Islam

So I was tired of watching noneducational, mind-numbing TV. I have been watching too much of it. It's like candy - it has no salutary value, but it is so good. Anyway, I was tired of it, so I decided to watch an episode of 20/20. It was a special about Islam - the true nature of the religion in contrast to the radical beliefs of Islamic terrorist groups. It was interesting.

Muslims believe in many of the same stories we do. They believe in creation starting with Adam and Eve, although both are made from the dust in their version. They believe in Mary and her immaculate birth. They believe Jesus will come again and that until that time he sits at the right hand of God. But..and its a big but... they do not believe that Jesus is the son of God. They don't believe in the crucifixion. And they have another prophet they follow, Muhammad.

It is crazy to me that the three most popular religions of the world are focused on some of the same basic stories. Christians (including Catholics), Jews, and Muslims believe in the same God (pretty much); but the Messiah is where we all differ. If you look to the Bible, it is as if these differences were starting to take shape during the time the prophets were writing. Many Pharisees didn't believe Jesus's claim that he was the son of God and they were Jews, so therefore the Jewish faith rejecting Christ as God's son was already happening. Then Peter, as well as several of the other disciples, warn, in their letters, against false teachers.

 2 Peter 2:1-3 says, "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;  and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." 

This is an interesting warning to bring up, because not only does it showcase that there were people trying to lead possible believers away from Christ, but it also showcases a message that many Muslim believers who turn to radicalism need to hear. The 20/20 special featured many American Muslims who advocate that their religion is not violent or hate-centered. Scholars believe that it is through misinterpretations of the Muslim's holy book, the quran, that some Muslims turn down a road to terrorism, violent suicide, and murder.

It is a testament to how easily a false teaching can lead a believer or a group of them astray. The same can happen in Christianity. Radicals can emerge if the words of God or even of a religious teacher are taken the wrong way or used in the wrong way. Jesus even refers to false prophets as "wolves in sheep's clothing."


Dang, more wolves. Good thing I know the one true God and his son who will keep me strong. Also on a side note, it made me sad that so many Muslims are so close to the true God, to know him, to reaching him, but they can't get to him without the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus. So, therefore, Muslims need our love and evangelism. They don't need us to burn their books, jeer at their clothing, or judge their intentions before knowing them.

Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

They did mention something called "honor killings" that I want to research more. I just started researching and there are articles that say this 20/20 broadcast had some of the facts wrong....but I will need to read more. There is so much to learn and know in this world.

....15 minutes later...my heart breaks...how can we teach the wolves to be kind?