Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/78

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - What Makes Us Brothers?

Topic - Brotherhood

February, in many church circles, at any rate, has come to be known as "brotherhood month". Very well, this is a helpful thought, but what is it that makes us brothers? There are many things which divide the human race, and which seem to contradict, or deny, any real thought of brotherhood.

Some folk would answer the question, "What makes us brothers?" by saying that shared biological or physical characteristics provide the answer. For example, in spite of differences in appearance, human characteristics are shared by all races. The blood of a black man, properly typed and cross matched, may be given in life-saving blood transfusion to a white man. But brotherhood is more than the quality of blood.

For others the answer to our question is found in shared experiences and shared faith. This comes closer. Many people find a bond in the "world" or "ethnic" religions. The God -of the Jew for instance, is the God of the Moslim. The language root for the word describing, or identifying "God" has a common origin for both Jew and Moslim. The Christian faith has its roots in Judaism. There exists a bond, readily identifiable, between these major faiths of mankind.

Moreover in other faiths, there is found teaching which results in commendable behaviour. The religion of Confucious, for example, teaches respect for one's ancestors, and heritage, a solid base. The religion of Buddha teaches personal nobility, emphasizing the "noble path of truth and virtue". Very briefly, this may be summarized as follows: The first Of the noble truths is the truth of suffering. This is bound up with the cycle of life itself. The second truth deals with the cause of suffering, which the Buddhist sees as 'craving" (in other faiths this might well be considered coveting, or envy, or greed). The extinction of such desire brings about the third truth, that of the cessation of suffering. The fourth noble truth is the Truth of the Way, the eightfold noble path. This includes right views (of the noble truths); right intention, (to renounce sensual pleasure, to bear no malice, to do no harm, and so on.) Then follows the practice of right speech, and right action (such as love, joy and the avoidance of immorality). Right livelihood, is important, and so is right effort (to bring about the good state of mind through the practice of morality, meditation, and wisdom). Right mindfulness (the alert mental quality) and right concentration complete the list. Buddhism stresses the "middle way", that is, the avoidance of extremes, and the practice of the moderate way. In all of this one might recognize qualities which Christianity and Judism also espouse.

Certainly between Jew and Christian an obvious bond, or link exists. 'The Old Testament scriptures are precious to both. The God who brought the earth into being, and who calls his people to love and serve him, is common to both. The law as a base for personal morality and ethics is proclaimed from both church and synagogue. The prophets are used to address society in the Christian or the Hebrew context.

The Moslem, or Mohammedan, traces his ancestry to Abraham, and thus, if he so desired, might claim kinship with the Jew. He also knows a Creator-God, Allah, and it is the God of the Old Testament. He respects the Hebrew prophets, and is often quite willing to accept even the -Christian account of the virgin birth of Christ. To him Jesus is a great prophet, indeed. Allah is in control of the world, and will bring about his will and his people will triumph.

Wherein then is the difference? Is the brotherhood of man based on common religious thought? Does human brotherhood require me to say that all religion is truth, and that no religion is higher than the others? Some scholars indeed would say so, and moreover, would accuse one of arrogance were he to insist that Jesus meant it when he said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

The Buddhist has his noble path, but what lifts him when he falls from it? He has his goal in "Nirvana", but so many see this as something impersonal. Heaven is not really the ending of all desire, rather the heavenly state would include it seems to me, the purifying of all desire. The Moslem knows the God of the Old Testament but Moslem culture has resulted in a cruel fatalism, "Allah wills it." He is willing to accept a miraculous birth story about Jesus, but flinches at his death on a cross. He may think it likely that someone was substituted for Jesus at the end. One then has no Saviour. Moreover, if Mohammed is the Greatest Prophet, what happens to Jesus',claim, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life?" The Jew shares our Old Testament, but will not see it fulfilled in the Christ. And therein lies the difference.

Kagawa, the late Christian statesman from Japan once observed that he was grateful for the faiths of the east - for Buddhism's noble way, for Confucious and respect for ancestor and tradition. These faiths left him as though in a desert when testing came, however. No one picked him up when he fell, no one comforted him when he craved forgiveness and desired hope . . . . no one but Christ.

In conversing with people of non-Christian faiths, it is not wrong to share appreciation for truth held in common. Of course not. But neither is it wrong to use this as a beginning point, and sharing one's own faith in the Christ: the One who redeems, and makes it possible to walk a noble way. The One who brings us to God, and shows Him to be the Father in Heaven who loves his children of every race and nation. Christ is the One who makes us children of God in the full sense and in Him all men may be brothers.

One realizes human brotherhood at the foot of the Cross, and in following the way Jesus set forth. Such faith is sincere, and forthright. It is not arrogant, for love conditions it, and hope provides its character and endurance.

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