The Same?
January 26, 2007
"The Same?"
For by grace you have been saved through faith - and this is not your own doing;
it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
The other day I handed out my business card. I was at the airport and sitting
behind me I overheard two college students talking about religion. The common
consensus was that all religions, with some very minor differences, are
basically the same. With some degree of fervor, they agreed that every religion
had the same deity and all believers were going to end up in the same place.
Finally, when I could stand it no more, I interrupted. "Excuse me, my name is
Ken Klaus, I am a Lutheran pastor. I apologize, but I couldn't help overhearing
your opinions about religion. You have a fascinating position on things, but I
don't think you've got the whole story. There isn't a Christian, Muslim, Hindu,
or Buddhist who would agree with you. Each of us knows there are major
differences in what we believe."
I continued, "Personally, I believe Christianity is unique because of a Savior
who has substituted Himself so I can be saved. I realize that other religions
believe they are distinctive, but Christianity really is one-of-a-kind."
Then, because the plane was boarding, I had to end with, "If you'd like to talk
about those differences and why Jesus is special, here is my card. I'd love to
visit with you at length." They took the card, and who knows, maybe the Holy
Spirit will have them call me.
I pray they will, because they need to know that all religions are definitely
not the same. Let me give a short example. Last week, many of the citizens of
Sydney, Australia became upset with a Muslim cleric who urged children to be
martyrs for Islam. According to Sydney's Daily Telegraph, the leader said, "Put
in their soft, tender hearts the zeal of jihad and a love of martyrdom." I don't
know any Christian pastor, no matter what denomination he represents, who would
make a similar statement.
Nor do I know any Christian who would agree with the Ramadan message of the Imam
of Australia's biggest mosque who said, "Unveiled women were like uncovered
meat."
Are there differences in religion? Yes. For example, while Islam and all other
religions say its adherents must work their way up to god; only Christianity
says God has come down to us. While all other religions says each of us must pay
for our sins, Christianity stands alone in preaching that Jesus has, with His
life, suffering, death, and resurrection, paid the price for our forgiveness.
While Islam and all other religions say heaven must be earned, Christianity says
eternal life is a gift, which comes from a gracious God.
I could go on and on and on another day, and I probably will. But for now,
please join me in prayer.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord and Savior, Jesus, I give thanks that it is through Your
suffering and death, and not through anything that I can do, that heaven has
been given to me. Today I ask that You will call to faith those who through
ignorance or unbelief deny the sacrifice that You have made. In Your Name. Amen.