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How to Share the Gospel with Buddhists

April 1, 2013 by Samuel Inbaraja

This approach can be used for sharing the Gospel with anyone, making necessary alterations to match their worldview.

One of the simplest ways to share the gospel with Buddhists is to first ask them to share what they believe about God, sin, salvation, etc., i.e their worldview, and then employ active listening, questioning etc to engage them and finally share the gospel with them.

You can use this approach while traveling, in your secular workplace or in the university.

You have to first develop a rapport with the individual with whom you wish to share and then make an agreement with them asking them to share their worldview, which you are interested in understanding, and then asking them also to listen to your worldview and perspective.

You have to first develop a good rapport with the individual with whom you wish to share and then ask them to share their worldview with you. Then appreciate those things which are true and good in that worldview and culture (dress, food, festivals, symbols) and then gently raise one or two objections about their core beliefs. For example you can raise objections about rebirth and karma or about the relative morality in Buddhism and it’s effect on daily life.

Ask them to share their perspective on important truths like love, forgiveness, evidence for resurrection, grace, manuscript and historical evidence for the bible, the arguments for existence of a theistic God like the Kalam cosmological argument, contingency argument etc. Also ask them to share their perspective on important events that occur around the globe. From what they share compare and contrast your view and help them see how the Christian worldview gives a better answer in any situation.

Invite them to a comparative study of Buddha and Jesus and share the uniqueness of Christ with them. Explain how Jesus used suffering, as a powerful instrument to express his love for humanity, to redeem humanity, to sanctify his followers and thus makes suffering meaningful.

Compare the evidence for the Bible with that of their scriptures and challenge them to read the bible for themselves or join a Bible study group in their locality.

Use existential approach as to how God wants a relationship with them and how he satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart through Christ.

Explain to them that Jesus renounced more than Buddha in order to save mankind. Help them understand from the life of Buddha and his words that Buddha was not a savior and the savior Buddha of Mahayana Buddhism was a later development and a myth. Now show from Scripture that Jesus of history is the Jesus of faith and how he taught that he is the savior of the world. Use the “Lord, liar or lunatic argument” and show them how Jesus is not just another good moral teacher.

Enumerate the contribution made by Christians to alleviate sufferings like starting mission hospitals, orphanages, hospices, social justice activism, schools, universities etc. Ask them to enumerate the contributions of Buddhism to alleviate suffering in practical ways as Christians did.

Ask them to enumerate their objections to the Christian faith and help them find answers.

Ask them to consider the evidences for the Christian faith and answer their sincere objections and question.

Share how Jesus transformed you and satisfies your deepest longings.

Share your e-mail address with them and ask them for theirs. Continue the conversation if they are interested, or else just keep in touch with them through social network, so that they can be exposed to Christian thought and theology through your social media wall posts.

Pray for them.

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Filed Under: Evaluating Buddhism

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