Questions 50-52 from the Study Catechism have special relevance for how we reflect on the challenge we face in dealing with peoples from other religions.

Question 50. Is Christianity the only true religion?

Religion is a complex matter. When used as a means to promote self-justification, war-mongering or prejudice, it is a form of sin. Too often all religions — and not least Christianity — have been twisted in this way. Nevertheless, by grace, despite all disobedience, Christianity offers the truth of the gospel. Although other religions may enshrine various truths, no other can or does affirm the name of Jesus Christ as the hope of the world.

Matt 7:3 “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”

James 1:26 “If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.”

James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Rom. 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

2 Cor. 4:7 “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”

Question 51. How will God deal with the followers of other religions?

God has made salvation available to all human beings through Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. How God will deal with those who do not know or follow Christ, but who follow another tradition, we cannot finally say. We can say, however, that God is gracious and merciful, and that God will not deal with people in any other way than we see in Jesus Christ, who came as the Savior of the world.
Rev. 7:9 “And there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.”

Ps. 103:8 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

John 3:19 “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.”

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.”

Question 52. How should I treat non-Christians and people of other religions?

As much as I can, I should meet friendship with friendship, hostility with kindness, generosity with gratitude, persecution with forbearance, truth with agreement, and error with truth. I should express my faith with humility and devotion as the occasion requires, whether silently or openly, boldly or meekly, by word or by deed. I should avoid compromising the truth on the one hand and being narrow-minded on the other. In short, I should always welcome and accept these others in a way that honors and reflects the Lord’s welcome and acceptance of me.

Rom. 15:7 “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Matt. 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Eph. 4:25 “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.”

Acts. 13:47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Rom. 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Rom. 13:10 “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Questions 131-133 from the Study Catechism, concerning prayer, have direct implications for how we pray in reflection upon tragedy. These may be used directly in worship, or may be used for study:

Question 131. What is meant by the fifth petition, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”?

We pray that a new and right spirit will be put within us. We ask for the grace to treat others, especially those who harm us, with the same mercy that we have received from God. We remember that not one day goes by when we do not need to turn humbly to God for our own forgiveness. We know that our reception of this forgiveness can be blocked by our unwillingness to forgive others. We ask that we will not delight in doing evil, nor in avenging any wrong, but that we will survive all cruelty without bitterness, and overcome evil with good, so that our hearts will be knit together with the mercy and forgiveness of God.

Matt. 18:33 “Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?”

Matt. 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Ps. 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Question 132. What is meant by the final petition, “Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil”?

We ask God to protect us from our own worst impulses and from all external powers of destruction in the world. We ask that we might not yield to despair in the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances. We pray for the grace to remember and believe, despite our unbelief, that no matter how bleak the world may sometimes seem, there is nonetheless a depth of love which is deeper than our despair, and that this love — which delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt and raised our Lord Jesus from the dead — will finally swallow up forever all that would now seem to defeat it.

2 Cor. 4:8 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair.”

Eph. 3:19 “To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Matt. 26:41 “Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Question 133. What is meant by the closing doxology, “For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever”?

We give God thanks and praise for the kingdom more powerful than all enemies, for the power perfected in the weakness of love, and for the glory that includes our well-being and that of the whole creation, both now and to all eternity. We give thanks and praise to God as made known through Christ our Lord.

Rev. 5:12 “Singing with full voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’”

Rev. 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

1 Chron. 29:11,13 “Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.”