And Buddhism did win me over for a short while. Until I got to the center of the nothingness and found it, well, empty. Realizing there were things worth fighting about, I started fighting again. Christian truth, for example:
Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Earnest contention for the Christian faith involves confronting people with their error:
James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
So contending for truth and turning people away from error is a good thing. Not hate, but love, the turning of hearts to the true God, which leads to blessing, and a greater experience of Gods love for the person you are confronting.
But the human messenger is not the ultimate persuader of the wayward heart. The pressure is not on us to change everyone who fails to see the truth. Only God can lead a lost soul to repentance, and this has consequences in how we present the message:
2Tim 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
But that does not let us off the hook. We must still present the message. If Mormonism is false (and it is, as is Islam, and many other man-made religious inventions), Christians are obligated to call out the falsehood for what it is, without shame or hesitation:
2Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
But this speaking out against falsehood, even when it is earnest as can be, must be done with more than mere civility; it must be done in love, lest we fall short of the supreme objective:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Peace,
SR
The catcher on my softball team was a Buddhist. I was coaching at the time, so I was able to hear all of his interactions with the opposing batters trying to “trashtalk” him. Never failed to crack me up, and I found a respect for Buddhism that I never had.
“I would probably pick Buddhism. No cause for fighting there. “
Ironic since in many places Buddhists are actually fighters. They’ve done a great job of cultivating the peaceful image here in the US.
I was at one Buddhist temple, about 2000 years old from the stone inscriptions. It was a difficult climb to get there and very hot. There was a spring fed water fountain in the temple area. To get a drink you had to bend over. Which also put you in a position to bow to buddha, whether you wanted to or not.