Below is an article written in 1990 for a home schooling newsletter. I posted the article on
this website in February of 2000.
I've made some changes to the article (March 2001) based on email from adherents to Baha'i
Faith. I have no problem correcting items of fact. Of course, I want to be factually correct. I have
seen much in Evangelical Christian literature and "folklore" that is just plain untrue
when it comes to describing non-Christian groups. And I want to be fair in properly representing any
particular group I am critiquing.
But on other issues that are more subjective, I can't just let the adherents construct the
debate. For example, if a Baha'i adherent says they do believe in the deity of Jesus, I have to
examine that independently and decide if what they mean by that is really what I understand the
Bible to be saying. I don't think that the Baha'i Faith concept of the divinity of Jesus is anywhere
near the Biblical concept of the absolute uniqueness of Jesus being God in human flesh.
I have found it interesting that, in a time when most are being indoctrinated to believe
that there are many paths to God, Baha'i Faith teaches there is one path. But according to the
Bible, I consider it to be a false path, a false gospel. Baha'i Faith public relations emphasizes
the unity of all the world's religions, but then you realize that it's only under the umbrella of Baha'i
Faith. It's similar to the public relations and agenda of Freemasonry,
Mormonism, and the Roman Catholic Empire.
It is instructive for followers of Jesus, I believe, to see what the members of Baha'i
Faith have to say. So far, every member of Baha'i Faith I've met or interacted
with has been very kind and patient and humble. But the Truth is more important than social
interactions. The email I've posted makes it clearer than I can say that what they believe is
contrary to God's Word, the Bible. And that Baha'i Faith is yet another
example of a false Christ, a false gospel, and a counterfeit vision of global
unity.
If you have any comments or questions, whether you're a Baha'i adherent, follower of Jesus, or other, please email me.
Article written in 1990 for a home schooling
newsletter:
"Intolerance" is one of the worst accusations one can make in this
generation. In our society it is acceptable to be a "seeker of truth" but it is
seriously frowned upon to claim to have found the truth, for that would imply an
intolerance of other people's "truth". Jesus said, "I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
In the last "News from H.O.M.E." (Jan/Feb 1990) a home schooling mom of
the Baha'i Faith told of having been deeply troubled by her feeling unwelcomed by certain
groups. She raised issues of "religious intolerance, bigotry, and
self-righteousness"; her belief in "one God, and the brother and sisterhood of
all his children"; and "spiritual values." Since many home schoolers in
this area are Bible-believing Christians, it is quite possible that they were among those
that offended her. This mother raises some important questions that would be fruitful for
Christian home schoolers to explore.
The Baha'i Faith originated in Persia in 1844 and was founded by Ali Muhammed who
was called the "Bab" or Gate. He prophesied that a great prophet would come but
Ali Muhammed was executed by the government for his teachings. When a man came on the scene
who was called Baha'u'llah, he claimed to be that prophet. This Baha'u'llah is considered
the greatest of prophets [a Baha'i Faith adherent would say "latest"] that have included, according to the
Baha'is, Abraham, Moses,
Jesus, Muhammad (who founded Islam), Buddha, Krishna, Confucius, and Zoroaster. The
Baha'i Faith teaches the unity of all the world's religions. It is tragic to note that the
Baha'is
have suffered great persecution in Iran and elsewhere.
The following is from an advertisement in the 1989 "Who's Who" published
by the Port Orchard Independent. "The Baha'i Faith: The promise of world peace is our
call to the peoples of the world. World peace is not only possible but inevitable. It is
the next stage in the evolution of this planet - in the words of one great thinker, 'the
planetization of mankind.' The principles of the Baha'i Faith... include the elimination of
prejudice, the recognition of the common foundation of all religions, universal education,
the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty, equality of men and women, harmony
of science and religion, adoption of a universal auxiliary language, and the establishment
of peace upheld by world government."
Baha'ism rejects the Christian concept of the trinity [Baha'i adherents believe in a trinity,
but it's not the Christian concept of the Trinity], the deity of Jesus Christ [Baha'i adherents claim
to believe in Jesus' divinity but not, I believe, in the way followers of Jesus believe in his uniqueness
as God in human flesh.],
his virgin birth, his substitutionary atonement for the sins of the world [Baha'i
adherents claim to believe in the atonement but not that it was unique, like Christians believe], and
his bodily resurrection. Baha'ism also rejects salvation by grace through faith apart from works and
they reject the infallible authority of the Bible as the unique Word of God. [Baha'i Faith would
claim to believe in the importance of faith but not in the sense of salvation by faith apart from
works.]
It is a matter of personal integrity for each of us to objectively compare Baha'ism
and Biblical Christianity and to recognize that they are mutually exclusive. Especially
important for the Christian is to understand these contrasts in light of the historical
context that the Bible gives us for man's past and future: Starting with Lucifer's
self-exaltation in Isaiah 14:12-14; to the Garden of Eden, where Satan in the form of the
serpent tells Eve that she can be her own god and decide for herself what is right and
wrong; to the world-wide rebellion in the time of Noah and again at the Tower of Babel; to
Revelation 12:9 that speaks of "...that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan,
who deceives the whole world..."
Jesus said, "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My
name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:4,5) The Bible
tells us that the inevitable direction of world history is toward the final rebellion
manifested in a One-World Government, a One-World economic system, and a One-World
Religion headed by the Anti-Christ. Even many who profess to be Bible-believing Christians
will be synthesized into that world religion: "The Spirit clearly says that in later
times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by
demons."
To the Baha'i mom whose feelings were possibly hurt by Christians, I would say,
"forgive us, please, if any of us were unkind to you." [12/29/04 -
This is of great concern to me, that, because of our convictions about truth, we
lose sight of our call to be motivated by love.] As to the issue of
"bigotry", I would have to say that "tolerance" does not require that
we abandon the concept of "absolute truth". Neither does it require that we
embrace "all religions". We can be respectful of the sincerely held beliefs of
others while still maintaining honest distinctions between our own beliefs and practices
in areas such as education and those that differ. It is my conviction that for Christians,
the education of our children is so inseparably linked to our Christianity that there can
be no substantial mixing in this area with non-Christian people, organizations, or belief
systems without compromising our principles. [12/29/04 - And yet... I can't rule
out, of course, that the Lord might use a particular Christian family who
homeschools, to be friends and encourage another family who homeschools who are
not followers of Jesus. Perhaps this would be family to family. Perhaps this
would be in the context of an organization.]
My prayer is that Christian home schoolers could approach those who are not
Christians with sincere humility and kindness, without becoming unequally yoked, and
always being prepared, "...to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for
the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..." 1 Peter 3:15 (See
articles on homeschooling)
