Question:  Dear Greg,

            Thank God for your ministries.  They have really been helpful to me.  I have a question concerning Buddhism.  I do hope I have spelled the name right.  I was watching the Chinese Channel, and the language was interpreted in English.  The service reached very deep on what was or rather is the truth regarding the happenings of today.

            I would like to know if this ministry is really what our God would have ministered to us.  Are they really preaching the true ministry of God?  I once heard that Buddhism is an acknowledgement of an idol named Buddha.  Then I thought to myself that maybe this is the name that God is called in other languages.

            Would you please enlighten me on this matter?

            Sincerely,

            Sally

Answer:  Dear Sally,

            Buddhism is one of many religions of this world, with Christianity being one.  Of all the religions in the world, only two come anywhere close to the basic beliefs of biblical Christianity – and they are both a long way from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

            Judaism and Islam are both “close” to Christianity for the reason that they both affirm and teach that there is only one God.  All other world religions teach and believe polytheism – many gods.  Belief in one God is extremely important; it is the beginning of our understanding and relationship with the one true God of the Bible.  It is the constant teaching of both the Old and New Testaments.

            However, neither Islam nor Judaism accepts Jesus Christ as the Son of God – very man and very God.  They see him as a prophet, a good moral teacher, but no more –, as do other world religions.  But Christianity is plain – Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.  We re saved in and through his name, and what he has done for us on the cross.

            Another factor to consider – al world religions, including Judaism and Islam, believe that the main goal in life is to find God and to please him.  The truth is just the opposite.  The Bible tells us that God, in the person of Jesus, came to find us and to save us.  Not because of our goodness, but because of his goodness.

            Other world religions may preach things that sound good, and sometimes may appear harmless.  Sometimes we might look at those who follow a teaching other than Christianity and say – “Look at how good those people are.”  But the point of Christianity is to look at the Son of God and his righteousness.  Human goodness is not the basis of Salvation.  Doing good things is not the basis of the salvation that God gives – his grace is.  We are saved by grace, not by works, lest any human should boast (Ephesians 2:8-10).  Hope this helps, Sally,

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht