No, you just have to be more intelligent than Mr. Lama. 
Posted on 04/05/2007 5:05:09 AM PDT by Daffynition
If you're a Tibetan Buddhist or you're leaning that way, you may not know it, but you need Jesus.
That's the thinking behind a series of Christian evangelical workshops -- including one later this month in Wheaton -- that will coincide with the Dalai Lama's trip to Chicago and other American cities this spring.
Interserve USA is putting on the workshops to teach Christians how to talk to Buddhists and, perhaps, to win converts.
"We welcome the Dalai Lama here, but we also want to have a chance to reach Tibetan Buddhists with the gospel," said Doug Van Bronkhorst, executive director of Interserve, an international missionary group based just outside of Philadelphia.
The online announcement for the upcoming workshop offers this enticing hook: "Tibetan Buddhism. It's ancient. It's complex. It's trendy. And its leader, the Dalai Lama, is visiting your city this spring."
But Van Bronkhorst said in a telephone interview Tuesday, "We are interested in people, not notches on a belt."
That's not quite how it sounds to the head of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, which includes bishops and leaders from most of the largest Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups in the area.
"I'm speaking without knowing anything about this group," said the Rev. Stan Davis, acting director of the council. "But my sense is that their goal is to try to convert to Christianity. Our goal would be to enter into a dialogue with them, to find out about their faith in a two-way conversation."
'He's a very thoughtful man' So does Van Bronkhorst think Christians can learn something from the Dalai Lama and his teachings?
"Oh, sure," Van Bronkhorst said. "He's a very thoughtful man. He has a lot of good things to say about peace in the world, and he's quite knowledgeable about other faiths, including the Christian faith."
Van Bronkhorst says his organization has no plans to send Christian evangelicals to greet the Dalai Lama during his American tour. "Of course that's up to [individuals] if they want to do that," Van Bronkhorst said.
The Rev. Patti Nakai, a part-time minister at Buddhist Temple of Chicago in Uptown, says Buddhists in general may not disagree with the Bible, just the evangelical spin.
"Most Buddhists would not have a problem with what is written in the gospel," said Nakai, who does not follow the particular practices of the Dalai Lama's sect. "It's what evangelical Christians say -- the idea that you have to be saved in a certain way or you're doomed to eternal damnation, that's what we have a problem with."
The Dalai Lama is due to travel to Chicago in early May, making his first public appearance in the city since 1999.
The spiritual leader is expected to stay on the 24th floor of the Palmer House Hilton in the presidential suite, where amenities include three bathrooms.
Wow... there are so many confused thoughts and ideas in the article.. where would one begin to unravel it?
Suffice it to say... many who think they understand Christ, don’t.
jw
Who said I deny God? I deny Jesus was the son of God.
For that matter, you don't have to believe in God to think the public system sucks. I've known some atheist homeschoolers.
Second time in as may days I’ve had someone quote Mark Twain in support of me. I really need to read more of him.
Well that is not a fact I would hang my hat on.
I like this from the article: "where amenities include three bathrooms."
HAHAHA! And that puts the icing on the proverbial cake of the author/chef.
Hmmm... it had an argument? I didn't see one.
jw
LOL, ur a bit behind I see.
The PRC has claimed Tibet as it’s own for some time now. :p
Actually the Christian faith is growing rapidly in China. They will probably have the largest population of Christians in the world in 20 years.
Actually most of the disciples were fishermen, but I'm sure you don't let facts stand in the way of your rants.
Mark Twain is wonderful when your choices are laughing at the foibles of the human race or slapping somebody senseless.
Much of his work is available free on-line, too:
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/author?name=Twain%2C%20Mark%2C%201835-1910
No, you just have to be more intelligent than Mr. Lama.
It would matter if I thought there was any possibility that they (disciples) wrote anything., but thanks anyway.
A good place to start for the cynical side of Mark Twain.
The quotation was from a monologue, reconstructed by the actor Hal Holbrook, who based his career on his characterization of Twain on the lecture circuit.
Twain was recounting a conversation on the subject of Heaven and Hell with his pastor, Joe Twitchell. The good Reverend's conception of these places, and who whould be found in each of them, was somewhate at variance with Twain's own. According to the Reverend Joe, the Heavenly abode would be awash in the very people that Twain was hoping eternally to avoid; whereas, the other place would be peopled with those with whom Twain was most comfortable on this mortal coil.
Thus, Twain's conclusion.
Consider Acts 4:13: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
You’re right that these were uneducated men. But their lives were transformed by being with Jesus. He’s still transforming lives.
They just started a movement that's still going after 2000 years. That is a pretty good accomplishment for a group of uneducated people. What have you done that will be around in 2000 years?
True intelligence operates silently.
And what happens to heathens (which the Buddhists are according to many Christians) according to the Bible?
Oh my.
Evangelicals, leave the Buddihists the hell alone.
Do unto others as they would do unto you and all that jazz.
Its not in their nature, but the Buddhists should kick the snake wavers asses.
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