The Bahá'í Position on Christianity
First presented at the Irfan Colloquia Session #20
Louhelen Bahá'í School: Michigan, USA
October 9–12, 1998
(see list of papers from #20)
The Divine Origin of Christianity is Unconditionally Acknowledged
The Greatest Virtues of Humanity
The Station of Christ
The Bahá'í Faith Glorifies Christ
Christ's Words Can Never Be Altered
Christ Sacrificed Himself for Our Sake
We Must All Follow the Example of Christ
Bahá'í Belief in Regard to Christ
The Holy Bible
The Holy Bible is Divinely Inspired
"The Glorious Melodies of the Gospel" ('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 36)
The Station of the Apostles of Christ
The Divine Origin of Christianity is Unconditionally Acknowledged
1. As to the position of Christianity, let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation that its divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized, that the reality of the mystery of the immaculacy of the Virgin Mary is confessed, and the primacy of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, is upheld and defended. The Founder of Christianity is designated by Bahá'u'lláh as the 'Spirit of God," is proclaimed as the One Who "appeared out of the breath of the Holy Ghost," and is even extolled as the "Essence of the Spirit." His mother is described as "that veiled and immortal, that beauteous, countenance," and the station of her Son eulogized as a "station which hath been exalted above the imaginings of all that dwell on earth," whilst Peter is recognized as one whom God has caused "the mysteries of wisdom and utterance to flow out of his mouth." (The Promised Day is Come, pp. 109-110)
The Greatest Virtues of Humanity
2. The fundamental principles of the religion of Christ ...are the greatest virtues of humanity. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions [SAQ], p. 47, #11)
3. O would that all were truly Christian! It is easy to be a Christian on the tongue, but hard to be a true one. Today [1910] some five hundred million souls are Christian, bur the real Christian is very rare; he is that soul from whose comely face there shineth the splendour of Christ; and who showeth forth the perfections of the Kingdom; this a matter of great moment, for to be a Christian is to embody every excellence there is. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá [SWA], pp. 29-30, #15)
The Station of Christ
The Bahá'í Faith Glorifies Christ
4. Say, this is the One Who hath glorified the Son and hath exalted His Cause. (Bahá'u'lláh, Lawh-i-Aqdas [The Most Holy Tablet], in Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 12, 2: 11)
5. Know thou that when the Son of Man yielded up His breath to God, the whole creation wept with a great weeping. By sacrificing Himself, however, a fresh capacity was infused into all created things. Its evidences, as witnessed in all the peoples of the earth, are now manifest before thee. The deepest wisdom which the sages have uttered, the profoundest learning which any mind hath unfolded, the arts which the ablest hands have produced, the influence exerted by the most potent of rulers, are but manifestations of the quickening power released by His transcendent, His all-pervasive, and resplendent Spirit. We testify that when He came into the world, He shed the splendor of His glory upon all created things. Through Him the leper recovered from the leprosy of perversity and ignorance. Through Him, the unchaste and wayward were healed. Through His power, born of Almighty God, the eyes of the blind were opened, and the soul of the sinner sanctified.. .. We bear witness that through the power of the Word of God every leper was cleansed, every sickness was healed, every human infirmity was banished. He it is Who purified the world. Blessed is the man who, with a face beaming with light, hath turned towards Him. (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 85-86, #36)
6. The position of Christ was that of absolute perfection; He made His divine perfections shine like the sun upon all believing souls, and the bounties of the light shone and radiated in the reality of men. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, SAQ, p. 121, #29)
7. The Christ is the central point of the Holy Spirit; He is born of the Holy Spirit; he is raised up by the Holy Spirit; He is the descendant of the Holy Spirit.. .. (Abdu'l-Bahá, SAQ, p. 118, #29)
Christ's Words Can Never Be Altered
8. And whatsoever hath proceeded out of His [Christ's] blame-less, His truth-speaking, trustworthy mouth, can never be altered. (Bahá'u'lláh, Lawh-i-Aqdas, in Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 14, 2:14)
9. In the sayings of Him Who is the Spirit (Jesus) unnumbered significances lie concealed. Unto many things did He refer, but as He found none possessed of a hearing ear or a seeing eye He chose to conceal most of these things. Even as He saith: "But ye cannot bear them now." (Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 148)
Christ Sacrificed Himself for Our Sake
10. It is true that He [Christ] sacrificed Himself for us.. .. He arose to proclaim His message, suffered all tribulation and hardships from the people and finally offered His life as a sacrifice in order to illumine humanity -gave His blood in order to guide the world of mankind. He accepted every calamity and suffering in order to guide men to the truth. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, [PUP] p. 450)
11. Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross for the unity of mankind.. .. His Name, beloved and adored by a few disciples, now commands the reverence of kings and nations of the world. His power is eternal; His sovereignty will continue forever.. .. Through His death and teachings we have entered into His Kingdom. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, PUP, p. 5)
We Must All Follow the Example of Christ
12. You must follow the example and the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Read the Gospels. Jesus Christ was mercy itself, was love itself.. .. We must follow His example. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, PUP, p. 42)
Bahá'í Belief in Regard to Christ
13. Our belief in regard to Christ is exactly what is recorded in the New Testament; however, we elucidate this matter and do not speak literally or in a manner based merely on blind belief. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, On Divine Philosophy, p. 117)
The Holy Bible
The Holy Bible is Divinely Inspired
14. We have also heard a number of the foolish of the earth assert that the genuine text of the heavenly Gospel doth not exist amongst the Christians, that it hath ascended unto heaven. How grievously they have erred! How oblivious of the fact that such a statement imputeth the gravest injustice and tyranny to a gracious and loving Providence! How could God, when once the Day-star of the beauty of Jesus had disappeared from the sight of His people, and ascended unto the fourth heaven, cause His holy Book, His most great testimony amongst His creatures, to disappear also? (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Iqán, p. 89, 1 :98)
15. Referring to the Bible, Bahá'u'lláh states, "Reflect: the words of the verses themselves eloquently testify to the truth that they are of God.'' (KI, p. 84, 1:91)
16. This book is the Holy Book of God, of celestial inspiration. It is the Bible of Salvation, the noble Gospel. It is the mystery of the Kingdom and its light. It is the Divine Bounty, the sign of the guidance of God. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 145)
'The Glorious Melodies of the Gospel" ('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 36)
17. Look at the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and see how glorious it is! Yet even today men fail to understand its priceless beauty, and misinterpret its words of wisdom. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 48)
18. Hearken unto the melodies of the Gospel with the ear of fairness. (Bahá'u'lláh, ESW, p. 143)
19. No matter how much the world of humanity advances in material civilization, it is nevertheless in need of the spiritual development mentioned in the Gospel. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, PUP, p. 205)
The Station of the Apostles of Christ
20. The Apostles were even as Letters, and Christ was the essence of the Word itself; and the meaning of the Word, which is grace everlasting, cast a splendor on those Letters. Again, since the Letter is a member of the Word, it therefore, in its inner meaning is consonant with the Word. (Abdu'l-Bahá, SWA, p. 60 #29)
21. One's conduct must be like the conduct of Paul, and one's faith similar to that of Peter. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, SWA, p. 223, #I 89)
22. There were many Doctors among the Jews, but they were all earthly, but St. Paul became heavenly because he could fly upwards. In his own time no one duly recognized him; nay, rather, he spent his days amidst difficulties and contempt. Afterwards it became known that he was not a natural philosopher, but a divine philosopher. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 353-354)
23. Paul, the Apostle, was in his early life an enemy of Christ, whilst later he became His most faithful servant. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 147)
24. Judas Iscariot was for a long time favored in the holy court of His Holiness Christ, yet he was entirely far and remote; while Paul, the Apostle, was in close embrace with His Holiness. ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 720)
|
