Religions

There are several excellent features of this booklet. One of them is the way in which Dick lets people speak of their own finding of Jesus as the way to God and the answer to their searching. Another is the fair way in which key aspects of the religions are described. And, wisely, Dick avoids negative talk about other faiths: such talk usually does little except irritate people or provoke them into rehearsing the long list of supposedly Christian misdoings over the centuries. This is why it is wiser not to say that ‘Christianity is unique’ but rather (as Dick does) that ‘the Christian way’ or ‘the message of Jesus’ is unique.

 

People of other faiths will react to what this booklet says - and in turn Christians might well find that visible love, heartfelt prayer and a willingness to apologise for what is widely seen as counter evidence (the Crusades, American TV evangelists, etc, etc), will prepare a smoother way for the Holy Spirit, rather than further argumentation or attempts to explain away the clear evidence that Christians are sinners too! If Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and others do read what follows, we Christians will need to display much of that rarest form of love - listening to the other.

 

May the reading of this booklet prepare the hearts of many ‘for the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

 

The Reverend Dr. R. A. Robinson MA (Canterbury), Ph D (London)

Dean of Studies, Christchurch Branch of the Bible College of New Zealand

Formerly General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society of NZ”