Transcript Document 7130467

Comparitive Theology and World
View of Christianity and World
Religions
Key Theological Questions
What is the nature of God?
► What is the nature of creation/the physical universe?
► What is the nature of the relationship between man and
God?
► Where does Jesus fit into all this (Christology)
►
One Point of View:
“Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and
many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that
leads to life, and only a few find it.”
-Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew
7:13-14)
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.
Jesus of Nazareth (John 14:6)
Another Point of
View: Different
Paths to the Same
Goal?
God
Islam
Mysticism
Ba’hai
Buddhis
m
Jesus Christ: “I came to testify to the truth.”
Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?”
Outline
► Theology:
► World
ideas about God
View: What is man’s place in the world?
Definitions
►
Animism: Anima = spirit. A religious system which includes the
belief that spirits inhabit inanimate objects and phenomena.
►
Polytheism: Poly = many. A belief that the universe is
governed by many gods.
►
Pantheism (monism): Pan = all. A belief that a spirit fills the
universe. God is the universe, and we are part of God.
 Panentheism: God is in everything (stoicism)
►
Dualism: A belief that the universe is governed by nearly
equally matched forces of good and evil. (Zoroastrianism,
Manichaeism, Taoism)
Definitions (cont.)
►
Deism: A belief in a distant, uninvolved God who is creator,
but does not interact with his creation. (Epicureanism)
►
Monotheism: A belief that the universe is created/governed
by a single omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent spiritual
being.
►
Asceticism: A belief that enlightenment or a close relationship
with deity is obtained by an extreme denial of worldly
pleasures and possessions. Associated with monasteries,
monks, nuns, etc..
►
Mysticism: A belief which sees enlightenment and spiritual
power coming through meditation/direct personal experience
of God. Mystical experience may be gained through use of
drugs, drumming, dance, etc. A highly individualized form of
religion.
Are all religions simply “different paths to the same
goal?
►
There is some similarity between most or all religions.
►
All man-made religions contain truth.
►
But…. On the most basic level of theology, all other religions
(except Judaism?) are incommensurate with Christianity
►
If Hinduism is right, then Jesus Christ is a deceiver and an
enemy of truth.
The Bible and Other World Views
►
If Genesis 1:1 is true, then animism, polytheism, pantheism,
dualism, naturalism, deism, postmodernism and every other
ism is false.
►
Conflicting world views cannot be accommodated with one
another. Biblical theism is incompatible with all these other
world views.
B. Christianity: The Christian World View
►
One's world view is the
perspective one uses to process
and interpret information
received about the world.
►
James W. Sire put it this way, "A
world view is a set of
presuppositions (ie. assumptions)
which we hold about the basic
makeup of our world."
►
A Jain World
View
James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door
(InterVarsity Press, 1997)
A “Good” World View Defined
A. It is true.
It is consistent with reality.
It is consistent with what we know to be true from experience. It works.
B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really want
answered.
What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of God?)
What is the nature of external reality-the world around us?
What is a human being?
What happens to a person at death?
Why is it possible for us to know anything at all?
How do we know what is right and wrong?
What is the meaning of human history?
What is my purpose?
What is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime reality?"
C. It causes those who hold to it to be better people than they would
otherwise have been if they held to competing alternative world
views.
The Christian World View
1. The physical world is: a. real
b. created out of nothing (ex
nihilo) and c. essentially good.
2. There exists an unseen spiritual reality which is not limited to or
defined by the physical reality. Human beings have a spiritual
aspect to their nature.
3. The creator of both the physical and spiritual realm is the God who
reveals himself in the Bible.
4. Human beings have both a physical and a spiritual nature, The
spiritual nature is more essential as it is eternal.
5. God is not easily defined but he can be characterized by certain
qualities. God is a person. God is love, God is just, God is holy, God
is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
The Christian World View (cont.)
6. Although all God’s creation, including the physical world is
good, evil does exist. Such evil is the result of freedom of
will given to created beings and their subsequent decision
to use that freedom to rebel--to “sin”
7. Because of God’s justice and his holiness, those who choose
to rebel against him will ultimately be judged and separated
from God for eternity.
8. The solution to evil, to sin and its eternal consequences is
provided by God through the atoning substitutionary
sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Biblical Theology
►
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
►
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at
God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of
what was visible.
Hebrews 11:3
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
son….
Hindu World View
►
Maya. The physical world is an illusion.
►
Brahman. Universal soul.
►
The goal: Nirvana; oneness with the universal soul which
is within yourself.
►
The Hindu world view has man looking inward, not
outward.
The Four Noble Truths of Siddhartha
►
Suffering is not getting what one wants.
►
The cause of suffering is desire which leads to rebirth.
►
The way to end suffering is to end desire.
►
The way to the end of desire and of suffering is the eightfold path.
►
Buddhism encourages dispassion, not compassion.
The eight-fold path to bodhi/dharma/nirvana/lack of
suffering
Right
► Right
► Right
► Right
► Right
► Right
► Right
► Right
►
viewpoint (the four noble truths).
values.
speech.
actions.
livelihood
effort
mindfulness
meditation
So, What is New Age, Really?
►
You are God, I am God, the trees are God, we all are
God!
►
New Age is Western pantheism
►
New Age is a syncretistic blend of Gnosticism, Hinduism,
Spiritualism, Mysticism, Buddhism and Paganism.
►
New Age is Monism! God is everything I am God!!!
“Once we begin to see that we are all God, then I think the whole
purpose of life is to re-own the God-likeness within us.”
Islamic Worldview:
God is very distant from mankind
In Islam, Allah determines everything, even
who will choose to follow him.
2:142, 6:39 6:125
Inshallah God willing. It is God’s will that
people suffer.
.
Islamic Theology
“Surely good deeds take away evil
deeds” (11:114).
Salvation by own effort
(40:9, 39:61, 7:43)
Charity atones for sins
(2:271,277)
► Earn
► Earn
► Earn
► Earn
grace.
favor of Allah.
salvation.
paradise.
Salvation by own effort
(40:9, 39:61, 7:43)
Charity atones for sins
(2:271,277)
►Earn
grace.
►Earn favor of Allah.
►Earn salvation.
►Earn paradise.
Islam: Salvation is earned through the
efforts of those who were pre-selected by
Allah to inhabit a very sensual paradise.
Christianity: Salvation is granted by
the grace of a loving God to those who,
through faith and repentance and
baptism accept that love.
A Question: Who reaches out to whom?
Initiative
Human approach
God
Mankind
Truth
God
Mankind
Works Salvation: Man
reaches out to God.
Salvation by Grace: God
reaches out to man.
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Christianity
Jaina
Sikkhism
Gnosticism
New Age
Buddhism?
The Biblical World View
►
The physical world is real and it is good. Genesis 1:31
 Only Islam agrees with this conclusion.
►
This world is not our home.
►
But, compassion…
►
Christian groups are responsible for virtually all the world’s
efforts to deal with poverty and human suffering in general
and to work for social justice.
James 1:27 Micah 6:8
Christianity: The Inspiration of the Bible is
Confirmed By:
Historical Accuracy
► Fulfilled Prophecy
► Scientific Accuracy
► Internal Consistency. Many authors, one theology.
► Types, prefigures and foreshadows in the Old Testament
which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ
► The public miracles of Jesus which confirm his claims
► The resurrection of Jesus from the dead
►
According to the Old Testament, the Messiah must:
►
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Be born in Bethlehem
Be raised in Galilee near Nazareth
Be despised and rejected by men
Be meek and silent before his accusers
Be “pierced”
Be crucified
Have his garments divided and gambled over
Be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Come to Jerusalem to make atonement for sin in about AD 33
And many more….
Was all this an accident, or did God plan all along for the Passion of the
Christ for forgiveness of sins? What do you think?
Summary
►
The theologies of world religions are fundamentally and
diametrically opposed to one another. Many paths to the
same God is a ludicrous philosophy.
►
The world view of Christianity is radically different from
any other religion. They cannot both be right!
►
The truth of the Bible is confirmed by
 Clear evidence of inspiration (fulfilled prophecy, types and
foreshadows, historical accuracy, scientific evidence, etc…)
 Public miracles worked by Moses, Elijah and others, and
especially by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:3,4).
How, then, should we interact with members of other
religions?
►
Find common ground.
►
Give respect where respect is due.
►
Acknowledge the good and do not make personal attacks—
especially toward revered people.
►
Highlight distinctions in world view/theology and introduce
them to Jesus Christ.
►
This is EXACTLY what Paul did in Acts 17:22-34
The Bible and Other World Views (cont.)
►
Acts 17:16-34 Paul shares the gospel by arguing
for the Christian World View.
 v. 22-23 Paul finds common ground.
 v. 24-28 Paul argues for the superiority and the truth of
the Christian world view as opposed to
Epicureanism/pantheism and Stoicism/deism
 v. 28 Paul quotes from Aretas a Stoic philosopher. “ For we
are his offspring.”
 v. 29-31 Having laid the groundwork, Paul points them to
Jesus.
 v. 32-34 Some, but not all were converted.
Acts 17:16-34 Paul confronts Greek World Views
►
God is Creator. He exists outside creation.
 Disproves pantheism/Stoicism.
►
God is close to us.
 Disproves deism/Epicureanism.
►
God is personal and has given us an individual
purpose.
►
God will bring all of us to judgment. Evil will be
defeated
 Disproves dualism/Gnosticism.
Greek Background to Christian Theology
►
Pythagoreanism/Platonism
►
Gnosticism
►
Stoicism
►
Epicureanism
Epicurus
Intro to the History of Christian Theology
►
Trinity and the nature of God
►
Christology
►
Nature of sin, grace and redemption
Early Motivations to Christian Theologians
►
Apologetics:
Response to Greek
philosophical
criticism
 logos
►
Heresy: Orthodox
response to
heterodox theology
Origen of Alexandria AD 185-254
Heresies
► Adoptionism
 Ebionites, Theodotus, Artemon
 Modalism (Jesus and Holy Spirit modes of God)
► Gnosticism
 Cerinthus, Valentinus
► Docetism
► Arianism
The Orthodox Response
Use of Greek terms, modes of argument
► Polemical Writings
►
 Against Heresies Irenaeus
►
Appeal to apostolic (later church) authority
►
Creeds
►
Councils
Doctrine of the Trinity
► Tertullian
AD 160-220
 The Father and the Son
are different “not in
condition, but in
degree; not in
substance, but in form;
not in power, but in
aspect”
Creeds
►A
second century Roman creed (said at
baptism)
 I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our
Lord, and in the Holy Ghost, the holy church
and the resurrection of the flesh.
Church Councils
►
Nicaea AD 325
 Arianism Jesus homoousios With the Father
►
Constantinople AD 381
 Nicene Creed Holy Spirit also homoousious
►
Ephesus AD 431
 Nestorianism condemned, Pelagius anathematized.
►
Calchedon AD 451
 Define the “two natures” of Jesus
►
Constantinople II AD 553
 Monophysitism
►
Constantinople III AD 680
 Monothelitism
►
Nicaea II AD 787
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of
all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the
Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousios, of the same
substance, consubstantial as opposed to homoiousios) with the Father, by whom
all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was
crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the
third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to
judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from
the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped
and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism
for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life
of the world to come. Amen.
Is this what we believe?
Chalcedon AD 451
“In agreement with the holy fathers we all unanimously teach
that we should confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is one
and the same Son; the same perfect in Godhead and the
same perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man, the
same of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the
Father in Godhead and the same consubstantial with us in
manhood; like us in all things except sin; begotten of the
Father before all ages as regards his Godhead and in the
last days the same, for us and for our salvation, begotten
of the Virgin Mary, the theotokos (as opposed to the
Christotokos of the Nestorians) (the God-bearer, the
mother of God) as regards his manhood; one and the
same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, made known in two
natures without confusion, without change, without
division, without separation…
Chalcedon (cont.)
“Without confusion and without change”
to oppose monophysitism/Coptic Christianity
Monophysite = one nature
“Without division, without separation”
to oppose Nestorianism
Q: Are we splitting hairs here?
► Constantinople
AD 553
 Anathematized Origin
► Constantinople
III AD 680
 Opposed monothelitism “one will”
► Nicaea
II AD 787
 Iconoclasm. It is heretical to say that one cannot be
aided in worship by using an icon.
Sin, Redemption, Salvation
► Augustine!!!!!
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The City of God
Total depravity
Monoergism
Predestination
Original Sin
Infant baptism required for
salvation
Sacramentalism
Transubstantiation
City and State
Opposed Donatists
Augustine of Hippo (from 6th century)
Pelagius AD c. 354-430
Works
Salvation?
Thomas Aquinas
1225-1274
Aristotle
Revelation by reason
Scholasticism
Arguments for existence of
God
Natural Theology
“Summa Theologica”
Thomas Aquinas:
“God, therefore, is the first cause, who moves causes both natural
and voluntary. And just as by moving natural causes He does not
prevent their actions from being natural, so by moving voluntary
causes He does not deprive their actions of being voluntary; but
rather is He the cause of this very thing in them, for He operates
ineach thing according to his own nature.”
In other words, Aquinas believed in free will and not a strict
monergism.
Question:
Do you believe in Predestination?
History of the Doctrine of Predestination
► Augustine
of Hippo AD 354-430 “The City of
God”
► Martin Luther (1483-1546): an Augustinian monk.
► Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) Reformed Theology.
► John Calvin (1509-1564) “Institutes of the
Christian Religion”
► The key: A profound belief in the sovereignty of
God
► Double Predestination and TULIP
Martin Luther 1483-1541
Augustinian Monk
Faith Alone
Grace Alone
Scripture Alone
Predestination
Martin Luther:
“Away with James… His authority is not great enough to
cause me to abandon the doctrine of faith [alone] and
to deviate from the authority of the other apostles and
the entire Scripture.” St. James’ epistle is really an
epistle of straw, compared to these others (Romans,
Galatians, John) for it has nothing of the nature of the
gospel about it.”
Ulrich Zwingli
1484-1531
Opposed baptismal
regeneration
Double Predestination
Reformed Theology
“Those individuals who end
up damned forever in hell are
also eternally determined by
God for that fate.”
The Radical Reformation
►
►
►
►
Separation of Church and State
Opposed strict predestination
Opposed infant baptism
Believed in baptismal regeneration
Menno Simmons
John Calvin
1509-1564
Institutes of Christian Religion
His emphasis: the sovereignty
of God
TULIP
TULIP
► Total
depravity
► Unconditional election
► Limited atonement
► Irresistable grace
► Perseverence of the saint (once saved,
always saved)
Jacob Arminius
(1560-1609)
Opposed Reformed idea of
predestination.
Are we Arminians?
► Q:
Scriptures which appear to support the
doctrine of predestination?
► Q:
Scriptures which prove free will and
refute predestination?
Jonathan Edwards
“A Sinner in the Hands of an
Angry God.”
How do we know we are of the
elect?
1800’s America: Predestination Light
Once Saved, Always Saved
►
Preservation of the Saints
►
Believer’s Prayer.
►
Once God saves you, in is impossible to lose your salvation,
no matter what.
Hebrews and Falling Away
They shall never enter my rest 3:11, 4:5
► We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to
the end the confidence we had at first. 3:14
► They were not able to enter because of their unbelief
3:19
► Be careful not to be found to have fallen short of it. 4:1
► Some… did not go in because of their obedience 4:6
► Let us make every effort to enter that rest so that no
one will fall by following their example of
disobedience 4:11
►
►
Do you get the point?
Hebrews 6:4-6 Who is he talking to?
► a.
been enlightened (NT church “enlightened” =
baptized)
► b. tasted the heavenly gift (salvation?)
► c. shared in the Holy Spirit
► d. tasted the goodness of the word
► e. tasted the coming age (saved)
► Yes,
you can fall away! Conclusion: You had
better move on toward maturity in Christ.
Hebrews 6:4-8
►
It is impossible… if they fall away, to be brought back to
repentance.
►
They are crucifying the Son of God all over again.
►
Land that produces thorns… will be burned.
Falling Away Hebrews 10:26-31
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Crucifying the Son of God all over again.
Subjecting Jesus to public disgrace
Trampling the Son of God under foot. (Heb 10:29)
Insulted the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29)
Blasphemed (spoken against) the Holy Spirit (Matt
12:32)
Committed the unforgivable sin (1 John 5:16 )
►
What is the “unforgivable sin?” To willfully, deliberately
continue in sin. (Hebrews 10:26)
►
Also; Hebrews 12:14-17, 12:25 you will not escape… if
you turn away…
God’s Assurance: Hebrews 6:9-20
Two unchangeable things:
God’s Word
God’s Oath (Genesis 22:16-18)
Jesus, your anchor, is behind the veil with the
Father
God’s Assurance: Hebrews 10:19-23
We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
Let us draw near to God… in full assurance of
faith.
For he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:35-36 Do not throw away your
confidence; it will be richly rewarded…. You will
receive what he has promised.
Summary
►
Correct theology (God, Jesus, salvation) is harder to find
than you think.
►
Do not fall into the trap of relying on human reason too
heavily.
►
Always protect the mystery.
 Trinity
 Jesus
 Faith, Works and Grace