New Birth or Rebirth?

Ever wonder what Jesus would say to Hitler or Buddha or Krishna? Ravi Zacharias has written a series of books based on that curiosity. Zacharias, a well-known author and speaker and scholar, has examined the teachings of spiritual philosophers and then written a fictional conversation between Jesus and the philosopher.

Zacharias has already published the first two books in this series and his latest will come out in September, dropping Jesus and Krishna into a conversation about Hinduism.

Often in these kinds of conversations, the positions are not fairly presented. It’s easy to knock down a caricature of a philosophy, but Zacharias does not present Hinduism unfairly. He probes the complex teachings of Hinduism, examines its sacred texts, and presents the points in context.

Hinduism is the world’s third-largest religion, behind Christianity and Islam. Depending on whose statistics you believe, there are anywhere from 837 million to 1.2 billion people in the world who practice this faith. Though Hindus currently make up only 0.5% of the U.S. population (approximately 76% of the population considers itself Christian), their number and influence on Western society are growing, as notions of Karma and reincarnation, the practice of yoga and books on topics like tantric sex have been co-opted by popular culture. In recent years, much has been made of a supposed Krishna-Christ connection, leading many to wonder if, aside from the obvious differences in dietary practices (Hindus revere cows, while most Christians enjoy them grilled to perfection and served with a baked potato), these faiths are, in essence, preaching the same message.

In his new book, New Birth or Rebirth? Jesus Talks with Krishna (Multnomah, 2008), Zacharias takes readers on a journey into India's holy city of Mathura. This is the birthplace of Krishna, the name revered and worshiped by millions of Hindus. The teachings of Krishna in the Gita are often referred to as being closest to those of Jesus. But as you walk through the streets and visit the temples, you will be a witness to an imaginary conversation between Jesus and Krishna you will soon see where the message comes close but where the differences lie.

Questions of human dignity, Karma, and reincarnation are faced head-on. What is the teaching of this most popular of Hindu books? How does the Gospel differ? New Birth or Rebirth? gets to the heart through the mind of these two, both of whom claimed to give the ultimate answers. Jesus and Krishna will engage your intellect and emotions in life's soul- searching struggles.

“My premise is that the popular aphorism that ‘all religions are fundamentally the same and only superficially different’ is simply not true. It is more correct to say that all religions are, at best, superficially similar but fundamentally different,” Zacharias reflects. “Both Christianity and Hinduism claim to be true and legitimate. This rationally implies, then, that it does matter what you believe.”

With three doctoral degrees under his belt, Zacharias is clearly qualified to teach on comparative religion, particularly the Christian faith he practices and Hinduism, the majority religion of his native India. His creative approach to the topic is far more user-friendly than any textbook. A gifted writer, Zacharias peppers the philosophical intricacies of the discussion with moments of wit and humor.

New Birth or Rebirth? is an excellent evangelistic tool. As the characters converse, Zacharias presents the truth and beauty of the gospel of Christ against the backdrop of Hinduism’s complexity. The book is also a helpful resource for Christians who have asked questions like: Who do Hindus worship? Why do they revere cows? Why do they believe in reincarnation? Most importantly, readers will find the answer to this question: Who should I believe?

New Birth or Rebirth? is the fourth installment in the Great Conversations series, an innovative line of apologetics that includes previously released titles The Lotus and the Cross: Jesus Talks with Buddha, The Lamb and the Fuhrer: Jesus Talks with Hitler, and Sense and Sensuality: Jesus Talks to Oscar Wilde on the Pursuit of Pleasure.

New Birth or Rebirth? Jesus Talks with Krishna by Ravi Zacharias

Multnomah Books/June 2008/ISBN-13: 978-1-59052-725-2/hardcover/90 pages/$11.99

Learning from Justin Martyr

Justin Martyr is the most famous of second-century apologists, writing spirited letters defending the faith. He debated many philosophers and probably died after one, soundly defeated in a dispute, turned Justin in to the Roman authorities.

Justin Martyr was monumental in helping explain Christianity to unbelievers in the 2^nd century Roman Empire. Misunderstandings were clarified, practices accounted for, beliefs made clear. His courage and stout commitment were inspiring.

What can we learn from these early defenders of the faith? Here are some possibilities:

• We must learn to speak Latin for debating and study Greek philosophers. Justin was highly skilled in both and we should return to his disciplines.

• Debate must be taken seriously. Surely Justin was called, whereas I feel no similar call to debate, apologetics or martyrdom.

• There is no need to defend the faith today. Justin did a superb job and we’ll send people to his writings to get them straightened out.

• There is no need to defend the faith today. People no longer accept logical explanations such as Justin used in his debates. They are into feelings, not rationality today. Apologetics is dead, or dying.

What do you think?

Justin’s genius was in defending Christianity using well-known philosophical terms. He showed the rationality of the new belief, and why there was no need to fear it as a corrupting factor in society. He used the terminology and understanding of his day to make Christianity understood.

Can we do the same in our culture? When some media groups compare Christians to terrorist groups, when some politicians label committed Christians as dangerous, we must explain and defend as Justin did – in understandable language.

We won’t debate in Latin or write about Greek philosophies. But we can use many platforms – from the internet to newspaper letters – to explain the basis of our faith in clear terms. If you’re a blogger, blog with zest to reveal the grace of Jesus. If you’re a musician, write songs that will witness to God’s mercy and power. An artist can reveal eternity with a pencil and brush. And a friend, over coffee, can make known the mysteries of the universe.

Our duty, like Justin’s, is to witness to God in ways that others can understand.

The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

Acts 22:14-15

“Christians are no different from the rest in their own nationality, language or customs…they fulfill all their duties as citizens, but they suffer as foreigners. They obey all laws, but they live at a level higher than that required by law. They love all, but all persecute them.”

To Diognetus (a letter from an unknown 2^nd century apologist)

Bridging

I’d probably be baking a lot more chocolate chip cookies if I lived in the second century. It was illegal in those days to be a Christian, but persecution mostly depended on local circumstances. If you were reported, you were arrested. Otherwise, you could fly under the radar for the most part. It was the original “don’t ask, don’t tell” philosophy.

Most Christians who were arrested and sometimes martyred were turned in by someone they knew. So it was good to be on friendly terms with your neighbors.

Christian beliefs were grossly misunderstood. Imagine that.

Followers of Jesus were condemned for such things as:

• Cannibalism.
• Incest.
• Ignorance.
  
• Being ridiculous.
  
• Encouraging anti-social behavior.
• Following a criminal.

Christians were forced to explain their faith in terms that made sense to a pagan culture. How could they answer some ridiculous rumors and explain some mysterious practices?

It was into this stew of misconceptions that a special group of people, the apologists, began their work. (An apologist is one who defends. )

The value of those early apologists was to find a bridge between the culture and Christian life.

These early Christians wrestled with issues not so different from our own. They were misunderstood, mistrusted, misquoted.

Tomorrow: what we can learn

John's world

Why the book of John? At John’s writing, there were already three gospels, the synoptics (Matthew, Mark and Luke). Why John?

First, we need to understand that each of the gospels was written to a specific audience. For example, Matthew, with its many references to the prophets and Jewish customs, was written largely to a Jewish audience.

John was written to an audience wrestling with unbelief, pummeled by society’s philosophies that were, at best, diluting the gospel message.

Gnostics were in search of knowledge (the word “gnosis” means secret knowledge). Irenaeus, an early church father (he was martyred in 155 AD), wrote that John refuted Gnosticism. Scholars today assert, however, that the Gnostic movement didn’t really have strength until the second century – Irenaeus’ time. However, the aroma of that viewpoint wafted into the church even in the first century. Influence was already beginning.

Early Gnostic teachings celebrated all that is spiritual and condemned all that is physical. That was at the core of their “secret knowledge” and obviously Gnostic thinking would deny God coming to earth as a man.

They toyed with such ideas as Jesus being a spirit who looked like a man but they denied Jesus as fully God and fully man.

John wrote to a broad audience – Jew and Gentile – but especially to those swaying in the wind of cultural philosophies.

The opening paragraph of John (v. 1-5) describes Jesus in a way that would have resonated with those early philosophies, using familiar terms (light/dark, Word/Logos) in a new way.

John’s ultimate goal was to present Jesus as truly God – as described in this opening of his book – and as truly human, as seen through the stories of his life.

He was the light of the world, God who became man to banish the darkness. This was the talk of philosophers and John chose his approach and word choices intentionally to refute false values.

John can be read, not just as another narrative of Jesus’ life, but as a brilliant literary work intended to defend Jesus’ incarnation. Yes, Jesus was God but he was also man – vital for belief in his redeeming work.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (NRSV)