Christ Among Other gods: A Defense of Christ in an Age of Tolerance

by Erwin W. Lutzer, J.I. Packer (Foreword by)

Overview

You’ve heard it said, “All religions are equal.” But do you know how to respond?

Tolerance sees all religions as spokes of one wheel, spinning everyone together in harmony with God. Christ Among Other gods shows how this wobbly wheel simply doesn’t hold up. 

Walking you through a study of Christ—from his birth to his promised second coming—pastor and scholar Erwin W. Lutzer presents Jesus as He is: the only way of salvation. Learn how to:

• Describe the uniqueness of Christ
• Defend the claims of Christianity
• Debunk the myths that many tout

The tensions between tolerance and truth are growing, as are the challenges of representing Christ in today’s world. Christ Among Other gods will help you understand and navigate these challenges. It gives you the facts you need to counter the claims of false religions with the truth of Christ. And what is more, it will help you fall more in love with Jesus, the only way, truth, and life.

"If you want to understand Christ better, defend Him with more confidence, and worship Him with more single-mindedness, this book is for you." — Josh McDowell, Josh McDowell Ministry

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802493323
Publisher:	Moody Publishers
Publication date:	12/15/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

DR. ERWIN W. LUTZER is pastor emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago where he served as the Senior Pastor for 36 years. A respected theologian, Dr. Lutzer earned his BTh from Winnipeg Bible College, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, a MA in philosophy from Loyola University, and an honorary LLD from the Simon Greenleaf School of Law. He is an award-winning author and the featured speaker on three radio programs that can be heard on more than one thousand outlets around the world. Dr. Lutzer and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area and have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Read an Excerpt

Christ Among Other Gods

A Defense of Christ in an Age of Tolerance

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By Erwin W. Lutzer

Moody Publishers

Copyright © 2016 Erwin W. Lutzer
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1329-1

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CHAPTER 1

THE "GODS" ARE ON THE MOVE

Have You Caught the Grand Vision?

Years ago I heard a chilling invitation.

"Unite or Perish!"

That message seemed to dominate every session of the Parliament of the World's Religions that met in Chicago in 1993. And the group most often targeted for criticism — the folks who could not be expected to buy into this united agenda — were those who belonged to the historic Christian faith. The message I heard at the parliament was that we had better get on board or be left to swim (or drown) on our own!

The gods are on a roll, and woe to those who stand in the way of their agenda! With lofty ideals and utopian plans to unify the religions of the world for the common good, this parliament met to break down the barriers that exist in the accelerated march toward unity. Six thousand delegates came to learn from one another, explore areas of agreement, and grasp a better understanding of one another's religious heritages. They also promoted a global ethic designed to alleviate the suffering and wars of the world. Their time, they said, had come.

What place did Christ have in the more than 700 workshops that were available during the eight-day conference? At times He was variously admired, quoted, and favorably compared to other religious teachers, ancient and modern. He was seen as one more stage in the evolutionary development of religion; indeed, He was a very necessary and important stage, but He was only one enlightened man among many. It was noted that in our day He is overshadowed by others but that He should be admired for being the man for times. A special man for His times.

Except for one or two speakers (one said of Him, "He didn't even know the world was round"), Christ was thus revered for His contribution in the history of religion. He was even described by some as a revealer of God, a man who had achieved the highest degree of enlightenment. Others allowed that He was the Master of Masters, the one who shows us the way; the one who is to be loved and followed. But alas, He was only one among many others. Though He was respected, He was not worshiped.

Things have not changed since then. If anything, we're even more religiously "tolerant" than we used to be. What I saw and heard at that conference is a microcosm of your school, business, and community. The people who live next door and your associates at work most likely believe that it doesn't matter what god you pray to because every deity is ultimately the same deity shrouded in a different name.

Consider: A 2007-08 Pew Research Center survey indicates that "most Americans agree with the statement that many religions — not just their own — can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%)." A2011 Barna survey indicates prevalent belief in universalism and pluralism.

Here is what Barna found:

Broadly defined, universalism is the belief that all human beings will be saved after death. On balance, Americans leaned toward exclusive rather than inclusive views. For example, 43% agreed and 54% disagreed with the statement, "It doesn't matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons."

Similar splits in public opinion emerged for the statement, "All people will experience the same outcome after death, regardless of their religious beliefs" (40% agreed, 55% disagreed) and the sentiment, "All people are eventually saved or accepted by God, no matter what they do, because he loves all people he has created (40% versus 50%).

59% of adults believe that "Christians and Muslims worship the same God even though they have different names and beliefs regarding God."

And:

Nevertheless, despite their own personal faith convictions, many born again Christians embrace certain aspects of universalist thought. One-quarter of born again Christians said that all people are eventually saved or accepted by God (25%) and that it doesn't matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons (26%). An even larger percentage of born again Christians (40%) indicated that they believe Christians and Muslims worship the same God."

Perhaps you belong to that segment, and if so I invite you to compare Christ with other religious options. Join me on a journey that will investigate His claims, assess the historical records, and examine whether He should just be admired or actually worshiped. I'm not writing about a hidden Christ who is accessible only to those who already believe; as best I can, I present a Christ whose credentials are open for thoughtful investigation. If you think that all the deities are the same, or that all religions agree on the essential points, this book is for you.

And if you already are a Christian, I want to sound a wakeup call, an opportunity to join a growing number of believers who have chosen to sink their roots deeper, to understand their faith better, and to turn their beliefs into convictions. We should be glad for the opportunity to represent Christ in our pluralistic age. This is not a time to hide the light in our hearts but to let it shine in the hazy dusk of religious pluralism. Never before has it been so important to have Christ in our heads and not just in our hearts!

Have we I speak to those of us who are committed Christians — have we become so desensitized by the tolerance of our age that we can see Christ dethroned in the minds of multitudes and turn away as if we didn't notice? Many of us remember how dismayed Christians became when the movie The Last Temptation of Christ was released. Yet we don't realize that a similar desecration happens whenever Christ is classified as just one among many options.

Yes, of course we believe that eventually "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11), but we must rekindle our passion for Him to be honored in our day among our neighbors and friends. Our love for Him can be measured by our concern about His reputation among the people of the world.

Now if Christ is indeed only one among many, if He is but one of the gods, then it is time for all the religions of the world to unite. Let all religious leaders stand on equal ground; let them pool their insights so that they can fight our battles with a unified army. Enough of division! Enough of fruitless arguments! Enough of bigotry!

Which forces the question: Does Christ belong on the same shelf with Buddha, Krishna, Baha u llah, and Zoroaster? Like Christ, such leaders (and others) have taught some rather lofty ethical ideas. Even if we say He stands taller than the rest, have we given Him His due? Or is He to be placed on an entirely different shelf altogether? That, of course, is the subject of this book.

Mind you, at the parliament no one suggested that Christians should stop being Christians or that Hindus should stop being Hindus; nor should Buddhists stop being Buddhists. The religions of the world have a rich diversity that should be prized.

Each should be admired as one beautiful petal; together they form a magnificent flower called religion, a flower that no one religion could create by itself.

This flower is growing more quickly before our eyes than we realize. The soil has been prepared, the seeds have been planted, and the plant is beginning to bloom. Only mindless fanatics would spoil its beauty and energy. This flower, we are told, will bless the world.

THE FOUNDATION FOR UNITY

This is not a book about comparative religions, since such subjects have already been adequately treated by others. This book is about Christ; it is an attempt to understand Him better, worship Him more, and represent Him with more confidence. But first we have to cover some important matters to set the context for the discussion.

I attended the parliament because I wanted to learn more about the religions of the world, to have a better grasp of the complexity we face in America today. Second, I wanted to meet as many people as possible, to compare their beliefs with those of Christ (a few of these stories are in this book). Third, I wanted to look through the window of prophecy to see the formation of a worldwide religious system that, in all probability, will be the basis of Antichrist s brief rule on planet Earth.

The premises that were either directly stated or implied in every session have already taken root in our culture. Listen to our talk shows, read the newspapers, or attend the local school board meeting and you will find these views widely accepted and seldom challenged.

1. The doctrines of the different faiths should not be held as truths but as shells that contain kernels that are found in all religions. Since the claim for truth is a stumbling block to unity, it is best to speak of religious traditions rather than religious truths.

2. No religion should be thought of as superior to another. Indeed, this belief in superiority is the major roadblock to religious unity. At the parliament, seminars were held to overcome "this crucial obstacle."

3. We can retain our own particular religion but must move beyond it to deeper levels of experience. As we move away from religion to this true spirituality, we are united.

4. Proselytizing (Christians call it evangelism) is bigotry, pure and simple. The idea of winning converts is based on the antiquated notion that one religion has more to offer than another. Our task is to help others discover the hidden inner meaning of their religions, rather than convert them to our own.

To quote the words of Swami Chindanansa of the Divine Life Society, "There are many effective, equally valid religions. They are to be equally reverenced, equally recognized, and equally loved and cherished — not merely tolerated. The Hindu Scriptures say, 'In whatever way men approach Me, even so do I go to them.'" But if the different religions are the same in essence, why do they appear so disparate to us? It's all a matter of perspective; how easy it is for all of us to give a different description of the same thing. God (or the gods) is one; it is our fallible interpretations that bring disunity.

At the parliament, the delegates were often led to shout "I AM!" as an affirmation of their own godhood. People who still believed in prayer were told that they should pray to their own "god of choice." We were told that the better we understand ourselves and our global village, the more readily we will be mature enough to realize that no religion has a right to exclusivity. Some gods may work best for you; whereas the rich traditions of the goddesses are more appealing to your friends.

THE VISION OF UNITY

The famous historian Arnold Toynbee predicted that the governments of the world would unite either by force or federation, but that the unity could not succeed without a universal religion. Christianity, he said, should be purged of its "sinful state of mind," namely, its exclusivism. The political/economic framework of world government needs to be supported by the unified spiritual dimension of humankind.

This appears to be happening before our eyes. As America has become more diversified racially, so it is becoming more diversified religiously. We are told that the only hope for peaceful coexistence in our country and the larger world is for the religions of the world to set aside their differences and rally around the common banner of love, acceptance, and service to our fellow man. After all, the various religions are but different expressions of the same ultimate, the same god (or gods).

Listen to some of the benefits unity will bring:

_____ An end to war

_____ An end to hunger through a redistribution of the world's resources and population control

_____ Conservation of the earth's environment

_____ Genuine equality among all races and religions and between men and women

_____ A global ethic that will unite the human family

_____ The dawn of an entirely new age of human achievement and potential

Later in this book I shall discuss what will happen to those who do not sign on to this agenda. Testimonies — scores of them — were given about the personal benefits of those who have taken the time to harmonize the rational mindset of the religious West with the mystical experience of the religious East. Religious unity will change the world because it begins by changing individuals.

One woman claimed healing through mystical meditation; another said her New Age religion saved her marriage. One man said that only when he delved into Hinduism did he "find the other half of his soul." Words often used were fulfillment, peace, or energy. Yes, there were plenty of testimonials to say, "It works!"

ILLUSTRATIONS OF UNITY

In John Godfrey Saxe's well-known poem "The Blind Men and the Elephant," the six blind men of Indostan all wanted to learn what an elephant was like. Each approached the beast from a different direction; each explored part of the elephant — its side, its tusk, its trunk, its leg, its ear, and its tail. Relating their experiences, the six compared the elephant to a wall, a spear, a snake, a tree, a fan, and a rope.

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeded stiff and strong
Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong!

So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an elephant
Not one of them has seen!

If only we would realize that the various religions of the world are simply different aspects of the same divinity! In fact, the argument goes, we should be thankful for these diverse ways of seeing because they give us a fuller picture of whatever gods or goddesses there be. Far from thinking that one religion is superior, we should expand our horizons to see the bigger picture. The Religious Ultimate is greater than any one portrait of him or her.

If the blind men and the elephant illustrate why we have different religious traditions, the wheel helps us understand what happens when we move away from our dogmas and unite the core of our beliefs. Visualize a wheel with a rim, spokes, and hub. At (1) the outer rim we find our different religious doctrines, which form the most superficial level of understanding; but, (2) once we grasp that our beliefs are symbols, we begin to move toward the center. At the rim, dialogue is impossible because it is even difficult for us to understand how other people believe as they do; but as we move toward the center, we find a deeper meaning. Then, (3) finally at the hub we discover our true unity; here is "the brilliant blue of empty sky" as I heard one person put it. Now we can better appreciate other religions, because we see them through the lens of inner unity and faith.

OBSTACLES TO UNITY

But what should we do with our doctrinal beliefs, those stubborn convictions that are roadblocks to unity? In one session of the parliament one leader said, "Hold on to your chairs tightly, as if you might go through the ceiling if you were to let go. Now think of one of your most cherished beliefs now let go of both your chair and your cherished belief. Nothing happened, right? Now you've got the feel of it!" Then we were told that we could have our belief back, thank you very much. We just have to get used to "letting go"!

If we still struggle with "letting go" of our cherished beliefs there was a seminar titled, "A Vocabulary for the 21st Century, which aimed to show that all so-called doctrines were merely metaphors for a deeper meaning. In practical terms, this means that one can give up his doctrines without surrendering the terminology that communicates them. The Bible, it was said, does not mean what most think it does, all that is required is to give up our doctrines and then we will see that its metaphors will yield a deeper, hidden meaning. If only we could progress beyond the childish stages of our faith and grow to maturity, to inclusive maturity.

Christianity, we're told, had failed — at least the form common in the Western world. We have squandered the earth's resources because of the foolish notion that we should have dominion over the earth. Christianity talks of love and breeds hate; it speaks of one creator yet divides the creation with its narrow doctrines. The message was clear: It s time to move on. Christianity is like a boat that has taken us across the river; now it's time to abandon it for the exciting new future. We are leaving the Piscean Age (Christianity) for the age of Aquarius. Goodbye to the past and welcome to the future!

Well, I think you've got the picture. When someone says that Christianity has failed, most people interpret that to mean that Christ has failed. It's our Savior they are talking about! And it is our privilege to help the world see that they might just be mistaken in their assessment.

Two immediate questions come to mind: How is the Bible viewed when a spirit of ecumenism (inclusiveness) takes over? And where does Christ fit within a syncretistic (religiously unified) culture?

What about the Bible?

Obviously if the Bible is to harmonize with any number of religious viewpoints, it has to be reinterpreted, made to "fit" if you please. Whenever I've been on a talk show or have debated the merits of Christ, I've heard, "That's just interpretation!" The impression is given that the Bible can be easily stripped of its literal meaning and made compatible with any number of viewpoints.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Christ Among Other Gods by Erwin W. Lutzer. Copyright © 2016 Erwin W. Lutzer. Excerpted by permission of Moody Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Foreword, 9,
Introduction, 11,
1. The "Gods" Are on the Move Have you caught the grand vision?, 13,
2. The Icon of Tolerance How did we get here?, 33,
3. The Search for Truth If it's true for me, is it true for you?, 53,
4. An Extraordinary Birth What does it take to be a savior?, 73,
5. An Extraordinary Life Who is the real Jesus?, 93,
6. An Extraordinary Authority If God has spoken, what has He said?, 115,

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This is a refreshing contemporary defense of the uniqueness of Christ against the background of our pluralistic society!  If you want to understand Christ better, defend Him with more confidence, and worship Him with more single-mindedness, this book is for you!
-Josh McDowell, Josh McDowell Ministries

Every so often a book is written that is must reading . . . this is one of them.  It is clear, forceful, and incredibly relevant to the spiritual morass of today's society.  I commend it fully.
-Adrian Rogers, Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church

This is not a book about ecumenism or syncretism, but about Jesus Christ, the One who can not be compared with other "gods."  Lutzer does a marvelous job, in a most readable manner, of reminding the open-minded seeker of truth that it is not "Jesus the Greatest" but "Jesus the Only."
-D. James Kennedy, PhD., Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

I buy every book Erwin Lutzer writes.  He makes me think . . . and act!  Christ Among Other gods puts the Lord Jesus in His place.  He is prominent, powerful, and precious about all other gods.  This is Lutzer at his Christ-exalting best!
-O.S. Hawkins, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dallas

At last, a positive defense of the truth of Christian uniqueness that is accessible to the average reader.  No longer can we assume that the Christian claims are understood or accepted as "givens" even in our own evangelical circles, and Dr. Lutzer doesn't take anything for granted.  Serious in its research, probing in its arguments, reasonable in its treatment of objections, and warm in its devotion to Christ . . . must reading for every pastor or layperson committed to communicating Christ as the world's only hope.
-Michael Horton, Christians United for Reformation

I highly recommend this book for non-Christians who wish to understand why the Christian faith is different and cannot be successfully amalagated with other religions.  But I recommend this book even more for every concerned Christian who desires to know how to defend his or her faith in an increasingly pluralistic and tolerant culture.
-John Ankerberg, The John Ankerberg Show

Editorial Reviews

"Christ Among Other gods: A Defense of Christ in an Age of Tolerance is a true must-read in my opinion. Lutzer argues throughout the book that Christianity is unique and that truth should never be compromised for the sake of tolerance.

Lutzer isn't attacking tolerance, that is ALL forms of tolerance. He differentiates between types of tolerance.

Legal tolerance, for example, would be 'the right for everyone to believe in whatever faith (or none at all) he wishes.' Social tolerance he defines as being, 'a commitment to respecting all men even if we vigorously disagree with their religion ideas.' Kindness, courtesy, respect—these are the ways tolerance can be shown. Lutzer applauds both legal and social tolerance. What he disapproves of—what he argues against in this book is uncritical tolerance, which he believes goes against all logic.

For example, all ideas are to be tolerated except the idea that there are absolutes, absolute truths, that truth can be known, that some ideas are true, and, other ideas are false—at least by default. Not all ideas, not all beliefs, can equally be true, Lutzer insists. If all the doctrines in all the world religions were equally true then you'd have a big, big, contradictory mess, absent of logic and common sense. Lutzer argues for the existence of truth, for the existence of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible, the Jesus who claimed to be the way, the truth, the life. Not one of many ways, not one of many truths, etc.

He writes:

'Officially, sin does not exist in our society, but if there were one sin left it would be a belief in objective truth, a belief that some things are still right or wrong; a belief that discrimination still has value if defined as being discriminating in what we believe, the way we behave, and what we defend.

The premise of this one is simple. Christ is not one of many gods. He cannot be shelved alongside other gods of the world. He is unique; Christianity is unique. It is a religion—a faith—based on historical fact, centered around Jesus Christ. The book studies his birth, his life (including miracles), his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his second coming. Lutzer argues that Christians should boldly stand for truth—no compromise—the world needs to know that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life. The world needs to know that heaven and hell are real, and, that each one of us will spend eternity somewhere. The Bible has authority; it speaks truth; every Christian should live their lives by God's revelation.'

Lutzer touches on other religions and other worldviews; he provides readers with a light overview of world religions and differing perspectives. It is not thorough or complete. His purpose is not to educate readers about other religions, other ideas; instead his purpose is to educate readers about Jesus. One can never assume—should never assume—that every person professing faith in Christ stands for truth and believes that the Bible is the very Word of God—true and authoritative.

'The Bible draws a definitive line through the peoples of the world, but it is not a line between races, nations, or even cultures, as such. This line separates Christ and his followers from all other religious choices. I'm committed to helping us identify that line, show where it should be drawn, and give reasons that we have no right to move it.'

The book is clear and straight forward. It is also engaging. Lutzer is NOT boring. He writes in a way that challenges readers to think, to consider, to act or react.

This book is for anyone looking for the answers to these questions:

*Who is Jesus? Who was Jesus?

*What do Christians believe?

*Does it matter what you believe as long as you're sincere?

*Is there such a thing as truth?

*Do our beliefs have consequences?"

Reviewed by Becky Laney on NetGalley, Feb 13, 2016

From the Publisher