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We received
the following email from Emily, who did not provide a return email
address. So we were not able to send this answer to her. Her question
was:
Why
do you say that Christianity is the only true religion? There are
many religions, how does that make yours the only true one? Do you
have any proof other than a large boring book that was probably
made up? Why does God say that 'you shall worship no other God but
me'? Is he that self-conscious? Wake up Christians.
Emily.
Here's our
Answer:
Hi Emily:
Thanks for your
email and questions.
Yes, you are
right, there are many religions. Four major ones and thousands of
minor ones. How do I know Christianity is the right one? Because
the knowledge of God is written in my heart.
I know. That
makes no sense. But it is the truth for all Christians.
Here's one answer:
Let's look at
the answer to your question in a more logical way. First, after
learning what religions have to offer, we find that all are exclusive.
All claim to have the one and only way to salvation. Even religions
that say they include all other religions--everyone is welcome--are
based on the exclusive belief that you must accept all religions.
If you don't accept that, you do not believe in the right thing.
So, if all
religions are exclusive of all others, that means either only one
religion is right, or none are right. You can not have two that
are right because they immediately exclude each other.
Some might say
that some religions worship the same god by different names. For
example, the God of the Bible (Christianity) and Islam's god Allah.
But if you look at the characteristics of each you'll find that
Allah is nothing like the God of the Bible. And this is true all
of gods, they are all different. This means they are exclusive of
each other. Islam does not worship the God of the Bible.
Buddists don't
have a God at all and Hindus have millions of gods. These are not
different religions worshipping the same god(s). So again we see
that each god (or set of gods) is exclusive. Either there is only
one true God (or set of gods) or there is no god.
You know the
answer to that question. We all have a hole in our soul that only
God can fill. We all have the feeling that something is missing
in our lives. Until we let Him fill that hole, we'll continually
be searching for something to fill it ourselves. Some try to fill
it with money, sex, power, parties, good works and other earthy
things. But late at night, when we are by ourselves, we know that
none of these are filling the hole in our soul. And we feel the
emptiness.
Some people
eventually come to realize that only God can fill the empty place
in us.
So now, how
do we know which is the one true God?
The answer is
that God gives us a gift, and through this gift we recognize Him.
But, as before, this does not make sense until you've experienced
it.
You can look
at things logically and you'll see that all religions have certain
things in common:
<> They
all require you to do good works in order to be saved, except Christianity.
<> The
founders/leaders of all religions died as we all do, except Christianity.
Jesus is the only one who died with a purpose. Through his death
he paid the penalty we all owe for what we have done wrong. And
none of the other religions have leaders/founders who even tried
to claim they rose from the dead (something that is easy to disprove
if it did not actually happen) as Jesus did.
<> In
no other religions does God love His people so much that He suffers
along with His creation.
<> You
can be born a Muslim, or Jew, or Buddist... but you can not be born
a Christian. Each person must make a decision for Christ themselves.
Why do all
other religions have many things in common with each other, but
not with Christianity? Why does Christianity stand out as unique
among all religions? Because all have something in common--they
are created by man, except Christianity.
But here's the
bottom line. Something you can see for yourself. Of all the religions,
including atheism, which religion has had the greatest influence
for good in the world? The answer is Christianity. Yes, people calling
themselves Christians have done some horrible things throughout
history. Yes, we take two steps forward and then one step backwards.
Yet, when placed on the scales of history, Christianity has done
far more good than all other religions. Christianity has done far
more than any other religion or belief system to advance civilization.
All other
religions mainly serve themselves. You don't hear about Muslims,
Buddists or Hindus building hospitals and schools around the world
as Christians have done and are doing. You don't hear about Muslin,
Hindu or Buddist countries accepting all other types of believers
into their countries as we do. Where are the great Muslims, Hindus
or Buddists who dedicate their lives to serving the poor? (Like
Mother Terresa and other great compassionate Christians) You don't
hear about Islam, Buddism and Hinduism changing people's lives for
the good the way Christianity does.
I hope I have
answered your question in this brief email. I'll be happy to answer
any other questions you may have.
May God bless
you this Christmas season.
Steve
Mission to America
web site: http://www.evangelical.us
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