BUDDHISM AND THE BIBLE
Many people believe all religions
came from God even though they teach different and contradictory
doctrines. If all religions came from
God, they reason that we should simply choose the best of them and leave the others
alone. In fact, if all religions came
from God, then we should not criticize any of them. However, the Bible says
that God is not “the author of confusion”
(1 Corinthians 14:33). Since all the world religions are different
from one another and contradict one another, it is not possible that they all
came from God.
Of course there is some good in
most religions. If a religion were
entirely bad, most people would not be interested in following it. However, it takes only a little false doctrine
to destroy one’s soul. Among the many
religions which claim to be the guide for people in this life is Buddhism. Buddhism fits Paul’s description of those who
“changed the glory of the incorruptible
God into an image made like corruptible man....who exchanged the truth of God
for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator”
(Romans 1:23-25). As with many of
the other religions of Asia, Buddhism is idol
worship. There are many passages in the
Bible which condemn the folly and sinfulness of idol worship (Please read Psalm 115:4-8; 135:15-17; Isaiah 40:18-20;
Acts 19:24-28; 1 Corinthians 12:2).
Buddhism is based on the teachings
of Siddhartha Gautama (563? - 483?). He
was born in India
into a wealthy and noble family.
Gautama’s birthplace is now a part of the nation of Nepal. Gautama married at the age of sixteen. His son was born when he was
twenty-nine. After the birth of his son,
he began searching for “enlightenment.”
He practiced asceticism (denying one’s body its basic needs). When he did not find enlightenment this way,
he then turned to meditation. Through
this means, Gautama claimed he found enlightenment. Later, he began to teach his beliefs to
others.
Buddhism was born in India
which is the home of Hinduism. Since
Gautama came from a Hindu background, he included many Hindu beliefs and
practices in his religion. There are
many similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism for this reason. Two of the main ideas shared by both religions
are (1) reincarnation {the belief that one’s soul passes through many states of
existence} and (2) karma {the idea that how one lives in this present life will
determine how he will be reborn and how he will live in the next life}.
If the Bible is true (and it is), then anything which contradicts the Bible
must be false. We can prove the
Bible is true. It is the greatest Book
which has ever been written. The Bible
is from God and is inspired by Him (1
Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17). In the Bible we learn of Jesus Christ who is
the only way to God (John 14:6). We will be judged by the words of Jesus at the
last day (John 12:48). There are only two choices one has in life. He may choose the narrow way or the broad way
(Matthew 7:13, 14). If one wants to go to Heaven when he dies, he
must obey the will of God which is found in the Bible (Matthew 7:21-23).
Buddhism contradicts many of the truths of the Bible. The Bible teaches there is a God and only
one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah
44:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6). Buddhism’s teaching about God is contradictory
and unclear. In Buddhism it is possible
to believe in many gods or no gods at all.
The Bible claims to be God’s
Word. Therefore, it is our guide in
life for it reveals all spiritual truth (Psalm
119:105; John 14:26; 16:13; 2 Peter 1:3). Buddhism claims the
teachings of Gautama, along with one’s own feelings, are the guide in this life
(Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23).
The Bible proclaims Jesus to be
the Christ, the Son of the living God (Romans
1:4; John 20:30, 31). The Bible also tells us that Jesus arose from
the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Buddhism denies the claims of the Bible.
Buddhists teach that Jesus did not arise from the dead. Therefore, Buddhists deny that Jesus is the
Christ the Son of the living God. Both
Buddhism and Christianity cannot be true. One must be right and the other wrong! Both cannot be true!
The Bible reveals God’s plan to
save mankind through His church (Ephesians
3:8-11; Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:23). Buddhists deny this
is the path of salvation. According to
Siddhartha, a person must follow “the eight fold path” to Nirvana. Since this is contradictory to the Bible, we
know it is not right!
The Bible teaches that each one
of us has a soul. Our souls are
eternal. They will be judged by the Word of God at the last day (Matthew 10:28; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 2:16; 2
Corinthians 5:10). Buddhism,
however, teaches that one’s soul is involved in a constant wheel of
rebirth. It continues until one reaches
“Nirvana.” The Bible teaches that once
we die, we await the Judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
The only hope for this world is
Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:12; John 14:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9). May God
help each one of us to use every opportunity we have to teach the Gospel of
Christ to those who practice Buddhism and give Buddhists the opportunity to
turn to the true God and find eternal life in His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Romans 1:16).
God’s Plan of Salvation for Man
1. We must hear the truth.
Romans 10:14; Romans 10:17.
2. We must believe Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. Mark 16:16;
John 8:24.
3. We must repent of our
sins. Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38.
4. We must confess Christ
before men. Matthew 10:32, 33;
Romans 10:10.
5. We must be baptized
into Christ. Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21;
Acts 22:16.
6. We must continue to
live for Christ Revelation 2:10;
2
Peter 1:10; 2
Peter 3:18.
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