By Don Shenk for REALCLEARRELIGION
The modern global mission movement is generally viewed as starting in the late 18th century when William Carey left his home in England and established Gospel-centered mission efforts in India. Over the next century, many tribes from animist backgrounds embraced the blessing of Jesus Christ. In the 20th century, although a concerted effort was still needed to reach its many ethnic minorities, the underground house church exploded in China. Currently, through much prayer, the Muslim world is experiencing a mass awakening, and spiritual breakthroughs are also occurring among Hindus in India. Many in post-Christian secular societies are rediscovering the faith of their forefathers, sometimes outside of the walls of traditional church settings. The body of messianic believers in Israel is also growing.
However, there is one major world religion where, although there are encouraging signs and smaller breakthroughs, this kind of movement toward Christ has yet to take place on the same scale: Buddhism.
In many respects, Buddhism presents a compelling and realistic worldview for its over half a billion adherents. Similar to Christianity, Buddhism teaches that we are born with unfulfilling desires that lead to suffering and pain in life. Although the Biblical framework provides a much broader understanding of suffering and sin, the reality of human desires causing pain is a profound shared experience that we can all agree on.
Where Buddhism diverges is in the solution it offers to the problem of human suffering. In a universe with no personal creator God, adherents cycle endlessly through reincarnation hoping to reach a heightened spiritual state capable of extinguishing all desires.
