Thursday, June 25, 2009

Conversation with a Hindu (2)

Tuesday evening I spent some time with a new friend,Ram (pronounced Rahm). He is from India working in the United States until the end of the year. He shared with me the Hindu's understanding of Heaven and Hell. It was quite interesting listening to the concepts of Eastern Religion.

The great thing about Ram is his willingness to listen to me talk about Jesus. He's not anti-Jesus, he sees Jesus as one of the great masters (teachers). The thing he does not want to talk about is religion. He has shared with me on several occasions that Hinduism isn't a religion, it is a way of life. That's alright with me, because I believe that Christianity isn't a religion, it is a way of life. We both agree that religion has produced so pretty bad and inauthentic results.

The reason I bring this part of our discussion up is that it is so important for Christ followers to see our relationship with Jesus as a way of life. Ram explained to me people who live east of the Sindhu River in Pakistan are known as Hindu. Hindu defines a specific location and people group like those who live in European countries are known as European. There are certain lifestyles that label someone a European.

To be know as a Christian is not about being a part of a religion, it is an identity based one how you live. When Christ followers were first called Christians, it had nothing to do with how religious they were, they were identified as being people who followed Jesus.

Here is a question? How would you be identified based on how you live?

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Conversation with a Hindu

I am in the middle of a series called, "Things I wish Jesus Never Said." We have been looking at some tough and maybe controversial things that Jesus said when he walked this earth. Literally you could probably do several years of teachings of things you wish Jesus never said.

For what I am about to tell you it is important to tell you that the sign in front of the church simply gives the title of our series, not the topic of the day. This past Sunday the teaching was on: "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The issue we are addressing is whether Christianity is the only way to God or not. According to Jesus' statement here, Christianity is the only way.

According to a report put out by "religion.pewforum" 65% of self-identified Christians believe people can obtain eternal life through a non-Christian belief system. (Read more at Ed Stetzers blog)(Check out the May 11, 2009 entry)

Sundays teaching was not about bashing other world religions, it was about teaching why Christianity was unique compared to other world religions. I even shared some of the world religions I personally thought promoted a positive message, minus the hope of salvation through grace of course.

At the end of the second service a man walked in and sat down for the last 15 minutes of the service. I could tell he was from India right away. My first thought was, "Who called this man after first service to come and confront me on the teaching of the day." I prayed he would not stand up and make a scene when I was done.

After closing prayer I was looking for this man to explain to him what the message was about. He was looking for me as well. We went to my office and spent the next 30 minutes talking about the Hindu way of life. We are meeting again tonight to talk further. He wants to know more about Christianity.

There are a couple things amazing about this encounter: 1) He came because of the sign, 2) He is only in the United States until the end of the year and 3) He wants to know more about Christianity.

Pray that I can share with him the hope that only comes through Jesus. That what I say describes a lifestyle, not a religion.

I know the Spirit is involved, because of all days he chooses to show up, the teaching is on the difference between Christianity and other religions. I am excited to see what God does with this conversation.

Friday, June 12, 2009

God of Power

Last night we didn't get to go fishing in the evening. We were not able to experience God's peace. God showed up with power last evening. We had a massive storm move through. Same spot different result. We all sat on the back porch which overlooks the lake. It rained so hard the mountain range which creates a beautiful back drop disappeared.

The great thing about a storm on Smith Mountain Lake is that you are in the mountains and the clouds seem so low you could reach out an touch them. The lightening looks like it is dancing on the water as it bolts from the sky.

In Noah's day two things happened. It rained for the first time and it was the start of the boating industry. When it rains as hard as it did last night, it can be frightening. If it rained that hard in Noah's day they had to be in awe and fearful at the same time.

Proverbs tells us that the beginning of all knowledge is the fear of God. When you see the power of God like we saw the power of God last night, it brings upon a person a healthy fear of God's power.

I am glad I serve a God who is both peaceful and powerful.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

God of Peace

Right before dark last night I took the boys fishing out on Smith Mountain Lake. We had planned to go earlier but a summer storm moved through. When we went out, there was nobody on the lake. Just two hours before the lake had white caps on it, now it was calm. We were at the base of the mountain and it was so quiet and peaceful.

I love these moments when you are away from everything and you are able to soak in what God created. Even though you feel like you are alone you're not. God is everywhere, especially in the quietness. I kept pointing out to the boys how quiet it was. One of them pointed out the sun set off to the west as it came across the lake. In the stillness and quietness of the world it is hard not to experience God's presence.

I wonder what it was like for Adam and Eve living in the garden with the God of peace all around them. How could they desire more than what they had and eat from the only tree God told them not to eat from? They took what God had given them for granted. They stopped looking around and seeing God. They began to look at what they did not have instead of all that they had. And in that moment they lost it all.

On the lake, I could not stop looking at everything around me. I love the peacefulness of God. I can't wait to go out again this evening to experience His peace. I just hope we catch a few fish. But if we don't, it doesn't matter I got to fish with my heavenly Father.