Exclusivity of Christianity
By Pastor Graceson Kamei *
Christian may be ungodly, lawless, and sinful. But Christianity is godly, lawful and sinless. It is a pure, true and reliable religion. One cannot say that Christianity is a false and archaic religion just because its followers are callous.
Does Christianity belong to Western countries for their missionaries came to propagate Christianity? Of course, there may be tendency or inclination to say in that way because the western countries hold it as an inevitable and important religion. But in a true sense, Christianity is of Christ Jesus. No nation in this world can claim Christianity as their own creation.
Hindus, Buddhist, Christian and others pray to their God. Actually these individuals pray to the same God using different names of the Deity.
Mahatma Gandhi once said: "The soul of religion is one, but it is encased in a multitude of forms". Of course, it is true yet the problem with Gandhi's statement is that of "multitude of forms" or religious systems. Every religion has its own claim on the manner of prayer, sacrifice and rites.
God created human as rational being in whom God gave power of thinking and freedom of choice. Now taking these points into consideration, one should carefully and prayerfully ponder and evaluate on the religion to which he/she belongs. One can explode the myth of religion and explain the truth of the religion through the power of God.
The ultimate goal and aim for human kind is to impart the truth of God to fellow being and live with it. So that the very truth of God which is entirely not subjective but rather objective shall surely set one free... free from moral trespass, ingnorance, susceptibility to illusion and unprofitable behaviour.
The scripture says: "...although everyone is a liar, God is true" (Rom 3:4)
Also Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life". (John 14:6)
Now back to Gandhi's statement, can God accept the multitude of forms of religion? This may be very hard to answer.
Perhaps, it is understood that every religion's forms, rites and systems will not be acceptable before God. Take for example, Sati is ritual which is detestable to Indians. Thanks to our great Late Reformist Rajaram Mohonroy who proclaimed against this evil practice.
Is Jihadee Mission God's command?
Is Circumcision acceptable to God Still?
Let us give time to discover the absolute truth. God is One.
His religion is One. Take a look for exmaple; "This one religion is continually evolving, and each praricular religious system represents a stage in the evolution of the whole"
Baha' is Faith
"In whatever way men approach me, even so do I go to them" -
Quoted from the Hindu Scripture by Swami Chindana of Divine Life Society
A cusory examinatin of comparative belief cannot reveal the difference of religions. All religions are same. Though followers of every religion are the same human beings.
Inerestingly, every religion claims exclusivity and the Uniqueness.
The Christianity's claims of uniqueness and the exclusivity are as follows:
- The Holy Bible is the words of God written by Holy men through inspiration and this Holy Scripture revealed on eternal, personal God who created the universe by His own words.
- Christianity alone is centred in the historical events associated with a person (Jesus) the birth, death, resurrection and the return of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ alone of history has conquered man's greatest enemy that is Death.
- Christ offers salvation by grace alone, to be received only through faith in him.
* Pastor Graceson Kamei wrote this article for The Sangai Express . This article was webcasted on December 21st , 2008.
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