A Southern Baptist interfaith evangelism leader has called
on the Dalai Lama to reconsider his recent condemnation of Christian witness.
A Southern Baptist interfaith evangelism leader has called
on the Dalai Lama to reconsider his recent condemnation of Christian witness.
“With all due respect, … it is evident that, historically,
world religions have never exercised restraint in their efforts to propagate
their message beyond the regional borders where the religion had its origin,”
said Rudy Gonzalez, director of interfaith evangelism for the Southern Baptist
North American Mission Board.
Indeed, Buddhism itself spread beyond its original birthplace
of India and went throughout Asia, including the Dalai Lamas homeland
of Tibet, Gonzalez noted.
The Dalai Lama is the exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhists and
a Nobel peace prize winner. He recently joined Hindu leaders in condemning the
Muslim and Christian practice of actively seeking converts. “Whether Hindu
or Muslim or Christian, whoever tries to convert, its wrong, not good,”
the Dalai Lama said. “I always believe its safer and better and reasonable
to keep ones own tradition or belief.”
The Dalai Lama spoke after meeting with leaders of the World
Hindu Council, a group that often criticizes Christians and Muslims and actively
seeks to make India a Hindu state. He also spoke after the councils general
secretary said, “Buddhism, Hinduism and other non-aggressive religions
have to unite to douse Islam … an aggressive religion.”
The Dalai Lama and council leaders signed a statement saying:
“We oppose conversions by any religious tradition using various methods
of enticement.”
However, Gonzalez noted conversions are a part of the Hindu
experience in this country, recounting the influence of the religion on the
nation in the 1960s.
“It would take no great effort to find significant numbers
of American-born adherents to the Hindu and Buddhist ways of life,” Gonzalez
noted. “I am reminded of the wave of gurus that spread aspects of Hindu
belief in the 60s and afterwards. Even today, many Americans convert to
the Hindu and Buddhist ways of life, in large measure due to the efforts of
their religious leaders in the U.S. through new religious thoughts such as New
Age movements.”
Gonzalez also took issue with the Dalai Lamas statement
that conversions are out of date. “I would ask him to reconsider such an
insensitive statement. I doubt that people who come to faith in Jesus Christ
consider their life-altering decision to be some sort of passing fad.
“Many people who come to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord
and Savior do so at considerable peril, …” Gonzalez noted. “I wonder
if the Dalai Lama has ever taken the time to hear a true convert to Christianity
and attempt to understand why they embraced faith in Christ.”
At a doctrinal level, the Dalai Lama should realize that it
is inconceivable that people of deep religious beliefs would discard one of
their basic tenets so easily, Gonzalez added.
“Evangelism, outreach to the world with the life-transforming
message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, is a fundamental aspect
of historic Christianity,” he explained. “Christianity exists today
because believers throughout the ages have taken seriously the Lords commission
to preach the gospel worldwide.
“Genuine Christianity knows no grandchildren,” Gonzalez
continued. “Every generation of Christians must be motivated by the impulse
of Gods Spirit to evangelize and thus involve itself with God for the
continuation of the church for that generation.
“For Southern Baptists, evangelism is not a matter decided
by opinion polls or changing ecumenical opinion. Scripture is definitive; our
mandate is clear.”
Gonzalez said Southern Baptists reject coercive or manipulative
attempts to proselytize people of other faiths, while acknowledging that some
can become overzealous in their efforts. “Both the evangelist and his or
her evangelistic methods need to be under the constant scope and constraints
of Scripture and Gods discerning Spirit. As Southern Baptists, our stance
on the soul sufficiency of people respects and honors the God-given volition
we all posses.
“Evangelism, from our perspective, is an invitation, nothing
more, which people accept or reject on its merits. We believe those who come
to embrace Christ are drawn by Gods Spirit,” Gonzalez said. “This
is an aspect of Gods transcendent work, something that is never out of
date.” (BP)
