Jesus and Buddha

Below is a response I gave on Facebook, to a seeker who was wondering if  Jesus and Buddha teach essentially the  same truths.

Here is my response: (I started by addressing the point he made that all truth is God’s truth).

I agree that all truth is God’s truth, for there could be no other source. God has always been in the business of distributing truth, so it is no surprise that various religious leaders and philosophers have proclaimed wisdom which enhances living. (There are varying degrees of revelation according to God’s Word; revelation through creation and revelation through conscience… although these two are the base level of revelation). In that light, I can see how people can compare Buddha and Jesus, because it is true to some degree that both said similar things; the golden rule is one example.

However, I do not view Jesus as a moral teacher or philosopher, because Jesus went well beyond morality in his ministry. CS Lewis argues that Jesus could not be a “good moral teacher,” because “good moral teachers” do not claim to be the Son of God, or the only way to gain access to God the Father. Lewis made famous the Lord, liar, lunatic argument, which states that when Jesus made such statements (as John 14:6 – I am the Way, the Truth and the Life), these statements must be evaluated in one of these three ways. Jesus said many things that would require the application of this viewpoint. Here are several:

I am the Vine, and you are the branches… abide in me, and I will abide in you and you will bear fruit. – John 15

The Seven “I AM” statements in John – Bread of life, Resurrection and life, Light of the World, Good Shepherd, Vine, Way – Truth – Life, Gate for the Sheep

Also – John 8 – Before Abraham was, I AM.

(The religious leaders attempted to kill Jesus at this point, because He was claiming to be God by using this term, “I AM.” This was the most Holy name in the Old Testament).

Consider this invitation from Jesus; Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I could go on and on in the Gospels alone. The point is this, Jesus taught people to follow Him and that all scripture pointed to Him. He even thinned out the crowds when He taught that people must eat His flesh and drink His blood (He was speaking metaphorically, but made no attempt when the crowds dispersed  to explain this).

Jesus did not come to preach a new morality, He came to give abundant life… He came to show us the Father… He came to give the Holy Spirit so we could move from the law to a deep desire to do His will. Jesus is life, not morality.

The rest of the New Testament affirms this idea… Here is a small sample:

Colossians 1:27 – To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Notice the hope of glory is the Person, not the teachings of the person. The teachings cannot be lived without the Person living inside.

Colossians 3:4 – When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Christ was the life of the Colossian believers, not the moral teachings.

2 Peter 1:3 –  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

It is the knowledge of Him that gives divine power.

So if Christ is not a moral teacher to me, then what is He? He is my life, He is my source, he is my refuge and strength. I do not live by moral teachings, I live by the power of Christ.

Does this make sense to you?