Want to explore more on this issue? We recommend:
“Muslims, Christians and Jesus” a book by Carl Medearis – an excellent introduction to loving Muslims
www.morethandreams.tv – testimonies of Muslims who have had dreams and come to Christ.
www.peace-catalyst.net – resources, blogs and programs related to reconciliation between Christians and Muslims
All the talk about tolerance is not biblical. Was jesus tolerant when He turned tables over and kicked the merchants out of the temple. No, but He loved them. As missionaries, we need to be careful not to water down the gospel to make those of other religions feel accepted. the bottom line is, Jesus said, “Wide is the road to destruction, and Narrow is the road to eternal life, and few find it.” This says to me, if people don’t like us, and sharing the Good News brings strife, than we are doing the right thing. The Lord did not come to bring peace, but a sword, He will seperate brother from brother, Friend from friend (paraphrased). The truth is simple, Jesus came to Earth to save the lost and it is ONLY by being born again, accepting Jesus for who He says He is, and not the Jesus of the Koran, or any other “nice and loving” religion that we can go to Heaven. Muslims, Hindu, Buddhists, athiests, and church goers who have not accepted Christ are going to Hell. We need to love the people, but HATE their sin and unbelief. As a “lifer” I am concerned that we are seeing the foundations of who we were meant to be, become one of the “many ways to Eternal Life.” Wake up! there is one way, God is so wanting to you to not compromise what He said and what He told us to do. Light and Darkness cannot live together!
Jesus saved his strongest words and anger for the pharisees and religious leaders of the day – the “lifers” of His time. This includes the example of Jesus in the Temple. As another “lifer”, this is what keeps me awake at night.
I don’t believe that we are authorised to judge who is and isn’t “accepted” into the Kingdom – there are so many scriptures that make this clear (Matt 7 v21, Matt 25 32-45 . . . .)
However, I completely agree that we are to speak the truth in love. It’s just that I’m struggling to find the love in the statement “you are going to Hell.” That, as a conversation opener, might get the relationship off on the wrong footing. Finding areas of commonality and agreement, and through that to build relationship, then gives the opportunity to speak “the truth in love”. Love is not primarily about words, but rather actions. How can we demonstrate love unless we are in relationship with the person that we are “loving”.
Finally, when quoting don’t forget that Jesus is also “The Prince of Peace” and that Matt 10, doesn’t imply that we are to actively seek to cause division. As Rom 12v18 points out, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” That includes Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists etc.
Many good points, my friend. My concern is that peace and love, all great things, and essential, will not get them into heaven. We are not the judge, but with the knowledge given us by God to know them by their fruits, allows us to see whether or not their lives resemble Christ. Love is a great starter, it comes in many forms: feeding them, clothing them, playing football with them. However, without telling those living an unholy life, that accepting Jesus and only Him will save them, then we are still seeing them going to hell, just with a lot more love.
Ask yourself this : Would you rather have a great relationship with your Muslim/Hindu friends, or speak it like it is (in love) and tell them that their actions are against Gods will and will ultimately lead to eternity without God (or Hell).
I understand, that “you are going to hell” is not a good opener, but lets start loving them into the Kingdom, not just loving them.
I am not old enough to remember the Hell, Fire and Brimstone type of preaching. If you ask me, we need it back! Scripture talks about being beaten, torchured and killed for the gospel. Nowhere does it say that you will develop good relationships with non believers if you are a good christian. Again, not that that can’t happen, but our priority should be showing others (non believers) the error of their ways. If anyone says that being a Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist is not an error, than maybe our focus should be on making sure that those people see the error of their ways before reaching out to the world.
Lets not become so washed out that our main goal is lost. “To know God and Make Him Known” For those who forgot, God refers to the God of the bible, not the Koran, or any other god. Know Him for who He says He is, and He is a jeolous God, there is no room for any other. True Love is this God, so lets show True Love, not just love.
This might say it better than I can.
http://www.letusreason.org/Current57.htm
Thanks
A websearch of the site in the link above letusreason.org brings up ten anti-ywam articles. This group considers us a dangerous and heretical group so I don’t think they are the source we need to be checking.
I have yet to read it, but if we are considered heretical, either we retaliate and correct their mistakes, or maybe there is something to their claim?
Lets be careful. and avoid the cutting edge stuff if it brings division, and it is. Jesus came here for 1 reason = To save the lost through repentance of sins (including the worship of false gods, and the endoctination through false religions (like Islam, and Hinduism), it is through His grace and His Mercy, but also we need to actively turn from the enemy and be completely and solely dedicated to God. I don’t remember who said it, but the God of the Q’aran is not the god we want to worship, as He is too true and Holy to be even slightly attached to anything that has brought millions astray. God (the true God) is jealous, and regardless how close ones attributes come to apeing God’ s attributes, that god is a counterfit. Be Careful.
“Hell fire and brimstone”? That sounds like using fear to convert people. I suppose we could go all the way and bring back the Inquisition. I’m not old enough to remember that, but I don’t think that the results were all that positive.
“To know God and to make Him known.” Absolutely! To make God known, we have to know who God is so that we might represent Him accurately. Fortunately the Bible is pretty clear on this. “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16b–18)
I think that our priority is to love non-believers, not show them the error of their ways.
For the record, my name is Stefen. God is definitely love, if one lives in love, you live in God? What ever happened to “You must be born again?” Love is great, but nowhere in God’s word does it say love or be loved and you will enter the Kingdom of heaven, or “whoever lives in love, lives in God.”
Love is a byproduct of Christ living in you, and a tool to help reach others with the bold reality that you must leave your sinful past completely behind in order to be saved.
I’m sorry, but it seems we are trying to love people into the Kingdom. This is not wrong, but it will not get them past thoses Pearly gates. There is more to knowing God, than just Love.
Stefan,
[Warning: proof texting to follow]
“God is definitely love, if one lives in love, you live in God?
[1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ---seems pretty clear]
What ever happened to “You must be born again?” Love is great, but nowhere in God’s word does it say love or be loved and you will enter the Kingdom of heaven, or “whoever lives in love, lives in God.”
Really? No where in scripture? [1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.]
Love is a byproduct of Christ living in you, and a tool to help reach others with the bold reality that you must leave your sinful past completely behind in order to be saved.
“Love is a byproduct . . . and a tool”? WHAT? God is love. According to 1 Cor. 13 Everything ends and passes away except LOVE. Also: 1Co 13:13 For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.
This definitely sounds a bit more key and central than you describe. Also, does God use love as a “tool” on us? Do you enjoying knowing that someone who loves you only is doing so as a tool to manipulate you into a desired course of action. I think not, the very notion is repugnant and disgusting when apply personally.
I think part of the problem is that you are putting human salvation at the very center of God’s purposes as if that is all He is accomplishing – it is SO MUCH BIGGER than fire insurance for us.
“I’m sorry, but it seems we are trying to love people into the Kingdom. This is not wrong, but it will not get them past those Pearly gates. There is more to knowing God, than just Love.”
So close here, yet so far. What you say above is true in a sense but only if you separate Christ from love. Jesus was the perfect bodily expression of God’s love so how can you separate that off. Muslims need to enter the Kingdom through Jesus – the door and the way — which is the same requirement laid down to Jews, Germans, Italians, Ethiopians, Greeks, Americans, EVERYBODY. No one is suggesting anything less. However, our choice is to continue the way we have been evangelizing Muslims for 1400 years (with debate and antagonism which a desire to covert their religion to Christianity – even though it is clear that the Christian religion does not save – our churches are full of baptized members who don’t know God at all) OR switch to a new approach of finding common ground – that God has provided – and proceeding in friendship to seek Him together. He will reward those who diligently seek his Kingdom.
I would recommend that you attend a training about approaching Islam that is offered all over the world. I can’t mention it in public forum but if you are interested in being invited I can put you on the list. Just let me know.
God be with you, my friend.