1 Minute Daily Devotions
March 11, 2008
Three Competing World Views: Secularism, Islam, and Christianity
"Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" - 1 Corinthians 15:12
Secularism often lumps Islam and Christianity together as being one in the same, seeing both as equal threats to their cherished worldview. Yet Islam and Christianity are radically different.
Followers of Islam tend to lump Christianity and secularism into one lost group. When they see the decadence of American media and entertainment and know that most Americans claim to be Christians, Muslims see a failed and corrupt religion.
Christianity sees Islam and secularism as radically different. But they share one common belief, the belief that Jesus is not God. They believe He was just a man and they don't believe He rose from the dead.
All of Christianity rises and falls on Jesus' resurrection. If He did, He's different from every man and every other worldview. If He didn't, Christianity is a colossal hoax based on a lie and you don't want to believe it.
So what do you believe? I've put my faith in Jesus.
Comments on this Devotion
From Austin on Mar 11th:
What a great job at summarizing a very complex topic. I only wish Secularism was spelled with a capital S - I really think it is starting to become a faith as organised as any other.
From Barry Williams on Mar 11th:
I believe Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He is the Messiah, The King of Kings and Lord or Lords. He is my Savior. He is the only way to the Father God.
From Janice on Mar 11th:
Secularism, Islam, etc. try to capture the hearts of people but only Jesus can live in the hearts of believers. I have put my faith in Jesus, the living, resurrected Son of God who is One with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
From Erik on Mar 11th:
Again this is factually incorrect. Islam views Christianity and atheism very differently. The Koran is very clear on this. Christians and other theists are considered "dhimmis" or protected people. Atheists however are considered enemies of God and are not to be tolerated.
Secularists by contrast do not see either religion as evil, only
that they are irrational.
From Eli on Mar 11th:
And which one do you claim to be, Erik?
From jan-Mexico on Mar 11th:
The one and only true belief is that Christ DIED for all and AROSE to save us and give us new life. Praise the Lord. Yeah Erik, whom do you belive in.
From Erik on Mar 11th:
I don't need an imaginary friend. Thanks for asking though.
From Danny Hall on Mar 11th:
Christianity is not a religion. What makes it different than a religion is:
* Christianity is a relationship with our Creator. John 1:12
*Religions are man's attempt to reach God. In Christianity, God comes searching for us. Luke 19:10
* God's love is in us and is obvious to the world around us. 1 John 4:7-20
* Jesus is alive! All other religious leaders are dead and buried. Jesus' tomb is empty! Mark 16:6
From Haley on Mar 11th:
again i say all of this is extreamly real! and I believe in the one and only true god JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!!
From Julie on Mar 11th:
You said it well Danny. I too believe in Jesus as our only Lord and Saviour and the only way to God and Heaven. The first step is to ask God to enter your hearts, pick up a truthful Bible,(KJV) and pray. Do these unbelievers even attempt to do this or are they afraid that the truth will hit them. I pray for them, but only GOd knows who will come and who won't. Keep praying for them.
From Austin on Mar 14th:
Erik, God isn't imaginary. I think you know that or you wouldn't spend so much time here. I don't spend time debating the existence of unicorns.
Also, how is the devotional "factually incorrect?" You talk about Atheism but it isn't mentioned anywere in the passage above. Are you reading the same thing the rest of us are reading?
From Erik on Mar 14th:
If your favorite radio station ran commercials with a guy telling you that unicorns are the solution to all of life's problems, or if angry nitwits complained that biology teachers were failing to teach the theory of unicorns and were actually taken seriously, I think- at least I hope- you would be opposing such nonsense with every fiber of your being. Of course if your one of those KJV-only people then I guess you wouldn't have a problem with unicorns, since the KJV mentions them several times.
Regarding the errors in the devotion- it seems to me that what what BW means is either atheism or secular humanism, since secularism isnt really a religious belief but
a belief that certain aspects of society should be kept apart from religion (for example, one can be a secular Muslim). It would have made more sense if he had used Christians and Jews rather than Christians and "Secular"ists. Muslims do indeed see Christians and Jews as similar (monotheists).
And Christians see Islam and Judaism as radically different, though they do share the belief that Jesus was not God. So there you have an easy fix that would have rendered the devotion factually correct.