We Christians are often maligned, misrepresented and attacked in a variety of ways simply because if we are true to our faith we say that ours is the only way to get right with God and to heaven.
So, if you were callenged on here, or in person, what reason(s) would you give for Christianity being superior to other religions?
As to it being "superior" in the sense that people think of in our modern culture, I'm not sure that's the light in which I look at it. I think of Christianity as the fulfillment of what religion was struggling for and leading to until the incarnation, when God enters human history as Jesus Christ. It is the state of being that God desires of all human beings. Many have heeded the call, and many still haven't. It is "superior, I suppose, because it is the fullness of religion. It is the final actual revelation of God to his creatures. God became man. He took on the penalty for sin for all mankind for all time. He suffered, died, was buried, rose again IN FULFILLMENT OF THE SCRIPTURE), and He will come again at the consummation of time to judge the living and dead. His kingdom will be eternal. Until He returns, he has left us His Church, and instituted sacraments in as a physical sign of His sanctifying grace and love for us.
As to the fact that we are much maligned, mistreated, argued with and hated, well.......that is also a fulfillment. I try to remember John 15:
[18] "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
[19] If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
[20] Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
[21] But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.
[22] If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
[23] He who hates me hates my Father also.
[24] If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
[25] It is to fulfil the word that is written in their law, `They hated me without a cause.'
And also the beattitude from Matthew:
[10] "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
[12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Does this help at all?
Yours in Christ,
Steven
