{"id":91400,"date":"2021-03-12T16:45:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T21:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/?p=91400"},"modified":"2023-10-07T23:58:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T03:58:57","slug":"hinduism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/hinduism\/","title":{"rendered":"Hinduism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Exodus\n20:3-5: <sup>3<\/sup>Thou shalt have no other gods before me. <sup>4<\/sup>Thou\nshalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is\nin heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under\nthe earth. &nbsp;<sup>5<\/sup>Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve\nthem: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the\nfathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that\nhate me;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">With the conversion of Julia Roberts from Christianity to Hinduism, attention is being paid to the differences between the two belief systems.&nbsp; What are those differences?&nbsp; Does it really make a difference? &nbsp;&nbsp;To determine the Biblical answers, we look to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Historical Context:&nbsp; Moses\nwas the author of the Book of Exodus (Exodus 17:14; 24:4-7; 34:27) written\nbetween 1440 and 1400 B.C.&nbsp; The Mosaic\nLaw as documented in Exodus was given in part to show mankind that they we are\nincapable of keeping it. Since we are unable to please God by law-keeping, Paul\nexhorts us to \u201cput our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith\nin Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one\nwill be justified\u201d (Galatians 2:16).&nbsp;\nWithin this law were ten primary commandments, the first relating to God\nHimself from which all other law is based.&nbsp;\nTo misunderstand the first commandment is to miss the nature and\ncharacter of God, miss His provision for sin, miss that provision\u2019s personal\nnature and application\u2026miss the opportunity for salvation\u2026miss eternal life\nwith God in heaven.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Grammatical Usage: V. 3:\n\u201cother\u201d in Hebrew is \u201cacher\u201d meaning, \u201cfurther as in addition to, following as\nin allegiance to and different as opposed to\u201d; \u201cgods\u201d is, \u201c&#8217;elohiym\u201d referring\nto a, \u201cruler, an angel, divine one or judge\u201d; \u201cme\u201d is \u201ceynp\u201d and literally\nmeans, \u201cin my face or presence\u201d; V. 4: \u201cimage\u201d is \u201chnwmt\u201d and means, \u201cform,\nlikeness, representation, semblance\u201d; V. 5: \u201cdown\u201d is \u201cShachah\u201d and\nspecifically means, \u201cto prostrate before a superior to pay homage\u201d; \u201cserve\u201d is\n\u201c`abad\u201d and means, \u201cto labor or work\u201d; \u201cLORD\u201d is \u201cY@hovah\u201d meaning, \u201cthe\nexisting One\u201d; \u201cvisiting\u201d or \u201cPaqad\u201d meaning, \u201cto reckon or deposit\u201d; \u201ciniquity\u201d\nor \u201c`avon\u201d meaning, \u201cperversity, depravity and guilt\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Literal Application: You\nwill not add, consider anything equal or consider me opposed by any other\nruler, angel or divine being as I am ever present \u2013 seeing all, knowing\nall.&nbsp; You will not have any other\nreference of Me whether it be a form, likeness, representation or semblance including any likeness of anything that is\nin heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under\nthe earth.&nbsp; You will not give yourself in\nhomage or labor on its behalf for I am the only existing One and therefore the\nonly One deserving of such; I will reckon to future generations the guilt of\nthis perversity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Contextual Interpretation: The definition of idolatry, according to Webster, is \u201cthe worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.\u201d An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. The most prevalent form of idolatry in Bible times was the worship of images that were thought to embody the various pagan deities. <br> From the beginning, God\u2019s covenant with Israel was based on exclusive worship of Him alone (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7). The Israelites were not even to mention the names of false gods (Exodus 23:13) because to do so would acknowledge their existence and give credence to their power and influence over the people. Israel was forbidden to intermarry with other cultures who embraced false gods, because God knew this would lead to compromise (Deut. 7:3-4). The book of Hosea uses the imagery of adultery to describe Israel\u2019s continual chasing after other gods, like an unfaithful wife chases after other men. The history of Israel is a sad chronicle of idol worship, punishment, restoration and forgiveness, followed by a return to idolatry. The books of 1 &amp; 2 Samuel, 1 &amp; 2 Kings, and 1 &amp; 2 Chronicles reveal this destructive pattern. The Old Testament prophets endlessly prophesied dire consequences for Israel if they continued in their idolatry. Mostly, they were ignored until it was too late and God\u2019s wrath against idol-worship was poured out on the nation. But ours is a merciful God, and He never failed to forgive and restore them when they repented and sought His forgiveness. <br> In reality, idols are impotent blocks of stone or wood, and their power exists only in the minds of the worshipers. The idol of the god Dagon was twice knocked to the floor by God to show the Philistines just who was God and who wasn\u2019t (1 Samuel 1:1-5). The \u201ccontest\u201d between God and His prophet Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is a dramatic example of the power of the true God and the impotence of false gods (1 Kings 18:19-40). The testimony of Scripture is that God alone is worthy of worship. Idol worship robs God of the glory that is rightfully His, and that is something He will not tolerate (Isaiah 42:8). <br> Even today there are religions that bow before statues and icons, a practice forbidden by God\u2019s Word. The significance God places upon it is reflected in the fact that the first of the Ten Commandments refers to idolatry.&nbsp;  <br> Idolatry extends beyond the worship of idols and images and false gods. Our modern idols are many and varied. Even for those who do not bow physically before a statue, idolatry is a matter of the heart\u2014pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony, a love for possessions, misplaced faith and ultimately rebellion against God. Is it any wonder that God hates it? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Scriptural\nComparison: Comparing\nHinduism and Christianity is challenging, in part, because Hinduism is a\nslippery religion to grasp. Hinduism is one of the oldest known organized\nreligions\u2014its sacred writings date as far back as 1400 to 1500 B.C. (no\ncoincidence that our text dates the same).&nbsp;\nIt is also one of the most diverse and complex, having millions of gods.\nHindus have a wide variety of core beliefs and exist in many different sects.\nAlthough it is the third largest religion in the world, Hinduism exists\nprimarily in India and Nepal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">There is perhaps no religion in the\nworld that is more variegated or ornate. Comparing Hinduism and Christianity\ncan easily overwhelm the novice of comparative religions. So, the proposed\nquestion should be considered carefully and humbly. The answer given here does\nnot pretend to be comprehensive or assume even an &#8220;in-depth&#8221;\nunderstanding of Hinduism at any particular point. This answer merely compares relevant\npoints between the two belief systems which, if nothing else is clear, clearly\nHinduism is in opposition to biblical Christianity on almost every count of its\nbelief system as outlined below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Hinduism has several missionary movements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">(1) Ramakrishna Mission<br>\n(2) Krishna Consciousness Society &#8211; The Hare Krishna movement<br>\n(3) Divine Light Mission<br>\n(4) Transcendental Meditation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>As evidence of the success of these movements,\nconsider:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">(1) The Krishna\nConsciousness movement claims it is &#8220;gradually becoming the most popular\nmovement in the entire world, especially amongst the younger generation&#8221;\n(BG, p. xi). It has built palaces in the United States and its devotees are\noften seen in airports and other public places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">(2) Many popular musical\ngroups have songs that relate to Hindu themes including Moody Blues, The Who,\nJohn McLaughlin, John Lennon, and George Harrison of the Beatles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">(3)\nTranscendental Meditation has become extremely popular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">(4) Games such as\n&#8220;Dungeons and Dragons&#8221; and similar computer games are filled with\nHindu concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">(5) The\nNew Age Movement also promotes Hindu ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Definition of Hinduism<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The term Hinduism refers\nto the religious and social institutions of India. We are concerned mainly with\nthe religious aspects, but both are tied together and are referred to by the\nterm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hinduism developed\nprogressively, so modern Hinduism differs from its historical roots. We will\nconsider mainly present beliefs and practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">There is much variation\nand sectarianism in Hinduism as in other religions. The views we discuss will\ngenerally be held in common by most, if not all, Hindus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[See bibliography for sources cited.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hindu Religious Authority<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The highest written\nauthorities in Hinduism are the Vedas of which there are four chief ones:\nRig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Atharva-Veda, and Yajur-Veda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The Brahmanas are\nauthoritative commentaries on the basic Vedas. Upanishads and Aranyakas are\nmore recent writings generally considered authoritative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Lesser authorities\ninclude the epic poems Ramayana and Mahabhrata. The latter includes the\nBhagavad-gita (BG, p. 24). These are not considered quite as high in authority,\nyet in practice they have had greater popular influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">&#8220;The Absolute Truth\nis contained in the <em>Vedas<\/em>, the oldest scriptures in the world. The essence\nof the <em>Vedas<\/em> is found in the <em>Bhagavad-gita<\/em>, a literal record of Krishna&#8217;s words&#8221; &#8211; Statement of Krishna\nConsciousness (Back, inside front cover; cf. BG, p. 13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">On this particular point\nconcerning competing scriptures, Christianity should be considered for its\nhistorical viability. Christianity has historically rooted characters and\nevents within its schema which are identifiable through forensic sciences like\narcheology and textual criticism. <strong>Hinduism\ncertainly has a history, but its theology, mythology, and history are so often\nblurred together that it becomes difficult to identify where one stops and the\nother begins.<\/strong> Mythology is openly admitted within Hinduism, which possesses\nelaborate myths used to explain the personalities and natures of the gods.\nHinduism has a certain flexibility and adaptability through its historical\nambiguity. <strong>But, where a religion is not\nhistorical, it is that much less testable.<\/strong> It may not be falsifiable at\nthat point, but neither is it verifiable. It is the literal history of the\nJewish and eventually Christian tradition that justifies the theology of\nChristianity. If Adam and Eve did not exist, if Israel\ndid not have an exodus out of Egypt,\nif Jonah was just an allegory, or if Jesus did not walk the earth then the entire\nChristian faith can potentially crumble on any one of those points. <strong>For Christianity, a fallacious history\nwould mean a porous theology.<\/strong> Such historical rootedness could be a\nweakness of Christianity except that the historically testable parts of the Christian\ntradition are so often validated that the weakness becomes a strength (<strong>Psalm 33:4<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">In addition, the highest caste called the Brahmans\n(religious teachers) are considered authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hindus do not claim these\nauthorities were all revealed by a deliberate act of God (as the Bible claims\nto have been). In general Hindus believe God is everywhere in nature, and godly\nmen can perceive the truth revealed within or around them. These Scriptures are\nviewed as truths these godly men have perceived from their own study. The\nBhagavad-gita, however, does claim to be the very words of Krishna.\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">While both Christianity\nand Hinduism have key historical figures, only Jesus is shown to have risen\nbodily from the dead. Many people in history have been wise teachers or have\nstarted religious movements. Hinduism has its share of wise teachers and\nearthly leaders. But Jesus stands out. His spiritual teachings are confirmed\nwith a test that only divine power could pass: death and bodily resurrection\u2014a\nfact which he prophesied and fulfilled in Himself (<strong>Matthew 16:21; 20:18-19; Mark 8:31; 1 Luke 9:22; John 20-21; 1\nCorinthians 15<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[WR136-140]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I. The Doctrine\nof God<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Hindu\nConcept of God<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pantheism<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hindus believe that God\nis ultimately an impersonal, eternal force, essence, or power of existence,\nwhich has none of the attributes or characteristics of persons (such as\nknowing, thinking, loving, etc.). This force is called Brahman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">God (Brahman) is present\neverywhere in everything in nature, especially in all living things: every\nplant, every animal, and especially every man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Brahman can be thought of\nas a sort of spirit force which has no personal qualities, but which pervades\neverything in the Universe. The attributes of personality are believed to exist\nonly in physical, material things. But God, in pure form, is impersonal and has\nno personal characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This impersonal essence,\npervading all things, is also found within us. Hence, the &#8220;spirit&#8221;\nwithin us is Divine. It is part of God. The real inner you is God. Your inner\nessence is the essence of Deity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Our eternal souls are\n&#8220;part and parcels of God.&#8221; &#8220;The soul is a small God&#8221; (Back\n&#8211; inside front cover and page 6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">When you are aware of it,\nyou begin to notice everyday references to such concepts &#8211; consider, for\nexample the &#8220;Force&#8221; in the Star Wars movies. It is also part of the\nNew Age Movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Polytheism<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This Divine Essence\nmanifests or expresses itself in the physical world in the form of physical\nbeings that have personality. As such, Deity is manifested in many gods of many\nforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">There are three Supreme\ngods: (1) Brahma, the creator, (2) Vishnu, the preserver, and (3) Siva, the\ndestroyer. These are generally recognized as equal. Certain sects, however,\nemphasize one or the other, while recognizing all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Avatars are incarnations\nof these gods who have come to earth as men. The best known are avatars of\nVishnu: (1) Rama, and (2) Krishna in the\nBhagavad-Gita.&nbsp; (In a 2007 interview with <em>Time<\/em> magazine,\nWriter\/Director James Cameron was asked about the meaning of the term \u201cavatar\u201d,\nto which he replied, &#8220;It&#8217;s an incarnation of one of the Hindu gods taking\na flesh form. In this film what that means is that the human technology in the\nfuture is capable of injecting a human&#8217;s intelligence into a remotely located\nbody, a biological body.&#8221; &#8211; Winters Keegan, January 11, 2007). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">There are also many\nlesser deities having various levels or realms of authority. Some rule over\ncertain areas of the earth or certain aspects of nature, such as fire, sun,\nwealth, water, etc. These can be reincarnated to various higher or lower\npositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Dead ancestors and\nreligious teachers are also worshiped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This worship often\ninvolves the use of many images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The worship of various\ndeities and images is popular among the people. The concept of the\nall-pervading Brahman is mainly theoretical among the religious leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hinduism has no concept\nof Creation in the Biblical sense. To Hindus, God forms physical beings from\nthings already existing or from Himself, but He did not create out of nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[WR140-142; EB-III,\n1011ff; EB-XI, 577ff; EB-XII, 182f]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">B.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Bible\nConcept of God<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">God possesses the\ncharacteristics of a personal spirit Being.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The Bible says that God\nis spirit (John 4:24), and is not flesh and blood (Matt. 16:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">However, His\ncharacteristics are those of a living, personal, individual Being. These\ninclude the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">* He lives (John 5:26).<br>\n* He loves (John 3:16; Rom.\n5:6-11).<br>\n* He speaks (Matt. 3:17)<br>\n* He works (John 5:17,20)<br>\n* He knows (Matt. 6:8,32)<br>\n* He wills (Matt. 7:21)<br>\n* He sees (Matt. 6:4,6,18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">God is not just an\nimpersonal force, nor does He need a physical body in order to possess personal\ncharacteristics. God is spirit, not material or physical, and yet He possesses\nthe characteristics of a personal individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Man is not Divine.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Spiritually man is in the\nimage or likeness of God (Gen. 1:26f; 5:1; 9:6; James 3:9; 1 Cor. 11:7). But\nour inner being is not Divine, not of the essence of God, and not to be\nworshiped. To believe we are Divine is blasphemous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Acts 10:25,26 &#8211; Peter\nrefused to accept worship from Cornelius because Peter himself was &#8220;a <strong><em>man<\/em><\/strong>.&#8221;\n[Cf. Rev. 22:8,9; 19:10]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Acts 14:15 &#8211; When the\npeople of Lystra tried to offer sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as gods (v8-18),\nthe inspired men said the people should cease such practices and worship the\nliving God. They said they were <strong><em>men <\/em><\/strong>of like passions with those\nattempting to worship them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">1 Samuel 15:29 &#8211; God is\nnot a man.&nbsp; It is not true that our inner\nessence is that of God. Therefore, it is not right to worship any man, neither\nancestors nor religious teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[See also Matt.\n23:8-12; Ezek. 28:2,6-10; Gen. 3:5; Acts 12:22,23; Isa. 55:8,9; Heb. 2:7; John\n10:33; Num. 23:19]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">There is only one true\nGod.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Three-in-One deity: the\nFather, Son, and Holy Spirit. But unlike Hindu deities, these three are\ncompletely united in will, goals, purposes, etc. All have complete authority\nover all aspects of creation (in contrast to one over fire, one over wealth,\netc.). Hence, they are completely united to form one God (Matthew 28:19; John\n17:20, 21).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Deuteronomy 4:35-39 &#8211; The\nLord is God and there is none else besides Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Isaiah 43:10,11 &#8211; Before\nMe there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the\nLord, and besides Me there is no savior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Exodus 20:3 &#8211; You shall\nhave no other gods before Me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Isa. 44:6-8; 1 Cor.\n8:4-6; Matt. 4:10; 2 Cor. 6:16-18]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use of images in worship\nis forbidden.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Exodus 20:4, 5 &#8211; You\nshall not make any graven image nor bow down to such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Acts 17:29 &#8211; Since we are\nGod&#8217;s offspring, we should not think the Godhead is like gold or silver or\nstone graven by art or device of men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Isa. 42:8,9; 40:18-26;\n44:9-20; 46:1-11; 48:3-6; 41:21-24; Psa. 115:1-9; 96:5; 97:7; Lev. 19:4; 26:1;\nEx. 32:1-35; 23:24; 34:12-17; Hab. 2:18,19; Deut. 16:21-17:7; 27:5; Dan. 3;\nRom. 1:23,25; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 John 5:21; 1 Cor. 5:10,11; 6:9,10; 10:7,14; Rev.\n21:8; 22:15; Acts 14:8-18.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">2 Corinthians 6:16-18 &#8211; What should be a\nChristian&#8217;s attitude toward idolatry as practiced in Hinduism? We should have\nno agreement with it, but separate ourselves from it and do not touch it<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">II.\nDoctrine of Human Destiny<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Hindu\nConcept of Man&#8217;s Destiny<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reincarnation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hindus believe that, when\na person dies, his spirit is given another earthly body, that of an animal, a person\nof another caste (social level), or a god, depending on how he lived his\ncurrent life. This cycle or death and rebirth continues on and on until one is\nfinally released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">&#8220;As the embodied\nsoul continually passes, in the body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the\nsoul similarly passes into another body at death&#8221; (BG-2.13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This concept is widely\nbelieved in our society. People often speak of what they were or did &#8220;in\nanother life.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Karma<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hindus believe that one\u2019s\ncircumstances in life are completely determined by his previous conduct, either\nin this life or in previous lives. This is called &#8220;karma&#8221; (action)\n(Phil. 3:13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Everything good and\neverything bad that happens to us in this life comes as a payment for our own\npast conduct. Nothing is ever the fruit of what others did, but always the\nconsequences of our own conduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">By doing good deeds in\nthis life, therefore, one can improve his circumstances in the future,\nespecially in future reincarnations. (BG, p. 9,10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This term also is\nbecoming popular and is often seen or heard in the entertainment industry &#8211;\nmovies, music, television, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Liberation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The final goal is to\nescape or be released from the cycle of reincarnation. We should seek to be set\nfree from birth, death, and rebirth, so that we exist in a state of pure\nimpersonal being without a physical body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Because we become so\nattached to physical existence we lose sight of our real nature as Divine\nBeings. To be released we must somehow recognize ourselves for what we really\nare and act accordingly, thereby losing our attachment to our earthly\nexistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The exact nature of this\nfinal state is not clearly defined. We are somehow absorbed into the eternal\nBeing (Brahman). Some view it as a ceasing of consciousness, others as a sense\nof bliss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To the Hindu, therefore,\npunishment consists of continuing to exist on earth. &#8220;Eternal life&#8221;\nconsists of ceasing to exist in a bodily form. There is no concept of a bodily\nresurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[BG, p. 19-28; WR142-144;\nEB-III, 1014; EB-XI, 580; cf. Renou, 40-44]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">B.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Bible\nConcept of Man&#8217;s Destiny<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Death<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Man has only oneearthly\nlife and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hebrews 9:27 &#8211; It is\nappointed unto man <strong><em>once <\/em><\/strong>to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Ecclesiastes 12:7 &#8211; At\ndeath, the body returns to dust and the spirit returns to God who gave it (not\nto another body).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Luke 16:26 &#8211; When one has\ndied, his destiny is fixed. He cannot pass from a destiny of suffering to one\nof bliss, nor vice-versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Ecc. 9:5,6; 2 Cor. 5:10]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resurrection<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">After Jesus died, His\nspirit was reunited with His body. Likewise after death, the spirit of each man\nwill be reunited with his body when Jesus comes again. It will then be changed\nto a spirit body to receive an eternal reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">John 5:28, 29 &#8211; All in\nthe tombs will come forth to the resurrection of life or damnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">1 Corinthians 15:22 &#8211; As\nin Adam all die, so in Jesus shall all be made alive. The guarantee of this is\nthe fact that Jesus Himself arose (v1-23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">We will come back as\nourselves, not as an animal, a god, or some other person. We will be reunited\nwith our own body, not that of someone else.&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Matt. 22:23-33; Acts\n24:15; John 11:24; James 2:26]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Judgment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">In contradiction to the\ndoctrine of karma, the Bible teaches that, on earth, men often do not receive\nfair or just rewards for their lives. [Note Luke 16:19-25; Matt. 5:11,12; Rom.\n8:17,18; 1 Pet. 4:12-16; 1 Thess. 3:2-4; Acts 14:22; Heb. 11:32-38; Job 1 &amp;\n2; 2 Tim. 3:12; John 15:20; 1 Pet. 2:19-23]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Instead, when Jesus\nreturns, He will judge all men and declare our eternal rewards on the basis of\nour lives, good or bad \u2013 saved and unsaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Acts 17:30, 31 &#8211; Paul\ntold the idol worshipers of Athens\nthat they must repent because God has appointed a day in which He will judge\nall men. The proof of this is Jesus&#8217; resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">2 Corinthians 5:10 &#8211; At\njudgment, each one will receive a reward according to the life he lived in the\nbody, good or bad. Note that this reward is for what he did in <strong><em>the body <\/em><\/strong>&#8211;\njust one body, not many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Luke 16:19-31; Rom.\n2:1-16; 14:10-12; Ecc. 12:13,14; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15; Heb. 9:27]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final destinies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Matthew 25:46 &#8211; After\njudgment, men receive their eternal destinies. The righteous receive eternal\nlife, a state of bliss, in the presence of God. The wicked receive eternal\npunishment, suffering and sorrow, separated from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hence, both the eternal rewards\nand the punishments taught in the Bible are to be received after we leave the\nearth, not while on the earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Matt. 25:34,41; Tit. 3:7; Rom. 6:23; 1\nThess. 4:17; 5:9,10; Matt. 18:8,9; 5:10-12,22; 13:39-42; 1 Pet. 1:3,4; Rev.\n20:10-15; 21:1-22:5; Phil. 3:20,21; 2 Thess. 1:5-9]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong><em>III. Doctrine of Salvation<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A. The Hindu\nConcept of Salvation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Hindus generally do not\nrefer to their goal as &#8220;salvation.&#8221; The hope is to escape the\nreincarnation cycle and material existence. Other terms are used for it.\nAnything that pertains to leaving this material life or moving beyond it is\ncommonly said to be &#8220;transcendental.&#8221; (This term is used repeatedly\nin the introduction to the Bhagavad-gita.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">There are several ways\ntaught by which this can be done. Different groups emphasize different methods,\nbut they do not reject the methods taught by others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Good deeds (karma)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">It is believed that, if\npeople do enough good works, especially works that are unselfish and\nde-emphasize material interests, they will achieve a better reincarnation. This\nprocess continues till finally one escapes reincarnation and material existence\ncompletely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Austerity and self-denial<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">One must withdraw from\nthe pleasures and personal interests of life, live as a recluse, putting no\nemphasis on possessions, etc. So physical life loses its hold on the person&#8217;s\ninner being. When he dies, he is released forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Knowledge<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">As one learns more and\nmore, especially by studying the Vedas, he comes to understand that his true\nnature is part of the Diving Being. As he fills his mind with such ideas, his\nthoughts and deeds are less concerned with material interests. When he dies,\nphysical life has no power over him, so he is released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Devotion (worship)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">If one continually\nexpresses love and dedication to God, he will become so concerned for God that\nthis life loses its attraction. When he dies, he is released from the\nreincarnation cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This is especially\nemphasized in the Hare Krishna movement. It is guaranteed that, if one dies\nthinking proper thoughts about Krishna, he\nwill be immediately taken out of the reincarnation cycle to the spirit realm.\nIn order to be sure one is thinking right when he dies, his life must be filled\nwith constant thought or continuous consciousness of Krishna.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This proper thinking\ncomes by reading the Vedas. But especially it comes by chanting the Hare\nKrishna mantra (BG, pp. 19-28).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">&#8220;The recommended\nmeans for achieving the mature stage of love of God \u2026 is to chant the holy\nnames of the Lord. The easiest method for most people is to chant the Hare\nKrishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare\/ Hare\nRama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare&#8221; (Back &#8211; inside front cover).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">&#8220;The Hare Krishna\nmantra is both a glorification of God and an appeal to be engaged in His\nservice&#8221; (Back, p. 3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meditation (Yoga)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Life (physical\ncircumstances) is thought to be a temporary illusion (MAYA). It is not the\nultimate reality. We think it is reality only because we do not understand that\nour inner self is part of God, which is the ultimate reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">By deep inner meditation\nin his self-conscious mind, one can experience and discover his real self. This\nis called self-realization (Romans 7:18). As we understand this and begin to\nthink and act accordingly, we become detached from the importance of this life.\nThings in this life become better, but especially when we die we are released\nfrom the reincarnation cycle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">This is the method\ninvolved in Transcendental Meditation. It is also described in the\nBhagavad-gita (6.20-23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">In all these avenues,\nrepeated reincarnations may be required as a person gradually moves to higher\nand higher levels till he leaves the cycle. He must bring this about by his own\neffort (Eph. 2:8, 9). The gods may help, but there is no concept of a Supreme Being\nwho pays the penalty of sin on behalf of the sinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[WR, 144-148f; EB-III,\n1014; EB-XI, 580; Renou, 40-44]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">C.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Bible\nTeaching about Salvation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our sins spiritually\nseparate us from God.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Romans 3:23 &#8211; All people\nare guilty of sin, disobedience to God&#8217;s will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Isaiah 59:1,2 &#8211; Because\nof our sins, we are out of harmony and fellowship with God. He is then <strong><em>not\n<\/em><\/strong>dwelling within us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">It follows that, contrary\nto Hinduism, God cannot be found within the heart of the sinner, for He is not\nthere. Our soul is not part of God, nor are we in fellowship with Him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Because of this spiritual\nalienation from God, we will be separated from God eternally if our sins are\nnot forgiven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Eph. 2:11-19; Rom. 6:23]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Because of God&#8217;s love and\ngrace, Deity came to earth in the form of man (Jesus) and died as a sacrifice\nto pay the penalty of man&#8217;s sins.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">John 3:16 &#8211; God so loved\nthe world that He gave His only begotten Son that those who believe in Him\nmight not perish but have eternal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">1 Peter 2:24 &#8211; Jesus bore\nour sins in His body on the tree, that we might live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Acts 4:12 &#8211; There is\nsalvation in no one other than Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">John 14:6 &#8211; He is the\nway, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him.\nHence, Hindu deities cannot save. They did not die for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Ephesians 2:8,9 &#8211; Our\ngood works cannot save us apart from faith in Jesus. We ought to live good\nlives, worship God, pray, etc. But if we do not receive forgiveness by Jesus,\nnone of these can save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Matthew 6:7 &#8211; Endless\nrepetition of certain phrases cannot save. It is vain repetition which heathen\nthink leads them to be heard, but it is not acceptable to God.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Eph. 1:7; Rom. 5:6-8; 1\nCor. 15:1-4; Heb. 9:11-14,23-10:18; Isa. 53:4-11; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; 3:18; Rev.\n1:5; Matt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; John 1:29]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">To receive the\nforgiveness God offers, one need only accept Jesus as Savior.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Believe \u2013\nEphesians 2:8-9, \u201cFor by grace are ye saved through\nfaith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: <strong><sup>9<\/sup><\/strong>Not\nof works, lest any man should boast.\u201d&nbsp;\nAlso, Mark 16:16; John 3:16; 8:24. Note that this requires belief\nin Jesus and in His gospel. Without this faith, man cannot be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Evidence of belief\nincludes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Repent of sins &#8211; Acts\n17:30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Confess Christ &#8211; Romans\n10:9, 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Be baptized &#8211; Acts 2:38;\n22:16; Mark 16:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Live a faithful life &#8211; 1\nCorinthians 15:58<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[Heb. 10:39; 5:9; James\n2:14-26; Rom. 6; 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:12]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Men can learn what to do\nto please God only by means of Divine revelation.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Isaiah 55:8,9 &#8211; God&#8217;s\nthoughts and ways are higher than ours like the heavens are higher than the\nearth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Jeremiah 10:23 &#8211; The way\nof man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Galatians 1:8,9 &#8211; No\nteaching except the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring salvation and a right\nrelationship with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Meditation within oneself\ncannot possibly show man the truth about God or about how to have a proper\nrelationship with God. Following any system other than the gospel leaves us in\nsin without hope for eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">[John 6:44, 45; Prov. 14:12; Rom.\n10:17,14; 1:16; 2 Thess. 2:14; Acts 8:26,29,35; 9:6; 11:14; 2 John 9-11]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bibliography<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Back &#8211; <em>Back to Godhead<\/em>, &#8220;The Magazine of the Hare Krishna Movement; Vol. 10, No. 12.<br>BG &#8211; Bhagavad-gita (Hindu Scripture)<br>EB &#8211; <em>Encyclopedia Britannica<\/em>, 1956 edition (followed by volume and page #)<br><em>WR<\/em> &#8211; <em>The World&#8217;s Religions<\/em>, Norman Anderson, ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Conclusion: Hinduism cannot save because it worships the wrong\nGod, follows the wrong religious authority, seeks the wrong destiny, and\nteaches the wrong ways to achieve that destiny. True salvation can be found\nonly in Jesus Christ. It can be understood only through the gospel of Jesus.\nAnd it can be obtained only by faith in Jesus marked by obedience to Jesus&#8217;\nteaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Again, Hindus offer no\nobjective evidence that their teachings were revealed by God or that their\nScriptures are truly divine. They may try to show they are reasonable, but\nmainly they urge you to try it to see if you find it satisfying. If you get\nhooked emotionally on it, like other experiential religions, you will not\nlikely listen to reason. But there is no valid evidence why anyone should\nbelieve it.\n\nOnly the Bible offers consistent reasonable evidence\nto convince the unbeliever that it is truly revealed by God. That evidence is\nfound in fulfilled prophecy, eyewitness testimony of miracles, the resurrection\nof Christ, etc. Only in Christ can we have assurance for our faith.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exodus 20:3-5: 3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. &nbsp;5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[524],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Hinduism - Grace Evangelical Free Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hinduism - 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