Sharing Jesus with Buddhists

Abstract

I was startled the day my Cambodian friend told me, “Fleeing from the war into Vietnam, I stumbled into a Catholic church. There I saw for the first time the tortured figure of Jesus on the cross. I was shocked to learn that Christians worship this man. How could they even respect someone who obviously had such terrible karma?” My friend looked at Jesus through Buddhist eyes, assuming his suffering must come from something bad he had done in a previous life. This one man’s confusion alerts us to the many Buddhists who either do not know anything about Jesus or have major misunderstandings about him. Tens of thousands of men have shaved their heads, donned an orange robe, and devoted themselves as monks to the Buddhist path of good deeds and meditation. They hope to someday escape the cycle of suffering and rebirth. Millions more Buddhist lay people depend on these monks for teaching, ceremonies, and blessings. In fact, their numbers are increasing in certain places. In many Asian countries Buddhism is reviving and growing. It is also significant to note that people in the West are turning to Buddhism in unprecedented numbers. Seventh-day Adventists have typically found it difficult to reach Buddhists with the gospel. The church has already been active in many Buddhist countries for over 100 years without seeing many Buddhists become followers of Jesus. In such countries as Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand, there are only a few members who came from a Buddhist background. We have typically been more likely to bring into our fellowship other Christians, animists, or secular people. It is important to understand what it is that makes it difficult for Buddhists to come to Jesus; Adventists must also find better ways to share him more effectively.