Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World Handout

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Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist WorldWORKSHOPNOTESOCF July Camp, Port Sea, 2006Trust in the Lord Always

Introduction:EvangelismandWitnessing

Tohaveagoodbasicunders

religionofothers

Topresentthegospelinare

understandableway.

Guidelinesandprinciplesinexploring/understandingotherfaithsWhy?

TRIVIAQUESTIONS

AvoidingIt

ScripturalTruth&Supremacy(1Tim4:6,H

ChristianCommunity(accountability)

Faithfulnessandcommitment

ContextualizingthemethodNOTthemess

Upholdingtheuniqueness,supremacyand

Meansoflearning

Books

People

from

other

faith

Media

Etc

Pitfalls

accommodation&

dilutionof

doctrine

unacceptable

incorporationofforeign

practicesandfeatures

comparingreligions

withoutgrounded

conviction

1. HowmanyBuddhistadherentsarethereintheworldtoday?2. WhowasthefounderofBuddhismandwhenwasitfounded?3. Whatwasthenameofthetreeandwhatisthesignificanceoftheeventthathappenedthere?4. Whatarethe4nobletruths?5. Whatdoestheeightfoldpathconsistof?6. Whatbranches/denominationsofBuddhismhaveyouheardof/about?7. ListkeywordsandexplaintheirmeaningwithregardtothefundamentaldoctrinesofBuddhism

OCFCarltonOutreachDept,2006


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BuddhismSomeKeyPointsandHelpfulInformationAnalogyoftheSyncreticnature:ASmoothieBlendofFruits

Majorschoolsandcults

BeliefsandBehaviours

Buddha

Dharma Sangha

(teaching) (community/order

ofmonks)

Theravada

(thelesservehicle)

Mahayana

(thegreatervehicle)

Vajrayana

(theTibetanway)

Dhammakaya

ZenBuddhism

CommonBuddhist

Terms

Enlightenment,Karma,Mantra,

Sutra,Merit,Samsara,Zen,

Mahayana,Theravada,Pali

NIRVANA:

Aconditionofnon

existence,emptiness

andnothingness

THEFOURNOBLETRUTHS

Thecondition,causeandcureofsuffering

1.Allissuffering(Dukkha)

2.Thecauseofsufferingisdesire(Tanha)

3.Thesolutiontosufferingistoextinguish

alldesire(Nirodha)

4.Themethodtoeradicatedesireis

ThroughtheEightFoldPath(Marga)

KARMACause and effect

BuddhaTheEnlightenedOnEnlightenmentreceivedwhile

(1)Hesawhispreviouslivesp

(2)Hesawthecycle,birth,dea

andthelawthatgovernsthec

(3)Hediscernedthefourholy

Thegoalistodetachoneself

maintainingastateofneutrali

Thereisnosuchthingsasas

Upholdsthedoctrineofanicc

transitoriness)

Karmacannotbeundone,alt

Onehasnoknowledgeofthe

Nomerittransferenceexcep

presenceofBodhisattvas(eve

Selfresponsibility



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Issues,ConcernsandChallenges

Theappeal/attraction:

Resurgence,Resistance

thedoctrineofcauseandeffectenablestheunderstandingandinterpretationofmanyeventsandcircumstances/conditionintheworld

thedoctrineofassimilationpromotesracialandreligiousintegrityandtolerancepeaceandharmonywitheachother

thedoctrineofthemiddlewayemphasizesbalanceandneutralityinsteadofextremes

thedoctrineofkarma/meritsgivesoneatangibleperspectiveonhowhe/sheshouldtheirlife

thedoctrinetoleratesbutdominatesotherlocalbeliefandculturesystemsincludingpluralism,relativism,animism,postmodernismandmanyotherisms.

ISSUES commercialization,pow

struggle,corruption marginalizingwomen conceptofMaitreyaBu

whowillsavetheworldsacrifice&redemption

AHELPFULTHOUGHTPROCESS:

Issuesraisedaboutthe

situations

Possiblecomplicationsthatmayarisefrom

suggestions/ideas/

thoughts

QuestionsgeneratedAnswersoffered

AccuseChristianityofdisruptionofculture,changingsocieties

Strengtheningtheirinfluences Responsetogospeltractsandmethods Buddhismisonthemove!

CompareandContrastwithChristianity:

GatherinsmallgroupstoidentifyandevaluatetheCOWSofreachingoutandrelatingtoaBuddhist.(Brainstorm

Challenges

Opportunities

Weaknesses

Strengths

Suggestions



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SpottheDifferences(ComparingandContrasting)

Christianity Buddhism

Divinerevelation Humanintuition,observation

Thenature

of

God

personal

Creator/controllerImpersonalnonbeing(likekarma)

ThenatureofChristGod/manOnlyhuman,redeemingsubstituteorimpotent

tohelp

Thenatureoflifeonesinglelife Acircleofmultiplelivesviarebirth

SinTrangression SinIllusion

Themeansofsalvationfaith,grace,

divineprovision

Salvationbyworks,karmicmerit,selfeffort

(focusisonthesubject)

RelationshipwithGod Religionandworks

Love,Grace,Mercy,Hope Selfdependence,futility,fatality

AbsoluteTruth

Versus

Allknowledgeissubjectiveandillusionary

Similaritiesare

suggested

but

are

often

regarded

as

mostly

superficial.

Some

of

them,

however,

may

be

contact

p

causeandeffectetcexploredmorelater.

GospelSharingWhatweneedtorealizeabout

(i) ChallengesBuddhismdominatesandintegratesmanylocalbeliefstructuresincludinganimismandotherisms,butdidnotdislodgenordestroy

societiesarose.TheamalgamationofmanyreligiouselementsunderBuddhismproducedastrongnational,racial,andreligiousiden

application:foraBuddhisttobecomeaChristian,therearecultural,familial,socialandreligiousconsequences!)

(ii) EffectiveCommunication realizethatperceptionsandunderstandingsofcommonorforeigntermsmaydiffer/vary realizethatthefocusshouldbeonwhatissaidandheard(checktheirunderstandingoftheintended

meaningandpurpose

realizethattheirfaithisoftenasyncreticmix(theymayhavesomeunderstandingofgod,heaven,hell) realizetheirmentality,perspectiveandmethodofthinking/conceptualization.SomemayseeconversiontoChristianity

asapossibleassimilative/integrativedoctrine.Othersmightseethatthislifemaybeanopportunitytobecomeand

understandtheChristianlifestyleandfaithintheirprocessofbecomingabetterperson



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THESCRATCHWHEREITITCHES

APPROACH

cateringtoappropriateneedsofindividuals/group. thegospelisrelevanttotheirneed(s),applyingthegospelwherepeohurt(solution)

practicalandrelationalChristianity:demonstrationofgoodworks,loupholdingintegrityandpurity.Establishingcredibilityandbeingcom

tofaithful

Christian

living.

beingsensitivetotheheartbeatofothers. theology(gospelpronouncement)goeshandinhandwithsocialservice/charity/mercyministry

atwhatpointdoesthegospeltrulyministerstothosedeepseatedfeandaspirationsoftheBuddhistheartsneeds?Patienceisrequireda

processisslow.

gospelsaturationhelpsbreaksignoranceandbarriersoveraperiodtime.

bearinmindthatmanyhavenotheardthegospeloritsviews,howtcananimmediatedecisionbenecessarilyexpectedofthem,allowth

considerthetruthandgravityofthisdecision(useofscaleofawaren

Buddhistsoftenhaveavagueconceptofagod.MostmakeassociatiwithBuddhaastheyregardhimwithdeeprespectandhonour.

theirrecognitionandacknowledgementofpowerthroughritualsansymbolsareoftenderivedfromafundamentalconcernforprotectio

security,vulnerabilityorevenpoweroverothers.

ourroleistopointthemtotheSupremacyofourLivingSaviour,JesuChristwhohaspoweroveralltheseelements.OnlythroughChrist,is

trueandrealpeace,hopeandfreedom.

becommittedtosharingfromtheBible:(giveillustrationstohelpex(John

1:1

3,

Col

1:16

17Gen

1:26

27,

2:7

25Gen

3,

Rom

5:12,

JohnEph2:13John1:14,18,29John1:1013,15:26,16:1215Acts1:8

3:1920)

rememberthesocialandculturalimplicationsforaBuddhistconvert

Itsachoicewithsignificantconsequences.Trulythesuperiorityofth

powerofChristaboveeverythingelseinourlivesisadynamicapproa

thatwillbringBuddhiststoalivingrelationshipwithChrist.

recognizethatitisthepowerandgraceofGodthatthechurchreceiv

stability,sustenanceandpermanenceinthemidstofasociallyantag

society.

THEPOWERENCOUNTER

APPROACH


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IV. Beawareofthechallengesandbarriersofgospelcommunication: socialpressure,identity,asenseofbetrayal,disloyalty fundamentaldifferences syncretismandmix social,doctrinalandpracticalresistance associationofChristianitywithWesterncultureandinfluence,colonizationaforeignreligion,historica

presuppositionsand

preconceived

ideas

rejectionofculturalvaluesandpractices.TheideatheChristianitydislodgesanddisruptstraditionandcsystems).Promotionofdisharmonyanddisintegration.

retainingonesoriginalcultureandpractices(whatisandisnotacceptable) chargeofarroganceandintolerance Previousbad,unpleasantexperienceandencounterswithChristians.MisconceptionsandbadpressaboV. RecognizethenecessaryboldandhumbleconfrontationofthegospelwithBuddhism. ContrasttheLivingSaviourwiththesleepingBuddha. Combinethetruthcenteredapproachwithapersoncenteredapproach EffectivecommunicationanddeepBiblicalfoundationswhilebeingsensitiveandwiseinconversation. RememberthatChristslovecompelsusandourdesire/concernisforthelosttocometoknowJesusan ThereisonlyonewayanditisfoundinChrist(John8:32,14:6).Thedifferencebetweenreligionandrela Christianityisnotanalternative.Thereisobjectiveandsubjectivetruthi.e.theauthorityoftheBibleand

Sharing(whattheyvelearntandputtingitintopractice),discussion andprayerinsmallgroups

ChallengWritethr

coursem

toprayf

1.

2.

3.

Encouraging,supporting

and

building

each

other

up

in

the

gospel

ministry.

Thecallforintegrity,stability,truth,unityandendurance

Realizingthatitisapartnership (Phil1:2730)

Questions&Answers


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ReferencesandBibliography:Recommended books

Buddhism and the Claims of Christ by D.T. Niles, 1967.

Buddhism through Christian Eyes by Alex Smith. OMF International.

Buddhism In A Nutshell:

Edward Conze, Buddhism: The Mahayana in R C Zaehner (ed), A Concise Encyclopedia of Living Faiths(London: Hutchinson, 3rd edn, 1977)Christmas Humphreys, Buddhism (Harmondsworth, England: Pelican Books, 1951)The Worlds Religions: A Lion Handbook (Oxford, England: Lion Publishing, paperback edn, 1988)

Christianity at the religious roundtable: evangelicalism in conversation with Hinduism, Buddhism, and IslamBy: Tennent, Timothy C.. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002. Publication Type: Book

Review of the book: Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World. Journal of Asian Mission 6:2 (2004)

Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World, David Lim and Steve Spaulding, eds.(Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2003). Paper, x+210 pp., ISBN: 0-87808-506-8,Sharing Christ in the Tibetan Buddhist World by Marku Tserine. Interserve.A practical guide, in 220 pages, explaining Buddhism, particularly the Tibetan form that has come to theWest in the Dalai Lama, with ways to communicate with and minister Christ to Buddhists.

Sharing a language of faith by Charles W. Swain, Christian Century, December 9, 1981, pp. 1282-1285

Sharing the Truth in Love: How to relate to people of other faiths by Ajith FernandoDiscovery House Publishers, 2001 ISBN: 971-92796-4-8

Tearing Down StrongholdsPrayer for Buddhists by Elizabeth Wagner. From Christian Literature Crusade.Phone: 800-659-1240.A 60-page booklet giving an overview of Buddhism, including how to pray for Buddhists.

The work of an evangelist : International Congress for Itinerant Evangelists, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsBy: Douglas, James D. (Editor). Minneapolis, Minn : World Wide Pubns, 1984. Publication Type: Book

Websites

One B i l li on W ai t . www.onebillionwait.orgResources for undertanding Buddhism and ministering to them, by OMF International

Buddhism , a Chr is t ian perspec t i ve www.gospelcom.net/oci/buddhism.htm

Genera l i n t roduc t i on t o Buddh i s m, by Josh McDowellwww.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/ch25/default.htm

Genera l exp lanat ion o f Buddhism an d Chr is t ian fa i th , by Christian World.www.christianeuropeonline.org/world/Apologetics/Religions/Buddhism/

Videos

"Buddhist Teachers Resource Packet." A packet of resources on Buddhism to use in the church tounderstand and minister to those involved. It includes two videos, overheads, Bible studies, brochures, andprayer guides. OMF International.

Organization w hose focus is on min istering to Buddhists

OMF International (AUST) www.au.omf.org

OMF Website: www.au.omf.orgBrief summary article on:The Buddhist billionC hinese religionsPeople sources ( verbal):Various sources are quoted and used in this article. The sources include a variety of Buddhist adherents orformer Buddhists from different cultures and backgrounds.
http://www.onebillionwait.org/http://www.gospelcom.net/oci/buddhism.htmhttp://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/ch25/default.htmhttp://www.christianeuropeonline.org/world/Apologetics/Religions/Buddhism/http://www.omf.org/http://www.omf.org/http://www.omf.org/http://www.au.omf.org/http://www.au.omf.org/http://www.au.omf.org/http://www.au.omf.org/http://www.omf.org/http://www.omf.org/http://www.christianeuropeonline.org/world/Apologetics/Religions/Buddhism/http://www.greatcom.org/resources/areadydefense/ch25/default.htmhttp://www.gospelcom.net/oci/buddhism.htmhttp://www.onebillionwait.org/

Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World Handout

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