It is often in random places that I get the most profound thoughts. Last night a friend was asking how to teach the kids at school about the “religion” of Christianity comparatively with other religions, while we were enjoying some delicious stir-fry…
It made me consider what makes Christianity profoundly different to other religions historically. I remember a discussion I had with a Hare Krishna dude once and he very proudly explained that they follow the Vedic scriptures which predate Judaism, i.e. predating Christianity by a long shot. It then dawned on me that looking at Christianity from an outside perspective is always going to go wrong, because God’s plan was always relational and not organisational.
What I mean is that the Hare Krishna chappie was saying that the formal religion of Christianity is very young compared to the Vedic scriptures so he wins the religion race. Yes he does… and God doesn’t care. God’s plan was relational. God wasn’t setting out to prove that he could build a wonderful religion with pretty buildings and clever books. It was always about communing with god-like creatures such as ourselves – humans. Adam and Eve (some debate that this is a made up story to explain a far more complex series of events but the same result is achieved) were created to be companions to God, having regular strolls through the garden to talk in a cloud of glory. Abraham was a friend of God who was used to start an amazing journey with humanity. Jesus existed to fix the mess that Adam and Eve started in order for our relationship with God to be a far greater experience.
So yes, all the religions stemming from the Vedic scriptures win the religion game. They are the oldest. But the whole concept of God’s plan for humanity was and is to build relationship. To converse with his god-like creatures and form a love bond that makes the whole universe worthwhile.
God’s plan for you may involve making money, building things, having a great career etc. But his ultimate plan and goal for you is not organisational, it’s relational. Out of all of it he wants you to know him and for you to affect others to know him intimately.
