Why Christianity?

In a compelling course taught by Gottfried Oosterwal at Andrews University in the late 1960s, we were required to read a potent little volume by Hendrik Kraemer titled, Why Christianity of All Religions? As I look back, those 125 pages of wisdom and insight qualify as among the most influential in my life.

With Kraemer we can still ask the provocative question of his book's title, and do it as the book does, on the back drop of the major religions of the world, such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and the animist religions. But as one considers the fabulous thesis of the book (see below), it is even more evocative to ask "Why Christianity?" with a still broader context in mind; not only the classic world religions but the contemporary scientific, technological, materialistic yet postmodern world in which so many of us live.

These influences are arguably basic to much of the prevailing "religion" of many human beings these days, who may consider themselves to have no religion at all.

So what is the thesis of Kraemer's book? What is at the heart of his contribution when it comes to the question, Why Christianity in the light of virtually any significant world view?

In Kraemer's view, a proper answer to this question is "only possible when one gets back to the non-derivative, to what is original, to the primary 'given' of Christianity, to that which produced Christianity and was not itself made or produced by it. Now that is neither a doctrine nor a principle. It is the Person of Jesus Christ Here, I would say is an objective criterion.... That the truth is revealed in Him and not just by Him, [this] constitutes Himself as the criterion." ¹

Considering how long I have known this thesis and understood its inherent power, I still feel profoundly compelled by the truth of it. It remains a living reality that never ceases to move me at the deepest level.

This view of Christ or Christianity does not say, of course, that Christian teaching, doctrine or theology is some how of questionable value, or that there is little that's worthy in a systematic expression of faith. It is to say, however, that authentic Christianity rests squarely and solely upon a Person, rather than a set of propositions or even teachings.

Christianity's root is not an "it," (as in a body of writing, even the Bible) but a "Him." It is spirit and not just letter, organism rather than organization, "the body of Christ" (1 Cor. 12:12-27) not merely a community of believers (1 Cor. 12:12-27).

Perhaps most significantly Christianity (much less any denomination) is not in and of itself "the way" nor is it "the truth" or "the life." But Jesus is.

And He is so by his own proclamation (John 14:6). Further, this claim is not Kraemer's, but that of Jesus Himself. To believe otherwise is to reduce and even to destroy the authenticity of the Church, giving it a false and even treasonous identity, on the basis of which, by default it ends up proclaiming itself and some collection of largely humanly fashioned beliefs rather than the crucified, risen, and ascended Christ.

The "phenomenon" of Jesus has a way of cutting through the skepticism, cynicism, and fear of humanity, as we find it today. It is as though Jesus of Nazareth has a potently designed way of shouldering His way authoritatively through the chaos and corruption of my rational mind with all its postulations and dubious probabilities, and presenting Himself as the One for Whom my soul was made, the ultimate point of reference in my sometimes desperate search for certainty and solace in a very confusing world.

While Jesus never bypasses the reason he has so freely given us, He nevertheless presents Himself as the most plausible first cause, and this presentation of Himself touches not only our minds, but our souls also. This is something no other "ism" or "ology" is actually capable of doing.

In order for the "Why" of Christianity to actually mean anything to people about us, we who are His are called to follow Him with integrity and authenticity. We cannot allow our ministry to degenerate into a mere job, some kind of all-consuming career. Our challenge as Seventh-day Adventist ministers is to live Jesus of Nazareth out and thus to proclaim Him authoritatively and convincingly. This we are called to be and do in the face of the unprecedentedly seductive alternatives that constantly intrude upon our faith and that of our people.