Comparing Christian and Hindu paths to salvation

¶ … Gospel of Christ to Hinduism. The writer explores the differences between the two faiths and relays the basic tenets of the Christian faith to the reader to convert someone to Christ from the Hindu faith. There were three sources used to complete this paper.

Bringing Hindus to Christ

America has always prided itself on its diverse nature. It promotes the idea of religious freedom; in fact the nation was founded because of the desire by its residents to get away from a doctrine they didn't believe and to begin their own path to spiritual freedom. In America there are many different faiths represented. The constitution allows individuals to choose the faith they wish to follow (Lambert, 2003). One of the more significant benefits of such a system is that nobody is forced into their spiritual beliefs; they are instead free to examine study and choose the path that holds the most truth for them. While there are many different faiths represented in today's society two faiths that seem to be diametrically opposed are the Christian and the Hindu faiths. Each of them have a doctrine that guides its followers in how to conduct themselves in life, and each of them believes that they are the truth; however, only one holds the message of salvation.

Hindu

Hindus believe that the Creator of all things is Brahman and consists of many Gods while Christians believe in one God.(Hindu beliefs (http://www.himalayanacademy.com/basics/nineb/).

The Hindu faith also proclaims that the universe goes through constant and endless cycles of creation. The word karma comes from the Hindu faith because followers believe that good begets good and bad begets bad with one's life behavior and treatment of life, others and the Creator.

Hindus believe in reincarnation of the soul that involves the soul evolving through many births and then performing kind and good deeds on earth in those lives to earn the right to not have to keep coming back and instead be able to go to the Hindu version of heaven (Hindu beliefs (http://www.himalayanacademy.com/basics/nineb/).

Bringing a Hindu to Christ

At first glance it appears that the two faiths are completely opposed to each other in almost every way however, when one takes a second look one will find there are many similarities between what the Hindus believe and the Christians believe, therefore it should not be difficult to bring a Hindu follower to Christ.

The differences between Hinduism and Christianity are vast. There are numerous former Hindu followers that have left the faith and turned to Christ. "These people left a life of hopelessness, where they were dependent on their own works to escape from samsara, to a life of hope and assurance of their salvation. They left their millions-in-one impersonal gods, and found the one true God of the universe, who cares intimately for each one of them. For this reason, it is important to identify the most basic differences between Hinduism and Christianity (Christian Response to Hinduism (http://contenderministries.org/hinduism/christianresponse.php)."

While Hindus believe in a Creator the truth behind that creator is that there are many Gods within the Brahman. The Christian faith provides one Lord, one God and one true creator.

The bible instructs man to worship and love only one God.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deuteronomy 6:4

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15

In the Hindu faith each person is nothing more than a manifestation of the Brahman. It is something that can create great stress with the belief that one is on earth because in a previous life they were not worthy.

The Christian faith believes that God created all mankind with free will. He values and loves each of his children and trusts that they will make the right choices and follow his will and his doctrine. While the Hindu faith does not place much faith in the individual to choose, Christ has no doubt that those created will choose him even with the ability not to.

With Hinduism people are on earth almost as a punishment for past deeds in past lives. They are expected to live a life so pure that they will hopefully be allowed to enter the kingdom following their death, however, they have no way of knowing how many past lives their soul has endured and how many sins their past souls have committed.

In the Christian faith God has promised eternal life to all who embrace Jesus Christ as the savior and they are not expected to pay for sins committed by anyone other than themselves.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

It is important to understand the difference in the two faiths. In Hinduism man is individually punished for sins of past lives, however, in Christianity, Jesus died for all of man's sins and within that dean and resurrection he took on the punishment for all eternity.

Man does not have to pay for sins through anything other than accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and will be provided a place in heaven with eternal happy life because of that acceptance.

A but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23b

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9