August 9, 2010
BY POPULAR DEMAND: WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT CHRISTIANITY?
Posted by Michael
Learn:
John 3:16-18
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Acts 17:22-31
22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 24”The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28’For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29"Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
Colossians 1:28-29
28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Main Idea:
When you boil it all down, doesn’t every religion basically say the same thing? Aren’t there many ways to God? No. Christianity, at its core, is not based on a set of ideas to help us live good lives. It’s based on the person of Jesus, the Son of God, who came to set broken people free from their own sin. No other religion claims that, so it’s impossible to agree with them all. One reason that people are tempted to “pick and choose” from different religions is because they don’t know (or don’t want to face) how broken and sinful humanity is. If we are to effectively share the message of Jesus with people, we must not do so arrogantly. When Paul came to Athens, he found the people involved in many different religions (even more than we have today). He did not condemn them. He came in humility, learned about their religions, and affirmed common ground. Then he boldly proclaimed the message of Christ. When Paul preached his message, two people converted. It wasn’t about numbers to Paul. It was about sharing the truth that Jesus is the only hope for a broken world.
Know What: The thing that sets Christianity apart from every other religion is the person of Jesus and the manifestation of Grace.
So What: Jesus said He was the light of the world. Deciding whether that is true or false is the most important decision a person will ever make.
Now What: Christ followers have an incredibly significant responsibility to humbly share the Light of Jesus with the world.
Discuss…
1. Have you ever believed (or been tempted to believe) the argument that all religions basically say the same thing? What makes this argument so appealing? How would you respond to someone who attempted to brush off Christianity using this argument?
2. What is the danger the church faces if it is looked upon as “another way to better yourself” or as some kind of “5 Steps to Happiness” program? How can we keep the person of Jesus at the center of Christianity and not simply a set of ideas?
3. Why do you think some Christians have become “arrogant, smug, simplistic or judgmental”? How does this go against the example that Christ set for us? How can we begin to reverse this stereotype?
4. Why is it so offensive to claim that Jesus is the only way to God? Why do you think people prefer to do religion “a la carte” (picking and choosing ideas from all different religions)?
5. Why do we sometimes refuse to acknowledge how broken and sinful we are? How does refusing to acknowledge this downgrade our need for a true Savior? What is the danger of having a generic faith that is based all around you?
6. How can we begin to share the Gospel as Paul did – boldly yet with humbleness? How can we learn from other religions around us and find common ground, so that we may begin to share the truth of Jesus in love?
Pray
Jesus, and who He claimed to be, is what makes Christianity unique. If you are not a Christian, ask Jesus to reveal who He is to you. Deciding if Jesus is who He said He was is the most important decision you’ll ever make. If you are a Christian, ask Jesus to help you meet people where they are and share the Gospel boldly, yet in love.
