How to prove that Christianity is superior?

[Albion]

That is disproved by hypocrites of Christendom who have no inkling of the Gospel and such preaching of Jesus, like especially, Sermon on the Mount.

More wishful thinking. Every religion has its good and its bad examples. It's generally said that Mormons, for instance, are the most family-oriented, patriotic, self-reliant and pleasant people you're likely to meet--but I wouldn't join a religion that was (IMHO) not credible...just because most of the devotees are nice. In the main, this is how it is with the followers of non-Christian religions. And look at history. How did most third world people come to be Christians--because of the appeal or intimidation of the Christian missionaries...or because these people came to believe in Christ?

 

[Lazarus Short]

But how many practice what is preached?

Not enough, but that will change in time.

 

[tickingclocker]

To claim, that the Bible contains the words of God when interacting with people of other religions, will not help. They also quote their scriptures claiming the origin from their gods.

It is by the fruit of the Spirit that we show our superiority in spirituality, not in pages of books. It is by serving, sharing and suffering with humility that puts us apart from other religions.

"We" don't show any spiritual superiority. Where would the humility be in that? The Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit reveals God's LOVE to others through us as His conduits. IF He chooses to use us as a vehicle for it. He is never limited to us. In fact, He can work despite us if He so determines.

Sometimes you have five minutes of someone's time to share the Lord with others. Fruit develops slowly, over time. The Holy Spirit can INSTANTLY reveal the Lord's love to that person in a nanosecond, despite your character. (It helps, but don't assume it should be the focus.) It is the Lord's Living Word that cuts to the quick, never ours. People do not respond to character. They respond to divinely offered love, through the Holy Spirit. I have seen the Word of God "help" with people of other faiths. MY character had nothing to do with it, other than to offer His Words to them through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, which they accepted--through the Holy Spirit. Their holy books do not contain the eternal truth like the Bible does, which can cut through all falseness within their books. Let me tell you from experience people of other faiths can be just as humble, just as full of good character as we can be. Sometimes even more so.

I'm sure your heart is in the right place, but you are in subtle danger, like so many, of promoting man's works as Gods. You have a false, weak idea of witnessing to the Lost, my friend, if you think its your character that gives you the right to be heard.

For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

 

[Xalith]

First off... the Bible is the only Scripture that has not been, and cannot be disproven. All other texts can be disproven in some way, but the Bible is the one and only that stands alone that can't be disproven. Oh, people have tried to twist the meaning around and then try to present their case, but they are usually quickly called out on it.

1). The Bible contains many prophecies which have come true (and many that are still yet pending).
2). The other leading Religion, Islam, its book (Qu'ran) says the Torah (Old Testament) and the New Testament are the Truth.
3). The Bible contains things like the values of Pi and Mathematical Constant e to ridiculous accuracy, far beyond what the writers of the time could have possibly known.
4). Some of God's laws had (then) unseen reasoning behind them that we know today through modern science.
5). It appears to contain or hint at things that we've only discovered fairly recently through science -- air currents, how nuclear fallout is dealt with, etc.

No other "scripture" or "holy writings" can claim any of these to my knowledge.

 

[-57]

To claim, that the Bible contains the words of God when interacting with people of other religions, will not help. They also quote their scriptures claiming the origin from their gods.

It is by the fruit of the Spirit that we show our superiority in spirituality, not in pages of books. It is by serving, sharing and suffering with humility that puts us apart from other religions.

Christianity is the only faith where God is reaching down towards mankind and give them His free gift....all others have mankind trying to climb up or earn their way to God.

 

[tickingclocker]

The uniqueness of the Bible can be shown by getting them to read it.

Exactly.

The uniqueness of the Bible can be shown by getting them to read it.... instead of reading us. IT alone is perfect. We are not. We are not trying to get them to accept us, but the love God has for them.

 

[tickingclocker]

Those who thirst for righteousness may read it. But they may be put off by the witnessing of many hypocrites of Christendom

And yet that won't save them from God's wrath. Will it?

I've seen people come to the Lord BECAUSE of other's poor "Christian" behavior. They realize that is not what a Holy God would want of someone who claimed His Name to act like, so decided to find out for themselves just what God desires. And He led them to find out the truth. Guess what? They ended up forgiving that person who wasn't exactly acting like Jesus Christ, realizing they were just like them. Fallible, weak.... human---but still saved by the grace of God. Don't think that equalizing lesson was ever lost on them, either.

You cannot announce that God must depend upon fallible human beings to accomplish what HE desires. He never has. No surprise there. I'm not advocating Christians going out and tearing up the town to "witness". I'm trying to impress upon you that GOD is GOD, not us. We are His New Creation, being changed slowly but surely. Not completely changed. We remain the "in theory" factor until heaven. On the other hand, His character alone has been firmly established forever, proven to be without error.

If you assume people should be going by what and who "we" are? Then where exactly is the difference between believing their religion, and believing God? They are simply switching from one human-promoting religion to another if so. That is what "outside the fringe" non-Christian churches critically depend upon to lure in unsuspecting new members, by hooking onto their pride with...

"Look at us".

 

[tickingclocker]

People are busy building convenient concepts based on one sided letters of Paul meant for specific people at a particular context for the problems they had using his craftiness.

I've heard that particular theory from "outside the fringe" non-Christian church members who try to claim and/or divert the same thing to support their false beliefs. Hmm....

Either Paul's works are fully in or his works are fully outside of God's Will for canonization. If he is out, so is God. You cannot have it both ways. Might as well put that bible down and walk away if you think you have the right to pick and choose what God Himself has chosen to say to humanity, through any avenue HE desires.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Truth is rare. Worth more than all the gold in the world. Yes, Truth is very rare.

 

[HeraldOfTheHolyOne]

To claim, that the Bible contains the words of God when interacting with people of other religions, will not help. They also quote their scriptures claiming the origin from their gods.

It is by the fruit of the Spirit that we show our superiority in spirituality, not in pages of books. It is by serving, sharing and suffering with humility that puts us apart from other religions.

That is not what the apostle Paul said about the efficacy of the Word of God in evangelism, nor is it what he did. Your apologetic does not come from the Bible.

 

[rockytopva]

If E = mc2 then we can divide and conclude that...

Mass (m) = Energy (E/c2)

And there are three varieties...

Natural E/c2 - All mass is basically cooled plasma
Mental E/c2 - Our brains output is a result of E/c2
Spiritual E/c2 - E (warmth, motivation, love) / c2 (light, faith, hope, charity, joy)

In which if I had to pave a roadpath to the spiritual E/c2 it would be as such...

1. Hope - Hope is something that we all live for.
2. Faith - The second spiritual constituent is faith, which opens the door to the temple. We must continue to keep our faith up, it is a lifelong thing.
3. Learned virtues - I Cor 13: Kindness, Politeness, Perfection, etc.
4. Charis: Greek for Grace.
5. Eucharisteo: 'Much Grace' Greek for gratitude
6. Charizomai: Well-favored - Kind of a mixture of love and hope.
7. Euchrestos: Greek for profitable... Let profitable thoughts rule the day!
8. Chairo: Greek for Cheer, "Cheerio Mate!"
9. Chara: Greek for joy... The joy of the Lord is your strength!
10. Chrestotes: Excellence in character
11. Charisma: Heavenly Graciousness - A charming character!
12. Chrisma: Heavenly Anointing The Holy Grail of Christianity!

The spiritual energies are neither mass or knowledge, therefore they cannot be taught, and must be acquired by us through God. At the arrival of the Spiritual Chrisma we can indeed attest to Christianity as superior.

 

[Righttruth]

No. It's in the integrity and credibility of the Scriptures.

That is a good point.

As I said, they are unlike any of these other religions' sacred writings; and it is through coming to believe that they are indeed the word of God that a member of another religion is most likely to be brought to Christ. After all, there are nice and sincere people in every religion, as well as unpleasant ones, so I am confident that the revelation is what can prove out our religion to these people, just as it does for you and me.

Then comes the life of Christians which appears to be totally different from the preaching of Jesus.

 

[Righttruth]

That is not what the apostle Paul said about the efficacy of the Word of God in evangelism, nor is it what he did. Your apologetic does not come from the Bible.

I am more concerned about the preaching of Jesus than addendum of Paul.

 

[Righttruth]

More wishful thinking. Every religion has its good and its bad examples. It's generally said that Mormons, for instance, are the most family-oriented, patriotic, self-reliant and pleasant people you're likely to meet--but I wouldn't join a religion that was (IMHO) not credible...just because most of the devotees are nice. In the main, this is how it is with the followers of non-Christian religions. And look at history. How did most third world people come to be Christians--because of the appeal or intimidation of the Christian missionaries...or because these people came to believe in Christ?

In many cases, it is the goodies offered by missionaries.

 

[Righttruth]

I've heard that particular theory from "outside the fringe" non-Christian church members who try to claim and/or divert the same thing to support their false beliefs. Hmm....

Either Paul's works are fully in or his works are fully outside of God's Will for canonization. If he is out, so is God. You cannot have it both ways. Might as well put that bible down and walk away if you think you have the right to pick and choose what God Himself has chosen to say to humanity, through any avenue HE desires.

Canon is man-made. That is why we have different canons for different groups

 

[Righttruth]

Not enough, but that will change in time.

It is likely to change for the worse.

 

[Righttruth]

Christianity is the only faith where God is reaching down towards mankind and give them His free gift....all others have mankind trying to climb up or earn their way to God.

You are very right.

 

[Albion]

Then comes the life of Christians which appears to be totally different from the preaching of Jesus.

For myself, I don't see this as a deal-breaker or deal-maker. Either way.

It's good if we can point to members of the faith who are holy and loving, but all faiths can do that. And then there are bad examples--again in all faiths.

While it's possible to convert someone by showing how Christ has changed the lives of many and made them really wonderful people, I think it's rare that this good example stuff makes the difference on its own. The faith itself has to be seen as correct or else you're essentially persuading the Hindu (or whomever it is) that all faiths are inherently sound and the difference is only in how the adherents live up to the ideals taught by their respective religions.

 

[-57]

For myself, I don't see this as a deal-breaker or deal-maker. Either way.

It's good if we can point to members of the faith who are holy and loving, but all faiths can do that. And then there are bad examples--again in all faiths.

While it's possible to convert someone by showing how Christ has changed the lives of many and made them really wonderful people, I think it's rare that this good example stuff makes the difference on its own. The faith itself has to be seen as correct or else you're essentially persuading the Hindu (or whomever it is) that all faiths are inherently sound and the difference is only in how the adherents live their lives.

If the Holy Spirit isn't at work in an individual...they'll never convert.

 

[SnowyMacie]

To claim, that the Bible contains the words of God when interacting with people of other religions, will not help. They also quote their scriptures claiming the origin from their gods.

It is by the fruit of the Spirit that we show our superiority in spirituality, not in pages of books. It is by serving, sharing and suffering with humility that puts us apart from other religions.

I've been thinking a lot about "Christian superiority" lately, and I'm not sure any kind of superiority-complex is actually compatible with Christianity. I think it's one thing to see Christianity as set apart from other religions, but another to say that it is "superior" to them.