What makes Christianity so unique?

One of the issues that I struggled with greatly during the first few years after coming to faith in Christ was the fact of so many devout people of other faiths that would not go to heaven, at least according to the claims of the Bible. Although I have come to an acceptance of this "problem," the nagging concern has continually prompted me to carefully evaluate other religious teachings and worldviews. This has been in part to solidify my own belief, and also so that I can perhaps help other Christians, or skeptics, who struggle with the same concern.

It is with this background that an excerpt from a book I recently started reading made a particularly big impact on me.  I am reading a book on being a spiritual leader in the home, written by Voddie Baucham (entitled Family Shepherds) and in one of the early chapters he takes some time to emphasize the need for a family leader to stay rooted and focused on the Gospel.  But what, exactly, is the Gospel?  I have read and heard messages preached on the definition of "the Gospel" many times before, but the summary he gives is so powerful and helps to clearly mark a distinction between Christianity and other religions.  It is so clear and powerful that I wanted to share it here.

The key point of emphasis at the outset that Gospel is not man-centered.  It is God centered, in that it originates in God and emanates from him.  The word Gospel literally means "good news."  Being news, it is therefore a message from one party (in this case, God) to another (humanity).  Contrary to our "do it yourself", individualistic mindset, it is not a call for us to some kind of action, even a noble one.  It is not a thing that we strive for or try to live out, it is simply a proclamation of good news. 

A great many people, even those who profess to follow Christ, don't quite fully appreciate and embrace this key point.  But it really is the critical axis on which true Christian belief turns, and a fundamental departure from all other religious belief systems.  The following quote, taken from the book noted above, summarizes what the Gospel is and contrasts with other religious systems very well (Personally, I have found it helpful to read and re-read this slowly):

"It is interesting that the biblical writers chose the word "Gospel."  The heart of most religions is good advice, good techniques, good programs, good ideas, and good support systems.  These drive us deeper into ourselves, to find our inner light, inner goodness, inner voice, or inner resources.  Nothing new can be found inside us.  There is no inner rescuer deep down in my soul; I just hear echoes of my own voice telling me all sorts of crazy things to numb my sense of fear, anxiety, and boredom, the origins of which I cannot truly identify.  But the heart of Christianity is Good News.  It comes not as a task for us to fulfill, a mission for us to accomplish, a game plan for us to follow with the help of life coaches, but as a report that someone else has already fulfilled, accomplished, followed, and achieved everything for us.  Good advice may help us in daily direction; the Good News concerning Jesus Christ saves us from sin's guilt and tyranny over our lives and the fear of death.  Its Good News because it does not depend on us.  It is about God and his faithfulness to his own purposes and promises."   - by Michael Horton

How should this then affect the way a Christian lives?  It is a critical question and getting the answer right is essential to living a victorious life for Christ.  It is the genuine belief in, and acceptance of, what Christ has done FOR us that should then drive a change in personal attitudes and behaviors.  It is not that a Christian is trying to be good to earn a relationship with God, but that in deep gratitude for what God has done that we endeavor to live FOR him, and no longer as slaves to our old ways.  As Voddie puts it, "You can live in light of the news, or because of the news, but you cannot live the news."  In short, our lives should change because we believe what Christ did on our behalf, not because we are trying to be worthy of it.

I pray that my life will be marked by a humble appreciation of this amazing gift, living more for him and less for me, and with a bold willingness to declare this amazing NEWS.  News that is truly unique and distinct, and the only way to experience God's salvation.    

Romans 1:16-17:  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."

~JDB