HIGHLIGHTS OF A CONSTRUCTIVE BAHA’I-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

A MUTUAL EXPLORATION OF THE WORD OF GOD HIGHLIGHTS OF A CONSTRUCTIVE BAHA’I-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

Christianity: a mutal exploration of the Word of God • These principles apply to followers of every Faith • Focusing on Christianity because b/w 70-75% of RSA identify themselves as Christians (3 out of 4 people you will interact with) • Nicola:30mns; Martin 30mns

Source of info • Most info following is extracted from David Young’s ‘The Resurrection of all mankind’, (you can request full electronic copy of his handbook by emailing nicola@sandowntravel.co.za ) if you wish to look further in the subject.

The unfortunate effects of miscommunication

Compilation of actual Church Bulletins and Service bloopers: 1. Thursday night--Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.2. * The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.3. * At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.4. * The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet" in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Potential challenges in Baha’i-Christian dialogue that we need to be aware of • From a Christian perspective (possible perceived issues): • A Baha’i is not a Christian therefore this is a non starter for a discussion • A Baha’i does not believe in / follow the Bible therefore there is no common platform for discussion • Fear of undermining ‘uniqueness’ of station’ of Christ • Fear of being led astray if listen to anything other than Pastor / Church

Removing the barrier of fear • The above are all ‘fears’ and need to be addressed before a constructive, open discussion can be engaged in: “They must first try and remove any apprehensions in the people they teach” ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in The Individual and Teaching: Raising the Divine Call, p. 12)

Barriers (2): from a Baha’i standpoint • Unwillingness to engage: ‘myth that a Christian cannot be taught’ • Defeatist attitude: Overwhelmed by info: where do I start to equip myself with relevant understanding? (therefore decides not to start at all) • Uni-directional approach (as opposed to mutual exploration): use of jargon unknown or misunderstood by a Christian; no efforts to quote the Bible or research relevant quotes, etc.

Teaching principles discerned from the method exemplified by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá • Uncompromising love and attention for the seeker, and constant encouragement (there is no answer that disregards the question as unintelligent, inappropriate or wrong) • Taking the seeker back to the recognized Word of God, thus acknowledging that ‘that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized’ (Shoghi Effendi) and ensuring that the agreed standard is not man-made dogma or traditions (which would lead to disunity and disagreements) but the unerring Word of God. This also implicitly proclaims a Baha’i reverence of the Bible, respect for it and understanding that answers are to be sought in the revealed Word. • Lovingly guiding the seeker to conclusions through an attitude of ‘mutual exploration of the Word of God’, whereby it is not one’s opinion imposed on the other, but it is both the seeker and respondent jointly seeking to understand the revealed Word in an attitude of humility and reverence.

Fundamental and overarching principle in mutual exploration of the Word • Knowledgeis secondary in importance to devotion: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasizes that the “cultivating of heavenly attributes,” (PT, p 106) if evidenced by the Bahá'ís, is “absolute proof” and Shoghi Effendi confirms this: “One thing and only one thing will unfailingly and alone secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause, namely the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá'u'lláh.” (BA, p 66)

Underlying principles (2) • Personal Spiritualization: “If he be kindled with the fire of His love, if he forgoeth all created things, the words he uttereth shall set on fire them that hear him.” (ADJ, p 42) ; Detachment: “If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with him.” (Gl, p289) ; AKindly Tongue: “Consort with all men ... in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship ... A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men.” (Gl, p 289); Humility: “In accordance with the divine teachings in this glorious dispensation we should not belittle anyone and call him ignorant, saying: ‘you know not, but I know.’ Rather we should look upon others with respect and when attempting to explain and demonstrate, we should speak as if we are investigating the truth, saying: ‘Here these things are before us. Let us investigate to determine where and in what form the truth can be found.’... The teacher should not see in himself any superiority: he should speak with the utmost kindliness, lowliness, and humility, for such speech exerteth influence and educateth the souls.” (SWAB, p 30) [Teaching should be a mutual exploration of the Word of God.]

Bringing our fellow believers in Christ back to the Word of God which is our common platform • Statistics indicate that we now live in a culture of ‘non-Biblical’ Christianity, (most knowledge is gained by hear say or by pastor, and given that there are over 25,000 subdivision on Christianity, there is much doctrinal and basic discordance.

Stats (USA but applicable to RSA) • ResearchersGallup and Castelli : • "Americans revere the Bible--but, by and large, they don't read it. And because they don't read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates. • " Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels. • Only half of American adults can name any one of the four Gospels • Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples. • 60 percent of Americans can't name even five of the Ten Commandments. • According to 82 percent of Americans, "God helps those who help themselves," is a Bible verse. Those identified as born-again Christians did better--by one percent. • A majority of adults think the Bible teaches that the most important purpose in life is taking care of one's family. • at least 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife. • Graduating high school seniors: over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. • A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham. (Christianity.com )

Paradigm 1: The Bible naturally leads to Baha’u’llah. We assist our fellow believers in Christ by referring back to the Holy Scriptures • [ inscription in Bible by ‘Abdu’l-Baha’] “This book is the Holy Book of God, of celestial Inspiration. It is the Bible of Salvation, the Noble Gospel. It is the mystery of the Kingdom and its light. It is the Divine Bounty, the sign of the guidance of God. “ (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 17) • “ You must know the Old and the New Testaments as the Word of God. “(The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 201)

PARADIGM 2: It is helpful to view our fellow believers in Christ as our co-religionists, not drawing lines • “This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.”(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 136) • “He [ Jesus ] hath once more, in My person, been made manifest unto you.” (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 100)

‘ O would that all were truly Christian!’ • “Thou didst begin thy letter with a blessed phrase, saying: 'I am a Christian.' O would that all were truly Christian! It is easy to be a Christian on the tongue, but hard to be a true one. Today some five hundred million souls are Christian, but the real Christian is very rare: he is that soul from whose comely face there shineth the splendour of Christ, and who showeth forth the perfections of the Kingdom; this is a matter of great moment, for to be a Christian is to embody every excellence there is. I hope that thou, too, shalt become a true Christian. Praise thou God that at last, through the divine teachings, thou hast obtained both sight and insight to the highest degree, and hast become firmly rooted in certitude and faith. It is my hope that others as well will achieve illumined eyes and hearing ears, and attain to everlasting life: that these many rivers, each flowing along in diverse and separated beds, will find their way back to the circumambient sea, and merge together and rise up in a single wave of surging oneness; that the unity of truth, through the power of God, will make these illusory differences to vanish away. This is the one essential: for if unity be gained, all other problems will disappear of themselves. “ (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 29)

‘When Christians act according to the teachings of Christ, they are called Bahá'ís’ • “PASTEUR MONNIER: Is your aim to found a new religion? ABDUL BAHA: Our aim is to free the foundation of religion from its moss grown dogmas; to dispel the black impenetrable fog of creed so that the religions may be flooded and illumined. May these foul clouds never return; may the rays of the eternal sun encircle all countries, for verily the resplendent sun of reality shines from age to age “ (Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 156) “When Christians act according to the teachings of Christ, they are called Bahá'ís. For the foundations of Christianity and the religion of Bahá'u'lláh are one. The foundations of all the divine Prophets and Holy Books are one. The difference among them is one of terminology only. Each springtime is identical with the former springtime. .. The difference between a Christian and a Bahá'í, therefore, is this: There was a former springtime, and there is a springtime now. No other difference exists because the foundations are the same. Whoever acts completely in accordance with the teachings of Christ is a Bahá'í. The purpose is the essential meaning of Christian, not the mere word. The purpose is the sun itself and not the dawning points. For though the sun is one sun, its dawning points are many. We must not adore the dawning points but worship the sun. We must adore the reality of religion and not blindly cling to the appellation Christianity. The Sun of Reality must be worshiped and followed. We must seek the fragrance of the rose from whatever bush it is blooming -- whether oriental or western. Be seekers of light, no matter from which lantern it shines forth. Be not lovers of the lantern.” (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 247)

Example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s method BAPTISM

Example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s method In the Gospel according to St John, Christ has said: 'Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.'[ John iii, 5.]The priests have interpreted this into meaning that baptism is necessary for salvation. In another Gospel it is said: 'He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire'.[Matthew iii, 11.] Thus the water of baptism and the fire are one! It cannot mean that the 'water' spoken of is physical water, for it is the direct opposite of 'fire', and one destroys the other. When in the Gospels, Christ speaks of 'water', He means that which causes life, for without water no worldly creature can live [... ] .Water is the cause of life, and when Christ speaks of water, He is symbolizing that which is the cause of Everlasting Life. This life-giving water of which He speaks is like unto fire, for it is none other than the Love of God, and this love means life to our souls.By the fire of the Love of God the veil is burnt which separates us from the Heavenly Realities, and with clear vision we are enabled to struggle onward and upward, ever progressing in the paths of virtue and holiness, and becoming the means of light to the world.There is nothing greater or more blessed than the Love of God! It gives healing to the sick, balm to the wounded, joy and consolation to the whole world, and through it alone can man attain Life Everlasting. Thus I exhort each of you, realizing its power and beauty, to sacrifice all your thoughts, words and actions to bring the knowledge of the Love of God into every heart.(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 81)

Example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s method • Note that ‘Abdu’lBaha: • does not discard the question as unintelligent or misinformed • does not say that baptism is irrelevant and a discarded tradition • Puts the focus back on the Word of God, bringing the seeker to the common ground of the Revealed Word • Informs us of the true meaning of baptism and how central it is to spiritual transformation

Baptism by fire • Kindle the fire of love and burn away all things,Then set thy foot into the land of the lovers. (Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 11)

CONCLUSION • As Baha’is , we are upholders and defenders of the Gospel, and of Christianity. We have a great opportunity to reach out to our fellow believers in Christ and mutually explore the Word of God to come into closer communion with the object of our love.

HIGHLIGHTS OF A CONSTRUCTIVE BAHA’I-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE