I am now officially "Satan"

[Fez]

I wonder what a Muslim would think of this thread, concerning the doctrine, of shall we say, Grace?

Let he is without sin type the first word........ (which counts me out)

[Axxman]

You know what...I'm done. I really don't want to fight about Muslims...with Christians. I endure this battle in my spirit all the time. My mind tells me you guys are right...muslims are evil and we should be hitting them with "both barrels" all the time. But, for reasons that my mind cannot comprehend God gives me a strong desire for these people.

I feel like Jonah sometimes. I don't want to care about Muslims...I really don't. It actually sometimes annoys me that I feel compelled to get drawn into these silly little debates. What they heck do I care if Bold Believer wants to poke fun at Mohammed and his clearly deceived followers. At the end of the day...I'm afraid of the "fish" that God could use to swallow me up if I'm not obedient.

All I know is this... If you guys are right and someday I find myself with a knife to my throat...it won't be because I insulted them, or their beliefs. It will be because I tried to show the love of Christ, because I preached the Word of God.

Sorry I fought with you guys...sorry! (I'm working on it, I promise)

[lekh l'kha]

It was not a childish nor a nonsensical statement.

I'm sorry but, yeah it is. It is no more effective than any of the cheap insults hurled at us by atheists.

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free".

What truth will set men free? How will the truth that Mohammed married a child set Muslims free? You think they don't know who Mohammed's most precious wife was? Knowing that truth hasn't set them free yet. What makes anyone think that using that "truth" as a cheap insult will set them free? Maybe we should focus more on the actual "truth" that Jesus was referring to rather than school-yard cheap-shots.

Muslims do not respect Christians who treat their religion with respect even while they consistently attack the Bible, telling YOU what the Bible says and doesn't say.

Of course, there are muslims who don't respect christians and attack the bible. But its not fair to make that a global assumption. I am generally not disrespected by muslims...but then again, I don't come across as the kind of Christian thats gonna call Mohammed a pedophile either.

I guess it's all about context. You have the right to your approach, and it might be (and is) the appropriate approach most of the time. But not all the time - it depends on the context of the interaction.

[nebula]

Sure...as soon as you tell me your testimony of how you led a muslim to the Lord by calling Mohammed a pedophile.

Axx, you are the one claiming to know how to and how not to win Muslims to Christ.

I was being serious in my question. How have you won a Muslim to Jesus?

If you know BB's response would not lead them to Jesus, it ought to be because you know how to lead them to Jesus, right? Which means you know what actually works, right?

[oldzimm]

We are taught to be bold.

Acts 4:29- Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Some examples of the boldness of Jesus can be found in the following two verses.

John 8:44

You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out your fathers desires. He was a murder from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:55 (Jesus speaking of God)

Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.

Jesus was speaking to Jews/Pharisees and to make accusations like this is very bold. If a Christian tells it like it is to a muslim or any other follower of a false god, so be it, the truth shell set you free.

[fromIslam2Christ]

I hope, if I am ever to be a martyr...it is for preaching God's word to the lost.

Not for making childish and nonsensical insults to unbelievers just for the purpose of angering them. Those muslims are no closer to God, or the truth of salvation, after having dealt with you...good job.

Ditto to that!

[fromIslam2Christ]

Yes, let me clarify.

Bold Believer, I think you are very brave to even post in a Muslim forum and to have hurled the truth about their prophet at them. I am not surprised they labeled you Satan,At first when I became saved I thought that being blunt with them the same way Muslims are would work. Matter of fact, my own mother has labeled me Satan since I accepted Christ and actually you would not believe the behaviours of Muslim relatives around me: they either change sidewalks, or are scared of me cause they think I am demon-possessed.

That said, in our network for evangelizing Muslims here, we have learnt that hurling these truths at them makes them more aggressive and less likeley to hear the gospel message that we intend to preach. On top of that, from my own experience of first mistakes with Muslims, what attracts Muslims to the Christian faith worldwide is the love and the lack of aggressivity that Christians have demonstrated when faced with Muslim insults and attacks.

Surveys conducted by Christian missionaries in the Muslim world asked what made Muslims want to investigate the Christian faith. Most of them asnwered that it was the Christians love, patience, and peaceful behaviour that touched them.

That is why I agree with Axxman's comment that angering them by attacking their faith (especially Muhammad) bluntly is not the best way to touch their heart.

Now Charitow, when I mentioned that a good way to start with a Muslim is to discuss Muhammad's character, it is within the context of a casual dialogue/conversation between us and a Muslim, where we can bring up those facts gradually, usually by presenting them as questions. The questions prompt the Muslims to go and research for themselves in the Islamic sources themselves. And WHAMMMM.... the myth of the holy wonderful Muhammad is thrown off balance. The soul searching begins.... In the meantime, the Muslim person reflects on you, the Christian's loving and peaceful and polite approach.... They will want to find out what can make someone behave with so much love....

You have just gotten them one step closer to want to know who this Jesus is...

That said, I believe our God is Mighty to save and that Bold Believer's comments will prompt some to find counter-arguments... which may lead them to find out facts for themselves. However, the Christian love v. Islamic hate/anger leverage won't be there.

Much love to all and God bless.

[Bold Believer]

I was being sarcastic regarding the leather collar. I seriously doubt I am in any honest danger. I am certainly not afraid. I was shocked to find out the things I found about Mohammed. I know he was illiterate and didn't write much of the Qu'ran if any. But good grief...a six year old? And even more scary, Muslims writings speak of him looking at a baby and speaking of marrying her when she got older. These aren't writings from other non-Islamic sources, but Islamic sources.

If Aisha were 14-15, I wouldn't have such a problem with the situation. After all, chances are that Mary was about that age when she bore Jesus. But six? Intercourse at nine? That is pedophilia. The child isn't even developed at that time. And the problem appears to be prevalent in Islamic societies even to this day because Islamic men (or at least SOME of them) want to be like Mohammed. They excuse such disgusting behavior.

I actually thought it was hilarious that I'm a satan. It's laughable.

I took their words and arranged them differently:

YHWH-u-akbar! Isa-u-akbar! YHWH is Allah and Isa is THE prophet. YHWH is Allah and Isa is his High Priest. YHWH is Allah and Isa is Caliph (king). That didn't endear me to them either.

[fromIslam2Christ]

thank you, 2Christ! i believe what you say, but i still cannot say that what bb did was wrong. if the Holy Spirit was leading him at the time, that's what he needed to say.

but what you have said about love rings true in so many testimonies and so many verses in the Bible! showing people love is what being like Christ is all about. but Christ also brought truth. truth about the falsehoods people believe. where is the balance?

I agree that finding the balance is tricky!!! The Holy Spirit should guide us in that matter, because on our own we can't.

YHWH-u-akbar! Isa-u-akbar! YHWH is Allah and Isa is THE prophet. YHWH is Allah and Isa is his High Priest. YHWH is Allah and Isa is Caliph (king). That didn't endear me to them either.

I just wanted to point out something peculiar i Noticed.

Arab Christians use the name Yesu'a instead of 'Isa. But I was shocked to find out that 'Isa is the reverse of Yesu'a in Arabic spelling. What i mean is the letters are backwards... Isnt that odd? I need to dig up on that.

I don't want to hijack the thread... so God bless you all.

[nebula]

Thank-you, I2C! That's what I was looking for.

I just wanted to point out something peculiar i Noticed.

Arab Christians use the name Yesu'a instead of 'Isa. But I was shocked to find out that 'Isa is the reverse of Yesu'a in Arabic spelling. What i mean is the letters are backwards... Isnt that odd? I need to dig up on that.

I don't want to hijack the thread... so God bless you all.

Not really - it's an interesting accent to the discussion.

I have a question with regards to that. Which direction do Arabs read and write? In English we read and write left to right. In Hebrew it's right to left.