Many years ago, I traveled to the beautiful country of Malaysia with a friend, thanks to inexpensive flights and a compelling desire for adventure. In addition to the large Hindu influence evidenced by the many temples present, we also soon became aware of the prevalence of Sikhism in the areas we visited. Having already been on staff at the Ankerberg Theological Research Institute for a few years, I was surprised at how little I knew about Sikhism, especially because it is considered the 5th or 6th largest religion in the world, depending on the reporting source.
Describing their own beliefs, the Sikh Coalition lays out the following:
“Sikhs believe that people of all faiths worship one Divine Being who created this world and lives within it…. Sikhs aim to recognize the divine presence in all aspects of life, and this constant recognition contributes to the cultivation of a loving self. In Sikhi, finding love within our own lives is both the end and the means; realizing divine love is ultimate goal and practicing love with intention and spirit is the process for achieving that goal. In this sense, the complementary aspects of oneness and love are core theological precepts of the Sikh tradition.”[1]
To understand what they believe about the most pivotal points of Christianity, we have to look closer, especially regarding Jesus Christ.
What does the religion of Sikhism teach about Jesus?
While Jesus is not a central part of their religion, it is important to know that Sikhism does not believe that Jesus is God. They accept Him as a saint of sorts and would acknowledge that He was a martyr and died as a sacrifice. Surprisingly, they would even agree that He can likely forgive sins, as they believe the highest level saints in Sikhism are able to forgive sins. However, Jesus being the Son of God, a blood sacrifice being required for the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus rising from the dead, are all things that remain essential to Christianity and with which they would fundamentally disagree.[2]
Good works and a connection to one Divine Being are the paths to salvation in Sikhism. In a religion where the Guru is able to excuse sins, the concept of a perfect sacrifice being needed for salvation – such as Jesus’ death on the cross – seems oddly unnecessary. The focus on their religion centers primarily on serving others and unity. While Sikhs are intentional about serving the community, loving others, and striving for unity, they unfortunately miss the majesty and sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Messiah and Redeemer.
As Christians, we are called to love and serve others – similar to the creeds the Sikhs live by – yet we cannot deny that our works will not earn us entry into an eternal home in heaven, and we are blessedly indebted to the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Here are a few verses to mediate on as we consider the differences between biblical Christianity and Sikhism:
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
John 1:29 – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Endnotes