St. Paul Catholic Center denies Jesus Christ
By Scott Tibbs, October 25, 2007
On Tuesday, the Dalai Lama led an interfaith service at St. Paul's Catholic Center as part of a series of events during his visit to Bloomington. The Dalai Lama's visit has already stirred controversy as Christians delivered a copy of the Ten Commandments to City Hall to be included in the display. (See my earlier commentary as well as articles posted at WorldNetDaily.com on October 19 and October 23. As much as I was disappointed with city government promoting Buddhism, I am far more disappointed by St. Paul's Catholic Center. Following is a letter I sent to the church.
Dear brothers in Jesus Christ,
I read with sadness in the local newspapers that you hosted the Dalai Lama as part of an interfaith service with Buddhism. This is the second time you have held an interfaith service with Buddhists in the past week, and at least the third interfaith service you have participated in this year. By honoring the Dalai Lama and putting him on the same stage with Christian beliefs, I believe you did great harm to the sheep whom God has placed in your congregation.
In John 14:6, our Lord tells us "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." Acts 4:12 teaches is that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Romans 6:23 tells us "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord".
Scripture is clear that the only way to salvation is through the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why would the Lord come to earth to suffer an unbelievably painful death, to say nothing of the humiliation of taking human form in the first place, if there were any other way for us to be redeemed of our sins? But there was no other way. In Matthew 26:39, The Lord asked His heavenly Father, "if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
It is in this context that I believe that you denied the Gospel by having this ceremony in your church. Whether you intended to say that Buddhism (or any other false religion) is another way to be redeemed, that is the message you were sending not only to your congregation, but to the entire community and, most importantly, those who have not been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I fear that these interfaith ceremonies will give those damned by sin a reason to follow a path that will not lead them to eternal fellowship with God.
I am not advocating intolerance against those who follow false religions such as Buddhism. We must show them God's love and respect their right to worship as they choose. However, at the same time we must present the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is commanded by our Lord in Matthew 28:18-20, when He tells us to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." He promises that He will be with us, "even unto the end of the world."
I am at a loss as to how placing the false religion of Buddhism on the same level as Christianity fulfills the Great Commission. It seems to me that honoring the Dalai Lama as a religious leader actually runs counter to the command our Lord gave us to spread His Gospel and glorify His name. I beg you to repent of the sin you have committed by bowing the knee to false gods. I urge you to boldly proclaim that there is only one way to salvation and that you can preach no other gospel but that of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your attention and prayerful consideration of the Scriptures.
Scott Tibbs