MY THOUGHTS ON SUNDAY’S STUDY
(from Richard Wright)
LAST SUNDAY EVENING WE STUDIED THE MUSLIM RELIGION OF ISLAM. IT WAS VERY DISTURBING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT ADAM HAMILTON “HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD” IN HIS INTRODUCTION---------
“JESUS CHRIST TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS TO GO INTO THE WORLD AND MAKE DISCIPLES (MATH 28:16-20). HOW CAN WE AS CHRISTIANS DO THAT EFFECTIVELY WITH PERSONS OF OTHER FAITHS IF WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY BELIEVE? HOW CAN WE SHARE CHRIST IN A SENSITIVE WAY IF WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SOMEONE ELSE’S IDEA OF TRUTH IS.”
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT “MANY OF US ARE CHRISTIAN BECAUSE OUR PARENTS WERE CHRISTIANS.” CHRISTIANITY WAS THE RELIGION OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AT THE FORMATION OF AMERICA.
IN IRAN, IRAQ AND MOST MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES, ISLAM IS THE ONLY RELIGION BEING TAUGHT. UNLIKE THE U.S., WHERE THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS FOR “FREEDOM OF RELIGION”, CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE TAUGHT, UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH. THERE ARE NO BIBLES ALLOWED.
ISLAM, TO ME, IS A FORCED RELIGION. IF YOU ARE BROUGHT UP BEING TOLD THAT AN APPLE IS A PEAR, AND NO ONE TELLS YOU ANY DIFFERENT, GUESS WHAT?????? TO YOU THAT APPLE IS A PEAR. THE SAME APPLIES TO RELIGIONS. IF THE ONLY RELIGION YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HEAR, LEARN ABOUT, BE IT ISLAM, HINDU, BUDDHISM OR CHRISTIANITY, IT STANDS TO REASON YOU WILL FOLLOW THAT RELIGION.
BUT GOD SAW THIS FLAW AND GAVE MANKIND FREEWILL, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR, THINK AND DECIDE FOR OURSELF. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS “MAN”. MAN WILL NOT ALLOW IT IN MANY PLACES OF THE WORLD.
THERE ARE EXTREMIST IN EVERYTHING, CALL IT THE 10%, IN POLITICS, ECONOMICS AND,YES, EVEN IN RELIGION. BECAUSE OF THE MODERN DAY NEWS MEDIA, WE HEAR ALL ABOUT THE 10% WHILE THE 90% STAY IN THE BACKGROUND AND KEEP QUITE.
SURE, THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD, BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY, MANY SIMILIARITES; ie “ONE TRUE GOD”. WE AS CHRISTIANS MUST NOT JUDGE THE ENTIRE ISLAM RELIGION BY THE ACTS OF THE 10%. AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, “ONE BAD APPLE DON’T SPOIL THE WHOLD BUNCH”. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE 90% IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WAY OF THINKING.
THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN WE BEGIN TO TAKE THE LIGHT, THE TRUTH, JESUS CHRIST, TO THEM.
1 comment:
I never fear people studying Islam as long as they study the real thing, not a propaganda version. I always recommend people reading the Koran. Since I believe in truth, I am not afraid of them reading something else. They will see the difference. It always amazes me the people who try to tell me what Islam is and they have never read the Koran. I accept that as much as I accept a reporter for Time magazine telling me what Christianity is.
As for the 10%, I am not sure we shouldn't listen a little more to that "extreme" 10% if we want to know what Islam is really about. Look at it another way. If you took all the people in the world who identify themselves generically as "Christian" I would guess that only about 10% are really convinced that Jesus is Lord. If that many.
Just a few thoughts.
Grace and peace.
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