| Pretzel Logic | | Posted by Michael on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 6:24pm | This month's post is long. Sorry. But I thought it was important to pass along. I'm presenting it in two different posts. The post right after this one lists some of the differences between Christianity & Islam. I hope you find it informative.
Several years ago at the Kabul zoo, an Afghan guerilla, presumably a good Muslim, jumped over the fence surrounding the lion's den to show off for his friends. The lion killed him.
The next day the dead man's brother, also presumably a good Muslim, lobbed a grenade into the cage, blinding the lion in one eye.
That'll teach that dirty infidel lion.
The incident supports the western stereotypical view of Muslims, that they're all murdering cutthroats bent on vengeance, a view reinforced by the events of September 11th and movie plots for decades. Many Muslims, especially those who live in this country, bristle at the suggestion, insisting that Islam is a peaceful religion and that it is only radical factions that endorse the killing of the innocent in the name of Jihad even though a vocal few have betrayed a seamier side of the Muslim mindset by expressing the view that "America got what it deserved." The Koran itself endorses a ruthless purge of anything non-Islamic. Quran 9:5, known as the verse of the sword, says, "Fight and slay the pagans (Jews & Christians) wherever you find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem."
If there were any doubt about who the pagans are, consider this passage: "Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship will become one of their number. Allah does not guide the wrongdoers." Still another passage says, "When the sacred months are over, slay the idolaters (Jews & Christians) wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them."
Clearly, the Koran teaches that it is not only acceptable but necessary to kill the enemies of Islam. The foundational belief of all Muslims that heaven is not a certainty helps to fuel the fanatical zeal for blood since the only certain hope a Muslim has for eternal life is in martyrdom, the ultimate "good work." The Koran says, "And if you are slain, or die in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass."
The best any Muslim can hope for is to live a good life, obey the Koran and its rituals and hope that by doing this Allah will be merciful and allow him into heaven. But no Muslim can ever be sure because no promises are given apart from martyrdom. The faithful Muslim can only hope that the good in his life will outweigh the bad so that Allah will overlook shortcomings and open the gates of heaven.
A good Muslim cannot even entertain the idea that something other than Islam might be the truth without risking eternal punishment. This makes it tough to witness to a Muslim since even allowing a question into one's thinking can condemn. So when the Christian tells a Muslim that Jesus is the son of God, the good Muslim must deflect any doubt he may have about what he's been taught. Any doubt could condemn him to hell.
Years ago as a young believer, I witnessed to a young Muslim man who exhibited what I thought at the time was strange behavior. "In the course of our conversation I said to him, "God sent His son to die for us. . . ." I intended to finish my sentence with, "and on the third day, He rose from the dead." but before I could finish he interrupted. "Jesus not the son of God! Only prophet of God!"
In my youthful ignorance, I assumed that reason would triumph. "But He said He was the son of God," I told my friend. "How could He be a prophet if what He said was not true?"
Before I could finish, he was shaking his head. "Jesus only prophet, not the son of God!"
I tried to reason with him, but he would have none of it. I quickly discovered that pretzel logic, logic that goes nowhere, would win out over reasoned discourse and that the conversation was over. I left my Muslim friend feeling a little defeated and confused. Why wouldn't he listen? Much later as I learned more about their religion, I began to understand that fear was what drove him. He dared not permit a question to take root in his thinking lest he risk Allah's wrath.
The Koran teaches that Jesus was not crucified and therefore did not rise from the dead, but that he was taken into heaven much the same as Elijah: "They slew him not, nor did they crucify him but it was made dubious to them." "And surely they slew him not. But Allah raised him unto himself."
Muslims are even taught that the Bible backs up what the Koran says by using Biblical passages out of context. When the apostle John quotes the Lord's promise to send a comforter (The Holy Spirit), Muslims are told that the passage, and those like it, refers to Muhammad.
One big difference, of course, between the Islamic faith and our own is that our hope is not a desperate one. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly." Paul tells us that "the gift of God is eternal life." Jesus promised rest for those who trust in Him. Matthew 11:28-29 quotes the Lord as saying, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Thank God that we don't have the hand-wringing hope of Islam which is built on circular reasoning and fear, but the sure hope of a restored relationship with the creator of the universe through the resurrected Savior, a fact of history manifested in the lives of countless believers by the power of the Holy Spirit. My prayer, and I hope yours as well, is that God will break down the barriers that hinder the poor Muslims from hearing the truth and allow them to enter the rest that comes from knowing the risen Lord.
Selah. | | | | | Some Key Differences Between Islam and Christianity | | Posted by Michael on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 6:19pm | 1. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Ps 119:32 says that, "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." The prophet Isaiah records the Lord saying, "Come now let us reason together, you and I" (Is. 1:18.) Muslims have no such freedom, only the oppression of countless rules that burden women and men alike. The Muslim is subjugated to blind obedience out of fear.
2. The Christian will doubt his salvation if he doesn't read his Bible. The Muslim will doubt if he does read his Bible (The Koran) and has every reason to.
3. We serve a God who loves sacrificially, and who, even though His holiness demands perfection, was willing to give His Son for the ransom of our souls. Muslims serve a God of wrath who demands perfection but gives no clear direction on how to achieve it.
4. Jesus' blood paid the price for our sins. The Muslim is encouraged to shed his own blood and the blood of others, including the innocent. Christian martyrdom is passive, death is forced upon the believer who chooses to die rather than compromise his faith. Islamic martyrdom is active, the Muslim is encouraged to die fighting and to take as many of the enemy with him as he can..
5. We are commanded to love our enemies. The Muslim is commanded to hate his enemies, including anyone who doesn't share his view of Islam. (One news commentator said, "Of course they hate us, they hate each other!")
6. Though there have been abuses in history, Christianity has traditionally condemned religious persecution with a general trend throughout history of tolerance wherever Christianity flourished. Islam demands unquestioned obedience to the concepts of Jihad and demands the deaths of those who do not practice Islam. The Christian abuses of history were just that, abuses. | | | | | Some Key Differences Between Islam and Christianity | | Posted by Michael on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 6:19pm | 1. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Ps 119:32 says that, "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." The prophet Isaiah records the Lord saying, "Come now let us reason together, you and I" (Is. 1:18.) Muslims have no such freedom, only the oppression of countless rules that burden women and men alike. The Muslim is subjugated to blind obedience out of fear.
2. The Christian will doubt his salvation if he doesn't read his Bible. The Muslim will doubt if he does read his Bible (The Koran) and has every reason to.
3. We serve a God who loves sacrificially, and who, even though His holiness demands perfection, was willing to give His Son for the ransom of our souls. Muslims serve a God of wrath who demands perfection but gives no clear direction on how to achieve it.
4. Jesus' blood paid the price for our sins. The Muslim is encouraged to shed his own blood and the blood of others, including the innocent. Christian martyrdom is passive, death is forced upon the believer who chooses to die rather than compromise his faith. Islamic martyrdom is active, the Muslim is encouraged to die fighting and to take as many of the enemy with him as he can..
5. We are commanded to love our enemies. The Muslim is commanded to hate his enemies, including anyone who doesn't share his view of Islam. (One news commentator said, "Of course they hate us, they hate each other!")
6. Though there have been abuses in history, Christianity has traditionally condemned religious persecution with a general trend throughout history of tolerance wherever Christianity flourished. Islam demands unquestioned obedience to the concepts of Jihad and demands the deaths of those who do not practice Islam. The Christian abuses of history were just that, abuses. | | | | | Deep Waters | | Posted by Michael on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 6:22am | If you're looking for something a little challenging, are serious about your faith and aren't afraid to think, I have a treat for you. Check out this site. There is some really good stuff here.
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog/ Challenges
| | | | | Powerful! | | Posted by Michael on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 7:01pm | Here's a new one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. What a great song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V84STSWVp3g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRJ7euUShg
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About Me My Book  | The Curse Soft Cover Retail: $22.99 Our Price: $14.99 ISBN:
1-4141-1206-8 |
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