Intolerance, the Dali Lama, and the Bible

No one is more known for peace and tolerance than the Dali Lama.  At least that’s what the world at large thinks of him.  A Tibetan Buddhist, he crusades for world peace and harmony.

Sunday at our church, one of the leaders of an Indian church planting organization (directed and funded by Indians primarily, he did not ask for or even tell us how to give money) told a fascinating story about the Dali Lama.

A 17 year old girl from Australia felt that God had laid it on her heart to give a Bible to the Dali Lama.  Not to witness to him or anything dramatic, but just to place a Bible in his hands.  She came to India and visited this mission and went on a short term trip with them near where the Lama lives.  She found a way to stay in that region longer than the others she was with and found a 15 minute audience with the Dali Lama.

She gave the Bible to him, encouraging him to read it as it will help him rule his people better and make wise decisions.  The Dali Lama examined the book for a while and when he noticed it was a Bible he became furious.  He said he would never allow that book into his kingdom.  He felt it was responsible for many of the world’s problems.  He then tossed it into one of the incense burning bins near his elaborate seat (almost like a throne).

But he did more than just insult the Holy Bible and the Christian God.  He had this Australian girl thrown in prison without notifying the Australian embassy.  Members of the Indian Christian mission mentioned above, regularly visited the prisons in that area seeking to provide help to any who needed it.  They found the girl and heard this story as her explanation for why she was in prision.  It was almost like a dungeon cell, and she was in poor physical shape, too.

They contacted the Embassy for her and she was soon released.  Although she never can return to India and see the Lama again, her testimony has had an impact.  The Indian leader said they have had more Tibetans come to know Christ Jesus in the past 2 years then ever before in their 30 years of ministry.

Praise God for those who follow His leading and hold forth His word.

“…in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life….”  (Phil. 2:15b-16a)

~~posted by Bob

Muhammed & Mother Teresa: Affirming the Oneness of False Religions

Paper dolls, anyone? You remember those things. One piece of paper, folded over many times, cut into the shape of a doll. Then, Voila! You spread out the paper doll figurine to reveal not one, but many dolls. Well, sort of. It’s still one piece of paper. At the end of the day, whatever minute differences or blemishes show up among them, each doll shares remarkably identical features. Separate but inseparable. Branches of the same tree.

Roman Catholicism and Radical Islam. Animism and Atheism. Daoism and Dr. Phil. What all religions apart from Christ crucified have in common far outweighs any drastic differences between them. There stands a fundamental threshold of reality at the foot of the Cross which divides all religions and philosophies—all possible views of the world. Truth or error (1 John 4:6). Wisdom or foolishness (1 Corinthians 3:18). Blessing or cursing (Galatians 1:8).

“You are of your father, the devil…” (John 8:44). And so Jesus unmasks even the Bible-wielding religion of the Pharisees, and necessarily lumps them into the same category of Satanic deception and perversion that marks the nature of human religion since the Fall.

A theologian’s theologian, Paul himself displays an almost unnerving simplicity despite his admittedly stalwart and sophisticated education. Speaking of the digression of mankind, both Jew and Gentile, he makes simple, sweeping statements: “[T]hey became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God…” (Romans 1:21-23).

Following suit, the greatest thinkers of church history reveal patterns of thought humbly submitted to the Biblical deposit. For instance, in the Fourth Century, St. Augustine summed up all of humanity into one of two cities: the City of God or the City of Man. Over a thousand years later, Martin Luther fervently reduced all ethics and all religions into one of two theologies: the Theology of the Cross or the Theology of (human) Glory.

For us post-Enlightenment moderns living in a culturally pluralistic and educationally specialized age—with nuanced courses in Comparative Religions—this can be a hard pill to swallow. Speaking in such definitive and simplifying terms almost smacks of naivety.

Yet, I submit that it is fear of the uncouth nature of Truth, shame of Its absoluteness and utter superiority—not intellectual maturity—that inhibits many Evangelicals from espousing such biblical and historical reductionism. What all world religions share in their rejection of the cardinal doctrines of the One Faith—e.g., salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—remains infinitely more significant and defining and consequential than any surface contrasts of culture, history, methodology, etc. At the most crucial points, they unite to expose the essential thread of Satanic origin and intent.

So I close with four points of application for today’s missionary efforts around the world. Can you think of other applications? Please record them in the comments below.

Expect to Encounter Much Confusion. Despite the “unity” of all false religions—precisely because of it—the aspiring missionary can expect to meet the most bewildering combinations and contradictions of beliefs among the people he hopes to evangelize. Since they share a common foundation and essential substance, it is possible for the most bizarre of connections to take place among false religions. For instance, did you know Rick Love estimates that 75% of all Muslims are “Folk Muslims” who consistently practice various forms of animism in addition to—and in open defiance of—Koranic teaching? Or, did you ever notice the obvious superstitious similarity of amulets in Africa, evil eyes in Central Asia, and crucifix’s in Massachusetts? There’s a reason that the first time I saw Muslim prayer beads in Turkey, I immediately thought of the Rosary.

Prioritize Christian Theology in Your Missionary Preparation. Comparative Religions does have a value, but it is a limited and relative value. Knowing the particulars of Hinduism can be extremely helpful, perhaps vital, to an effective ministry in India. And yet, without belittling such religion-specific instruction, utmost primacy must be placed on grasping the fundamental truths of Scripture and the Way of Christ. This is 90% of your educational challenge. Knowing what true religion is, intimately and positively, will become your greatest defense and offense against any false religion. You can afford to be somewhat ignorant about the nuances of Buddhism or Islam or Animism. But you must know the Bible well! It is a disastrous and incalculable tragedy that modern missions so de-emphasizes and so demeans thorough theological preparation. In foolish contrast, many missions would be so giddy over a certificate one might have earned in a course on Islam, while totally ignoring the question of basic doctrinal fitness.

Rebuke the Essential Evil of Every False Religion. Rebuking error—not just proclaiming truth—is an essential, apostolic command for authentic Christian ministry and mission (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9). And since every religion apart from Christ crucified is indeed a false religion, we must labor not to coddle any such demonic device. In other words, to heck with all this contemporary gobbledygook about Islam being a “cousin” to Christianity, all these attempts to “build bridges” and downplay essential differences for the sake of greater ministry effectiveness. The Judaism of the Pharisees was light years “closer” than Islam; but that didn’t change Jesus’ diagnosis. Aspiring missionary to the Muslim world: there is a way to love Muslims, but hate Islam. Find it!

Be Encouraged: God is Able to Grant Faith and Repentance to Anyone. Remember to marvel at your own conversion! That such a stubborn and self-reliant materialist in America could come to faith is as much a miracle of divine grace as the many cannibals who were saved in the 19th Century South Pacific. Bondage and blindness are but the common denominator of all false religions—indeed, of all humanity in all places and all generations apart from Jesus. Therefore, what incredible hope awaits your pioneer missionary efforts among the Pashtun! All authority belongs to the Christ; and He has devoted all His being, all His power to exercising it among every people under heaven!

~~posted by Jack