Anti-Christian Jihad Continues

[bd]

Great post Snowden. Very eloquent and informative.

Personally, I think too much attention is given to caring about Islam as Christians. My level of tolerence and understanding was exceeded a while back.

BD

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by bd

Great post Snowden. Very eloquent and informative.

Personally, I think too much attention is given to caring about Islam as Christians. My level of tolerence and understanding was exceeded a while back.

BD

Thanks, BD. My level has been exceeded too. As a Christian, I can and do love some Muslims; but I cannot stand Islam. I detest it; maybe you can tell! My Palestinian friends are wonderfully warm and loving people, but they have not one ounce of joy among them. The more I learn about Islam, the more I can understand this. It's oppressive. They can have fun laughing and talking, but no joy.

[cb88]

Originally Posted by Snowden

Thanks, BD. My level has been exceeded too. As a Christian, I can and do love some Muslims; but I cannot stand Islam. I detest it; maybe you can tell! My Palestinian friends are wonderfully warm and loving people, but they have not one ounce of joy among them. The more I learn about Islam, the more I can understand this. It's oppressive. They can have fun laughing and talking, but no joy.

Snowden, don't feel guilty for this. I have a hard time with this, I think every Christian does. They run around the world saying "we are the religion of peace" and then they destroy everyone that does not worship their way to their god.

I think we know what the true religion of peace is, as evident in many scriptures, including this one:

Psalms 116:5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.


I think that Islam believes the way they do because they have "twisted" a verse that promised Hagar that she, too, would be the mother of a great people (Gensis 16:10). These people, as we have come to know, are the Arabs.

What some people "twist" to this day as perversion, was not.

According to the Nuzi tablets, ancient Hurrian cuneiform documents dealing with custom and law of a somewhat later period, the action of Abram and Sarah in respect to Hagar was perfectly normal at that time. Any children born of this "proxy" arrangment (what we now have is surrogate motherhood) would be considered legal heirs of the husband UNLESS AND UNTIL children were born of the wife herself.

Because of Sarah's jealousy, Hagar was banished to the wilderness with Ishmael. It is there that God appeared to her and promised her that she would be the mother of a great nation too.

Even from our own Christian text, it is easy to see how the Arabs could twist the scriptures to their advantage some 3000 years later when Islam was created.

There are many modern day religions that want to "add to" or change what is needed for salvation. Even Christianity has many different "sects"....Catholics, Lutherans, Apiscopalians, Protestants, Presbyterian, Methodists, Baptists, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, and so on....and then among those divisions you have "micro sects", i.e. "Southern Baptist", Roman Catholic, etc.

There has always been and always will be "false prophets". Paul warned Timothy of these in both 1st & 2nd Timothy.

But, I ramble. It's ok, as a Christian, to "love the sinner and hate the sin"...although I agree with you, some times it's hard to separate the two.

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by cb88

Snowden, don't feel guilty for this. I have a hard time with this, I think every Christian does. They run around the world saying "we are the religion of peace" and then they destroy everyone that does not worship their way to their god.

Thanks, CB. I really don't feel guilty about hating Islam; it just makes me very sad to see people I care about trapped in it. Going into the mosque on the Temple Mount the first time I was in Israel, in 1979, as we were going up the few steps to the square where it sits, I was overwhelmed with a heavy feeling of such an evil presence. It took me by surprise; I knew nothing of Islam at the time. I've learned quite a bit since and I know that what I felt was a warning. Even so I went back and learned to love the people. They are God's people too - but they don't know Him. That is heart breaking, because they are a very religious people and believe deeply.

I think we know what the true religion of peace is, as evident in many scriptures, including this one:

Psalms 116:5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

Yes, exactly!

I think that Islam believes the way they do because they have "twisted" a verse that promised Hagar that she, too, would be the mother of a great people (Gensis 16:10). These people, as we have come to know, are the Arabs.

The Arabs had a great culture and many outstanding achievements. They were sailing the seas at the time of the Vikings, and inventing like crazy. Then Mohammad perverted so much of what they could or could not do. I wonder if he had any idea how and by whom he was being used, let alone that it would continue beyond his death.

There are many modern day religions that want to "add to" or change what is needed for salvation. Even Christianity has many different "sects"....Catholics, Lutherans, Apiscopalians, Protestants, Presbyterian, Methodists, Baptists, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, and so on....and then among those divisions you have "micro sects", i.e. "Southern Baptist", Roman Catholic, etc.

Well, since it was the first Western Christian church, I don't think the Roman Catholic church would qualify as a "micro sect," but there are some 21 rites to the Catholic Church, all under the guidance of the Pope. My oldest son is a Catholic priest, after having been an Episcopal priest for 10 years; he is married and has two children. My husband and I are also Roman Catholic. Our middle son is a Traditional Anglican priest (no ties to the Episcopal Church or Anglican Communion). Our youngest son is an Eastern Orthodox Christian and is a theologian. All this is very helpful to me when answering questions about the Lord!

There has always been and always will be "false prophets". Paul warned Timothy of these in both 1st & 2nd Timothy.

But, I ramble. It's ok, as a Christian, to "love the sinner and hate the sin"...although I agree with you, some times it's hard to separate the two.

I appreciate your comments - I think we see eye to eye on this. I do love a good many sinners (being one is very helpful in that!)

[Woodmonkey]

Another excellent and informative post, Snowden. I'm so glad you came into this thread and posted. I think one of the problems Christians in this country have with Islam is that we look at it through the spectrum of our lives. We have freedom to practice whatever religion we choose, or not to practice any religion at all. No one religion or religious group wants to eliminate people who don't believe as they do. People here won't be killed if they are in the "wrong" religion. Our God suffered and died for us whereas the people are expected to die for Islam.

Well, since it was the first Western Christian church, I don't think the Roman Catholic church would qualify as a "micro sect...

That's true. The Roman Catholic Church predates Islam. I believe that Islam also predates the Protestants.
\

[cb88]

Originally Posted by Snowden

I appreciate your comments - I think we see eye to eye on this. I do love a good many sinners (being one is very helpful in that!)

I'll have to give that one a big "Amen!"

[Snowden]

By Woodmonkey:

That's true. The Roman Catholic Church predates Islam. I believe that Islam also predates the Protestants.

That's right, Woodmonkey - Islam is a Seventh Century religion and Martin Luther (1483-1546) posted his Theses to the church door in Wittenburg in 1517, resulting in the first Protestant church.

Henry VIII was awarded the title "Defender of the Faith" by the Pope for defending the Catholic Church against Luther. The British monarch still carries that title today! Prince Charles remarked at one point that he would like to change that to "Defender of the Faiths."