Evangelism / World Religions

1. Evangelism / World Religions

2. Ambassadors for Christ 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

3. Purpose • Equip • Knowledge • Tactics • Encourage • Philemon 6 - I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

4. How many times does the word “love” appear in the book of Acts?

5. How many times does the word “love” appear in the book of Acts?Zero (0)

6. Historical facts

7. Historical facts • Jesus was a real person who died on a cross • The disciples believed He rose physically • The Apostle Paul . . . • persecuted Christians then converted • wrote at least Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Galatians and Philemon, which record key doctrines and traditions at early dates. • We know the original writings of the Bible with 99.5% accuracy, and 100% on major doctrines

8. If you get stumped . . .

9. If you get stumped . . . • “I don’t know, but I’ll find out” • Humble response • Takes all the pressure off you • Keeps you from giving bad answers • Gives you time to prepare better answers • Lets you make an appointment to come back later to talk about God

10. Believer Non-believer

11. Always seek to move people to the right Moving towards Jesus  Believer Non-believer

12. Always seek to move people to the right Faith, from Grace Moving towards Jesus  Believer Non-believer

13. Always seek to move people to the right Faith, from Grace Moving towards Jesus  Discipleship  Believer Non-believer

14. Pluralism • All religions are equally valid paths to God • Seriously flawed thinking • Basic logic: Something can’t be “A” and “Not A” at the same time • Jesus as God / Messiah • Reincarnation vs. die and face judgment • Jesus’ death on cross

15. Should we sent out “reverse missionaries? • If all religions lead to God and your current religion involves you being persecuted, you should switch, right? • Reverse missionaries would convert people from Christianity to their local religion. • If that sounds foolish, then perhaps the concept of religious pluralism is as well.

16. Does Christianity allow for other paths? • No. 100 passages note that Jesus is the only way. One hundred! • Old Testament: Only one God! • That doesn’t prove we’re right, just that it is an essential Christian doctrine.

17. Works Jewish Hindu Buddhist Muslim Mormon Etc. Grace Christianity Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. The difference is grace

18. Islam Bible has been corrupted Jesus did not die on the cross Allah leaves sins unpunished (scales) Started and spread through violence Jesus - just a prophet Christianity Bible has been transmitted accurately Jesus died on the cross God punishes all sin Persecution for first 300 years Jesus is God Just the same?

19. And for claiming that they killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of GOD. In fact, they never killed him, they never crucified him - they were made to think that they did. All factions who are disputing in this matter are full of doubt concerning this issue. They possess no knowledge; they only conjecture. For certain, they never killed him.Instead, GOD raised him to Him; GOD is Almighty, Most Wise. Koran, Sura 4:157-158

20. Christianity Thorough, early accounts in the Bible by many witnesses Secular documentation Historical fact Close to the time of the event Islam One sketchy revelation Over 500 years after the event View of the cross

21. Islam Bible has been corrupted Jesus did not die on the cross Allah leaves sins unpunished (scales) Started and spread through violence Jesus - just a prophet Christianity Bible has been transmitted accurately Jesus died on the cross God punishes all sin Persecution for first 300 years Jesus is God Just the same?

22. Mormon We lived before we came to earth Multiple levels of Heaven God used to be a man Jesus = spirit brother of Lucifer Saved by works Great neighbors? Yes! Christians? No. Christianity God is eternally existent Jesus is God and the creator of the universe Saved by grace Just the same?

23. Comments from a MormonI can see that we do double speak, trying to stand on both sides of the line and often feign ignorance until called out. I found myself doing it . . . I fully understand that as a Mormon, I am dishonest if I try to make our doctrines sound the same as yours so that we can get along better. They are different and I know that. . . . By definition, our church proclaims that yours is wrong. We send out missionaries to say other churches are wrong, come be baptized here instead.

24. Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

25. Mormons • Do they think Galatians 1 is authoritative? • Does the book of Mormon teach the same Gospel as Paul, or a different one? • If the same, then stick with the Bible, as the book of Mormon would be redundant. • If different, then heed warnings of the Bible • If they ask you to pray about the book of Mormon . . .

26. Jehovah’s Witness Jesus isn’t God Not allowed to take materials Works based 144,000 “anointed ones” Annihilation instead of Hell Christianity Jesus is God – show verses – John 1:1-5 John 8:58: “I AM” vs. “I have been” Test everything; hold onto the good Just the same?

27. John 1:1 • Real version: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. • JW version: “and the Word was a God.” • Contradicts monotheistic passages • They don’t translate it “a God” anywhere else.

28. Hinduism / New Age Reincarnation This is an illusion Karma All religions are valid No literal Heaven or Hell Christianity Die once then face judgment (Hebrews 9:7) This is real Heaven & Hell are real Christianity claims to be exclusive Just the same?

29. New Age quotes • We create our own reality. • This is all just an illusion. • We are all connected / the same thing. • There is no right or wrong.

30. Buddhist Goal: Eliminate desire The existence of the individual self is an illusion Self-reliant No creator God No Heaven or Hell Christianity Sin is our problem One God Heaven & Hell are real Jesus is God Just the same?

31. Other • Hare Krishna • Jesus is not God, just an enlightened vegetarian • Reincarnation • Chanting / rule following to release bad Karma • Wicca • Jesus is rejected or just considered a teacher of love and compassion. • We’re not sinful / don’t need salvation

32. Why I can’t be an atheist . . . • Something came from nothing? • Life came from non-life? • Evolution to everything we see today? • Oxymoronic fine–tuning from chaos? • Consciousness from materials? • Morality from nothing?

33. Summary • Be obedient – share the truth of Jesus in love where possible • Faith flags • Be equipped to tell your story • Understand their perspective • “I don’t know, but I’ll find out” • Pray • Ask questions • Proclaim the Gospel

34. Ambassadors for Christ 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

35. Who’s in charge?God is.John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

36. Email - neil@4simpsons.comBlog - www.4simpsons.wordpress.com Stand to Reason - www.str.orgChristian Apologetics & Research Ministry - www.carm.org