with Jesus; his problem was with the lives of many who called themselves Christians but whose lives were so out of keeping with the life of Jesus (THAT was the "witness" he experienced as a young lawyer in South Africa!).
At any rate, I can't agree that the lives of these men - and many others - were not pleasing to God, and are used of God to call us all to more faithfully follow the life and teachings of the one we call Master. I do, agree, though that we are not in the judging business, and appreciate the fact that on this we all seem to agree.
Lanny Carlson 12/08/2013 20:32
correction of typo -
"Soul Survivor"
Lanny Carlson 12/08/2013 20:53
rhysy -
I find it interesting that you posted your comments exactly one minute before I posted mine!
I doubt that we will ever completely agree, but I felt compelled to respond to your last remarks.
When Jesus began his ministry, he said, "Repent and believe the good news."
There was an immediacy to that message, not a promise that someday they could be forgiven, after he died and rose again.
To the woman caught in adultery, he offered forgiveness and told her to go and sin no more - as though that was truly possible.
The Gospel Jesus proclaimed was the good news of God's love and God's forgiveness then and there, here and now, the good news that through God's love and forgiveness we could experience a new life, that kingdom of God is within us and among us. Though people may not have understood it, his words were true, even before the cross and resurrection. The Cross and Resurrection were an exclamation point, God's "yes!" to the life and teachings of Jesus.
Unfortunately, the life and teachings are the part of the Gospel we often overlook. Even the Apostle's Creed says he was born and suffered under Pontius Pilate - and incredibly says not a word about what he said and did between his birth and death! But I believe that apart from his life and teaching, his death means nothing. It was Jesus who died and it was Jesus who rose and it was Jesus who called his disciples, and us, to follow him, to go and do likewise. That's the Gospel I accept and which I have always proclaimed.
PastorJoe 12/17/2013 22:49
In some Muslim dominated countries such as malyasia Christians worship God the Father as Allah but apart from the Allah of Islam. Muslims recognize that and usually do not accept it but identify it as blasphemy. Since Jesus is a prophet in the Q'ran they do not have an issue with Jesus until the teaching that He is the son of God and that he died for them on a cross. Devoted Muslims do not accept that. - So many secretly find him as Lord when they in some way see that he loves them and follow secretly, however as they grow in Christ and become bolder then the cat comes out of the bag at some point. So at some point the teachings of the false religion comes into conflict with the desires of the Spirit and the Gospel and inside followers no longer are secret. You can see this withe rise of persecution. Check out persecution.com (Voice of the Martyrs) or Raymond Ibrahim
John T 12/25/2013 21:54
Hi Lanny, Just a few cents regarding your post "Jesus never said,"Worship me," he said "Follow me." People of other faith traditions aren't going to worship Jesus, but they can certainly follow him." The Bible states that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. If they don't worship him, they will be judged accordingly. Jesus is the only way. I think the answer to the original question is pretty simple. The enemy works to make us think that his ways can be "good" but he is the father of lies. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, an no one comes to the Father but through him.
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