To all of my religious friends and neighbors I pose the question above. We ask whether one thing is better than another quite often. Is one car better than another? Is one brand of cheese better than the others? Is one kind of cheese better than another? Is one restaurant better than another? Is one school better than another? Is one team better than another? We could go on and on, but let me make this observation about those things: they fall into one of two categories 1) those that are matters of taste or opinion, 2) those that are matters of fact.
Those that are matters of opinion we accept that we will disagree about. Some people will like Colby, Mozzarella or Monterey Jack, some will like Cheddar, American or Swiss, still others prefer Bleu, Limburger or Parmesan. Some of the kinds that others like we may find disgusting, or maybe we just don’t like cheese at all. Is that the way it is with religion? Some say that it is. Many will say ‘well there are different churches because people need to find one that fits them and makes them comfortable’. Some would even go so far as to say the same thing about the different world religions. Is Hinduism better than Islam? Is Judaism better than Buddhism? Is Christianity better than Atheism?
According to a study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 70% of religious Americans believe that one is as good as another, and that many different religions lead to eternal life. I don’t know who these 70% are, but I know they are not really Christians even if they claim to be. One of the foundations of Christianity is faith in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God and the only Savior. Jesus himself says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”(John 14:6). At another time He proclaims, “for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Peter also explains in Acts 4:10-12, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. {11} This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. {12} Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
When it comes to the religions of the world there is little difference among most of them, but Christianity is better. How can I make such a judgmental statement. Notice, I did not say I like Christianity better. That is what I would say of matters of opinion as in ‘I like Cheddar better than Swiss.’ This is the way we deal with things that are subjective. However, when I say that something is better, I must have some evidence or facts that can be weighed and judged objectively. So, why do I have the audacity to say Christianity is better, not just better, but I say it is undoubtedly the best religion there is or ever has been? Because I believe the evidence demands that verdict. This short article can’t present all of the evidence available, but consider the following:
1) It is better because of the principles that it preaches.
2) It is better because of the promises it provides.
3) It is better because of the people it produces.
4) It is better because of the providence of the God who protects it.
5) It is better because of the price that was paid to begin it.
6) It is better because of its plan to save from the penalty of sin.
7) It is better because of the permanently empty tomb of the perfect author and perfecter of the faith.
8) It is better because of the prophecy that promised it centuries before it came.
Christianity is the only religion in the world that has a God who made, loves, carries, washes, feeds, cares for, protects, and sacrificed for His people. Other religions do those things for their gods.
Weigh the following and see which is better. Which one will make for a better world to live in? What would the world be like if everyone lived by the first? The second? Etc.
1) Love yourself and look out for number one.
2) Love your family and hate everyone else.
3) Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
4) Love those who share your religious belief and destroy everyone else.
5) Love even your enemies and do good to them that hate you.
Not everyone lives by any one of these, but if they did the last would obviously lead to a better world. Just remember that not all who claim Christianity live by its teachings.
One more set of principles to compare:
1) Do to others what you want done to you.
2) Don’t do anything to someone that you wouldn’t want done to you.
3) Do whatever feels good to you.
4) Do what is best for the biggest group.
5) Do what is best for the richest.
Many religions are based on the second or even the fourth and these are lauded as great principles, but when compared to the first they fall short. Imagine someone with a disease of some kind. The fourth says kill him so he won’t be a burden on the rest. The second says don’t kill him, but let nature take its course if he lives fine, if he dies fine. But Christ says what would you want if you were sick? Someone to care for you, make a medicine that would help you, love you, talk to you.
Unfortunately, we live in a society that used to value individual human lives, but that now is more interested in the ‘greater good’ which calls for more abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, drug-controlled children, and government regulations on everything. I am reminded of Asimov’s robot stories about the three laws of robotics (Some of you are more familiar with Will Smith’s movie I Robot). The first law was that a robot could not harm a human. Sounds like a good idea, but the robots quickly found that humans harmed themselves and began to imprison them to keep them safe from everything from murders to car wrecks to high cholesterol. Christianity teaches the highest moral code in existence, but it also proclaims individual freedom and responsibility. True Christianity understands that God has given each individual the freedom to destroy his own life even though it is against God’s will, but no individual is given the freedom to harm others. We desperately need to balance freedom with responsibility and only Christianity provides for that possibility.
Christianity converts by teaching, while most other religions convert by birthright, edict, force, or threat of death. In the Old Testament God’s people wanted to be like the nations around them and that is exactly what they became. They became wicked and suffered God’s wrath and our ‘Christian’ nation wants to follow that same pattern. More than half (57%) of ‘evangelical Christians’ believe other religions are just as good as Christianity for getting someone to eternal life. So many think that tolerance is king. Those who believe that don’t have Christ as King, because He will never share the throne with the false religious founders and leaders of the world.
Those that are matters of opinion we accept that we will disagree about. Some people will like Colby, Mozzarella or Monterey Jack, some will like Cheddar, American or Swiss, still others prefer Bleu, Limburger or Parmesan. Some of the kinds that others like we may find disgusting, or maybe we just don’t like cheese at all. Is that the way it is with religion? Some say that it is. Many will say ‘well there are different churches because people need to find one that fits them and makes them comfortable’. Some would even go so far as to say the same thing about the different world religions. Is Hinduism better than Islam? Is Judaism better than Buddhism? Is Christianity better than Atheism?
According to a study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life 70% of religious Americans believe that one is as good as another, and that many different religions lead to eternal life. I don’t know who these 70% are, but I know they are not really Christians even if they claim to be. One of the foundations of Christianity is faith in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God and the only Savior. Jesus himself says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”(John 14:6). At another time He proclaims, “for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Peter also explains in Acts 4:10-12, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. {11} This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. {12} Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
When it comes to the religions of the world there is little difference among most of them, but Christianity is better. How can I make such a judgmental statement. Notice, I did not say I like Christianity better. That is what I would say of matters of opinion as in ‘I like Cheddar better than Swiss.’ This is the way we deal with things that are subjective. However, when I say that something is better, I must have some evidence or facts that can be weighed and judged objectively. So, why do I have the audacity to say Christianity is better, not just better, but I say it is undoubtedly the best religion there is or ever has been? Because I believe the evidence demands that verdict. This short article can’t present all of the evidence available, but consider the following:
1) It is better because of the principles that it preaches.
2) It is better because of the promises it provides.
3) It is better because of the people it produces.
4) It is better because of the providence of the God who protects it.
5) It is better because of the price that was paid to begin it.
6) It is better because of its plan to save from the penalty of sin.
7) It is better because of the permanently empty tomb of the perfect author and perfecter of the faith.
8) It is better because of the prophecy that promised it centuries before it came.
Christianity is the only religion in the world that has a God who made, loves, carries, washes, feeds, cares for, protects, and sacrificed for His people. Other religions do those things for their gods.
Weigh the following and see which is better. Which one will make for a better world to live in? What would the world be like if everyone lived by the first? The second? Etc.
1) Love yourself and look out for number one.
2) Love your family and hate everyone else.
3) Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
4) Love those who share your religious belief and destroy everyone else.
5) Love even your enemies and do good to them that hate you.
Not everyone lives by any one of these, but if they did the last would obviously lead to a better world. Just remember that not all who claim Christianity live by its teachings.
One more set of principles to compare:
1) Do to others what you want done to you.
2) Don’t do anything to someone that you wouldn’t want done to you.
3) Do whatever feels good to you.
4) Do what is best for the biggest group.
5) Do what is best for the richest.
Many religions are based on the second or even the fourth and these are lauded as great principles, but when compared to the first they fall short. Imagine someone with a disease of some kind. The fourth says kill him so he won’t be a burden on the rest. The second says don’t kill him, but let nature take its course if he lives fine, if he dies fine. But Christ says what would you want if you were sick? Someone to care for you, make a medicine that would help you, love you, talk to you.
Unfortunately, we live in a society that used to value individual human lives, but that now is more interested in the ‘greater good’ which calls for more abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, drug-controlled children, and government regulations on everything. I am reminded of Asimov’s robot stories about the three laws of robotics (Some of you are more familiar with Will Smith’s movie I Robot). The first law was that a robot could not harm a human. Sounds like a good idea, but the robots quickly found that humans harmed themselves and began to imprison them to keep them safe from everything from murders to car wrecks to high cholesterol. Christianity teaches the highest moral code in existence, but it also proclaims individual freedom and responsibility. True Christianity understands that God has given each individual the freedom to destroy his own life even though it is against God’s will, but no individual is given the freedom to harm others. We desperately need to balance freedom with responsibility and only Christianity provides for that possibility.
Christianity converts by teaching, while most other religions convert by birthright, edict, force, or threat of death. In the Old Testament God’s people wanted to be like the nations around them and that is exactly what they became. They became wicked and suffered God’s wrath and our ‘Christian’ nation wants to follow that same pattern. More than half (57%) of ‘evangelical Christians’ believe other religions are just as good as Christianity for getting someone to eternal life. So many think that tolerance is king. Those who believe that don’t have Christ as King, because He will never share the throne with the false religious founders and leaders of the world.
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