"According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
"...a living hope..." and Jesus is alive! This is not a maybe, hope, but a real, live, living hope sent straight from God to us, His children. I want to hang on to that promise and thought as we continue to plod along learning about the comparisons between Buddhism and Christianity.
I was just doing some minor research of Baal and Asherah worship of the ancient civilizations back in the Old Testament, children of Israel's day about the time of King Solomon (1 Kings 11), Rehaboam, Jereboam (1 Kings 12), and Asa (2 Chronicles 14-15), and even of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18). Some of the internet commentary was that the places of worship Jereboam set up for the people of the northern kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) became more for Baal worship and that it was accepted because its practices mirrored so closely, apparently, to the worship of the one true God, Yahweh. The people had accepted it, but not all of them.
Remember the stand off Elijah had with the four hundred fifty priests of Baal and the four hundred priests of Asherah? Baal was seen as a fertility and rain god, but also adaptable to do other functions. Yet, it was Elijah's God who could withhold or send rain, and fire. The priests had cried and cried all day long, even cutting themselves, pleading for Baal to send the fire that would light the wood on the altar that had been soaked with water. All that to no avail. When Elijah called upon God, whom they knew as Yahweh, to send the fire...it happened. The fire even licked up the trench of water that surrounded the altar.
During King Asa's time, he returned to the true God who had made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and reaffirmed it before and after the people of Israel went into the Promised Land. King Asa tore down all those places of Baal worship and the Asherah poles that had sprung up with the previous kings. He even deposed his own grandmother and broke her Asherah pole into pieces. He meant business and wanted to seek God, the One true God. He found Him and God, the life-giver, responded.
As has been indicated previously, God has always wanted a relationship with the people of Earth whom He created. He is ever ready to respond to them. He did so for King Asa and the people of his time as they sought after Him, worshiping and honoring Him.
So when we come to this comparison, where so much seems similar between Buddhism and Christianity, we too need to make a clear choice and seek God to show us the truth that we, meaning, anyone in the whole wide world, can have, of the living hope of God.
According to Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda author of What Buddhists Believe, Buddhism and science are almost compatible yet, science falls short of what a human being's mental continuum needs to live a proper, good moral life in order to move along the "good" spectrum towards achieving Nirvana.
I fully agree that science does not have all the answers, but any religion that does not accept salvation through Jesus Christ, no matter how much good is within their respective beliefs and practices, also "falls short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
There are some good points Sri Dhammananda makes in regards to science. Words to the wise among scientists who's 'religion' is science.
On Page 343 of his book, Sri Dhammananda writes,
"Buddha alone...encouraged the spirit of investigation among his followers and...advised them not to accept even his own teachings with blind faith."
Because of this, the author says that,
"Buddhism can be called a modern religion."
From what one can deduce, though, modern times seem not to necessarily delve into other religions, rather they "tolerate" them. At least some of them, if they don't have to do with following Jesus. Outside of that, anything goes. You have your belief, I have mine and so we go on in tolerable harmony.
Or so it would seem. However, they may not even have that much initiative to conclude even that. Look at this quotation from one of my mother's acquaintances. Friend Neil Becker comments,
"The intellectual laziness in this country (USA, I assume) is truly an abomination."
Nevertheless, thinkers would not accept this for themselves; they'd probe, explore and scrutinize the issue. The apostle Paul commended the followers of Jesus Christ who met in Berea, calling them more "noble-minded" because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul had been teaching was truth (Acts 17:11).
Many Christians still do this searching and analyzing. Many don't; to their shame. Brothers and sisters-in-Christ, be as noble-minded as the Bereans.
According to Sri Dhammananda,
"Buddhism is a well-elaborated scheme of how to lead a practical life and a carefully thought-out system of self-culture [emphasis mine]...[also]...it is a scientific method of education...." (Page 343).
Sri Dhammananda explains that it is the religion that is,
"...best able, in any crisis to restore our peace of mind and to help us to face calmly whatever changes the future may have in store" (Page 343).
I'd like to present God's view-yes, I fully believe God is-which I read from the,
"...holy Scriptures which are able to make one wise unto salvation..."
and garner peace of mind to face whatever comes one's way (2 Timothy 3:15 KJV).
There are other verses in the Bible such as Jesus saying,
"Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 KJV).
and...
"Cast all your anxiety on Him for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
Another gem from Isaiah 26:3 NIV comforts,
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You."
These are words of comfort for sure. To obtain the benefit of what God offers, do as directed in those Bible verses. Those who do, can indeed find rest and peace for their minds despite any tragedy or kerfuffle of life.
Take my Mother for instance. About a year ago she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and given 1-4 months to live; emphasis on the one month.
She did not shatter to pieces. She was rejoicing in the Lord that she would go to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One year and almost two months on (yes, totally amazing we still have her with us), she is still looking forward to that. It really does look imminent now. She rests in peace of mind now before she even leaves this world.
She has salvation through Jesus Christ: forgiveness of sins (all her wrong deeds and unwholesome thoughts accounted and atoned for by Jesus); and everlasting life wrapping up the salvation package.
On top of all that, her husband, who, at the time of her diagnosis, was still living and who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, didn't remember much of anything and sometimes was confused as to who exactly, was his wife. Yet Mom knew Dad was in the good hands of my sister and God. Every step of the way, God knew. He had given my sister, and a group of other caring folks to be major help. Mom trusted God for Dad's well-being should she depart this earthly home before he did.
Revisit Isaiah 26:3 NIV...
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You."
See that? When one's mind is fixed with trust on Jesus, we are told we have what kind of peace? Perfect peace.
My Mother has been calmly facing what's left of her earthly tenure as she fixes her mind, and heart on her Savior and His Words. She knows her salvation is sure. She knows she is safe. Therefore, she is also happy; her mind at peace.
"Perfect peace and at such a time" (Ezra 7:12 KJV).
So Mom goes on with her living, breathing peace in her trusting relationship with God her Heavenly Father. What a wonderful living hope, she has!
Could science or any other religion give a person such peace? Investigate.
~ERC October 2018~
Very well written.. Very uplifting. Thks
ReplyDeleteThanks. Glad you were touched by it. Praise the Lord who gave us this living hope!
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