Course:Teaching Christians

Note that as with other Courses on Bahai9, the normal policy of prohibiting prose and innovating with content sequencing and such is suspended (though should still rely heavily on quotations as much as possible).

Note that this course has borrowed heavily from Handbook for Teaching Christians More Effectively which follows its own copyright.

Need for teaching Christians

Need to teach the mysteries of the Bible

"Although," Abdu'l-Baha, in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, has written, "in most of the states and cities of the United States, praise be to God, His fragrances are diffused, and souls unnumbered are turning their faces and advancing toward the Kingdom of God, yet in some of the states the Standard of Unity is not yet upraised as it should be, nor are the mysteries of the Holy Books, such as the Bible, the Gospel, and the Qur'an, unraveled. Through the concerted efforts of all the friends the Standard of Unity must needs be unfurled in those states, and the Divine teachings promoted, so that these states may also receive their portion of the heavenly bestowals and a share of the Most Great Guidance."

(Shoghi Effendi, Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 57-58)

See also

• Teaching
• Bible to be studied

Addressing concerns or questions from Christians

1. (add Biblical sources below along with answers or links thereto)

Fears of evil status of Bahá'u'lláh

False prophets

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"I’m worried that Bahá’u’lláh is a false prophet."	Bahá'u'lláh was not a false prophet as false prophets deny Jesus and show greed and licentiousness.	false prophet; TODO: p36	2 Peter 2:1-3; see section immediately below

Criteria for recognizing false prophets

1. Wolves in sheep’s clothing (Jesus’ flock) (Matt 7:15)
2. Will bear bad fruit (Matt 7:17)
3. Already in the world during the writing of 2 Peter (about 150 AD) (2 Peter 2:1)
4. Come at the end of the age and will deceive many, even the elect, with great signs and wonders (Matt 24:11; 23-24)
5. Will bring heresies into Christianity and will deny the Lord (2 Peter 2:1-3)
6. Will arise amongst the Christians (2 Peter 2:1)
7. Will show greed and licentiousness (2 Peter 2:3-4)

Anti-Christ

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"I’m worried that Bahá’u’lláh is the Anti-Christ since you Bahá’ís talk so much about world peace and world government."	No, Bahá'u'lláh is not the Anti-Christ, as the Anti-Christ “denies that Jesus is the Christ.”	Anti-Christ, peace, world government TODO: p36	1 John 2:22

Devil

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"You Bahá’ís are nice enough but the devil can put one drop of poison in with the good which is enough to send you straight to hell?"	Bahá’ís are not followers of the devil as Bahá’ís believe in Jesus and “there is no truth in him (i.e., the devil)”	devil TODO: p38	John 8:44

Other concerns about Bahá'ís

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"Are Bahá’ís righteous?"	Yes as “Little children, let no one deceive you.” “He who does right is righteous, as He is righteous.”		1 John 3:7
"Are Bahá’ís condemned?"	No, as “He who believes in Him is not condemned.”		John 3:18

Issues with notion of God

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"Jesus was God. Why should I follow anyone but God?" "Jesus claimed to be God. Does Bahá’u’lláh claim to be God?"	Yes (but neither was literally)	Divine incarnation, Twofold nature of the Manifestation of God	Jesus was God. A. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9) B. “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30) C. “I am He (the Father)” (John 8:24) D. “I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:11) E. “And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me” (John 12:45) Jesus was also not God. A. “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared him.” (John 1:18) B. “I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) C. “I can of Mine own self do nothing...not My own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me.” (John 5:30) D. “I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28) E. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matt 24:36) (If Jesus was God, Incarnate, He would know all God knows.) F. “And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray. “ (Mk 6:46) (Does Jesus pray to Himself?) G. “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34)
"Do you believe in the Trinity?"	Yes, in a sense. “Then he (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) explained the puzzling question of the “Trinity” and demonstrated...that “trinity” not only exists is every religion but in philosophy as well.” (SOW, V13:7 p. 172; also see TAB, p 117); However, the word trinity does not occur in the Bible, and is usually referred to as a mystery that can’t be understood, and was a doctrinal attempt to explain why Jesus said He was and also was not God.	Trinity

Issues with Christ or comparisons thereto

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"Do Bahá’ís believe in Jesus?"	Bahá’ís believe in “the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ” (PDC, p. 109). Bahá’u’lláh refers to Jesus as “Lord of the visible and the invisible” (GWB, p. 56) and “The Lord of all being”. (ESW, p. 100)	Jesus
"Do Bahá’ís accept the virgin birth?"	Yes	Christ#Virgin birth (of Christ only)
"Do Bahá’ís accept that Jesus was without sin?"	Yes. SAQ, p. 44-12	"Sin" by Manifestations of God
"Do Bahá’ís believe that Christ died for our salvation?"	Yes. “...the purpose of their Lord and Savior... is the salvation of mankind...” (Arohanui, p. 3)	salvation
"Do you believe in the Resurrection of Jesus?"	There are as many verses in the Bible that speak of the Resurrection as a spiritual event as there are that speak of it as a literal-like event. Even without a physical resurrection, Bahá'ís believe that Jesus has power over death and has the power to resurrect and provide everlasting life to those who follow him.	TODO: pp 59-63	Resurrection
"Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death and left behind an empty tomb. Where is Bahá’u’lláh buried?"	TODO: p59	resurrection
"“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Can Bahá’u’lláh be anything as important as God’s only Son?"	TODO: p49	Christ#Sonship and Divinity of Christ	John 3:16
"Aren’t the miracles of Jesus greater than those of Bahá’u’lláh?"	TODO: p35, 36	miracle

Issues with exclusivity of Christ

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"Why should I believe in Bahá’u’lláh when Christ said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”" "Do Bahá’ís believe Jesus is the “Only Way,” the “Only Begotten Son,” and the “Only Mediator Between God and Man?”	Yes, and Bahá’u’lláh is the Return of the “Only Way”, the “Only Begotten Son,” and the “Only Mediator.”	TODO: p65	John 14:6
"The Bible says “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ. How can Progressive Revelation be true?"		TODO: p46	Timothy 2:15
"“We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Are you Bahá’ís saying Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t enough and we need Bahá’u’lláh when the Bible says Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect and needed once only for all time?"		TODO: p50	Heb 10:10
"The Bible says there is “no other name under heaven” by which we can be saved and isn’t Bahá’u’lláh a different name?"		TODO: p45

Issues with Christianity or practices called for by Christianity

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"Isn't the Bahá'í Faith something fundamentally different?"	No, “The Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ.” (BWF 400)	Christianity#Same as the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh
"“The blood of Jesus His Son shall cleanse us from all sin”. Have you been washed in the blood of the Lord and had your sins forgiven?"	Yes, as “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:21); “Thou art indeed the One Who forgiveth the sins of all mankind.”(SWB, p. 4)	Forgiveness	1 John 1:17
"“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”. Where were you baptized?"		TODO: p52	Mark 16:16
"Are you saved?"	Yes as “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”; also GWB, p. 87	Salvation	Acts 16:31
"Have you been born again?. Do Bahá’ís believe we must be born again?"	Yes, as “...man must be born again...” (PUP, p. 288)	rebirth
"Do you have a personal relationship with God? Do Bahá’ís believe in a personal God?"	Yes.	God#Personal God

Issues with Bible interpretation in general

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"Why aren't the prophecies literally fulfilled?"	The Bible's own statements and prophecies are clearly not all literal: A. “You must be born again.” (3) B. “Let the dead bury their dead.” (60) C. “Circumcise the foreskin of your heart.” (16) D. “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” (16)	Literal vs. figurative	A. “Real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal” (Rom 2:29) and “...For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit.” (Phil 3:3) B. “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught us by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:13-14) C. “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16) D. Both Christ (Matt 17:13) and the Apostles (Luke 3:2-6) and (Acts 2:14) interpret the Old Testament spiritually to explain the fulfillment of prophecy when there was no literal fulfillment. Therefore, Christ and the Apostles give authority and examples for interpreting the Bible spiritually. TODO p 33 (II)
"I (or We Christians) can understand the Bible fully on our own"	The Bible itself says it can't be done. (In the “last days” and at “the end times” the seals of the Scriptures were to be unloosed and words unsealed; and now at the close of the Prophetic Cycle, Bahá’u’lláh has indeed unlocked the Scriptures of all Faiths and provided the scriptural keys for the unity of the world and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.)		A. “...words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end...” (Dan 12:9) (God tells Daniel that the meaning of scripture is closed and sealed until the end times.) B. All men and angels unable to “loose the seals” and open scriptures until “Lamb of God” appears (Rev 5:1-5) (Again the scriptures in the New Testament are also sealed as to their meaning until Christ returns. Bahá’u’lláh is indeed the Return and has opened the scriptures as prophesied.) C. “Judge nothing before the time until the Lord come” (1 Cor 4:5) (Paul tells Christians disputes of doctrine will only be settled by the Return of Christ.)
"Why would God make scripture so challenging and difficult to interpret?"	As per the Bible, “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb 4:12); KI, p 49 (Therefore, interpreting the scriptures is a testing for the purity of one’s faith and detachment from all save God in both the Bible and the Kitáb-i-Íqán.)	Reason for unclear language of the Scriptures

Issues with interpretation of Biblical concepts or events

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"What do Bahá’ís believe about the Bible?" "Do you Bahá’ís believe the Bible is the Word of God?"	Bahá’ís believe the Bible is the Word of God. (KI, p. 84)	Bible authenticity
"Christ led a sinless life. Moses killed a man. How can you say Moses or any other man was equal to Christ?"		TODO: p51 and p89
"Do you Bahá’ís believe that we are saved by Grace? Do Bahá’ís believe we are saved by grace and not by works?"	Yes. “The tie...between the creature and the Creator should be regarded as a token of His gracious favor unto men and not as an indication of any merit they may possess.” (GWB, p. 193)	Grace
"Do Bahá'ís believe in atonement and the redemption for sins?"	Yes, “We, verily, have come for your sakes, and have borne the misfortunes of the world for your salvation.” (TB, p. 10) “Fix your gaze upon Him Who is the Temple of God amongst men. He in truth has offered His life as a ransom for the redemption of the world.” (GWB, CXLVI, p. 315).	Redemption	Hebrews 10:10-14 (sanctified through one sacrifice), Hebrews 9:12 (entering the holy place once with his own blood), Romans 6:10 (died to sin once for all)
"Do you Bahá’ís believe Faith (belief) is more important than good works (Deeds)?"	Yes, “On the Day of His manifestation, unless thou truly believest in Him, naught can save thee from the fire, even if thou dost perform every righteous deed.” (SWB, p. 110) “...since deeds are secondary to faith in Him.” (SWB, p. 133)	Faith and deeds
"Do Bahá'ís believe in Heaven and Hell?" "Do you believe in everlasting life?"	Yes, “All the tokens of God have been sent down as a token of His grace. The waters of everlasting life, have, in their fullness, been proffered unto men.” (GWB, p. 34)	Paradise/Life after death/soul TODO: p94-99

Issues with new Revelation

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"In Galatians and Revelation, the Bible says you can’t add to the Scripture. How can the Bahá’í Faith be true if you’re adding to the Bible?"	TODO: p43
"“Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever”. How can Bahá’u’lláh just change Christ’s Laws?"	TODO: p44		Heb 13:8

Issues with specific prophecies required for Return of Christ

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"If Bahá’u’lláh if the Return of Christ, why haven’t all the prophecies regarding the Return been literally fulfilled?"	TODO: p33
"If Bahá’u’lláh is the Return of Christ, why haven’t I heard of Bahá’u’lláh when the Bible says “Every eye shall see Him”?"	TODO: p47
"What about the Rapture? Since I’m a good Christian, if Bahá’u’lláh was the Return of Christ, I would have been already raptured up to heaven!"	TODO: p54
"Where is the name of Bahá’u’lláh mentioned in the Bible?"	TODO: p72
"Do you believe that Jesus on His Return will fulfill all the prophecies of the Old Testament literally that He hasn’t already fulfilled?"	TODO: p33, 91

Issues with other religions

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"How can you say all the religions are one when they teach different things?"	TODO: p77-84

Duty to investigate

Question	Short answer	Extended discussion link	Biblical references
"I’m a good Christian. Why should I be interested in the Bahá’í Faith?"	TODO: p64

References

• https://bahai-library.com/pdf/y/young_teaching_christians_handbook.pdf

To-dos for this page

• Adapt rest of https://bahai-library.com/pdf/y/young_teaching_christians_handbook.pdf with links to Writings and Bible