Christian Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
-
Guest, Join Papa Zoom today for some uplifting biblical encouragement! --> Daily Verses
Witnessing to Buddhists
- Thread starter OzSpen
- Start date
They might 'get the humor', but by drawing attention to Christian 'peace', that is becoming subjective. How can one discern the difference between Christian peace and Buddhist peace?
How would you answer these exposes of Buddhism and peace?
- Buddhism and peace (Jan Willis);
- Buddhism and peace (K.N. Jayatillake);
- From Inner Peace to World Peace: A Buddhist Perspective (Dr. Yoichi Kawada)
What do you think talked about when he was on the Areopagus? Was it the negative first? What common ground did he seek to begin preaching on the Kingdom of God?
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you (Acts 17:22-23 ESV).
I do not find it helpful to use language such as 'this garbage about hell'.
What did you find was not helpful in your Facebook encounter? Have you been able to analyse what happened and learned how you could improve your communication. I'm wanting to learn so that I'm better equipped in communicating with Buddhists.
jasonc
Member
the Buddhist in question is a known friend of mine. he is a pacifist, borderline socialist. sometimes its better to not to talk to one if one knows one is going to have a problem. we can still talk just that I went into I got to win a debate verses how can I reach him. I didn't help that I mentioned that Thailand is the largest Buddhist nation and cant seem to keep peace within her borders. Thailand is where mma has some of its origins and also has sex trade issues and slavery
Barbarian
Member
If St. Paul is right, they are maybe the same thing:
Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. [12] For whosoever have sinned without the law, shall perish without the law; and whosoever have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. [13] For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these having not the law are a law to themselves: [15] Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them, and their thoughts between themselves accusing, or also defending one another,
Buddha refused to speculate on God, Whom he did not know. But that unknown God is manifest to us now:
Acts 17:22 But Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. [23] For passing by, and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written: To the unknown God. What therefore you worship, without knowing it, that I preach to you: [24] God, who made the world, and all things therein; he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; [25] Neither is he served with men' s hands, as though he needed any thing; seeing it is he who giveth to all life, and breath, and all things:
The Buddhist who has truly found his peace, is in accord with natural law that all men understand, and that law that Paul says is how the gentiles will be judged. The answer to the Buddhist who has found God's peace, is that the Source of that peace is worth knowing as He is essential to one's salvation, even if one does not know Him.
Being Catholic, I don't believe that non-Catholics or even non-Christians are necessarily going to be lost, as St. Paul clearly indicates that they are not. So I don't have the sense of urgency to convert people, unless they are estranged from God's love.
Last edited:
phil marriner
Member
Dont worry about it just share the love of Christ .Every man is responsible for their own salvation. If the love of Christ is not enough for anyone then let them go in peace
Christ_empowered
Member
I dunno. I mean, I think The Good News, if they're interested, kinda sells itself because..its true. If they're looking for The Truth, they'll find it (knock and the door shall be opened). If they're in and of the world and not ready for the truth, it'll just be sheer foolishness to them, possibly something that will infuriate them, since Jesus' teachings run against human nature.
I guess I'm just saying that there's no sure fire way to re-brand Jesus for Buddhists, or Muslims, or whoever it is you're talking to. Maybe they're honestly searching; maybe you'll plant seeds that will bear fruit later on; maybe your info will fall on deaf ears.
I guess I'm just saying that there's no sure fire way to re-brand Jesus for Buddhists, or Muslims, or whoever it is you're talking to. Maybe they're honestly searching; maybe you'll plant seeds that will bear fruit later on; maybe your info will fall on deaf ears.
phil marriner
Member
The KIngdom of God is within and The Father can reveal himself to whoever he wants.
You say, 'Every man is responsible for their own salvation'. That's not the message I get from Scripture. This is what I learn:
- John 6:65, 'And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father"' (ESV).
- Ephesians 2:8-9, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast'.
- Jonah 2:9, 'Salvation belongs to the Lord!'
phil marriner
Member
You forgot to add these scriptures
Philippians 2:12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
turnorburn
Member
Yes Phil this is true the Father can reveal himself to whomsoever He wants as long as its through His Son Jesus Christ.. no if's and's or but's..
tob
tob
phil marriner
Member
correct
KevinK
Member
I think most, if not all, the eastern "-ism" religions teach karma.
What do Christians think about karma? I suppose most of the time you must believe in reinarnation to embrace the concept of cosmic cause-and-effect, but is it possible to believe in it if you believe karma can operate within a single lifetime?
I do not believe in Karma in the way the Buddists do but I believe that God's will be done and that He has consequences for our sinful behavior.
KevinK
Member
On a personal note about Buddhism: upon encountering an NDE where someone saw the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) plunged into the lake-of-fire (I guess a temporary one, not Gehenna), I immediately grabbed my buddha statue (a small decorative figurine I picked up in Japan decades ago at the site of the world's largest outdoor statue of the buddha) and chucked it into the blue dumpster. Gautama was a supremely intuitive and compassionate human being whose humanitarianism has touched billions, but he did not believe in God.
Paul is not telling people how to get saved. He is dealing with what happens after salvation.
By the way, you didn't deal with the verses I presented. You avoided commenting on them.
Karma is a teaching primarily of Buddhism and Hinduism.
It is associated with reincarnation and is an anti-Christian view of what happens in this life that influences reincarnation. It is contrary to biblical Christianity. See: 'What does the Bible say about karma?', http://www.gotquestions.org/karma.html.