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Ask The Pastor
Monday, July 26, 2004
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Question:
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I teach 9th - 12th grades at Charter Oak United Methodist Church. My
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class wants to review the differences between Islam and
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Christianity. I wanted to know if you have any suggestions on the
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best way to approach this. There is a wealth of information on the
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internet. I am looking for 2 one hour class sessions to review this
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topic. It seesm like the more information I gather on islam the more
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misinformation I find. Your help and suggesstions are greatly
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appreciated.
Marty,
If you are into a time table this may be a problem. You need to acquaint
yourself with Islam's teachings. For one thing Mohammed never actually wrote
anything. The Koran was compiled many years after his death. It was based upon
oral traditions.
There are many differences between Islam and Christianity, too many to list.
I'll provide a sampling that you can consider.
(1) Islam does not teach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This is where
it gets interesting. They do teach that Jesus is the Messiah and that He is
coming again. His purpose in coming is to convert all the world to Islam.
(2) Islam does not teach that Jesus died on the cross, but they do teach that
He ascended into heaven. This is their way of bypassing the message of the
cross. They teach that another man was crucified in the place of Jesus.
(3) Islam does not teach that a person can have a personal relationship with
God Himself, thus a person's life is judged upon his works. In this case two
angels accompany each person through life and record the good and bad deeds. In
the end the deeds are weighed. The only other way a Muslim can enter Islam's
idea of heaven is to become a martyr. This is why you see so much fanaticism
with regard to human bombs.
(4) Mohammed's concept of heaven is sensual. The person who does make it to
paradise receives 70 virgins to appease his sexual appetite. Islam also teaches
that the man's strength in this matter never slacks.
(5) Mohammed took some of his teachings from the talmudic writings of the
Jews. In addition he plagiarized the Bible and gave all sorts of twisted
meanings. Ishmael becomes the covenant son of Abraham, etc.
(6) The god of Islam, that is, Allah, was really only one of several pagan
deities whose 'stones' were in the kaaba. There is much more to this than most
folk realize. But Christians should never mistake the god of Islam for the God
of the Bible.
(7) Was Mohammed a true prophet of God? He very much fits the role of Joseph
Smith of the Mormon religion. Each had supposedly angel visitations whereas the
angel gave them the revelations of their respective religions. Paul gave us a
some special warnings in regard to angel activity.
"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel
contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed." (Gal1:8
- Islam preaches a gospel of death & destruction.)
"Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-
abasement and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen,
inflated without cause by his fleshly mind." (Col2:18)
"No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as
servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2Co11:14,15
- Mohammed had untold numbers of people murdered. He was into incest, etc.)
Hope this helps.
Blessings,
Buddy
Bro. Buddy Martin - Ask
the Pastor
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Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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