By Victor Ochieng
The world, as it is today, is filled with many different religions, most of which believe there is a supernatural God who’s above all things. Whether one is a Muslim, Christian, Jew, or Hindu, there is a God whose power is manifested in different parts of the world and in our lives.
As Christians, can we recognize God in other religions? Can Christians acknowledge the manifestation of God in the lives of those who don’t profess Christianity?
This question takes us back to one Bible story; the story of the birth of Jesus. When Jesus was born, wise men from the East came to see him. They were neither Christians [not established then] nor did they profess Judaism, which was the religion of Jesus’ family.
Although it isn’t clear where exactly the wise men came from, Persia has been widely fronted by many scholars to be where they came from. It’s said they most likely professed Zoroastrian, an Iranian-based faith.
These people weren’t converted to the religion of Jesus, but they saw God’s power in Jesus’ birth. They traveled a long distance to see Jesus, showing just how much they believed in the power of God.
That story marks the beginning of Christianity. It’s a story that tells of people of different faiths coming together to acknowledge the manifestation of God.
Flash forward to modern day religion, and we’re compelled to ask why religious groupings have waged war against one another due to religious differences. Case in point, the current and longstanding rift between Christians and Muslims.
Is there a possibility that Christians can be open as the wise men from the East? Can they respect or, at least, acknowledge God’s power in other religions? As we sail through the season of Epiphany, we ask whether we can borrow a leaf from the wise men. We ask whether we can preach love and treat other people’s religious beliefs with respect, even if we don’t fully believe in what they say.
God’s power was manifested to all mankind in the same way before men created different religions and denominations. If, for example, a Catholic doesn’t believe that God speaks to all, including Muslims, why would they believe that God speaks to Protestants, when their teachings and doctrines are equally different?
The most fundamental thing to do is start by being open to see God manifest himself in others, regardless of religious differences.
Source
