Zachary Matthew

We welcome the arrival of our fourth grandchild over the weekend. Our son and daughter-in-law named him Zachary Matthew, because the Lord remembered and gave them a gift!

Zachary is derived from the Hebrew name Zechariah, the name of about 30 men in the Bible. The most well-known of these was the prophet Zechariah, author of the Book by the same name, the most messianic of all OT books. He was a leader in the restoration of Israel after the Exile, who urged the rebuilding of the Temple, because he clearly saw it represented the relationship to God. With the temple, the people will be purified. Without the temple, the people will go without restraint.

Matthew, on the other hand, was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, author of the Gospel of Matthew. Of the four gospels, I like Matthew the most, because it contained the most systematic presentation of our Lord’s teachings in the NT, the subject I am most interested in.

I hope Zachary Matthew lives up to his name. I hope he learns from the prophets and the apostles. I pray he knows the Lord’s teaching well, and that he clearly discerns what’s important and acts on it. That’s the prayer we have for our children and grand-children.

Two Good Songs

Being a boomer, I usually prefer older hymns over newer worship songs. Generally I found the former to be more theologically sound, while the latter lacked depth. But recently we learned two newer songs which we liked very much. The melody is good and so are the lyrics. See for yourselves if you agree.

“Lay Me Down” by Chris Tomlin:

“10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman:

Praying in Tongues

Q. I have a friend who prays in tongues. Is the gift of tongues still for today? Are they the same as in NT times?

A. I have argued in yesterday’s post that the gift of tongues, along with other spiritual gifts, will cease at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
• 1 Co 12:28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
• 1 Co 12:30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
• 1 Co 13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Some claimed that perfection in 1 Co 13:10 refers to the completion of the NT canon. I find no evidence to support this view since (a) there is nothing in the context that even hints at the NT canon, and (b) the idea would be unintelligible to the original recipients. Furthermore, this interpretation cannot satisfactorily explain 1 Co 12:12b. We already have the NT canon, yet we do not know fully as we are fully known.

Others have suggested, based on the child illustration in 1 Co 13:11 and the usage of the Greek word telios in the NT, that perfection means the maturing of the believer or the church. They argued that when the church was like a child, she depended on signs and wonders. When she became mature, she put such spiritual gifts behind her. However, this poses the same problem as the canon interpretation: it doesn’t fit 1 Co 13:12b. When is the church fully mature? When do we know everything completely? Only when we see Jesus.

So tongues have not yet ceased; they are still for today. But I think the kinds we observe today are different from what we saw in the NT. Notice that 1 Co 12:28 says there are different kinds of tongues, while v 30 adds that some require interpretation.

The first kind is in Acts 2:4-8 –
• All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
The disciples were speaking in their native Galilean dialect, yet the audience heard the message in their own native language. This was a special enabling of the Holy Spirit on the birthday of the Church for evangelistic breakthrough.

A second kind is elaborated in 1 Co 14:
• 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
• 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
• 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
• 27-28 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
These are not known languages, but unintelligible words spoken to God in worship, which no one understands and must be interpreted so that the church may be edified. Your friend’s praying in tongues may be this type, in which only he himself is edified.

The problem I see with the public speaking in tongues in charismatic churches is that they ignore Paul’s instructions re good order in worship. Often people pray in tongues together, not one at a time, without interpretation. Others do not know what they are saying, and no one else is edified. If inquirers or unbelievers come in, they will be utterly confused. My conclusion follows Paul’s advice – in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue (1 Co 14:19).

Is Divine Healing for Today?

Q. Is divine healing for today? Are the faith healers real?

A. The gifts of healing are cited in 3 passages in the NT:
• 1 Co 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
• 1 Co 12:28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
• 1 Co 12:30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Many observations can be made, but one thing we note at this time is that healing is one spiritual gift amongst many, and will last as long as the rest of the group.

Whether the spiritual gifts are for today is answered in:
• 1 Co 13:8-12, But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. … Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

This passage indicates that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will cease. Healing is not mentioned specifically, but as had been pointed out, is expected to cease along with the other gifts. When will this happen? V10 says when perfection comes, the imperfect i.e. the above cited gifts, will disappear. And what is this perfection? The clue is in V12b. When perfection comes, we shall (a) see face to face, and (b) know fully even as we are fully known. See who “face to face”? The phrase is used 16 times in the Bible. Not counting 1 Co 13:10, it is used:
• 8 times for seeing God (Gen 32:30; Ex 33:11; Num 12:8, 14:14; Deu 5:4, 34:10; Jdg 6:22; Ezk 20:35), and
• 7 times for seeing man, in which case the people are always identified (2 Kg 14:8; 2 Chr 25:17; Jer 32:4, 34:4; 2 Co 10:1; 2 Jn 12; 3 Jn 14).
Since Paul did not mention any names, we conclude that he is using the phrase in the customary sense in the OT i.e. seeing the LORD face to face.

Now when do we see the LORD? For Christians, under normal circumstances there are two possibilities: (1) at death, or (2) when all believers are resurrected. It cannot be (1), because at death we depart and be with Christ (Phi 1:23). Since Christ doesn’t come when we die, but receive our spirit in heaven (Acts 7:56, 59), this interpretation would require V10a’s “when perfection comes” to be when death comes. However, death cannot be “perfection” as it is the last enemy (1 Co 15:26) and will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:14). This leaves (2) to be the correct interpretation, since the LORD Himself will come down from heaven when the dead in Christ will rise (1 Thes 4:16). The LORD is that perfection whom we shall see face to face, when we shall know fully as we are fully known.

Theologically, our interpretation fits with the purpose for which spiritual gifts are given. God gives us spiritual gifts to build up, serve and strengthen fellow Christians. In eternity, we will be made perfect and complete. We will no longer need spiritual gifts, so they will cease. God healed in time past and He still heals. Who is to say that God does not divinely heals now?

But having said that, I do not believe the gifts of healing are in the hands of the faith healers, the televangelists you see today. I say that because of two things. First, their type of healing is very different from those in the NT. When Jesus or the apostles heal, it was instantaneous, complete, and there were no relapses. The healings now are gradual, partial, and the illness recurs after a while. They are more psychosomatic than miraculous healing.

Secondly, the healers’ fruit, which is very different from that of the disciples of Christ. I see them soliciting donations and asking people to come forward for a show, for publicity. I do not see them moved with compassion, going to hospitals to heal the sick, if they truly have the gifts of healing.

So the bottom-line is although divine healing is rare, I believe they are for today, which gifts are often bestowed on unknown, faithful disciples of Christ. I do not believe in divine healers. They do not show the evidence for me to trust them.

Response to “Just Because He Breathes”

Q. What’s your response to this story? http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3478971(Please read before reading this post.)

A. A reader forwarded the above article to me asking for my comments. I read the post, watched the 1/2 hour video by the parents Rob and Linda on YouTube, and read the letter the father wrote to his gay son Ryan. However, I have not read the blog http://justbecausehebreathes.com/ in its entirety.

I have never gone through the struggles that Ryan had, nor the pain that the parents endured as they wrestled with their son’s sexuality. I have not walked in their shoes, and am not judging my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. But since someone asked for my opinion, I write with a certain heaviness of heart, knowing my own shortcomings, and the fact that no matter what we do or how we feel, it will be inadequate.

First of all, I want to affirm the unconditional love the parents have for their son. For the first 6 years, from when Ryan told his mom at age 12 that he was gay, to age 18 when he gave up on God, they did everything they could to steer Ryan back. But according to them they acted out of fear. Then, from the time Ryan dropped out of their lives for 18 months, to his subsequent returning home, till his death at age 20 from drug overdose, the parents changed to living by faith. They learned to accept Ryan the way he was, in their words “as God made him to be”. They changed from fighting or resisting Ryan’s condition, to accommodating and embracing Ryan’s lifestyle, “just so long as he breathes”. I wish I could have the love they have for their son. They have done more than many parents I know, ourselves included. But as much as I see them to be strong evangelical Christians and loving parents, I do not share their position on compromising God’s holiness, as they would celebrate if Ryan were to be wedded in a same-sex marriage.

There has always been a dynamic tension between God’s love and His righteousness and holiness. As love God forgives, accepts and receives. But God is also holy and righteous, and cannot tolerate sin. He does not leave the guilty unpunished; otherwise He would not be just. When we over-emphasize His righteousness at the expense of His love, we are left with a cold, stern judge. However, when we stress His love at the expense of His righteousness, we end up with a diluted “love wins” theology and a God who is less than God because He accommodates sin. And my understanding of Scripture is that homosexual activity is sin, which God abhors.

We do not have a case of our Lord dealing with homosexuals in the gospels, but there is a case of a woman caught in adultery. When the scribes and the Pharisees brought her to Jesus, He told her “neither do I condemn you“. But He did not stop there, He continued “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(Jn 8:11) He forgave her but confronted her sin, commanding her to leave her life of sin behind. What would Jesus do in Ryan’s case? I think He would have done something similar. He would not condemn him; He would love him; but He would also require that he leave his lifestyle behind. Some would find this position to be harsh and easy to say, but impossible for a gay person to deny his inward desire. But Heb 12:4 said “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” It’s a decision each person have to make for himself.

Can Christians Practice Yoga?

Q. I think Yoga has great stretching exercises but my Christian friends feel I should not practice them because of the Hindu origin. Is Yoga acceptable for Christians?

A. The answer is not a simple yes or no, as this is not a black or white issue, but grey. On the one hand, some look at yoga’s Hindu origin and want nothing to do with it. On the other hand, some look at its physical benefits and feel that since they are not adopting Hinduism, it should be okay. I believe the answer lies somewhere in between, as I see it as a “meat sacrificed to idols” issue where you really need to know where to draw the line. Let me first provide some background.

The name “yoga” comes from a Sanskrit term meaning “union” or “yoke”, the uniting of the finite self with the infinite Brahmin, the Hindu concept of God. Yoga believes in pantheism, that everything in nature, including man, is divine. Man’s problem is that he does not know this, and needs to be enlightened and reunited with Brahmin. The solution is through personal effort and striving, using the eight-limbed discipline which includes:
1. interpersonal restraint e.g. non-injury, non-falsehood i.e. self-control;
2. internal restraint e.g. personal cleanliness, moral purity, religious observances;
3. postures conducive to meditation;
4. breathing exercises;
5. detachment of one’s senses – sense control;
6. concentration on an object of meditation;
7. deep contemplation; and
8. attaining a trance-like state where the distinction between subject and object disappears i.e. enlightenment.

As you can see, this is diametrically opposite to the biblical teaching that God is creator and man is creature, who fell into sin, and cannot save himself no matter how hard he tries. Now, with this backdrop, let’s look at the how Christians should relate to yoga.

Some see practicing yoga, a pagan religion, as compromising the Lordship of Christ:
• 2 Co 6:14-17 … what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. … “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
To them, the proper stance is separation, since there is no common ground. This, however, seemed very much like what the Pharisees would do, putting “a hedge around the Law”, and separating themselves from anything and everything that may pollute, and borders on phobia.

Opponents to the above view point out that yoga in the West now (hatha yoga) is different from yoga in the East, and that they really don’t worship Brahmin. They only adopt the postures as stretching exercises for flexibility, and breathing to help them reduce stress, calm down, and relax. But as you can observe, these are precisely steps 3 and 4 of the eight-limbed discipline above. Can you really divide these two components from the rest? Hindu practitioners themselves say no, e.g.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rajiv-malhotra/hindu-view-of-christian-yoga_b_778501.html

Some of the postures e.g. salute to the sun as the class starts, are used to pay homage to the myriad gods in Hinduism. The mantras chanted during class, e.g. “om …” are designed to lull the mind into a trance, or to invoke the names of Hindu gods, while the bowing and saying “namaste” at the end of many classes actually means “I bow to the god or soul within you”. So ignoring the “details” does not work either.

What then? There appears to be a third option between “reject” and “accept”, which is to “redeem” what is of value, as what Christians had done with respect to Christmas and Easter. Both were formerly pagan holidays, which Christians had taken over and transformed by infusing into them Christian meaning. I have never tried yoga myself, but can Christians take the best of the stretching, posture and breathing exercises, strip them of their pagan associations, and replace them with meditations on the word of God. This is possible in principle and had been tried in practice e.g. http://praisemoves.com/

But back to the “meat sacrificed to idols” comparison. Let me borrow from 1 Co 8:
• 4 So then, about doing yoga exercises: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.”
• 7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they do yoga exercises they think of it as worshipping a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
• 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
• 13 Therefore, if what I exercise causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never do yoga exercises again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
That’s why I do not recommend yoga in and of itself, but I would endorse good stretching and breathing exercises with focus on meditating God’s word. Hope that helps.

Why so many Denominations?

Q. Where do all the denominations come from? The Roman Catholic Church is just one around the world, how come Protestants are so divided?

A. Some non-Christians assume that denominations speak of Protestants’ fragmentation and lack of unity. While this is true in some cases, let’s use an analogy to suggest another perspective. Suppose a couple has many grown children, must they all live under the same roof? Not necessarily; most likely each will start their own family, as each has his/her own personality, talents, skills, likes and dislikes. In the same way many denominations were started because the founders, while holding to the same fundamentals (their parentage), have different interpretations and emphasis on secondary issues (their distinctives, likes and dislikes). Let me cite a few examples from the time of the Reformation:

• Martin Luther discovered justification by faith, not works, in his study of Romans, and posted his 95 thesis at Wittenberg in 1517 to challenge the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) back to the Bible. This resulted in the founding of the Lutheran Church.
• Ulrich Zwingli led out in reform in Zurich in 1523, continued by John Calvin in Geneva in 1536. This led to the establishment of the Reformed Church.
• Conrad Grebel led the Anabaptist movement in Zurich in 1525. Simons Menno took it further and founded the Mennonite Church in 1537.
• Henry VIII broke away from Rome in 1534, which started the Anglican Church.
• John Knox began reformation in Scotland in 1541, which resulted in the Presbyterian Church in 1560.

Reformation had fermented for a long time within the RCC, but finally broke out at the beginning of the 16th century with different leaders rising up in different places. Bear in mind that nearly 500 years ago travel and communication were very difficult compared to today, so each leader operated with their own theological emphasis without much discussion with each other.

Some had differences over doctrine or practice. For example:
• Lutherans believe the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper; Reformed see the communion as a remembrance.
• Lutherans, Reformed, Anglicans and Presbyterians practice infant baptism; Mennonites practice believers’ baptism only;
Some groups were separated from each other by geography (e.g. England, Scotland). Others differ over different forms of church government. But all saw the need to break away from Rome to get back to the Bible as their basis of authority (except Henry VIII for personal and political reasons). So within the space of one generation several major denominations were started, which speaks to the diversity and liberty within the Body of Christ.

While the early denominations have legitimate differences over secondary theological issues, many recent denominations and churches were started because of ethnicity, culture and traditions. Others arise because of the egos and self-interests of the leaders, leading to conflicts, confrontations, and church splits. Some argue over worship styles. While diversity is good, disunity is not. So there is both good and bad in denominations. Ultimately they will be done away with, since in heaven we are all united because of our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. That would be glory.

Dogs and Pigs

Q. How do you apply Mt 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

A. First, know the immediate context. In Mt 7:1-5 our Lord was talking about judging, whereas in Mt 7:7-11 He was teaching about asking. So we know our Lord was not referring to literal dogs and pigs, but speaking figuratively. What do these animals represent in Scripture? We have to understand the broader biblical context.

Both are unclean animals not fit to be offered to God as sacrifice, nor suitable for the Jews to consume.
• Phil 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.
• 2 Pet 2:22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
• Prov 26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.
• Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
So dogs are evildoers, fools who repeat their folly. They are sorcerers, immoral persons, murderers, idolaters and liars. Similarly pigs are those who resist cleansing and return to the mud.

What about pearls? Within the verse pearls to pigs are compared to what is sacred to dogs. So we know from the parallelism that pearls represent something holy. Pearls appear in:
• Mt 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
• Rev 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
So we know they are precious and related to the kingdom of heaven and the new Jerusalem. This is reinforced in the preceding and following chapters in Matthew, in which Jesus was teaching about heaven (Mt 6:20) and the kingdom of heaven (Mt 6:33, 8:11). Drawing these clues together we conclude that pearls represent those precious truths that show how a person can enter the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate and the narrow way.

So what the Lord is saying is do not give the gospel, the way of salvation, to people who refuse to listen, who are unrepentant, and who in fact resist and oppose those who give them the good news. Not only do they not treasure the gospel, they will trample it under their feet as worthless, and even attack those who witness to them. This is collaborated in the synoptic gospels :
• Mt 10:14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. (See also Mk 6:11, Lk 9:5)
This does not mean that you never present the gospel to them, because otherwise how will you know their reaction. But having done so and they rejected it, do not try to force it down their throat, as they will not appreciate it and may become even more resistant. Instead, pray for them and wait for a more opportune time, then move on to other receptive prospects who will welcome the message and bear fruit. Time is short, don’t waste it on those who do not value the gospel but see it as trash.

Christians more Restricted?

Q. Christians know what the Bible approves or disapproves. Aren’t they less free than non-Christians as there are so many restrictions?

A. No, Christians are not less free, non-Christians are. First the logic. People assume that if you don’t know, you can do whatever you want, but ignorance is no excuse. Say you were driving 60 km/hr in a 40 km/hr zone but did not notice the signs, and you were stopped by a police car. Can you say to the policeman, “Officer, this ticket is not justified, as I did not know the speed limit”? Of course not. He’ll ignore your plead of innocence and give you the ticket, because knowing or not knowing, you have broken the law. So both Christians and non-Christians are guilty when they break God’s law, only the latter is ignorant of the fact and can’t prevent it.

Secondly, the reality. Because of our sinful nature, we are sold as a slave to sin. We cannot carry out the good we want to do, nor can we stop doing the evil we do not want to do:
• Rom 7:14-15 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
• Rom 7:18-19 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
• Rom 7:24-25 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
In short , non-Christians are under bondage to sin, but Christians are delivered by Jesus Christ and set free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2). Non-Christians are unable not to sin, while Christians are able not to sin when they do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. So non-Christians are bound, whereas Christians are free depending on their choice.

Third, our Lord’s assessment. Jn 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. When we know and obey the truth, we will be sanctified and become more like Jesus. True freedom is not free to sin as much as we want, but free not to sin as we ought to as children of God. To think otherwise indicates a lack of spiritual maturity.

Christianity too Narrow?

Q. My friend has been witnessed to by many of his Christian friends, but he feels they are too narrow in sharing only about Christianity. He feels it is only the cultural beliefs of the Jews, and thinks he should study all religions before he decides. Any suggestions?

A. Quite a number of people feel the same way as your friend, but their presuppositions are wrong. Due to space limitations, I’ll address only the areas you raised.

First of all, he is inconsistent. He thinks that he’ll be in the best position to decide after he had studied everything. But in which other fields does he adhere to this rule? Does he study medicine for himself when he gets sick, or does he consult a doctor? What if he has some legal problems? Does he go to law school, or find a lawyer? How about fixing his car? Doesn’t he find a mechanic? Why use this excuse only when it comes to matters of faith?

Secondly, are Christians really narrow when they share only about Christianity? Aren’t other faiths exclusive? How many Muslims share anything other than Islam? Their radicals would rather kill if someone converts from Islam. Do Buddhists share about other religions? What about Hindus? Or for that matter atheists? Why would anyone share anything which they do not believe to be true? We are not talking about comparative religion as an academic study here, but matters of eternal destiny.

Third, does Christianity’s Jewish roots make it narrow, the cultural beliefs of Jews only? Hardly. Of all the world religions, Christianity has the widest appeal across all people groups, be they ethnic, cultural, or geographical. Islam is concentrated in the Arab world, Indonesia and Pakistan. Buddhism is centered in China, SE Asia, and Japan. Hinduism is confined to India and the Indian Diaspora. But Christianity knows no national and economic boundaries. Narrow? Save that for other religions.

But let’s focus on the positive. It is commendable that your friend wants to know before he gets into something he does not understand. But precisely for that reason, he should learn about Christianity. Because basically there are two types of knowledge – what we can observe for ourselves, and what needs to be revealed to us or we will never know them. The former is called natural revelation, what is revealed to us in nature, from the cosmos all the way down to subatomic particles. The latter is called special revelation, because God is infinitely greater than man, so unless He tells us, there are so many things beyond our comprehension and reasoning. And of all world religions, only Christianity has special revelation, the Bible, while all other religions have only natural revelation. So if your friend wants to know, he must study Christianity.

When he compares the different faiths, the most important thing is whether it is true. Some may have very ancient history or traditions, but unless it is true, it is all futile. How do you know whether something is true? The same way you understand any other subject – by the use of objective evidences, past, present and future. By the way, let me point out a fallacy in many post-modern people’s thinking – that truth is relative or subjective, what is true to you may not be true to me, and what I feel is most important. Nonsense! Try that in a court of law sometime. Say you’re involved in a car accident and feel the other driver is to blame, does that mean he’s guilty? Of course not, because the truth is revealed by the evidence. Don’t confuse truth, which is absolute, with feeling, which is subjective.

Let’s take a look at evidence. In comparing religions, they can be material, or personal i.e. witnesses. Material evidence from the past can be historical records and archeological findings which collaborate with what is said in the sacred writings. Your friend will find that while other religions have lots of myths (e.g. stories of folk heroes who became gods) which cannot be substantiated, archeological digs in the Middle East have verified the biblical records to be reliable and trustworthy. Present as well as past witnesses have testified as to how faith in Christ have changed their lives. While other religions also have testimonials, the life transformations are qualitatively different in Christianity’s case, bringing broken lives and families whole again. But the most significant proof is “future” evidence in the sense of fulfilled prophecies. Other faiths have no or insignificant self-fulfilling prophecies because of their human origin, while the Bible contained hundred of predictions made centuries ago, yet fulfilled later in detail exactly as prophesied.

Your friend should know that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 1:7, 9:10). Mt 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” So if he starts with a humble attitude wanting to know God, he will find Him. But if he is proud thinking that he is at the center of his universe, and with his intellect he can understand and decide which god he will grace by his adhering to that religion, then he won’t find Him. I wish him the best in his spiritual quest. Ultimately God has done everything to bring a repentant sinner to Himself. All he has to do is to ask, seek and knock with humility.