What's the Difference?

What is the difference between Jesus Christ and Buddha, or Mohammed, or Hari Krishna, or any of the other world religious leaders?  Until we enter into communion with Jesus, as He promised we would, we might tend to think that there is not really much difference -- that it depends on culture or upbringing.

But there is a world of difference between being a follower, or disciple, of any other "way" but that of Jesus Christ.  There is a universe of difference between my being a good disciple and disciplining myself to follow a teaching, and the Spirit of the Lord entering into me to teach and disciple me from within.  I, personally, never had much discipline to speak of.  My own energy tends to wind down and dissipate very soon.  I could never keep up much of anything on my own steam.  I am very good at starting things -- and then abandoning them as soon as the initial energy wears off.

But with Jesus Christ, I find that He is all my energy, all my 'discipline,' all my teaching and leading, from "glory to glory," as the Scripture says.   I can open the Psalms at almost any point and say, "Yes, that is exactly what God has done for me -- not what I have done, but what He has done!"

The Lord upholds all those who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

 

The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy (Ps. 145:14-20).

 

In all of the ancient Eastern creation myths, the gods created mankind as servants to the gods, but in all of the Hebrew Scriptures, God is seen as serving mankind with His overweening love and compassion.  We serve Him by receiving His goodness to us and passing it on to others like ourselves.  I challenge anyone to find this dynamic in any of the other world religions.  No one else offers "communion with God" or rescue from one's enemies (depression/oppression/evil), or renewal of spirit and strength, delivery from death, healing of illness, raising up the poor from the dust, forgiveness of sins, redemption from evil, crowning with love and compassion, etc.  Jesus Christ had to come in the flesh to show us the Face of God; otherwise, we would have been too afraid to believe that God is really like this.

 

Buddhism offers all of this to those who are disciplined enough to enter into a state of nirvana, shutting off one's own senses to the world around them.  But the disciple of Christ must keep his eyes open and his feet firmly on the ground.  The Spirit of the Lord will fight our battles for us (Ephesians 6) from within.  That is not to say that the Christian does not live a godly life --- but it is in response to what God has first 'lavished on us while we were yet sinners' (Eph.1).  We do not "be good" first and then get the reward of God's mercy and compassion; first he loves us and gives us 'every heavenly blessing" --- and then we "walk in the newness of the life we have been given"  --after we have been made "alive in Christ."

 

I think the Book of Ephesians, taken as an overall pattern, is the best explanation of the difference between Christianity and other world religions.  First, the love of God is poured out on us, then the Spirit of the Lord begins to teach us how to walk as children of the light, and finally, we can "stand," knowing that when we can do nothing else for ourselves, we are protected.  Everything is done for us, not by us. 

 

Knowing this, how could I even think that another way of life is comparable?  Someone once ridiculed the idea of Christians thinking that God was 'our best friend.'  If He is not our best friend, our closest companion, "closer than a brother," as the Scripture tells us, then what is the point?  Would anyone want communion with a god who is not closer than the best the world's relationships have to offer?  Does anyone want to 'walk with God' if he cannot be trusted to be constantly at our side?  Marriage is supposed to be an image of the relationship that God wants with us, though it is often a poor likeness.

 

Can any world religion, philosophy, or way of life offer anything like what Jesus offers us:  I am with you always, even to the consummation of the world....I will send you the Spirit, the Advocate, and he will lead you into all truth....All that the Father has is mine...He will take what is mine and give it to you. 

 

I am not saying here that other religions are not 'true.'  Anyone who sincerely approaches God through one of these other avenues is coming close to him, and the Scripture says that if we draw close to God, He will draw close to us.  And anyone who searches for the truth will find God.  But we are made to know God, not just to know about God, in the same way that we are made for companionship and communion with others, not just to know about others.  And what Jesus offers us is direct knowledge of and communion with His Father: They will all be taught by God (Jn.6:45).  Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, who you have sent (Jn. 17:3).

 

Once we enter into communion with the Father through the relationship given to us by Jesus, other religions pale in comparison.  Their followers are good and wonderful people and are to be greatly respected and loved, but what another religion offers is but water when we have been given the best wine to drink.