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3 Responses to Christianity

3 Responses to Christianity. What people hear when you say, “I am a Christian.”. Response #1 Every other religion is wrong!. Tolerance, Ex clusivity, Majority, Pluralism. 1 st Century Encounter. Acts 17:16-34

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3 Responses to Christianity

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  1. 3 Responses toChristianity What people hear when you say, “I am a Christian.”

  2. Response #1Every other religion is wrong! Tolerance, Exclusivity, Majority, Pluralism

  3. 1st Century Encounter • Acts 17:16-34 • Areopagus – a panel of men who heard the newest and best debates, met on Mars Hill (v.18-21) • Defining the “right/correct religion” (v.22-23) • God is Creator (v.24a) • God is Sovereign (v.24b) • God is transcendent (v.24c-25b) • God is personal (v.25c-27) • God different/separate from/unlike idols (i.e. holy) (v.29) • God as Redeemer (v.30-31)

  4. 1st Century Encounter What is Paul saying? Every other religion is wrong!

  5. 21st Century Encounter You are not being tolerant! You are not being inclusive! 90% of the world disagrees! All religions teach the same thing!

  6. Tolerance • Defined – “Even though I may not agree with you, I respect your right to believe as you do.” • In practice – I can personally like a Muslim or Mormon or Buddhist… • Equality of People

  7. Tolerance • Re-Defined – “Even though I may not agree with you, your beliefs and my beliefs are equal.” • In practice – Society wants me to not only personally like a Muslim or Mormon or Buddhist, but to personally validate their beliefs! • Equality of Ideas

  8. Tolerance • All people are equal and deserving of respect. • NOT all ideas/beliefs are equal, i.e. correct, and therefore not deserving of acceptance. There cannot be only one right way…right?

  9. Exclusivity • Opposite – Each belief has its own merits, and cannot be ‘better’ than any other belief • RELATIVE TRUTH (subjective truth) • “Is it warm in here?” • Defined – One belief is correct…by default making all other positions wrong • ABSOLUTE TRUTH • Mathematics • Gender • Language • Morality

  10. Exclusivity While flying, the plane you are on suddenly experiences a catastrophe. The pilot crash lands in a field, but the plane is damaged and ablaze. The stewardess directs you to the only exit not consumed by flames. Is she “mean, arrogant, hateful” for her directions? A young man went to the doctor and was diagnosed with deadly but treatable disease. The doctor prescribed the only known antibiotic and a change of diet. Is the doctor “mean” or “arrogant” or “hateful” for his diagnosis and prescription?

  11. Exclusivity • Truth is absolute • Truth by nature is exclusive – it does not allow for ‘untruth’! 90% of the people cannot be wrong…right?

  12. Majority Objection: How can so many people be wrong? • Majority Rules • Other terms: consensus, popular, democratic Why does this objection have such appeal? • America as a democracy • Safety in numbers

  13. Majority How can so many people be wrong? • The one time in history every human was in agreement • “Everybody else is doing it!” • “If all your friends jumped off a cliff…” How does this objection validate the biblical position? • Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23 • Romans 1:18-23

  14. Majority • A simple majority never proved or disproved the truth (to err is human!) • The biblical record confirms our experience, that salvation is offered freely to all but only a minority will come In the end, all religions teach the same thing…right?

  15. Pluralism • Tolerance – of ideas • Inclusivity – no one is “right/wrong” • Relative truth – everyone has some of the truth • Popularism – majority cannot be wrong • Emphasize commonalities of religions: love, respect for others, moral codes, faith, peace

  16. Pluralism Do all religions teach the same thing? • Short answer: NO! • Long answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOO! The underlying belief: that religion is man-made! Judaism Islam Pantheism Atheism Theism Christianity Polytheism Monotheism

  17. Pluralism • All man-made religions teach the same thing: that man must search for ‘god’ and earn his own way into favor with ‘god’. • Only biblical Christianity defines religion as “God’s search for man”! In our search for truth, let’s return to the 1st century…

  18. 1st Century Encounter • Acts 17:16-34 • Areopagus – a panel of men who heard the newest and best debates, met on Mars Hill (v.18-21) • Defining the “right/correct religion” (v.22-23) • God is Creator (v.24a) • God is Sovereign (v.24b) • God is transcendent (v.24c-25b) • God is personal (v.25c-27) • God different/separate from/unlike idols (i.e. holy) (v.29) • God as Redeemer (v.30-31) Acts 17.30b God is seeking people who will repent!

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