Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20010418.htm

CURRENT REGIONAL THEOLOGICAL ISSUES
Part II: Handling Baha'ism Scripturally
  1. Introduction
    1. In recent weeks, television advertisements in our region have promoted Baha'ism as a positive, healthy, mentally stimulating, wholesome ideology.
    2. Just what this group is, and how to respond to it Biblically is addressed in this lesson:
  2. Handling Baha'ism Scripturally
    1. From the book by Jan Karel Van Baalen, The Chaos of the Cults, p. 146ff, we identify Baha'ism:
      1. Baha'ism is a cult that spun off of the Islamic faith in Persia. It claims the last true successor of the alleged prophet, Mohammed is still living in a mysterious city with his faithful followers, and will be revealed in the latter days to establish worldwide justice following great world apostasy, Jan Karel Van Baalen, The Chaos of the Cults, p. 146.
      2. In doctrine, Baha'ism is about as ecumenical a cult can become, a characteristic that appeals to current world thought: it treats all the world's religions as acceptable, respecting the world's prophets or messiahs without claiming special divinity for its own chief prophet, Baha'u'llah, Ibid., p. 148.
      3. However, it claims its own prophet, Baha'u'llah was anticipated by the other religions' prophets, that when even Jesus warned His disciples to "watch and pray'" for the coming of the Lord, He allegedly meant "Receive Baha'u'llah,'" Ibid. In fact, Baha'ism claims that since Jesus' followers would not have known about the nation of Japan for example, they could not have addressed its spiritual needs, so a later prophet had to arrive. Thus, Baha'ism claims Baha'u'llah upstaged Jesus Christ!
      4. The following principles are taught by Baha'ism: "The unity of God and all religions, the unity of mankind, independent search after truth, the abandonment of prejudices (religious, racial, national, class, sexual, etc.), international peace, an international auxiliary language, education for all, equality for the sexes, abolition of wealth and poverty and personal holiness," Ibid., p. 149.
    2. Scripture exposes the error of Baha'ism from John 1:1-18 as follows:
      1. Jesus is more than a prophet claimed in Baha'ism: John 1:1,3, 14 reveals He is the Creator God come in the flesh in vast superiority to created beings, including Baha'ism's Baha'u'llah!
      2. As the Revealer of God the Father, Jesus "exegeted" Him, John 1:18. In contrast to Baha'ism's claim of Baha'u'llah's revelation being superior to Christ's, there can be no revelation greater than Christ's.
      3. On Baha'ism's claim that Jesus had a limited ministry to Japan, John 1:9 claims Christ convicts all men in the world, a truth explained in John 16:8-14 as the Spirit's convicting ministry under Christ.
      4. Instead of salvation being by all religions as Baha'ism claims, John 1:7, 12-13 reveals salvation is exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ as opposed to a spiritual birth by any other human effort or means!
      5. When it comes to truth itself, John 1:5 reveals the light of God's truth in Christ illuminates in stark CONTRAST to the spiritual darkness of the world, meaning the other world's religions are NOT true!
    3. The Word of God directs us as to responding effectively to a cult like Baha'ism as follows:
      1. All unbelievers, especially cultists, are blinded by the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4:3-4. So, generally, (a) we must depend upon the indwelling Holy Spirit for power to witness to them, Acts 1:8; Gal. 5:16-23. (b) We must be armed with the words of Scripture for power, including John 1:1-18 and Romans 1:16-17, and (c) follow God's lead as to when and how we should witness, Acts 16:6-10.
      2. Specifically, God's will is for us to witness in conjunction or cooperation with local church oversight (Acts 13:1-3) and in alignment with His individual spiritual gifting of us, 2 Tim. 1:6-7; Rom. 12:1-6a. God will not put us in a situation over our heads with cultists, and neither should we seek to be there. God will use us effectively when we are busy doing what He assigns for us in our regular callings!
Lesson: Baha'ism is a cult promoted by people deceived by the god of this world, Satan, 2 Cor. 4:3-4. As such, we must be armed with God's power, God's Word and God's leading to minister well to them.

Application: (1) As a believer, it is well for us to be armed with the teachings of John 1:1-18 as it is the most comprehensively DISCERNING text in Scripture on the Person and work of Christ regarding the cults. (2) We need to realize our need to rely on the Holy Spirit and God's sensible leading in our lives is GREAT, for without God we can do nothing those blinded by the god of this world!