.jpg)
Not long ago as i was discussing religion with my friend ,he being a hindu ,told me that hinduism is a way of life ,whereas christianity is just a set of belief.Again as i was scanning through the latest issue of hinduism today i saw the same claim that hinduism is a way of life whereas christianity is just a set of beliefs.
Well it's true that hinduism prescribes a way or even many ways of living.But It is equally true that Christianty also is a way of life.The belief is always coupled with prescribed behaviour.Jesus' sermon on the mount is a call to a new lifestyle , kingdom lifestyle or way of living.Jesus, at the end of the sermon, warns his hearers that if they just hear and don't live according to it ,they will be considered foolish ,whereas those who hear and live according to it are wise in God's sight.
The earliest christians were called followers of the 'WAY'.They had a particular way of life , moral life ,which was in accordance to the teachings of Christ.
The apostle James write in his epistle that faith without deeds is dead.Faith or belief without the right behaviour or way of life is dead faith.The apostle paul in one of his epistles writes that the right expression of faith is love.
So it's a erraneous to assert that hinduism alone is way of life whereas Christianity is a just a set of beliefs.
universal god cannot be restricted to a period and locality.His love should be all inclusive and impersonal..It's unfair on his part to condem a very good humanbeing to eternal hell just because one is a atheist or is equally devoted to another god.
ReplyDeleteGod cannot be limited by time or locality..His love can only be all inclusive and impersonal.It's unjust to believe that a good (great) humanbeing will be condemed to hell eternaly just because he is a atheist or devoted to another god with pure thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why God sends people to hell is not because he does not love him.God loves everyone.His love is inclusivistic.
ReplyDeleteHe sends people to hell because they don't love him.
For example if you love someone and that person doesn't love you ,can you bring him/her to your house and live with him/her forever? You cannot because , in doing so you will be violating their free will.If you love someone you will not violate their free will.God does not violate anyones freewill because he really loves them ,and only when individuals choose to love him can he take them to heaven.
Love cannot be impersonal.You need atleast two persons in a relationship to call it love.
God's standard for accepting anyone into heaven is not goodness but holiness.That's why God in his love comes as Jesus and takes the punishment due for us on himself.That's God's expressing his Lovve for us.Now when i repent of my sins and believe that Jesus died for me then i enter into a relationship with God.If i continue in that relationship ,allow him to Change me and help me live according to his commands without breaking up then i can reach heaven.
Dear mohan if you are a hindu, then you come from a very different system from that of Chritianity.
ReplyDeleteHinduism rolls on karma and reincarnation.There is no place for forgiveness and restoration.You keep getting rebirths and you keep paying for what you did in your previous births.It is about what you do and that alone.
Christianity on the other hand is based on the Gospel.Gospel is about what God in His love did for manking.God pays for what i did during my lifetime.When i accept that act of love and respond repentence and faith that he indeed died for my sins,in my place, then my sins are forgiven, wiped clean and i am saved from what i really deserve.Now that'scalled grace.
Hope you understand the difference between karma and grace.