Post by disciple on Jun 8, 2010 9:47:03 GMT -5
When Worldviews Collide outline
c. 1
6 things that make Christianity different from religion
1) God is Father (personal relationship)
2) Christ is Savior (redemption)
3) Grace brings redemption
4) The world is our mission field (love for all)
5) Christ gives eternal life
6) Christ literally conquered death (resurrected leader)
c. 2
3 types of Christians who confront culture
1) positive apologetics, explaining the truth (Barnabas)
2) negative apologetics, exposing falsehood (Paul)
3) contextual apologetics, using culture to point to truth (Peter)
4 needs all belief systems seek to satisfy
1) desire for knowledge
2) desire for community
3) desire for freedom from guilt
4) desire for legacy / eternal life
4 categories of religion: mythological, philosophical, empirical, historical
Skeptic’s worldview: all belief systems are equally wrong, faith & reason are mutually exclusive, faith is weakness
Spiritualist’s worldview: all religions are of human origin (humanism), all religions are the same (relativism), all religions are true (syncretism), all religions are helpful (existentialism)
c. 3
5 worldview questions (Ac. 17:22-34)
1) Who am I? (God & humanity)
2) How can I know? (authority & truth)
3) Why am I here? (purpose & ethics)
4) Where am I going? (eternity & legacy)
5) Is there any hope? (salvation & security)
4 ways religions attempt to alter Jesus for their own purposes
1) Redefine Him as a prophet (proclaim Jesus as the one and only)
2) Realign Him as a partner (show that Jesus is Lord—from creation, sovereignty, universal need)
3) Confine Him to one people (explain the invitation is open to all)
4) Consign Him to the past (show that God reveals the truth)
c. 4
Hinduism
God
Christianity--One God. Personal and knowable. Distinct from creation.
Hinduism--Impersonal and unknowable
Jesus
Christianity--Unique Son of God who provided salvation through atoning death and resurrection
Hinduism--An enlightened man
Source of Authority
Christianity--Bible is divinely inspired and preserved, contains perfect instruction and truth
Hinduism--The Vedas and other writings
Humanity
Christianity--Not part of God. Sinful by nature.
Hinduism--Divine. Part of God. Basically good.
Sin
Christianity--Sinful nature & choices are humanity’s problem
Hinduism--No sin. Ignorance of divinity is humanity’s problem.
Salvation
Christianity--Accepting God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ
Hinduism--Escaping law of karma & becoming one with God
Witnessing tips:
1) Build on their respect for sacred writings
2) Share that God loves all, regardless of caste
3) Help them break free from the cycle of reincarnation through Christ’s redemption
4) Offer hope for peace with God
c. 5
Buddhism
God
Christianity--God is real and personal
Buddhism--No god exists
Jesus
Christianity--Each person, of infinite worth, is created in God’s image
Buddhism--We are a collection of one force & are insignificant as individuals
Sin
Christianity--We suffer because we are born sinners. Sin is directly against a righteous God & alienates us from Him.
Buddhism--We suffer because of desire
Salvation
Christianity--Ultimate hope is forgiveness by God & reconciliation through Christ’s shed blood
Buddhism--Ultimate hope is to reach nonexistence, which is nirvana
Means of salvation
Christianity--Salvation comes only by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We do nothing to earn His love or salvation.
Buddhism--Enlightenment through the knowledge of the 4 Noble Truths achieved on the Eightfold Path. Achieved through good works.
Eternity
Christianity--We will live eternally with the triune God in heaven.
Buddhism--Nirvana is the end of reincarnation and of existence.
Witnessing tips
1) Explain that God is always near
2) Proclaim Christ’s victory over suffering
3) Avoid confusing terms like “new birth,” “rebirth,” “born again”
4) Make a difference in society, showing that it is by grace
5) Share your testimony (personal experience)
c. 6
Judaism
God
Christianity--One God who reveals Himself in 3 persons
Judaism--Absolutely one. Not triune.
Jesus
Christianity--Unique Son of God who provided salvation through atoning death and resurrection
Judaism--Identity as Messiah rejected
Source of Authority
Christianity--Bible is divinely inspired and preserved, contains perfect instruction and truth
Judaism--The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), which is inferior to tradition
Humanity
Christianity--Sinful by nature
Judaism--Basically good
Sin
Christianity--Sinful nature & choices are humanity’s problem
Judaism--Sinful nature & the need for atonement denied
Salvation
Christianity--Accepting God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ
Judaism--Earned through prayer & adherence to law or good deeds
Witnessing tips
1) Respond to suspicion of anti-Semitism
2) Enter their world
3) Learn more about Jewish culture & terminology
4) Rely on prayer & Scripture’s promises about the Jewish people
5) Point to the Messiah
c. 7
Islam
God
Christianity--One triune God who is personal & knowable.
Islam--Allah is absolutely one. Not triune or personal.
Jesus
Christianity--Unique Son of God who provided salvation through atoning death and resurrection
Islam--Prophet, not God’s Son
Source of Authority
Christianity--Bible is divinely inspired and preserved, contains perfect instruction and truth
Islam--The Qur’an contains Allah’s exact words
Humanity
Christianity--Made in God’s image but sinful by nature
Islam--No sinful nature. Born pure. Basically religious.
Sin
Christianity--Sinful nature & choices are humanity’s problem
Islam--Breaking Allah’s law & not doing his will are sin
Salvation
Christianity--Accepting God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ
Islam--Based on Allah’s will. Pursued by conforming to 5 Pillars
Witnessing tips
1) Cultivate relationships 1st
2) Establish the Bible’s authority & accuracy
3) Demonstrate Christian love
4) Build on Islam’s respect for & beliefs about Jesus
5) Show sensitivity to Muslims’ perception of Christians & Americans
c. 1
6 things that make Christianity different from religion
1) God is Father (personal relationship)
2) Christ is Savior (redemption)
3) Grace brings redemption
4) The world is our mission field (love for all)
5) Christ gives eternal life
6) Christ literally conquered death (resurrected leader)
c. 2
3 types of Christians who confront culture
1) positive apologetics, explaining the truth (Barnabas)
2) negative apologetics, exposing falsehood (Paul)
3) contextual apologetics, using culture to point to truth (Peter)
4 needs all belief systems seek to satisfy
1) desire for knowledge
2) desire for community
3) desire for freedom from guilt
4) desire for legacy / eternal life
4 categories of religion: mythological, philosophical, empirical, historical
Skeptic’s worldview: all belief systems are equally wrong, faith & reason are mutually exclusive, faith is weakness
Spiritualist’s worldview: all religions are of human origin (humanism), all religions are the same (relativism), all religions are true (syncretism), all religions are helpful (existentialism)
c. 3
5 worldview questions (Ac. 17:22-34)
1) Who am I? (God & humanity)
2) How can I know? (authority & truth)
3) Why am I here? (purpose & ethics)
4) Where am I going? (eternity & legacy)
5) Is there any hope? (salvation & security)
4 ways religions attempt to alter Jesus for their own purposes
1) Redefine Him as a prophet (proclaim Jesus as the one and only)
2) Realign Him as a partner (show that Jesus is Lord—from creation, sovereignty, universal need)
3) Confine Him to one people (explain the invitation is open to all)
4) Consign Him to the past (show that God reveals the truth)
c. 4
Hinduism
God
Christianity--One God. Personal and knowable. Distinct from creation.
Hinduism--Impersonal and unknowable
Jesus
Christianity--Unique Son of God who provided salvation through atoning death and resurrection
Hinduism--An enlightened man
Source of Authority
Christianity--Bible is divinely inspired and preserved, contains perfect instruction and truth
Hinduism--The Vedas and other writings
Humanity
Christianity--Not part of God. Sinful by nature.
Hinduism--Divine. Part of God. Basically good.
Sin
Christianity--Sinful nature & choices are humanity’s problem
Hinduism--No sin. Ignorance of divinity is humanity’s problem.
Salvation
Christianity--Accepting God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ
Hinduism--Escaping law of karma & becoming one with God
Witnessing tips:
1) Build on their respect for sacred writings
2) Share that God loves all, regardless of caste
3) Help them break free from the cycle of reincarnation through Christ’s redemption
4) Offer hope for peace with God
c. 5
Buddhism
God
Christianity--God is real and personal
Buddhism--No god exists
Jesus
Christianity--Each person, of infinite worth, is created in God’s image
Buddhism--We are a collection of one force & are insignificant as individuals
Sin
Christianity--We suffer because we are born sinners. Sin is directly against a righteous God & alienates us from Him.
Buddhism--We suffer because of desire
Salvation
Christianity--Ultimate hope is forgiveness by God & reconciliation through Christ’s shed blood
Buddhism--Ultimate hope is to reach nonexistence, which is nirvana
Means of salvation
Christianity--Salvation comes only by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We do nothing to earn His love or salvation.
Buddhism--Enlightenment through the knowledge of the 4 Noble Truths achieved on the Eightfold Path. Achieved through good works.
Eternity
Christianity--We will live eternally with the triune God in heaven.
Buddhism--Nirvana is the end of reincarnation and of existence.
Witnessing tips
1) Explain that God is always near
2) Proclaim Christ’s victory over suffering
3) Avoid confusing terms like “new birth,” “rebirth,” “born again”
4) Make a difference in society, showing that it is by grace
5) Share your testimony (personal experience)
c. 6
Judaism
God
Christianity--One God who reveals Himself in 3 persons
Judaism--Absolutely one. Not triune.
Jesus
Christianity--Unique Son of God who provided salvation through atoning death and resurrection
Judaism--Identity as Messiah rejected
Source of Authority
Christianity--Bible is divinely inspired and preserved, contains perfect instruction and truth
Judaism--The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), which is inferior to tradition
Humanity
Christianity--Sinful by nature
Judaism--Basically good
Sin
Christianity--Sinful nature & choices are humanity’s problem
Judaism--Sinful nature & the need for atonement denied
Salvation
Christianity--Accepting God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ
Judaism--Earned through prayer & adherence to law or good deeds
Witnessing tips
1) Respond to suspicion of anti-Semitism
2) Enter their world
3) Learn more about Jewish culture & terminology
4) Rely on prayer & Scripture’s promises about the Jewish people
5) Point to the Messiah
c. 7
Islam
God
Christianity--One triune God who is personal & knowable.
Islam--Allah is absolutely one. Not triune or personal.
Jesus
Christianity--Unique Son of God who provided salvation through atoning death and resurrection
Islam--Prophet, not God’s Son
Source of Authority
Christianity--Bible is divinely inspired and preserved, contains perfect instruction and truth
Islam--The Qur’an contains Allah’s exact words
Humanity
Christianity--Made in God’s image but sinful by nature
Islam--No sinful nature. Born pure. Basically religious.
Sin
Christianity--Sinful nature & choices are humanity’s problem
Islam--Breaking Allah’s law & not doing his will are sin
Salvation
Christianity--Accepting God’s gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ
Islam--Based on Allah’s will. Pursued by conforming to 5 Pillars
Witnessing tips
1) Cultivate relationships 1st
2) Establish the Bible’s authority & accuracy
3) Demonstrate Christian love
4) Build on Islam’s respect for & beliefs about Jesus
5) Show sensitivity to Muslims’ perception of Christians & Americans