Looking Back

 

John 7:1-14

When it comes to Jesus the world is not very passive, many hate His name or anyone   associated with His name.  Have you ever wondered why?  Why is there not the same hatred for other World Religions and its Founders, beginning with Judaism and Abraham in 2,085 BC?  Next is Hinduism in 1,500 BC. With no specific founder, and then Buddhism in 5560 BC with Gautama Buddha as its founder.  In between Christianity in 30 AD with Jesus Christ as its founder or other religions like Taoism 550 BC by Lao Tzu and Jainism in 599 BC by Mahavira.
In 325 AD, after being persecuted for almost 200 years, Constantine made the Church become a legal religion, and compromise begins to enter the Christian church.  In 590 AD we have the development of Roman Catholicism by Pope Gregory, and in 610 AD the beginning of Islam by Mohammed.  It was in 1515 AD reformers by the names of Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin began Protestantism. 
Now lets look at some and by no means all of the modern religions: such as Mormonism by Joseph Smith in 1830 AD, and 7^th Day Adventists by E.G. White in 1845.  Next comes Jehovah's Witnesses by Charles Taze Russell in 1870 AD, and Christian Science by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879 AD.  In 1955 AD, we had Scientology by L. Ron Hubbard, and in 1961 AD, Unitarian Universalism was officially formed.  And by all means we would not want to leave out the Church of Satan by Anton LaVey in 1966 AD.

If we look at the demographics on a modern world scale, it is interesting to see religion from this viewpoint.  Christianity has around 2,039 million members and on a pie chart has a 32% share of the pie, but it is dropping in membership.  Islam has 1,570 million members and that is 22% of the pie but it is growing.   Hinduism has 950 million followers about 13 % of the pie and is stable.  A group that few think about is the No religion and on the pie chart they are 775 million or about 12% and dropping.  Buddhism has from 350 – 1,600 million or about 6% of the world pie and is stable.  The Atheists have about 150 million followers or 2% of the world’s pie, and Judaism has about 23.8 million or 1% of the world’s pie.

The facts listed above are from: www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

All of the listed religions above, with the exception of Christianity, have one thing in common, they or offended by the name of Jesus, and many hate the name.  In some cases they have associated with His name, but do not see Him as the Son of God or the only way to the Father as Jesus claimed in John 14:6,7. 

In John chapter 7 we have the answer, it was the answer then and it is still the answer.  A special feast in Jerusalem, the feast of booths, and Jesus brothers who did not yet believe in Him, wanted Him to go to Judea so that His disciples would see the works He was doing.  This is Jesus reply; “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.” 

I have come to this understanding that many who go by the name Christian have no understanding of what they claim to be, because in Christ we have all the rights of son ship and all the responsibility of following Jesus’ commands.  Jesus makes this very clear in John 15:18-21,  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.  But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”
It all comes down to this fact; Jesus has the authority to forgive sin, to redeem sinners and to make you in right standing with His Father.  The apostle Paul under the authority of the Holy Spirit spoke these words: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools,” (Romans 1:18-22a)
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice