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Islam in General
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Friday, 28 January 2011 07:09 |
Sharia in North America Thank you to Fouad Masri of the Crescent Project for these insights from his most recent 'Call to Prayer' newsletter: So by their fruit you will know them. - Matthew 7:20 ISV Today in the media there is a lot of talk about Sharia Islam and its potential role in America. Most Muslims today define Sharia Islam as God's law. It is found in the Qur'an and the Hadith (the traditions of Muhammad and Islam), and it is the way they should live because it is God's way. They maintain that they as Muslims should be given the right and the opportunity to practice Sharia here in the US. That's when this becomes a complicated issue. The word Sharia is simply the Arabic word for law. But there is no simple, single form of Sharia. Muslims are divided into Shi'ite and Sunni, plus many other cults and sects, and each of them adds or removes portions, forming their own Sharia law. So, when someone is talking about Sharia, it is seldom easy to understand exactly what he means. It is important to understand that Sharia law is based on the life of Muhammad in 7th century Arabia, on the traditions of Muslim leadership, and on modern Qur'anic teaching. A primary Sharia teaching is that Islam is a superior religion in every way because it is the only true religion. Islam is based on its law and therefore Sharia (however that is defined) must be upheld and perpetuated. Typically, the first losers in Sharia are Muslim women. Repeatedly, Muslim women are treated as second class in Sharia. It binds them into marriages, into relationships, or activities that primarily pertain to 7th century Arabia's definition of the role of women. Next, the Muslim minorities under Sharia often have problems. Under Sunni laws, Shi'ites often suffer, and vice versa. Sharia also segregates people according to religion, usually defining Jews and Christians as second-class citizens. They often must pay special taxes and report to Muslims. This is a kind of religious apartheid. Remember, Sharia is law -- a legal system in its own right. Therefore, it often runs into problems with democratic law because it does not give equal rights to everyone. It is not a coincidence that Islamic countries tend to be the most closed countries in the world. Christians may be allowed to have a worship service and a building, but that is it. They cannot multiply their buildings, distribute Bibles or propagate the faith. Muslims can be punished by death if they choose to leave Islam and join another religion. So, what are we to do with all this talk of Sharia in the news? Pray. Pray that imams and Muslim leaders will come to faith in Christ, finding real freedom rather than the bondage of Sharia. Pray that God will raise leaders, particularly in the 10/40 window, who will be supporters of a democratic system, where people are allowed freedom to choose their religion. This is something that we appreciate as believers in Christ, because Christ invited people to "Come, follow me." He did not compel or force anyone to follow Him. Pray that Christians rise up and share the Gospel with many Muslims. They don't know the words of Jesus. They don't know that Christ has come to give peace of heart, peace of mind and peace of society. As believers in Christ, we need to rise up and take the message of Christ to others. May the Lord bless you as you strive for His kingdom's sake." Reaching Muslims for Christ, Fouad Masri Crescent Project |
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Islam in General
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Tuesday, 25 January 2011 18:25 |
Islamic Dark Ages Some Arab friends of ours made the comment to us recently that Islam is strangling their society, people and culture... and is THE reason for most of the issues in the Middle East. They cited corrupt governments, now two nullified (Tunisia and Lebanon) in the same month... (and Egypt and Yemen now in turmoil) lack of employment (especially women), slowly developing economies, and lack of personal freedoms as evidences. Those of you who read my blog or have heard me speak, know that I'm not normally critical of Islam, but I need to tell you, I agree with our friends' assessment. I am having trouble thinking of one model society (Afghanistan anyone?) that points to the success of Sharia' law or Islam. In fact, what we see is the opposite... nearly every Islamic society is in complete chaos. Can you think of one Islamic nation that you'd want to live in? I live in one, and can't say I don't fantasize about moving back 'home' most days. The truth is, we are living in the Islamic Dark Ages.  It wasn't always this way, in the 7th an 13th centuries, when Islam was young, Islamic societies were at their pinnacle and contributed greatly to scholarly learning. During this period, called the Islamic Golden Age, artists, engineers, scholars, poets, philosophers, geographers and traders in the Islamic world contributed to agriculture, the arts, economics, industry, law, literature, navigation, philosophy, sciences, sociology, and technology, both by preserving earlier traditions and by adding inventions and innovations of their own. Not that all was perfect, however of the societies on the earth at the time, one would not necessarily have pointed to the barbaric plague ridden Christian Europe as their first choice of model nation at the time. Many Arabs frankly feel a sense of longing to return to the Islamic Golden Age, because there has been little to celebrate in the 1000 years since. I don't pretend to know the reasons, though I have theories, however it is important to understand this collective embarrassment is found commonly among Muslims. Muslims are a proud religious group and they take particular offense to the current state of affairs. Many react in anger and violence at anyone who points out anything bad about Islam (i.e. Danish cartoons), while Islamists seek to overthrow any government and do away with any influence that doesn't include complete adherence to Sharia Law. They think that the world needs a return to the Golden Age of Islam to bring about peace. Conversely, whenever something remotely positive occurs, Muslims go ballistic with joy... the Asian cup soccer games recently gave me insight into this here in our country. You would have thought they won a million dollars, the joy and celebration was just over the top, way beyond normal sports fever. Because there is little to rejoice about in the Muslim world, when even the smallest thing happens, it's a big deal. Christianity had its Dark Ages too, following the decline of the Roman Empire. The European Dark Ages line up pretty well with the Islamic Golden Age... an interesting coincidence? Probably not. True peace can only be found in Christ. Europe during the Reformation woke back up to the message of the Gospel. They Dark Ages were snapped by hope and the Scripture made accessible to common men. The current Islamic Dark Age can only be broken by the hope and peace of the Messiah who was sent to reconcile all men (read: even Muslim fundamentalists) to himself. We are praying for a Reformation in the Muslim world. May God bless and bring revival, and prosperity, and hope to the 1.2 billion sons of Ishmael. |
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Islam in General
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Saturday, 21 November 2009 12:39 |
Eid Al-Adha The feast of Sacrifice occurs yearly 40 days after the end of Ramadan, and commemorates the near sacrifice of Abraham’s son, whom Muslims think was Ishmael. This Eid (holiday) demonstrates one of the amazing similarities between Islam and Christianity: that sacrifice is important for forgiveness. Often in these weeks I have quoted to Muslim friends Hebrews 9:22 ‘the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.’ Muslims don’t believe necessarily in a sacrificial system, the sheep is slaughtered as a commemoration of Abraham’s act of faith, and the meat bounty shared with neighbors and families in need. It is an act of remembrance and generosity. The significance of the animals’ spilled blood often gets overlooked. 
(Photo Seth Robson) When we observe the slaughter of sheep with our Muslim friends the blood flows in the streets, its pungent smell filling the city as a thousand other families do the same. Many times, when a family purchases a new house, they bring a sheep to slaughter and wipe the blood on the doorposts and walls of the home in hope of God’s protection, blessing and cleansing for the home before moving in. There is an inherent understanding that blood is important, that sacrifice is necessary, that blood offers cleansing and protection. However the Eid of sacrifice presents an incomplete picture, there is no resolution. Hidden in Muslim tradition is a critical component of the gospel message. But the sign begs fulfillment and leaves one wanting. The unsure pang of hope in an eternal heaven remains un-resolved. This uncertainty needs conclusion in the death and blood of a final sacrifice guaranteeing forgiveness. Communicating the sure hope of heaven through the message of the gospel is our task this Eid. This Eid, would you make an effort, as we have here in the Middle East, to explain the significance of Jesus’ blood with a Muslim family or friend and what made his sacrifice unique and final? May God bring new understanding of the meaning of sacrifice in the Muslim world this holiday season.  |
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Islam in General
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Thursday, 17 September 2009 11:50 |
The Night of Power  Tonight may celebrate the 'Night of Power' (Laylat al-Qadr) for many Muslims when Mohammad was thought to have received the first revelation of the Qur'an from the angel Jibril (Gabriel). It is unsure which is actually the night, because it could have occurred on any one of the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan.
From the Qur’an (97, 1-5): In the name of God, the Benevolent, the Merciful. Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Predestination.
Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!
The Night of Power has more blessings than a thousand months.
The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.
(The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.
“The verses above regard the Night of power as better than one thousand months. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual training wherein believers devote much of their time to fasting, praying, reciting the Qur'an, remembering God, and giving charity. However because of the revealed importance of this night, Muslims strive harder in the last ten days ...” (Source) Muslims believe special blessings come to the faithful on this particular night. They take the verses literally to mean that their prayers are 1000x more effective! Many spend the whole night in the mosque, reading and praying. Let's join our Muslim brothers and sisters in prayer. Would you spend some time praying today that God will answer their prayers, and visit them in special ways this day? Research tells us that over 25% of Muslims who make decisions to follow Jesus do so because of supernatural dreams and visions. I just met another Muslim yesterday who is now following Jesus because he was visited in a dream. Who knows what will happen tonight? |
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Islam in General
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Friday, 31 July 2009 08:24 |
Sheba Come and See - 1Kings (3)
 Israel as God's chosen nation, was suppossed to be a 'come and see' people. Few times in their history did they actually function according to this purpose. One of these seasons is captured in 1Kings 10. The reader notices a mysterious visitor from Sheba, which is the area of modern day Yemen. The queen 'heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord' and she came and saw all that God had done with Solomon, the riches, the temple worship, and his great wisdom. She likely traveled for weeks along the trade route that Mohammad later used from Yemen through Mecca, Medina, Ezion Geber (Aqaba or Eilat), and into Jerusalem. So impressed was she that the Bible says 'there was no more breath in her.'
Sheba worshiped the God of Abraham, Issac and Ishmael with Solomon. There was peace between the descendants of Issac and Ishmael and they worshiped the God of their fathers together. Fulfilling his duty to show the nations, Solomon brought Sheba to the temple (likely the Outer Court), and invited her to observe his daily offerings. Sheba exclaimed "Blessed be the Lord you God who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel. Because the Lord loved Israel forever he has made you king that you make execute justice and righteousness.' In awe and wonder she gave Solomon a great quantity of gold (9000lbs, or 4.5 tons!), spices and precious stones, so much so that the Bible remarks 'never again came such an abundance... as these that the queen of Sheba gave.' At the rare times when Israel walked in step with God, the Middle East was at peace. God promised peace and the riches, and the honor and allegiance of nations when Israel fulfilled it's part of the covenant. He promised unrest, plague, famine and the sword when they strayed and disobeyed. The point is this: When God's people are walking rightly, the nations will notice, and come and see. They'll even join us in worship, if we invite them to the Outer Court. The state of Israel today is not walking rightly with God. I can say this with Biblical confidence, because of the evidence. Israel has enemies on every side, the nations are against her, no one is coming to see, there is a water famine, there is no peace. The church today is likewise missing the mark. The majority of evangelicals have put their allegiance behind a political state disobedient to God, and have neglected their duty to draw the nations of Ishmael into worship. The church is more of a 'go and tell' organization... but we have to keep the Outer Court open for those that want to come and see. Jon Piper in his great book 'Let the Nations be Glad!' points out that our role in the world as Christians (and in missions) is to invite others into worship. Missions exists because (and where) worship doesn't. Our goal is to demonstrate to the nations what relationship with God looks like, with such accuracy and the sweet aroma of grace that they want to worship too. Somehow the tune 'Muslims go home' ringing from Christian literature and pulpits recently smells more like the rotting sewage of fear and exclusion. The call to action from 1Kings 9 and 10 rings down through the ages to us today... Solomon gives us an example to live in such a way as to call the nations to worship by: - Demonstration - Be the hands and feet of Jesus, live out grace filled authentic faith.
- Invitation - open the doors of our hearts and homes and places of worship, invite the nations into our 'Outer Courts'
- Dedication - Allegiance and loyalty to the God of Abraham. Doing away with all that hinders this goal
May God use us both to 'go and tell' and be a people that invite the nations to 'come and see.' |
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