Sunday Sermons
The Bahai Faith
The Baha’i Faith
The four principal individuals of Baha’i history are: 1. Mirza Ali Muhammad (who is called “The Bab”, 1819-1850 A.D., author of the “Bayan”). 2. Mirza Husayn Ali (who is known as “Baha’u’llah, 1817-1892, author of the “Al-Kitab-Al-Aqdas , the Most Holy Book, and the Kitab-I-Iqan, the Book of Certitude). 3. “Abdu’l-Baha (1844-1921), grandson of Baha’u’llah. 4. Shoghi Effendi, grandson of Abdu’l-Baha and Guardian of the Faith, who died in 1957.
The history of the Bahai’s begins in 1844. This was the year that Mizra Ali Muhammad, otherwise known as “the Bab”, proclaimed to the world that he was the greatest manifestation of God to date, and the fulfillment of prophecies in all world Scriptures. Bahai’s believe that of the nine or more historic manifestations of God (for example, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus—the exact number has historically changed), the Bab was the greatest revealer of truth up to his time. However, the Bab also told of another manifestation, even greater, which would follow him. The Bahai’s have interpreted this as applying to Mirza Husayn Ali, otherwise known as Baha’u’llah. Bahai’s today view the Bab as the forerunner, and give Baha’u’llah preeminence. Hence the teachings and writings of the Bab are of less importance, than those of Baha’u’llah, who brought greater revelation of light. No discussion of Baha’i history is complete without noting Dr. William Miller’s detailed research in The Baha’i Faith: Its History and Teachings (1974, 464 pages). Miller documents that according to the teachings of the Bab, noting that the Bab taught that the next manifestation of God would not appear for another 1511 to 2001 years, well into the fourth millennium A.D. (p. 54). Hence, according to their own writings, Baha’u’llah was an imposter and the foundation of the Baha’i World Faith crumbles because Baha’i religion is based squarely on the divine authority of Baha’u’llah.
Like most Mormons, most Baha’i members have little or no idea of the serious distortions that have transpired in their history, because they presently accept, without question, the pronouncements of the Universal House of Justice. This governing body is a nine-member body set up, supposedly having the infallibility that Baha’u’llah said belonged to only the manifestations of God.
Manifestations of God
When this religion talks about “manifestations of God”, they are not talking about incarnations of God, that is, God dwelling in human flesh (John 1:1,14; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:14). Reflecting Islamic influence, the Baha’i faith believes that God is fundamentally and eternally unknowable. Like Islam, the Baha’i rejects the idea of the incarnation, saying that God becoming man is impossible. Yet, the writings of their previous leaders seem to contradict the above claim: Baha’u’llah claims that the Bab declared of him, “There is none other God but Him”. Baha’u’llah also asserts, “verily, I am God!” Nevertheless, the current official teaching is that the prophet cannot be deity.
Evolutionary Religion
Like many other Eastern religions, the Bahai’s view religion as a progressive, evolutionary process that needs to be updated as humanity evolves mentally, socially, and spiritually. Every so often a new Prophet is sent to humanity to update religion to the current needs of mankind. This clearly contradicts the New Testament assertion that the revelation through Jesus Christ is “all truth” (John 16:13), and, “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
· The problem with religions that claim to offer an ongoing and progressive revelation (like Mormonism) is that the teachings of previous so-called prophets are ignored, rejected, or contradicted. The Baha’i faith claims to be the fulfillment of all religions and all prophecies, yet one writer noted the following: “How could the Buddha establish the Oneness of God when he didn’t even believe in God? Buddhism actually nullified Hinduism (there is no absolute deity); Islam nullified Christianity (God has no Son), Baha’i nullified Islam (Muhammad is not the final prophet)” (Ankerberg p. 14). In contrast, Jesus Christ claimed to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures (Luke 24:44), God’s final spokesman (Hebrews 1:2 “in these last days”); and the revelation of God Himself (John 14:6,9).
Tolerance?
Ankerberg notes, “Within the world of modern religions, the Baha’i faith is known by its claims for religious tolerance. Bahai’s with pride declare, ‘We accept all the manifestations of God’. Throughout the chapters in this encyclopedia we have witnessed a number of common themes. One is that religions, which earnestly allege to be religiously open-minded, are in actuality often the opposite. In the end, what they believe is that they have the only way to God, or at least the best way. Despite their claims for tolerance, it is frequently an empty gesture. The Baha’i faith stands at the pinnacle perhaps, in claims for religious harmony and tolerance. Yet, as we shall see, these are essentially without foundation, since each religion it claims to accept is not permitted to speak for itself but is re-interpreted to conform, more or less, to the teachings of the Baha’i faith. In essence, other religions are reinvented to teach the Baha’i philosophy” (p. 6).
· Jesus told us to be “shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves”(Matthew 10:16) and the Bible continually admonishes us to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), and examine everything in the light of God’s truth (Hebrews 5:14; Acts 17:11). The Baha’i faith does not claim to be a new religion, but instead of a renewal of religion. Like Mormonism, it claims to be a renewal of the true teaching of all religions, which time as corrupted. Hence, far from claiming to accept Jesus and what He taught, they actually believe that the Bible has been corrupted.
· Many religions like this one are deceptive, something that the Biblical writers condemned (1 Peter 2:1; 2 Corinthians 4:2 “but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God”). In fact, Jesus noted that the false prophets are the ones who pretend to be something that they are not (Matthew 7:15). Bahai’s will tell a member of another religion what they wish to hear, “Baha’i does not deny your beliefs, and it teaches that you can be a devout Christian and also a Baha’i”. Thus new prospects are promised, “The Baha’i Faith invites us to broaden our religious horizons, not to become an apostate”. Yet after one commits himself to the Baha’i faith, one learns that “true religion” is found only in the teachings of Baha’u’ullah; it is one’s own religion that has been seriously corrupted.
· In contrast, we need to take pride in the fact that no one is deceived into becoming a member of the Lord’s Church, no false promises are given, after about the first Bible class, people know exactly what we are saying.
Doctrines
God: The Baha’i faith believes that God is unknowable and that God cannot incarnate Himself. Jesus claimed not only to be God in the flesh (John 1:14), but He also claimed to reveal the Father (John 1:18; 14:9). “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). “For all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them” (Hebrews 8:11). The Hebrew writer connects this “knowing God”, not in heaven, but in the New Covenant. Someone pointed out that if God is unknowable, then how does one pray to Him?
The Godhead: The Baha’i religion declares that the Trinity (Godhead) is an irrational concept.
Jesus Christ: Here we see many contrasts with the Baha’i Faith and what Jesus taught:
Baha’i Teaches Jesus Taught
Idolatrous to worship Jesus Jesus accepted worship (Matt. 14:33)
Jesus is not God’s only Son John 3:16 “only begotten Son”
God could not be a man John 1:14; 14:6; Philippians 2:6-7
Jesus was not the Creator John 1:3; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:16
It is claimed that Baha’u’llah was a fuller and more glorious revelation of God than Jesus Christ. This doesn’t square with Scripture, for how could anyone be a fuller revelation of God than One in whom “the fullest of Deity dwelled” (Colossians 2:9);and One who was the exact representation of the Father’s nature (Hebrews 1:3)? In addition, the Bible nips in the bud any idea that following Jesus there will be a fuller revelation of God through some other prophet, when it says, “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The people in Colossae were faced with the claim that they needed Jesus plus something else. Yet, after all is said and done, one of their writers said, “The attitude of the Baha’i towards Christianity is clear: he acknowledges its divine origin and believes in the Word of God as testified in the Gospels”. Ankerberg notes that such a contradiction, “is a sign of the times and quite disquieting, if not surprising, to see how people can sincerely claim to be true followers of Christ and yet accept such comprehensive denials of the person and work of Christ. Baha’i theology denies the incarnation, virgin birth, His deity, saving death, miracles, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ” (pp. 21-22). Yet, we are told that a person cannot be a Baha’i unless he believes in Jesus Christ. Even in the First Century, Jesus encountered people who claimed to believe in Him, and yet ignored what He was saying, “And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-23).
The Second Coming: Modern Bahai’s apply the passages that talk about Jesus’ coming again as being fulfilled in the life of Baha’u’llah. In fact, one of their writers spends almost 300 pages attempting to prove that all the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah applied to Baha’u’llah, including Isaiah 53. Yet, the inspired preacher Philip applied Isaiah 53 to Jesus (Acts 8:32-35). We need to be grateful that God has given us plenty of evidence concerning Who the Savior is (Acts 2:22).
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/mdunagan@easystreet.com
