Jun
13
Is it ok to “baptize” the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths?
Filed Under Buddhism, Communicating with those of other faiths, Great Commission
The Buddha’s teachings can be boiled down to The Four Noble Truths and The Eight-fold Path. The Four Noble Truths are:
1. Life is dukkha (suffering, dislocation, transience. Life is not the way it should be)
2. Dukkha is caused by tanha (desire, thirst for permanence)
3. Dukkha can cease when tanha is removed…cessation of tanha is Nirvana.
4. Tanha is removed through the Eight-fold Path:
1. Right views
2. Right intent
3. Right speech
4. Right conduct
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration
In “Evangelism in the New Millennium: An Integrated Model of Evangelism to Buddhists Using Theology, Anthropology, and Religious Studies” Ubolwan Mejudhon advocates presenting the gospel to Buddhists with a Christian version of the Four Noble Truths.* His “baptized” Four Noble Truths are:^
1. Suffering is a fact of life
2. The cause of suffering is sin
3. The cure for sins is the suffering of Christ
4. The way to deliverance is through faith in Jesus Christ
At first I thought it was a clever idea. However, I then began to question my initial judgment since these Four Noble Truths clearly do not contain the full gospel message. They contain truth but not the entire truth. Nevertheless, I still think these “baptized” Noble Truths can be useful in communicating the gospel to Buddhists as long as they are supplemented with the rest of the message.
*Article is in Sharing Jesus in the Buddhist World, edited by David Lin and Steve Spaulding (2003).
^He credits J.T. Seamand with this version of the Four Noble Truths. Seamand, J.T.. Tell It Well: Communicating the Gospel across Cultures (1981).
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4 Responses to “Is it ok to “baptize” the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths?”
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hmmm. i think what is moster interesting to me is the use of the word “baptism.” i curious of his reason for using this word. if baptism is symbolic of our regeneration, purification and new life in Christ, then it makes me think about the purpose of using this word in relation to evangelism. i noticed that there was no mention of love; loving of others, Jesus’ love for us. i noticed no mention of grace; our humanness and God’s forgiveness.
these thoughts are what come to mind when i ponder evangelism, especially cross-cultural evangelism. what can be more simply understood than acts of love? children can understand love. blind and deaf can understand love. if we aren’t able to speak the same language we are able to give and receive a hug, gifts, food, any sort of help and understand that communication as love. my judgment is that we can all understand what love is and we can al understand what love ain’t, hatred.
“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.”
“…I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
- Ephesians 3:7-13, 16-19
Brianna,
Thanks for the comment. I completely agree that we should not compromise the gospel in an attempt to contextualize it. On the other hand, we need to look at what we define as the gospel and make sure we do not try to pass on our own cultural expression of the gospel. The gospel remains the same, but its expression changes in each culture.
Thanks
wmc
Derrick,
Hey friend. Thanks for the comment. I used the term “baptize” because it is a shorthand term that describes when non-Christian practices or beliefs are made Christian. For example, Easter was a pagan Anglo-Saxon Spring holiday but in time it was “baptized” and turned into the day when Christians celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
I completely agree with you that the “baptized” 4 Noble Truths lack important aspects of the gospel message like grace, love, and forgiveness. These parts of the gospel should not be left out.
I also agree that love should be one of the most vital parts of evangelism, especially in cross-cultural evangelism. Loving and serving others should be a priority, not only for evangelism but in obedience to Christ. However, loving and serving always needs to be coupled with a clear gospel message. People cannot come to Christ if they do not hear the gospel. Jesus served and loved, but he also taught and preached. We should do the same.
Thanks
wmc
Dear friends,
I’m happy to have found this Web site. Keep it up! I was looking for a way to communicate a Christian message to my niece, who calls herself a Buddhist, and who seems to be feeling dissatisfied, longing for something she does not have. I was thinking of consoling her with a Christian analog to the second noble truth of Buddhism (something along the lines of “as the deer longs for water,” or not laying up one’s treasure where moth and rust destroy). This particular translation of the four noble truths doesn’t really get at what I wanted to communicate, but I applaud your efforts. Peace to you!