The main thing…
Jan 13th, 2010 by ljkim
The main thing in a devout Muslim life is “submitting” to God’s will. Part of that involves fulfilling the 5 pillars of Islam (professing faith, the prayers, fasting during Ramadan, paying alms, and pilgrimage). But the main idea, the thing they’re really do-ing, is bowing to God’s wisdom and authority, following his lead. The main spiritual action in a devout Buddhist life is exercising “detachment” from the world. And although there are many different types of Buddhism, the main point (I think, correct me if I’m mistaken) is not worrying about the ups and downs of life here, but being awakened to the deeper reality. Exercising philosophical detachment in the face of human struggles for power, possession, and so forth. These are both good things that I think everyone can learn from. I think they are Jesus’ values too, so Christians ought to particularly value these… But for Jesus and for his followers, they’re not the MAIN things… What was the main thing?
The main thing is “fellowship” with God. It means just the way Jesus was always talking to His Father, asking Him for things; and just the way this was the only real difference between Jesus and everyone else (unbroken fellowship) – the Jesus-life is about relying on God, asking Him for things, talking to Him, and getting answers.
The main difference between Jesus’ way and that of Buddha or Mohammed is: in the latter, the main thing you do you do on your own. In Jesus’ way, you don’t do anything on your own really. God sends you to work, but the only way His work gets done is by relying on Him, His power, His wisdom.
Anyway so here’s something to ask yourself: Are you more of a Muslim at heart (submitting), or a Buddhist (philosophical detachment and insight), or are you a Jesus-person walking with and relying on your God?
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