Conversation With Islam
December 3, 2024
With some apprehension and perhaps some trepidation is where I begin with this essay. You see, as a Born Again Bible Believing Christian, some consider me, not only as the enemy, but as an infidel that must be destroyed and eradicated from the face of the Earth…
There’s a lot of that going around, isn’t there?
I have only a passing elementary knowledge of Islam, but I’ve been invited to talk with a PhD Islamic Professor. My first question is if I disagree or unintentionally say something “blasphemous,” am I putting myself and my family in danger? **
There’s a lot of that going around, too, isn’t there? …and it doesn’t have to be limited to religious differences. The confrontations can be political, social, personal, or anything else. “Hate is a terrible thing to waste,” seems to be the new take on an old adage…
Jesus’disciles asked him about the end of the world and he answered:
** — “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” — Matthew 24:4–13, Berean Standard Bible.
Well, I have decided that I just have to trust God to give me insight and be circumspect in my conversations and continue to leave everything, including my fate, in His hands.
First and foremost, I see a huge problem with all religions. In the past, people would inquire, “What is your persuasion?” which would apply to either political or religious enquiry.
Here’s a Bible verse which uses that word:
“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38–39. Berean Literal Bible.
Just the same, in general, the dynamics of all religions seem to me to be always in a state of flex, malleable, and subject to the whims and intellectual persuasions of individuals on a transient basis. At any rate, that is what “religion” represents to my way of thinking.
People have a tendency to pick and choose what they believe depending upon their situations or even as cursory thoughts, depending on the time of day. Isn’t that true?Now, briefly on Islam, the Prophet laid down precepts as he understood them and he believed those precepts were from God. Immediately after his passing, his two sons vied for power as in the top leadership position. There arose then, two factions.
This shallow and situational method of picking and choosing seems to happen a lot throughout all philosophies, religions, and politics, doesn’t it seem that way to you?
Seems to me that the Biblical authors understood this fact in human dynamics pretty accurately:
“What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight…” — James 4:1–2, BSB.
Also, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” — Galatians 5:19–21, BSB.
These two quotes are essentially pointing to the sinful nature at work in Mankind.
The remedies for correcting this fallen nature are replete in politics, philosophies, and religions: obligatory constraints — whether by coercion, badgering, convincing, or browbeating guilt. No matter whether you agree with my assessment or not, ideals in each of these persuasions are exercises in imposition, that is, forcing oneself to comply. Each person must choose to exercise their wills to comply with what they are taught to be existentially transcendent morality — even if that morality is based only upon what they believe is simply best for themselves in their immediate situations.
Biblical Christianity is the polar opposite — even though we see little of that today in religious Christianity, that is, all the fractioned denominations of modern Christianity.
Regardless, that is why I choose the better way. I choose to let God change me from my innermost being by choosing to go to Jesus, admitting the hurtfulness and harmfulness of my own fallen nature — all those characteristics mentioned in the Bible verses above.
You see, in true Biblical Christianity, God does the changing. By yielding to God’s authority, he has chosen first to impart a new godly nature to those who ask for it… “Lord, Jesus, please forgive me for making such a mess out of life and hurting and harming others. Please forgive my sins and come into my life…” and so, He does.
True Biblical Christianity is a relationship with God. Have you ever read that in the Garden Paradise of Eden, God walked “in the cool of the day” and actually talked with them?
In the Gospel’s new covenant with Humans, God offers that same interpersonal relationship to be restored.. through Jesus:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him…” — John 14:6–7, BSB.
This statement by Jesus is profound and multifaceted, but it is the pure essence of what I am trying to get across:
“No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven — the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” — John 3:13–18, BSB.
In conclusion, I have tried to present the difference between religious persuasion as a discipline including Islam and denominational Christianity (which many have found to be a burdensome imposition) and the personal relationship that individuals can choose by turning to God, Jesus, and the Biblical personal pathway (which many have found to be truly liberating).
Many have tried different methods to attain “enlightenment.” If you are one of those like myself, you may want to keep this in mind:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” — Proverbs 16:25, BSB.
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, but only if you so choose.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:29, BSB.
