Can a christian be a buddhist?

[Bob]

Don't other religions contain some wisdom, that can help men reach salvation?

Didn't Buddha teach goodness and compassion like Jesus-Christ, even if Buddha didn't know God?

Buddha have retreated and isolated himself to meditate under a tree, it looks like Jesus that walked in the desert for 40 days, prayed His Father and resisted temptation of the Devil.

Could the Holy Spirit have inspired Buddha for his teaching, even if Buddha didn't know it explicitly? What do you think?

Thank you for the astute questions.

Yes, many religions contain wisdom and inculcate a culture similar to the Christian Love Your Neighbor like Yourself. The Apostle Paul found that many of the gentiles he met “lived as though the law were written on their hearts” (Romans 2: 14,15; also Acts 28: 1-7). Although I agree that other religious leaders, even the Buddha, have been inspired by the Holy Spirit, not all Christians do.

The difference for Christians: we know (and have even experienced) that if we try to guide ourselves through life, we often as not make poor choices. Thus, we know that if we embrace God totally, then we will never be led astray. The best teachers (“gurus”) are just people and can err; God will never let you down.

Blessings.

 

[Wick Stick]

What is "One Way"?

Is it one religion? believing in specific knowledge only given by God through His revelation (the Lord sending prophets to the israel, the coming of Jesus-Christ, His resurrection...) and praying only God

And is it one moral path? being good, seeking truth, follow the natural laws, obey our conscience...

Jesus portrays Himself as the only way - the embodiment of the Mind of God.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

[Behold]

A true Christian has been given a gift of eternal life. He has a relationship with God, our creator and source of all that is good. We have true peace. We would not bother pursuing some other way when ours is fulfilling. We are content. There is only one way to God, through Christ. Once you get to know Him, you will feel no need to seek answers or love elsewhere.
All other religions and/or philosphies are futile and empty paths that lead to destruction. Though on the surface, Buddhism may seem to be admirable, honorable, a peaceful way to go. They exercise self control and discipline their bodies - nothing really wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with being in harmony with nature either. We are called to be good caretakers of creation. Buddhism lacks spiritual knowledge of God and the spiritual realm. Buddhist monks seem like peaceful, old wise men with clever proverbs that may get you through this life, but they offer nothing to get you to the next life. In that area, they are greatly deceived. Buddhism focuses on the horozontal relationships, lacking the verticle one that is most important, God.
When I saw the movie, "Seven Years in Tibet", I realized how foolish Buddhism was. They worshipped a boy, thinking he was some reincarnated spiritual holy man with many past lives. It was really silly how they treated this little boy, as if he was anything other than just a boy.
This 9 year old Dali Lama befriended a visiting Austrian mountaineer who helped build the boy a movie theatre. I suppose the movie theater was part of his spiritual quest towards enlightenment? They had to dig up the ground to lay the foundation. But this was going to be a great disturbance for the insects whose lives were affected so much so that the Buddhist monks got down on their knees and prayed to the bugs ( for their forgiveness for disrupting their homes and that they would be relocating them). When I saw that, I thought how absurd a religion. Spiritual? In harmony with nature? I think they took that a little too far.
Jesus is the only way, (the gateway).
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matt. 7:13-14

I have a "Prayer" on that Prayer Thread for "Jenny and Steve".

They are European Pagans... He a Priest and She a Priestess.

Typical of this type, they are "earth worshipers".... and their view of God is this.

• Pantheism
  This belief system holds that the universe, including the earth, is divine.
  
  
• Animism
  Animistic traditions often believe that spirits or divine forces inhabit natural elements like trees, rivers, and mountains.
  
  Neopaganism
  Many Neopagan paths incorporate earth-based spirituality, with deities associated with nature and seasonal cycles.
  
  
  So, their disconnect, is that they worship the created.........they worship creation.... but can't correctly understand that there is Divine Creator, because they both have been deeply offended by the MaryCult, as this is a different situation, then you find in the USA.........So because they have seen the corruptions in Europe regarding this Cult"...., that is supposedly "Christian", they can only think of Christianty as this Cult..and they hate it.....because they both have been offended which keeps them in unbelief.

 

[ArkangeMikail]

Listen, you will find some wisdom and truth and compassion everywhere you look mixed with deception and lies - except from God's Word. ONLY TRUTH comes from Jesus. He said, I am the way, the truth and tye life, no ine cones to the Father but by Me. So he said, He is the only way to salvation. He said, "Believe on Me and you will have life." That is fundamental message of the Bible, that God would send a Savior, a Messiah, who would cleanse us of all sin and give us life.
We all descended from Adam and Eve, 1656 years later, the flood destroyed the planet and saved 8 people, Noah's family, who then repopulated the planet. They knew God and passed down truths, but over time truth got distorted, added to, confused, etc. And of course we have a conscience that God made us with, a moral code, so this helps us along to discern from good and evil.

I think God has guided everyone in some way. The Bible says God draws all men to Himself. Yet man rejects and rebels against Him. This is a natural tendency. Our sin nature ( that we are born with), is defective and prone to move our own way and against His authority over our lives, prone to lust after fleshly desires ... we are sinners. And we cannot remove those sins which have accumulated. We need God to remove them, so there is no earthly, human practice that can achieve this. We typically want to be on our own throne, directors of our own destiny. But this will not work, man has failed throughout history to achieve this false belief of finding his own way or by earning his way to heaven. Heaven is a perfect place and sin is not allowed there. So God has to cleanse our sin and has offered us a path- through belief in Christ, He regenerates our spirit, we are born again, a new creature. It is a spiritual miracle that man is not capable of accomplishing by himself.

thank you for your response, God saves all indeed

 

[Aunty Jane]

What is "One Way"?

According to God’s word, there has only ever been one way.....”one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph 4:4-6) ....”God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (1 Cor 14:33) If your religion is not a promoter of peace, but has a record of bloodshed, then it’s the wrong religion. We cannot have blood on our hands. (Isa 1:15) We are to be “no part of the world”. (John 18:36)

Is it one religion? believing in specific knowledge only given by God through His revelation (the Lord sending prophets to the israel, the coming of Jesus-Christ, His resurrection...) and praying only God

Yes. The way to salvation, according to the apostle John, is to “know the only true God and the one he sent, Jesus Christ” (John 17:3) In order to know the “only true God” in a world ruled by the devil, is to study God’s word....not church theology. Christendom is a house divided, so you will not find “the only true God” in their divided churches.

And is it one moral path? being good, seeking truth, follow the natural laws, obey our conscience...

Yes, but you also have to believe one truth.....and worship the same God that Jesus worships, even in heaven.
“The one who conquers—I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will by no means go out from it anymore, and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that descends out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.” (Rev 3:12)

When Jesus said those words, he had been back in heaven with his Father for over 60 years. He refers to the Father as “my God” four times in that one verse. So unless we “know the only true God”, as Jesus knows him, the devil will present us with counterfeits. (1John 5:19) He is “the god of this world” and he has the majority worshipping the wrong gods. (2 Cor 4:4)

If our worship and prayers are just repetitive ritual, our worship has no value. Christian worship is about deep and meaningful relationships, with God and his son....and sharing Bible truth with others. (Matt 24:14; 28:19-20)

I hope you don’t “jump out of the frying pan and into the fire”.....if you understand the meaning of that old saying.

 

[Debp]

Can a christian be a buddhist?

Are those two religions compatibles? Morally or theologically?

Many have answered you well already.

No, they are not compatible. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior said that He is the only way to be saved. He promises eternal life to those who believe on Him, what He did for us on the cross. Jesus died for our sins (a sacrifice for us) so we can be forgiven. But Jesus also rose from the dead and is now at the right hand of God the Father.

What is "One Way"?

Is it one religion? believing in specific knowledge only given by God through His revelation (the Lord sending prophets to the israel, the coming of Jesus-Christ, His resurrection...) and praying only God

And is it one moral path? being good, seeking truth, follow the natural laws, obey our conscience...

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." - John 14:6

We can't get to Heaven or have eternal life by anything except Jesus Christ. He paid the price for our sins....we are forgiven through Him.

thank you

i was muslim, i will become christian in the catholic church soon

That's wonderful you are now believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Do remember that churches don't save us....only Jesus Christ saves us. I hope you are reading the Gospel of John and other parts of the New Testament. Because the Catholic Church does add on some extra things which are not Scriptural....such as praying to Mary and Saints.

Jesus taught us to pray to the Father in His name.

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17.

 

[Gottservant]

Jesus said "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest", that's as close to Buddhist meditation as you need to get (Mark 6:31).

The sensible disciple will interpret this to mean "always remember the need to rest, wherever you are in life".

Now does "always resting" mean you are Buddhist like? Or that you are "always resting"?

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

I have a "Prayer" on that Prayer Thread for "Jenny and Steve".

They are European Pagans... He a Priest and She a Priestess.

Typical of this type, they are "earth worshipers".... and their view of God is this.

• Pantheism
  This belief system holds that the universe, including the earth, is divine.
  
  
• Animism
  Animistic traditions often believe that spirits or divine forces inhabit natural elements like trees, rivers, and mountains.
  
  Neopaganism
  Many Neopagan paths incorporate earth-based spirituality, with deities associated with nature and seasonal cycles.
  
  
  So, their disconnect, is that they worship the created.........they worship creation.... but can't correctly understand that there is Divine Creator, because they both have been deeply offended by the MaryCult, as this is a different situation, then you find in the USA.........So because they have seen the corruptions in Europe regarding this Cult"...., that is supposedly "Christian", they can only think of Christianty as this Cult..and they hate it.....because they both have been offended which keeps them in unbelief.

2/3 of the population of the planet is lost, confused and so whichever mindset they hold, it doesn't matter. Wide is the path to destruction and few enter in through Jesus.
But there is always hope for the lost, you cannot write them off yet. God can lift their veil of blindness just moments before death. I think the seed of the gospel lies dormant in many people who choose to reject it or ignor it now, but at a future time that God has chosen, it is brought to remembrance, they are drawn to God and His Word and illuminated.
Both my parents received the Lord just prior to death. I chipped away at their philosphies for 30 years and was almost losing hope. I was really surprised when they finally made their peace with God, it was a miracle.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

thank you for your response, God saves all indeed

I did not imply God saves all. Many will not be saved. Actually 2/3 of the planet are lost spiritually. Wide is then path to destruction and narrow is the path to life. Jesus is the only way.

 

[Jay Ross]

The basic fundamental of Buddhism is that there is no God, that God does not exist.

This fundamental is opposed to what a Christian believes. A Christian believes that there is a God who created the earth and everything that is associated with the earth, including the heavens.

So the answer to the question in the title is: - NO.

 

[Debp]

The basic fundamental of Buddhism is that there is no God, that God does not exist.

This fundamental is opposed to what a Christian believes. A Christian believes that there is a God who created the earth and everything that is associated with the earth, including the heavens.

So the answer to the question in the title is: - NO.

Also, Buddhists believe in reincarnation...endless rebirths...until they reach so called Nirvana.

 

[ArkangeMikail]

That's wonderful you are now believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Do remember that churches don't save us....only Jesus Christ saves us. I hope you are reading the Gospel of John and other parts of the New Testament. Because the Catholic Church does add on some extra things which are not Scriptural....such as praying to Mary and Saints.

Jesus taught us to pray to the Father in His name.

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17.

I will digress from the initial topic, sorry

I live in France and in France, the most powerful, by far, christian denomination is Catholicism

there a few protestants "sects" but they are rare and "weak" (in the city i live in, there is a single lutheran church, a chinese-based protestant group, some others...)

Catholics view protestants as heretics wanting to separate themselves from the Church and wanting to interpret the Bible in their own way

Catholic believe that there is a second authority aside from the Bible, and it is the Church Tradition and Teachings, that's why there is prayer to Mary and Saints

But catholics don't pray Mary like they pray God, they ask Mary to pray God for us :

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

it's different
there is the "strong prayer" which is only for God
and there is "weak prayer" which is for Mary and the Saints

what do you think?

Should I join the Catholic Church, or join a small protestant church in my city?

 

[Debp]

what do you think?

Should I join the Catholic Church, or join a small protestant church in my city?

I think you should join a small protestant church in your city. Visit a few churches and talk to the pastors. Hopefully you can find a Bible teaching church where you are welcomed.

Since you are new to the Christian faith, I don't want you to be led astray with unscriptural teachings by the Catholic Church.

 

[Behold]

Both my parents received the Lord just prior to death.

Death bed conversions, both? Or, they received Christ during their last few months of Life?
Its all good, as God will take faith, and accept it and save the person, always, day or night, young or old, anywhere and anytime.
Ive talked to people around the world., and everyone is looking for something or someone to Believe in, and we have their Answer.

 

[Debp]

@ArkangeMikail This pastor, Dr. Michael Youssef, is a good Bible teaching pastor. He was formerly Muslim and from Egypt.

This is under four minutes but a good message by Dr. Youssef....with a prayer at the end. I hope it blesses you.

 

[Matthias]

Should I join the Catholic Church, or join a small protestant church in my city?

Are you having second thoughts about becoming “a christian in the catholic church soon” (post #16)?

You didn’t ask me but I think you should do what you are fully persuaded is right.

Have you considered that Jesus of Nazareth himself - the Messiah, Son of the living God - is neither Catholic nor Protestant?

 

[Behold]

I will digress from the initial topic, sorry

I live in France and in France, the most powerful, by far, christian denomination is Catholicism

there a few protestants "sects" but they are rare and "weak" (in the city i live in, there is a single lutheran church, a chinese-based protestant group, some others...)

Catholics view protestants as heretics wanting to separate themselves from the Church and wanting to interpret the Bible in their own way

Catholic believe that there is a second authority aside from the Bible, and it is the Church Tradition and Teachings, that's why there is prayer to Mary and Saints

But catholics don't pray Mary like they pray God, they ask Mary to pray God for us :

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

it's different
there is the "strong prayer" which is only for God
and there is "weak prayer" which is for Mary and the Saints

what do you think?

Should I join the Catholic Church, or join a small protestant church in my city?

Dont join this .
-

-

 

[Nameaboveallnames]

i was muslim, i will become christian in the catholic church soon

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Death bed conversions, both? Or, they received Christ during their last few months of Life?
Its all good, as God will take faith, and accept it and save the person, always, day or night, young or old, anywhere and anytime.
Ive talked to people around the world., and everyone is looking for something or someone to Believe in, and we have their Answer.

My Dad was a professed atheist for his life til about 82, 2 years before his death. He was brought up in a Catholic Italian family with 7 sisters. However, when his Dad got sick with TB ( when there was no cure), at 10 years old, he got on his knees and prayed for his father's life and apparently God said NO since his Dad died, and so he thought there was no God or if there was he was angry and didn 't want anything to do with him. My mom spent five years in a Catholic orphanage from age 9-14 because her parents were sick with TB too. She was negatively effected and resentful by the strict nuns disciplined ways. But she was very rebellious all he life. The nuns slapped her hands once when she was misbehaving and my brother and I heard that story a hundred times. I used to tell her, "They didn't slap you enough!" She'd laugh. So she rebelled against Christianity ... but ironically held onto several key principles in scriptures. But wow, she was like a hippy free spirit, living by her own spiritual smorgasbord: Reincarnation, astrology, etc. I remember her getting into the teachings of Maharish Mehesh Yogi and coming home with a mantra - oh boy. The Beatles fell for that guy too ... for a awhile until they discovered he was a hypocrate and fraud. Anyways, I witnessed tinher for 35 years, slowly dismantling her beliefs and sharing the gospel. She received Christ only days before she died. I was pleasantly shocked when I heard her singing about Jesus, telling me "He has always been there for me and has His hand on my shoulder.." Wow, I guess she had no more resistance and fight in her left. Then God finally got her attention.

 

[Behold]

My Dad was a professed atheist for his life til about 82, 2 years before his death. He was brought up in a Catholic Italian family with 7 sisters. However, when his Dad got sick with TB ( when there was no cure), at 10 years old, he got on his knees and prayed for his father's life and apparently God said NO since his Dad died, and so he thought there was no God or if there was he was angry and didn 't want anything to do with him. My mom spent five years in a Catholic orphanage from age 9-14 because her parents were sick with TB too. She was negatively effected and resentful by the strict nuns disciplined ways. But she was very rebellious all he life. The nuns slapped her hands once when she was misbehaving and my brother and I heard that story a hundred times. I used to tell her, "They didn't slap you enough!" She'd laugh. So she rebelled against Christianity ... but ironically held onto several key principles in scriptures. But wow, she was like a hippy free spirit, living by her own spiritual smorgasbord: Reincarnation, astrology, etc. I remember her getting into the teachings of Maharish Mehesh Yogi and coming home with a mantra - oh boy. The Beatles fell for that guy too ... for a awhile until they discovered he was a hypocrate and fraud. Anyways, I witnessed tinher for 35 years, slowly dismantling her beliefs and sharing the gospel. She received Christ only days before she died. I was pleasantly shocked when I heard her singing about Jesus, telling me "He has always been there for me and has His hand on my shoulder.." Wow, I guess she had no more resistance and fight in her left. Then God finally got her attention.

Beautiful story.
Thanks for sharing.
It reminds us that God never gives up on us, right to the end.