Popular Johan D. Tangelder
2006. 2 pages.
What do Islam and Christianity have in common and where do they differ? When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved and your household" (Acts 16:30-31). A Muslim would totally disagree with the answer given to the jailer. Why? Although Islam may use the same vocabulary as Christians, its view of man, sin and salvation clashes with Scripture.
What is man? The Koran teaches that man is a created being, fashioned from a clot of wet earth (Sura 23:12-14). Angels are commanded to fall down in prostration before him despite their inherent superiority - after all, they are created of light while man is created of mud. Man is god-formed. But he is not made in the image or likeness of our Creator God. He is created to serve and to obey god. Sura 51:56 says, "I have only created jinn and men, that they may serve Me." In other words, the Koran describes man's relationship with god as master and servant rather than Father and child.
Man has the unique ability to know what is right and what is wrong. He can choose to act freely in accordance with such knowledge. He, alone in the world, owns the faculty of choosing to conform or not to conform to God's will. He is free to be good or evil, to resemble mud or to resemble God. He holds his own destiny and that of the world in his hands. Dr. Bill Musk points to the stark difference between the Biblical and Islamic view of man. He comments, "The Biblical account revels in the wonder of humankind being made in the image of God, able to enjoy fellowship with its creator, while the Koranic account is more reticent about any kind of communion between an absolute creator and a shapely bit of dust."
While the Koran acknowledges the historicity of Adam's fall, it does not teach the doctrine of original sin. The fall of Adam is viewed as an accident or mistake, not a deliberate choice by Adam to disobey the Creator. His fall didn't constitute a "fall" for the whole human race. In Muslim theology there is no concept of original sin and of its transgression from generation to generation. Man is naturally good. He is born without sin. According to the Koran, a human being's soul is "prone to evil" (Sura 12:53) but evil is not inherent in human nature. Adam repented of his disobedience and God forgave him (Sura 2:37). Each new baby comes into the world programmed with an inclination towards God, toward true religion. Each human being is, therefore, by God's intention, born to be a Muslim. Badru Katerrega goes so far as to say, "all people are born as true Muslims, innocent, pure, and free."
What then is sin? The worst thing is to believe in a god other than Allah or to believe in Allah but also to believe in other gods at the same time. The lists of sins includes insulting Muhammad, neglecting the Five Pillars of Islam, namely, to recite the creed, to pray, to fast, to give alms, to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in one's lifetime. A sin is also to break Islamic law, which includes prohibitions against drinking alcohol, engaging in immoral sexual behaviour, eating pork, charging interest for loans, gambling and other laws. Since there is no Biblical concept of sin, Muslims do not see the need for redemption.
Original sin is a distinctively Christian concept. Sin is universal. It affects the total being. It is not true that only drunkards, adulterers, thieves and other such characters have sinned. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) The root of evil is our rebellion against God. One can be a person of outstanding character and still a sinner. When God is not recognized as the centre, the source, and the goal of our existence, man is in a state of rebellion. He constantly stands in defiance of God's will. If he does not know the Redeemer, religion as such, even in its most noble form, can never be viewed as anything other than human rebellion against God.
Muslims believe they don't need a Saviour. They already worship Allah. They also have their holy book - the Koran. But it's not good enough to say you are a Muslim. You have to do good works. Muhammad said in a hadith, "The contents of the heart are reflected in good works." Muslims argue, therefore, that everyone has an equal possibility for acquiring heaven as each person starts his or her life with a clean slate before god. The path to paradise is the law given in the "Divine communication." According to Islam, this divinely given law and divinely offered forgiveness is a sufficient remedy for any human being's disobedience. It has the means to lead man to final perfection. Each individual stands accountable for his or her obedience or disobedience. Islam requires people to earn their way into Paradise by works. Kenneth Grag emphasises the point that law has to take precedence even over theology in Islam: "Law, rather than theology, has the prior emphasis in Islam. Broadly, it is obedience to the will of God, rather than fellowship in the knowledge of God's nature, which is paramount. Revelation is for direction of life, rather than disclosure of mystery - Islam is essentially submission, rather than 'communion'." If a Muslim finds favour with Allah, it is the fruit of his own labour. The Koran says: "This Day (Day of Resurrection), none will be wronged in anything, nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do (Sura 36:54). Musk notes, "At the final judgement, a person will be saved if his good deeds outweigh his evil deeds. Human beings, then, are not so much in need of someone to save them as of teachers and guides who will give them God's commandments and warn them of the consequences of non-submission."
For those Muslims who have been "taught" by keeping the law they can enter Paradise, there is no real sense of hope of absolute forgiveness. The way of the law requires punishment and retribution. A practising Muslim told me; "I can never be sure whether or not I will go to paradise regardless how much good I do. It still depends on Allah's will where I go." I believe Islam's lack of understanding of sin and salvation is all the more remarkable since, historically speaking, Islam is related to Judaism and Christianity.
What is the role of faith in Islam? The word predominantly used for "faith" in the Koran is descriptive of human action - men and women acting out their commitment. In other words, the Koran presents God as being concerned with something people do, with the persons who do it. Musk observes, "In focus is the requirement for a 'believer' to be a person of faith rather than just one who acquiesces to a set of religious propositions." For some Muslim theologians "faith" equates simply to obeying god's commandments. For others, faith is primarily expressed in terms of knowing god, by which is meant submitting to him, exalting and worshipping only him. Consequently, "submission" constitutes the essence of what Islam is about.
The Christian faith is more than intellectual consent to doctrines. It involves trust and a personal relationship with the Triune God. God is neither an abstract idea nor a projection of our imagination. We may say to God, "Abba, Father." Our anchor of hope is grounded in the death of Christ for our sins. We know that our Redeemer lives. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This blessed assurance of salvation is independent of science, culture and circumstances. In Islam, a Muslim is god's servant, representing his Lord in the world. According to Scripture, a Christian is God's friend, saved by the Son's death on the cross on his behalf. He serves his Lord out of gratitude for "the sheer grace earned" for him by Christ (Lord's Day 7:21).
CAN A CHRISTIAN PRAY TO ALLAH?
By Pastor Chuck Baldwin
October 9, 2007
NewsWithViews.com
George W. Bush was twice elected President of the United States with great assistance from evangelical Christians, who, almost universally, believed he was a born-again believer. Many still hold onto that belief. In fact, evangelical Christians compose the bulk of the ever-shrinking base of support Bush has left. This is due almost exclusively to this belief that Bush is a born-again Christian.
As a minister of the Gospel for more than three decades, I have witnessed professing Christians do and say just about anything one would associate with unbelief. In fact, nowadays the line dividing believers and unbelievers seems practically nonexistent.
I've known unbelievers who are far kinder and more compassionate than many professing believers. In fact, professing Christians are sometimes even meaner and more cantankerous than unbelievers. (Don't get me wrong: I've known many unbelievers who were as mean as rattlesnakes, too.)
Another paradox to me is how so many professing believers (including pastors) seem to lack the spiritual discernment to understand even the simplest principles. This is especially true regarding the principles of freedom and national independence. One would assume that knowledge of the Scriptures, along with the aid of the Holy Spirit, would cause believers to be on the front lines in the defense of these principles. However, many times, unbelievers are the ones fighting for liberty, while believers sit piously and passively on the sidelines. What a shame!
However, that believers can continue to propound the "Christianity" of George W. Bush takes the cake. One has to hand it to Karl Rove: he thoroughly and masterfully fooled the Religious Right. And he did it with only a little assistance from Bush.
A few public catch phrases; some prayer breakfasts; a few references to Jesus; some personal meetings; and a few phone calls or personal meetings with big-name evangelicals was all it took to beguile the vast majority of professing believers. Because of this, George W. Bush is now and forever known as "our beloved Christian President."
Then again, how would our Christian brethren react if someone came into their church and said that "all religions pray to the same God"? I dare say such a statement would be met with the most vehement rejection. Yet, that is exactly what President Bush has said repeatedly. The latest example was just last Friday, October 5, 2007.
In an interview with Al Arabiya reporter Elie Nakouzi, Bush said, "I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, pray to the same God." Bush has made this same statement throughout his Presidency. The statement obviously reflects a deep-seated belief. [Read]
Of course, George W. Bush is the first President in U.S. history to celebrate Ramadan in the White House. He is also the first President to worship and pray in a Shinto temple.
Last Friday, World Net Daily quoted Bush as saying, "We are having an Iftaar dinner tonight--I say, 'we'-- it's my wife and I." Bush also said, "This is the seventh one in the seven years I've been the president. It gives me a chance to say 'Ramadan Mubarak.'" Bush is also quoted as saying, "I want American citizens to see me hosting an Iftaar dinner."
The Iftaar dinner refers to the evening meal for breaking the daily fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. "Mubarak" means "blessed." So, when Bush says "Ramadan Mubarak" he is saying that Ramadan is blessed (by God), or "blessed Ramadan."
I would very much like to see President Bush ask one of his Muslim or Shintoist friends to pray in Jesus' name, or ask them to take Christian communion, or publicly worship the Lord Jesus Christ. You know as well as I do that no Muslim would deny Allah by worshipping Jesus Christ. Yet, our supposed "Christian" President has no qualms about denying Christ in order to worship Allah or pray to Shinto gods.
Anyone with even a casual knowledge of Islam knows that when Muhammad founded the Muslim religion there were about 300 pagan gods being worshipped in the region. He selected the moon god, Allah, and proclaimed it to be the one true God. This is, of course, the origin of the crescent moon symbol of Islam.
Therefore, when President Bush says Muslims and Christians worship the same god, he is saying the Lord Jesus Christ is not superior to the pagan moon god, Allah. Or to turn it around, Bush is saying the pagan moon god, Allah, is equal to the Lord Jesus Christ. And it would appear that Bush would have the same belief regarding the Shinto gods, or any other pagan god, for that matter.
So, here is the sixty-four million dollar question: can a Christian pray to Allah or to any other false god? Can a Christian worship any other god? Can a Christian recognize a pagan god to be equal to the Lord Jesus Christ?
Every true Christian knows that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father. Jesus is not "a" way of salvation. He is the only way of salvation, and His is the only name whereby we are saved. No man comes unto the Father except through Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). This is Christianity 101. We have pre-kindergarten children in our Sunday School that apparently understand more about Bible truth than our supposed "Christian" President.
However, the Scriptures are even more explicit. For example, 1 John 2:22,23 states unequivocally, "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father."
Could the Apostle John be any plainer? Any person denying the Son denies the Father, and any person who has not the Son has not the Father. Plus, anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah, Savior) is an antichrist.
The Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 2:10,11 "That at the name of Jesus [not Allah] every knee should bow [including the knee of Muhammad], of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess [including the tongues of Muslims, Shintoists, Buddhists, and atheists] that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
I ask again, can a true Christian pray to Allah or worship Allah (or any other false god)? Would any real Christian not cringe at the thought that he or she might actually equate the Lord Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Savior of the world, with a false, pagan god or dare to reduce the sinless, resurrected Christ to the ranks of pagan idols? Perish the thought!
So, what does this tell us of George W. Bush? How can he deny his Lord for the sake of political correctness? Furthermore, what does this tell us about the hundreds and thousands of Christians and pastors across America who continue to defend and laud this apostate?
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It is one thing for evangelicals to support President Bush for political reasons. But for evangelicals to support President Bush for his "Christianity" is the height of absurdity. The man has proven he has absolutely no understanding of genuine Christianity, and for evangelicals to continue to support him on that basis only serves to display their own ignorance or compromise--or both.
Self-Righteousness
kills
Self-Righteousness. It’s deadly. It’s
subtle. And it’s in all of us. It's a sign
that our religion has become our
personal identity so any attack on the
religion becomes and attack to us. Selfrighteousness means thinking there’s
something in us which deserves God’s
mercy, something in us which earns His
grace.
We don't say it at all, but in our hearts
we’re thinking Allah, I thank you that I
am not like other men. Allah's owes me
because I am better than others because;
I obey Allah's commandents and the
teaching of Islam. I live a good life and
doing my best. I pray 5 times a day and
other times. I read the Quran and say dhikr
every day. I fasted every ramadan and other
times . I go to mosque and give charity
and zakat. I dress modestly and wear my
hijab.I help the poor and those who are in
need. I performed kurban and pilgrimage.
Allah should love me, help me and answer
my prayer."I AM RELIGIOUS"
What’s Wrong With These Statements
Above?
"For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God.”
"All the ways of a man are clean in
his own eyes; but the Lord weighs the
heart.Who can say, I have made my
heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked: who can
know it?
"If we say that we have no sin, we are
deceiving ourselves and the truth is
not in us. If we say that we have not
sinned, we make Him a liar and His
word is not in us. As it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not
one.For there is not a just man upon
earth, that doeth good, and sinneth
not."
Understanding who God is in light of
His word He is holy and righteous.
God is our Judge and the standard is
God Himself. God's holiness demands
perfection not goodness."Be ye
therefore perfect,even as your Father
(God) which is in heaven is perfect.”
Why Islam is SO
successful?
Why Islam is so successful?
It is an easier religion to live up
to it makes us feel good. It
does not give us anguish or a
guilty conscience nor the
frustration of trying without
success to attain in practical
living the requirements of an
absolute moral standard. There
is nothing in Islam to lead us to
know the extent of our sin and
strip us of every pleasing
pretence of our righteousness.
For our righteous
deeds,—our best efforts
after the fulfillment of Allah's
and His Messenger
commands, are stained and
rendered ineffective by our
general sinful condition. For
out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness,
blasphemies: The heart is
deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked:
who can know it. As it is
written none is righteous no
not one for all have sinned
and comes short of the glory
of God.
If I find more I will post them here in the future.