On the surface, this post seems to make a lot of sense. It's true that most religions are exclusive and say that their way is the only way - but to what? To happiness? Or to ULTIMATE happiness? This is the difference. The phrase "true happiness" is terrible. It doesn't explain what it means at all. It doesn't mean that Christians are actually happy and everyone else isn't. The phrase people use should be Ultimate Joy; not "true happiness."
I fully believe that the followers of Buddha, Islam, Hinduism, all the different factions of Christianity, etc. find a measure of happiness. If they didn't find happiness in it somehow, what would be the point? The teachings that they follow resonate with them in some way and bring them happiness.
Happiness is never the point. Giving a child candy will make them happy. Happiness has an end; happiness does not endure. Joy does endure. Joy is found in something lasting; joy can be there when you're nothing close to happy. People are capable of experiencing JOY in the middle of grief.
Her second point is that Christians should be the happiest (or, using proper terms, most joyful) people in the world. This is saddening - because she's right; and from her experience, Christians aren't joyful. See, if Christ hadn't risen, we would be of all men most miserable; but since Christ has risen from the dead, we should be the most joyful people in the world. We should have the most peace; we should have the longest tempers; we should have the most self-control, the most confidence, the most common sense, the most wisdom.
Now, please understand this as well. As much as we OUGHT to be the most joyful people, we are still sinners. We will not be perfect in this world. We will lose our tempers; we will worry; we will be arrogant; we will be stupid; we will do things wrong; we will hurt others. The gift of joy has been given to us, but we still sin, and so we are not always joyful.
To answer the question: the beliefs of other religions are perfectly valid in that they grant a measure of peace, happiness, and direction to those who believe. The problem is that the peace is false peace. Unrepentant sinners are not at peace with a holy God; any peace they receive outside of Christ is deceiving them, lulling them to sleep until they die and their sentence is sealed. Their happiness, which I do not begrudge them one bit, is only in this world. It only lasts until they die. The sense of direction, of purpose, points them away from Christ, points them straight down the road to Hell. Oh, yes, they receive things from their beliefs, but it's nothing good for them.
Yes, it matters what you believe - maybe the Buddhist will be happier than the Christian in this life, though it shouldn't be. It could be that way. The Buddhist is at peace with himself, calm and secure in his beliefs; the Christian is fighting, struggling his entire life not to sin, to wrap his head around the things that are uncomfortable to believe and then to live them out. The Christian is grieved when he fails, because that failure was another sin that Christ had to pay for on the cross of Calvary. The Buddhist is content with himself, happy in his way of life; the Christian cries every night because he sees the sin in his heart. Let's say that all their lives, this is the way. But then they die.
Standing before Christ, the Buddhist looks at himself and finally sees what he was content with, what he was happy with - charred and blackened tatters of clothes that cover a thoroughly muddied body that can never enter the golden city of New Jerusalem. He spends eternity in Hell, unable to produce a shred of happiness, a moment of peace, a breath of contentment with his lot. And the Christian looks at himself and sees the whitest robe that ever was, the righteousness of Christ Jesus, covering him completely. He's able to spend hours and years and forever with the Person that he loves the most, his God, the One Who gave Him all good things.
Even if, IF, the unsaved have a happier life in this world, the Christian is going to have the greatest joy for all eternity. Lalaith was only looking at the here and now; but the greatest joy of the Christian is yet to come.
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