January 29, 2006

Christianity and World Religions

Jesus vs. Hinduism

Ephesians 2:1-10

Opening Words: There are six billion people in the world. Two billion people or about one-third are Christian. In other words, two-thirds of the world’s population is not Christian. They do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What is your response to other world religions? That questions runs through the very heart of this sermon series.

This is sermon number two in a six part sermon series I have called Christianity and World Religions. When this series is complete we will have looked at the five major world religions in the world today, including Christianity. What we are really doing is looking at some basic Christian theology. Our core beliefs are far different from any of the other world religions. Hinduism illustrates that fact perfectly. I have called this message Jesus vs. Hinduism. This is my question for you today why are you not a Hindu?

Introduction

Can you answer the question why are you not a Hindu? Could you answer that question without revealing to the world one of your prejudices? Can you answer that question without mentioning your heritage? Could you give me a theological reason why you are not a Hindu? Let me give you one theological reason why you are not a Hindu. There are many differences between Christianity and Hinduism but one of the major differences between Christianity and Hinduism is that powerful little word grace. Hindus do not believe in grace.

When former vice president Hubert Humphrey died, hundreds of people from around the country went to Washington DC to attend his funeral. One of those individuals was Richard Nixon. The cloud of the Watergate scandal surrounded him and no one wanted to associate with him. He was ostracized by nearly everyone. Former president Nixon took a seat in the back row for the funeral service. He would have stayed in the back row if it wasn’t for president in office at the time, Jimmy Carter. When Carter saw Nixon sitting in the back row he responded by welcoming Nixon. Carter looked at Nixon and said, “Welcome home, Mr. President. Why don’t you sit with me in the front row!” I love that story because it is a story of grace.

I love that story because I can relate to that story. We are back row people. We, like Richard M. Nixon, have done some questionable things in the past. However, you get to sit in the front row right next to Jesus because Jesus wants to be with you! Let me say it clearly: We are saved by grace and by grace alone. Jesus died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice. His blood washed us white as snow. He died so we could sit in the front row. He didn’t have to do it but he did it because of his great love for you and for me. We are saved by grace and by grace alone! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” As disciples of Jesus Christ we believe in grace! The world religion of Hinduism, nine hundred million people strong, does not believe in grace.

Body

In the Monday, January 23rd, edition of The Vindicator it was reported that the local congregation of Hindus is planning a half million dollar building program to their facility on Sodium-Hutchings Road. Who are these people and what do they believe? Influenced by the Aryans, Hinduism began in India thousand of years ago. Their belief system is deep and complex but let me give you just four core Hindu beliefs today.

One, by some accounts, Hindus believe more than 330 million gods and goddesses exist. When they speak of a singular god, or Brahman, they are speaking of the collective of that massive body of divinity. We believe in one true God with three personalities, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Two, Hindus regard a number of books from a wide variety of time periods as sacred texts. There are far more sacred texts in Hinduism than there are in Christianity. We believe in one sacred book, The Bible. We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. As John Wesley said it best, “The Bible is sufficient for the salvation of your soul.”

Three, Hindus believe that the human soul is really part of God. It hungers to be reunited with God. That God within us is called Atman. It is because of this divine presence that we cannot be marred by sin. People are simply ignorant of the divine truth. We believe we are born with an imperfection on our very soul called original sin. We are unable to save ourselves. Jesus came to save us, the lost!

Four, Hindus believe in reincarnation. They believe everyone gets another chance at life. They believe that through the death-reincarnation cycle knowledge is obtained. You begin in the lowest caste of society, the untouchables, and move up the chain toward enlightenment or unity with God. This may take many lifetimes. We believe we live and die once. We die and never return to this world. If Jesus is our Lord and Savior, then we go to heaven. It all begins and ends with Jesus. We can say that boldly to the world because we are saved by grace and by grace alone! That is what the scripture lesson says today.

The scripture lesson today is not part of Hindu sacred scripture. It is basic Christian theology 101. There is no mention of reincarnation. There is no mention of Brahman, a collective of 330 million god and goddesses. There is no mention of an Atman, that divine spark in every soul. At the very heart of this scripture lesson today is Jesus! This scripture lesson today tells us we are saved by grace and by grace alone. Grace is a good thing because if there was no grace then we would have no hope of salvation. Look at the scripture with me.

At first, things look bad. Verse one says we are dead in sin. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. Anytime you are separated from God, you are spiritually dead. How many people do you know who are separated from God? Perhaps, you are separated from God? Anyone who is separated from God is spiritually dead! Only Jesus is that perfect bridge between you and God. That is verse one.

Verse two says we are not just dead in sin but we were dominated by sin, you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. According to Paul there is not one single part of your life that is not dominated by Satin, himself. If you haven’t noticed it, let me state the obvious. Sin is alive and well in our world. That is enough of the bad news.

Here is the good news. We are not just dead in sin. We are not just dominated by sin. We are also delivered from sin. Verse four says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace then you have been saved!” In other words, in spite of all our shortcomings we get to sit in the front row! And that divine truth makes all the difference! We are saved by grace and by grace alone!

Conclusion

In the Monday, January 23rd, edition of The Vindicator there was an obituary for Matthew P. Klink. His obituary jumped out at me because he was only twenty-three years old. It is always shocking to see an obituary of one so young. The article told us Matthew worked construction and he enjoyed all kinds of sports, especially playing golf. I wondered if he was a Steeler fan. He had his whole life in front of him. I was told later he was killed in a high speed traffic accident. I hope you keep his family in your prayers. I also prayed for the family’s pastor. Whenever I read one of those tragic obituaries I think of the pastor of that grieving family. I wonder what I would say. It is at that moment I am so glad I am a Christian and not a Hindu.

If I were a Hindu I would have to tell that mourning mother and father that Matthew was truly gone. There is no hope for a future reunion. Mathew would simply be reincarnated for another chance at life. His soul would simply be reassigned to someone. Their son’s soul could be in anyone. There will be no hope of ever seeing him again, the separation is final. Let me ask you a simple question. What comfort is there in that theology? I am glad that I am not a Hindu, especially when death enters my personal space.

I am thankful that I am a Christian, especially when death enters my personal space. As Christian we can say with all confidence that we will see that person again. It is just a momentary separation. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. When my heart stops beating I am not going to have to give life another try. Life is hard and I don’t want to come back! When my heart stops beating I am going to heaven and stand before the ultimate judge. However, I don’t have to worry and you don’t have to worry, as long as Jesus is your Lord and Savior. The one and only Son of God has invited me to sit in the front row. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”