Transcript Proof for the Existence of God

How To Evangelize Buddhists /
The Basics of Buddhism
Jack Hong
How to evangelize Buddhists
Jack Hong
The Basics of the Buddhism
 Siddhartha Gautama is the founder of
this religion. He is a prince from northern
India.
 The Scriptures are compiled in the Pali
Canon.
 Approximately over 400 million people in
the world are believe in Buddhism.
How to evangelize Buddhists
Ch4 Existence of God
Bridges for evangelizing Buddhists!
 The gospel can be appealing to Buddhists if witnessing
on areas of personal need where the Buddhists belief
system is weak.

Suffering: Buddhists are strongly
concerned with overcoming suffering, but deny that
suffering is not exist. However, the Christians face the
suffering and overcoming by solving their sins. They are
convinced that who believe in Christ would be saved
from the sins because they have hope of a future life
free of suffering.

Meaningful self: Basically, Buddhists
believe that they have no personal significance. However,
the Christians believe they are significant because they
are made in God’s image with an eternal destiny. Jesus
demonstrated Christians’ value by loving us so much
that He sacrificed Himself in the cross for atoning our
sins.
How to evangelize Buddhists
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Continued
 Future Hope: The hope of nirvana is no hope at all-only death
and extinction. The hope of those who put their trust in Christ
is an eternal good life in a “New Heaven and New Earth”.
 Moral Law: Under Karma, there can be no appeal, no mercy
and no escape except through unceasing effort at selfperfection. Christians understand that the moral force
governing the universe is a personal God, who with love
personally controls for good the lives of those who follow
Christ.
 Buddhists try to earn merits by doing good deeds, hoping to
collect enough to be free from life of suffering. However,
Christians do not need to earn merit because righteous Jesus
sacrificed himself in order to offer merit to everyone who
wants to be his disciple.
 Desire: Buddhists seek to overcome suffering by taking all
their desires out. On the other hand, Christians seek to reject
evil desires and cultivate good desires according to standard of
righteous Christ.
How to evangelize Buddhists
Jesus and the Eightfold-Path
 Because Buddhists think a good life consists of
following the Eightfold Path, the stages of the
path can be used to introduce them to Christ
as follows :
 Right View: deals with wisdom. They believe
right view yields right thoughts and right
actions.
 Right Intention : talks about mental energy
that control our actions and speeches.
 Right Speech : deals with moral (ethical
discipline) – very essential in Buddhism
because they emphasize the mental
purification
Continued
Right Action: abstain from harm any creatures,
abstain from stealing, abstain from sexual
misconduct. Basically right action comes after
you learned the right speech.
Right livelihood: This principle emphasize that
we should gain wealth legally and peacefully.
Right Effort: Without an act of will, nothing
can be achieved.
Right mindfulness: It is the mental ability to
see things with clear consciousness.
Right Concentration : Focused mind, be able
to concentrate on one particular object.
How to evangelize Buddhists
Jack Hong
The Precepts from Buddhism
(Their “10 commandment”)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Do not harm living things
Do not take things not freely given
No sexual misconduct
No false speech
Do not drink intoxicating drinks or drugs
Do not dance, sing, and listen to music
Do not use personal adornment (Perfume)
Do not take late meals
Do not use of high seats
Do not accept gold or silver
Apologetics to
the to
Glory
of God Buddhist
How
evangelize
Ch4 Existence of God
How can we persuade Buddhists
 We should respect their interests –
 They are strongly believed in Eightfold Path
Escaping from the suffering
Finding peace through meditation
Be careful using terms life “Rebirth, Renewal,
Regeneration” – because they do not believe
in eternal life. They think death is ultimate. Nothing else
would be matter after death.
Understand Buddhism beliefs well enough to point
weaknesses that can be used to make gospel appealing
Share your testimony so that Buddhists can understand the
Christianity better.
Prepare with prayer/ Focus on gospel message
Use Bridge diagram – easier to explain
Be careful not to reduce Christian truth