Christianity & Eastern Religions
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ROSE BIBLE BASICS Christianity, Cults & Religions Cults & the Occult Eastern Religions Islam u Mormonism Jehovah’s Witnesses Witnessing to Cults ROSE BIBLE BASICS Christianity, Cults & Religions Torrance, California © 2008 Bristol Works, Inc. Rose Publishing, Inc. 4733 Torrance Blvd., #259 Torrance, California 90503 U.S.A. Email: [email protected] www.rose-publishing.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, posted on the Internet, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. Includes these Rose Publishing Titles: Christianity, Cults & Religions © 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005 RW Research, Inc. Editor: Paul Carden. Contributors: James Bjornstad, PhD; Robert M. Bowman, Jr., MA; H. Wayne House, PhD; Eric Pement; Viola Larson Christianity, Cults & the Occult © 2006 Rose Publishing, Inc. Editor: Paul Carden. Contributors: Brooks Alexander; Marcia Montenegro; Eric Pement; Marcelo Souza, PhD Christianity & Eastern Religions © 2008 Bristol Works, Inc. Editor: Paul Carden. Author: Mark Albrecht, MA. Contributors: H. L. Richard; J. Isamu Yamamoto; Brooks Alexander; András Szalai; James Stephens Islam & Christianity © 2004, 2007 RW Research, Inc. Author: Bruce Green, MA. Contributors: Amal Bejjani, Annie Dinnan, Labib Madanat 10 Q&A on Jehovah’s Witnesses © 2006 RW Research, Inc. Editor: Paul Carden. Author: Christy (Harvey) Darlington. Contributors: Robert M. Bowman, Jr., MA 10 Q&A on Mormonism © 2006 RW Research, Inc. Editor: Paul Carden. Author: Bill McKeever. Contributors: Robert M. Bowman, Jr., MA 10 Keys to Witnessing to Cults © 2008 RW Research, Inc. Author: Ron Rhodes, PhD. Contributing Author: Christy (Harvey) Darlington All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Christianity, cults & religions. p. cm. -- (Rose Bible basics) ISBN 978-1-59636-202-4 (pbk.) 1. Christianity and other religions--Miscellanea. I. Title: Christianity, cults, and religions. BR127.C47425 2008 261.2--dc22 2008007518 Printed by Regent Publishing Services Ltd. City?,China November 2009, Third printing CHRISTIANITY, CULTS &RELIGIONS Contents chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 Christianity, Christianity, Christianity Islam & Cults & Cults & & Eastern Christianity Religions the Religions 57 05 Occult 41 25 Continued on next page CHRISTIANITY, CULTS &RELIGIONS Contents chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 10 Q&A 10 Q&A 10 Keys to on on Witnessing Jehovah’s Mormonism to Cults Witnesses 83 97 69 CHAPTER 1 CHRISTIANITY, CULTS & RELIGIONS Christianity, Cults & Religions 7cadUfY%+FY`][]cbgUbX7i`hg k]h\6]V`]WU`7\f]gh]Ub]hm 6 CULTS & RELIGIONS Why should Christians study other religions? The New Testament offers us two kinds of examples. First, in Acts 17 the Apostle Paul Second, in their epistles Paul, Peter, John, and Jude engages with the non-Christian engage with the counterfeit gospels of their day. religions of his day. Paul knows In order to warn and instruct Christians about the their beliefs well enough to teachings of false apostles and prophets, these New quote their spiritual authorities Testament writers had to be familiar with their (see verses 24–28), and his goal is claims. The writers’ goal is clearly to uphold the clearly to build bridges to help faith and defend the flock—and they don’t hesitate their followers understand to identify deceptive and divisive teachers by name the gospel. when appropriate. In today’s shrinking world, Jesus’ followers are faced with more religious groups than ever before. As we seek to engage with cults and world religions constructively and compassionately, the motives and methods of the apostles and the other authors of Scripture are our best model for ministry. What Other Groups May Teach About Jesus and Biblical Responses: • Jesus was not God. (See verses D, I, U, Y) • Jesus was created by God (See verses J, M, U) • There are three separate gods: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (A, B, J, Z) not one God in three persons. • Jesus is not necessary because there is no sin. (F, O, P, R) • Jesus was not raised bodily from the dead. (C, R, S) • Jesus was a great prophet, but not God. (H, J, V) • There are many ways to God, not just one. (F, K, X) • Jesus is not necessary because people must pay for their own sins. (L, P, Q, T) • Jesus died for sins, but people can’t be saved unless they obey (K, Q, T) all of the teachings of the church. • Jesus is God, but less than God the Father. (H, K, V) • Jesus was just a man. (J, E) • Jesus is not the only son of God. (F, G, Z) • Jesus will never come again. (N, W) A. Deuteronomy 6:4 F. John 3:14-17 L. John 17:2–3 T. Ephesians 2:8–9 Isaiah 43:10 G. John 3:36 M. John 17:5 U. Colossians 1:15-20 Isaiah 44:6-8 H. John 5:17-18 N. Acts 1:11 V. Colossians 2:9-10 B. Matthew 28:18-19 John 5:23 O. Romans 3:23-30 W. 1 Thess. 4:13-18 1 Peter 1:2 I. John 8:56-58 1 John 1:8-10 X. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 C. Luke 24:36-53 J. John 10:30-38 P. Romans 6:23 Y. 1 Timothy 3:16 D. John 1:1-5 Isaiah 7:14 Q. Romans 10:3-10 Z. Hebrews 1:1-14 John 1:6-18 Matthew 1:18 R. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 E. John 2:18-22 K. John 14:6-7 S. 1 Corinthians 15:12-23 How to Become a Christian: The Bible says God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God loves you and wants a relationship with you. Here are God’s promises: A All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:10). B Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31, John 1:12). C If you Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8–9). CULTS & RELIGIONS 7 Cjcmjdbm!Disjtujbojuz Jesus Christ. Founded about AD 30–33, in the Judean province of Palestine (Israel today), under the Roman Empire. Followers of Jesus Christ became known as Christians. Founder The Bible, written originally in Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament), and Greek (New Testament). Writings The one God is Triune (one God in three Persons, not three gods): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Often the title “God” designates the fi rst Person, God the Father. God is a spiritual being without a physical body. He is personal God and involved with people. He created the universe out of nothing. He is eternal, changeless, holy, loving, and perfect. Jesus is God, the second Person of the Trinity. As God the Son, he has always existed and was never created. He is fully God and fully man (the two natures joined, not mixed). As the second Person of the Trinity, he is coequal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. In becoming man, he was begotten through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus is the only way to the Father, salvation, and eternal life. He died on a cross according to God’s plan, as full sacrifi ce and payment for our sins. He rose from the dead on the Jesus third day, spiritually and physically immortal. For the next 40 days he was seen by more than 500 eyewitnesses. His wounds were touched and he ate meals. He physically ascended to heaven. Jesus will come again visibly and physically at the end of the world to establish God’s kingdom and judge the world. The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or energy fi eld. He comforts, grieves, reproves, convicts, Holy guides, teaches, and fi lls Christians. He is not the Father, nor is he the Son, Spirit Jesus Christ. Salvation is by God’s grace, not by an individual’s good works. Salvation must be received by faith. People must believe in their hearts that Jesus died for their sins and physically rose again, which is the assurance of forgiveness and Salvation resurrection of the body. This is God’s loving plan to forgive sinful people. Believers go to be with Jesus. After death, all people await the fi nal Judgment. Both saved and lost people will be resurrected. Those who are saved will live with Jesus in heaven. Those who are lost will suff er the torment of eternal Death separation from God (hell). Jesus’ bodily resurrection guarantees believers that they, too, will be resurrected and receive new immortal bodies. Group worship, usually in churches. No secret rites. Baptism and Lord’s Supper (Communion). Active voluntary missionary eff orts. Aid to those in need: the poor, widows, orphans, and downtrodden. Christians believe that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah promised to Israel in the Old Testament (Tanakh). Jesus said his followers would be known by their love for Other Beliefs one another. 8 CULTS & RELIGIONS KfipwbiÖt!Xjuofttft )Xbudiupxfs!Cjcmf!'!Usbdu!Tpdjfuz* Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916) and later Joseph F. Rutherford (1869– 1942). Began 1879 in Pennsylvania. Headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.