Article March 24, 1997 Issue

What makes Christianity unique?

Harriet Barry Schupp

Certain historians and philosophers say that some of the ideas of Christianity actually evolved before the Christian era and were part of other religions. Also, many Christian traditions, rituals, and holidays have roots in pagan customs. These points are then used as the basis for discounting the uniqueness and validity of Christianity as the revealing of God's Word to the world through His Son, Christ Jesus.

Such a view misunderstands the revolutionary nature of Christianity and the Christ message to mankind. At one point John the Baptist sent disciples to Jesus to find out if he was indeed different from other prophets and holy men—to learn if he was the Messiah. Jesus did not respond with a sermon. He said, "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matt. 11:4, 5). At another time Jesus was questioned by the Jews at Jerusalem who asked: "How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me" (John 10:24, 25).

Jesus' works were considered miraculous, yet they were crucial to the definition of his place and role in the salvation of mankind. The Christ Science—the law of God—makes his works understandable and applicable to anyone's life. The healings of Jesus were the natural result of the spiritual view of reality that he brought to the world. And Jesus intended that those who followed him would understand this all-embracing law of God and be able to put it into practice.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Truth, forgiveness, healing