Westhill & Kingswells Episcopal Church

What on Earth is God Doing?

Session 3 – Many Ways or One Way to God?

In this session we will attempt to

¨ consider the origins of and influences on religion;

¨ understand better the main features of religious belief and practice;

¨ appreciate the Bible’s perspective on religion;

¨ reflect on our own experience and practice in the light of this.

I. ORIGINS OF RELIGION

“Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made” (Romans 1:20)

1. Primitive religious concepts ¨ observation of natural cycles – eternity ¨ observation of cause and effect – great Cause ¨ dependence on the sun – powerful, unapproachable ¨ patterns in nature – design, purpose ¨ awareness of death bringing life – sacrifice, resurrection ¨ spiritual awareness – the spirit world 2. Organised religion ¨ written scriptures ¨ Middle Eastern – Judaism, Christianity, Islam ¨ Indian - Hinduism ¨ Far Eastern - Buddhism

II. GENERAL FEATURES OF RELIGION

“they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness.” Romans 2:15

1. A divine power beyond ourselves

¨ faith and trust

¨ dependence for well-being

¨ service and worship

2. Rules governing our relationship with the divine

¨ moral requirements imposed on us

¨ an accounting for the way we live

¨ sacrifice needed to avert wrath or receive blessing

3. A preferred spiritual state to aspire to

¨ physical death not the end

¨ blessing for those who perform correctly

¨ those who don’t make the grade lose out

III OTHER MAIN WORLD RELIGIONS

“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27)

1. Judaism ¨ the early Church was Jewish ¨ Jesus fulfilled Judaism (Matthew 5:17,18) ¨ dependence on the Law (John 5:39,40) ¨ rejected Jesus as Christ (Romans 9:31-33)
2. Islam ¨ claims to continue the faith of Abraham ¨ Qur’an literally uttered by God ¨ no relationship in God or with God ¨ no concept of “God is love” ¨ depend on God’s compassion and mercy ¨ God sees all (cp Genesis 18:13,14) ¨ key themes: believe, surrender, will of God, prayer
3. Hinduism ¨ many streams of belief ¨ different levels of religious understanding ¨ it is the unseen that is real ¨ all are somewhere on the path to God ¨ the ultimate end is identity with God	Hindu prayer From the unreal lead me to the real; from darkness lead me to light; from death lead me to immortality
4. Buddhism ¨ religion without God? ¨ The ultimate end is Nirvana ¨ Key themes: benevolence, discipline, meditation, tranquility

IV BIBLICAL VIEW ON RELIGION

“I am the way, the truth and the life: no-one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6)

1. The enemy seeks to lead astray

¨ blinding minds (2 Corinthians 4:4)

¨ masquerading as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13,14)

¨ lying (John 8:44; Genesis 3:4; 1 John 4:1)

¨ deceiving with half-truths (Genesis 2:16,17 and 3:1; Psalm 91:11-13 and Luke 4:10,11)

¨ seeking worship for himself (Luke 4:5-7; 1 Corinthians 10:19,20)

2. Adherence to Scripture alone is insufficient

¨ the letter without the Spirit kills (2 Corinthians 3:6)

¨ knowledge without relationship is death (John 5:39,40)

¨ the law merely reveals our shortcomings (Romans 3:20)

3. Religious form and ceremony of themselves achieve nothing

¨ sacrifices insufficient (Psalm 51:16,17; Hebrews 9:9; 10:4)

¨ ceremony irrelevant (Galations 5:6)

¨ religious disciplines valueless (Colossians 2:20-23)

¨ the law brings a curse (Galations 3:10; 4:21-26)

4. Not religion but relationship

¨ knowing God personally (John 17:3)

¨ only through Christ (Acts 4:10-12)

¨ by God’s grace (Romans 3:22-24)

¨ achieved by His Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14)

Questions

1.  Would you call yourself a Christian? If so,

(a) what makes you one?

(b) to what extent is your Christianity a religion or a relationship?

2.  What attitude should a Christian have to a neighbour or acquaintance who follows another faith, such as Islam or Hinduism?