宗教都是劝人为善，信哪个不一样？
All religions teach people to be good. What's the difference?
简答 Short Answer
基督教的独特性不在道德教导，而在恩典。所有宗教都说「你要做好人」，只有基督教说「你做不到，但上帝替你做了」。
Christianity's uniqueness isn't in moral teaching but in grace. Every religion says 'be good.' Only Christianity says 'you can't, but God did it for you.'
详细解答 Detailed Answer
这个说法听起来很包容，但仔细想想就会发现问题。
第一，各宗教对善的定义完全不同。佛教追求无欲无求，伊斯兰要求严格遵守律法，印度教有种姓制度，儒家讲仁义礼智信。这些「善」的标准相互矛盾——它们不可能都是对的。
第二，更根本的区别在于：其他宗教都是人努力向上爬去找神（或涅盘、或道），基督教是上帝亲自下来找人。所有宗教都是「做」（do）——做够了好事就能得救。基督教是「已做成」（done）——基督在十字架上已经完成了救赎。这是本质的区别，不是程度的区别。
第三，「劝人为善」本身就暴露了问题：如果人本来就能行善，为什么需要劝？圣经的诊断比任何宗教都诚实：「没有义人，连一个也没有」（罗3:10）。人的问题不是缺少道德教导，而是有了教导也做不到——因为我们的本性已经被罪败坏了。
第四，只有基督教回答了公义的问题。如果上帝直接赦免罪而不追究，那祂就不公义。基督教的十字架同时满足了上帝的公义（罪的代价必须付）和上帝的慈爱（祂自己替我们付了）。没有任何其他宗教体系解决了这个公义与慈爱的张力。
提摩太·凯勒说得好：「宗教说『我遵守了，所以我被接纳』；福音说『我被接纳了，所以我遵守』。」这不是细微差别，这是天壤之别。
This sounds inclusive, but careful examination reveals problems.
First, different religions define 'good' very differently. Buddhism pursues desirelessness, Islam demands strict law-keeping, Hinduism has caste systems, Confucianism emphasizes benevolence and propriety. These standards contradict each other — they can't all be right.
Second, the fundamental difference: every other religion is humanity climbing up to find God (or nirvana, or the Way). Christianity is God coming down to find us. Every religion is 'do' — do enough good deeds for salvation. Christianity is 'done' — Christ finished redemption on the cross. This is an essential distinction, not a matter of degree.
Third, 'teaching people to be good' itself exposes the problem: if people were naturally capable of good, why the need for teaching? Scripture's diagnosis is more honest than any religion: 'None is righteous, no, not one' (Rom 3:10). Our problem isn't lacking moral instruction but being unable to follow it — because our nature is corrupted by sin.
Fourth, only Christianity addresses the justice question. If God simply forgives sin without penalty, He's unjust. The cross simultaneously satisfies God's justice (sin's penalty must be paid) and God's love (He paid it Himself). No other religious system resolves this tension between justice and mercy.
As Tim Keller puts it: 'Religion says "I obey, therefore I am accepted." The gospel says "I am accepted, therefore I obey."' This is not a subtle difference — it's an entirely different foundation.
📖 经文引用 Bible Verses
📚 推荐阅读 Related Readings
- •提摩太·凯勒，《为何是他》；Tim Keller, The Reason for God📖
- •赖特，《纯粹基督教》；N.T. Wright, Simply Christian