Christ More Powerful
Analogies of Christ in Non-Christian Religions
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This book, “Christ more powerful: Analogies of Christ in non-Christian Religions” compares the ideals, symbols and deliverers of seven major non-Christian religions with the Christ of the New Testament. The author explains how Christ is really the only Savior who is a historical reality and not a myth. Verses from the Bible show who Christ is and what He does that overshadows the ideals and myths of deliverers in non-Christian religions. Pre-Christian Judaism has the belief in the hope of a Messiah who will usher in world peace and prosperity. The Messiah came the first time as the suffering Messiah, who died for the sins of the world. Through His death and resurrection, He provides the way to salvation and restoration for all who will receive Him. He will come the second time to judge the world as the ruling Messiah and to restore the entire world to righteousness. Although Judaism denies the Messiahship of Christ, both concepts of Messiah are fulfilled in Christ according to the New Testament. The symbol of the eternal flame in Zoroastrianism is examined. Verses from the Bible show how this symbol developed. Zoroastrianism borrows much from Judaism. The eternal flame, which represents God, overcomes evil in the world. Christ alone fulfills this as the perfect sacrifice for sin. In Islam, the hidden Jesus (Isa) of the Qu'ran is more than a prophet. The miracles listed in the Qu'ran refer to Jesus' work in the New Testament Gospels. They point to Jesus' identity as God and Savior of the world. Nothing can hide the power of Christ from being manifested. In Hinduism, the myth of Krishna is analogous to Christ. Statements made of Krishna can only be true of Christ according to the New Testament. Krishna and Christ are not the same. Christ is revealed historically as the true Savior and upholds the universe as the second person of the Trinity. Krishna is purely a mythological figure to divert worship from the true God. In Buddhism, the true bodhisattva can only be Christ because He is the only one who has come back from the dead (from paradise). Christ is really the only one qualified to be a bodhisattva even in Buddhist terms. He is sinless. He died to save all humankind, rose again and now lives in heaven for us. In Taoism, the Tao and the Word are compared. Although they are not the same, the poem of Lao Tsu about the Tao can only be true of Christ who is the wisdom of God. Instead of some mystical power through alignment with nature, Christians receive spiritual power, as they trust Christ for daily strength. In Shinto, the author compares the torii (doorway to the gods) with Christ, the door to God. The door comparison is followed by the concept of cleansing in Shinto and Christianity. Cleansing with water in Shinto is compared with the cleansing of the blood of Christ. The concepts of how righteousness is obtained in the two religions are also compared. In Shinto, it is by self-effort; in Christianity, it is via justification by faith in Christ. Conclusion: The author enumerates findings that can be drawn from the study.
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About the Book
This book compares the ideals, symbols and deliverers (saviors) of seven major non-Christian religions with the Christ of the New Testament. How do these religions relate to Christ and Christianity? The author shows that Christ is the only Savior who is a historical reality and not a myth. Verses from Scripture show who Christ is and how He overshadows the myths of deliverers in non-Christian religions. The ideals, symbols, and deliverers of each major religion, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Shinto, are discussed. The vision of this book is that people with contact with any of the seven major religions discussed may have Scripture to relate to the beliefs of these religions and be able to discuss meaningfully the significance of their beliefs with Christianity. The problem confronted in this book is Pluralism's claim that all religions lead to God. An alternative approach is presented, namely that Christ fulfills the ideals of any of the major religions presented. Throughout the discussion of each religion if the question of revelation. Would God give only revelation or many revelations for different cultures? The purpose of the book is not simply to compare religions. It is to show how the New Testament Christ fulfills any ideals or deliverer concepts in these non-Christian religions. The pattern of writing is to present material from each non-Christian religion and compare this with Christ as the more powerful, the incomparable, and only Savior of the world.
About the Author
The author has served for 42 years as a missionary in South Africa. He speaks two African languages. He has devoted his life to Bible and Theology teaching in Bible Colleges and extension schools. He was also Field Director for eleven years. He has a Master's degree from Wheaton Graduate School of Theology, a Masters in Missiology from Fuller School of World Missions, and a doctorate in Missiology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has taught courses in World Religions and Religious Pluralism on a university level. His interaction with people of Animistic, Hindu and Muslim backgrounds and his interest in all religions has led him to study the relationship of Christ to the seven major religions discussed in this book. He shows how Christ fulfills all ideals, symbols and deliverers in these religions. Besides a published work on Theological Education by Extension, he has contributed heavily to five programmed books published by Evangel Press on Bible subjects. These books have been translated into 43 different languages. One highlight of his ministry was leading a Muslim, young man, to Christ.