Posted on 09/26/2004 2:18:01 AM PDT by newberger
For the past several months I have been in correspondence by email with an teenager who became a Christian two years ago but who is considering giving up the faith to become a Muslim.
Since I am well trained in apologetics and theology I've used all my knowledge to try to convince him to keep the faith. He has expressed stong appreciation for my concern a number of times but hasn't replied very often.
This week on the web site where I met him he said that he plans to "take shahada" (publiclly recite the one-line Muslim creed) and become a Muslim this week. I emailed him but he has not responded. As a result, I plan to email him once more, this time not with apologetic arguments but with a from-the-heart set of resaons why I am a Christian and not a Muslim.
PLEASE pray for wisdom and tact for me and for a receptive heart for my young friend. When he posts on the Islamic web site, he glows with his admiration for the faith but I only have clues as to what his reasons are. He seems to have a very (negative) stereotyped understanding of Christianity.
I know that such astep is not final in God's site and I won't cease to pray for him but I'm concerned that *he* will consider it a final step.
Paul (aka Newberger)
Prayer Ping!
It impresses me that one of the best parts of this forum is that when a need arises, we stop "fighting" and come together in support.
I want everyone's backup today, Protestant (Reformed, Wesleyan, and other), Catholic (traditionalist or not), and, of course, Orthodox.
Thank you
Payers sent. Be blessed (empowered to prosper) in your dealings with your young friend. May he see the net that is spread in front of him.
Ask him to judge the two faiths by the net outputs of their respective civilizations. Perhaps he is rejecting the west? One civilization will permit him to change his mind later, leaving free will up to him. The other may issue a fatwa demanding he give up his life on earth before changing his mind.
Heavenly Father, in Jesus' Name we ask You to give Paul wisdom as he reaches out. Please open that young person's eyes, turn him from darkness to light & from the enemy's power to Your power, that he may receive forgiveness of sins and by faith share with those who have a place in Your eternal kingdom. All this we ask in the mighty blessed Name of Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Regardless of the outcome, keep in mind our Savior's parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-4,19).
Probably been a Muslim all along. After all, duplicitous behavior is highly consistent with the Islamic faith.
Are all called? Are all chosen?
I *really* don't think so. He's a confused kid, that's all.
Perhaps not but even from a Reformed viewpoint (which I don't share) *we* do not know who the elect are. I'm burdened for this young man (three of my kids are older than he is).
It seems to me that your friend has not been revolutionized by the Holy Spirit...to use Jesus' own words, Born Again. When a person is born of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit literally indwells the believer and entertaining another "religion" is really not an option. Your friend has to go in through the gate first. John Bunyon in Pilgrim's Progress illustrated this perfectly by having Christian and several companions go to the gate. Others found an easier way to go -- a shorter way -- and though they professed great interest and belief in the King and the Celestial City they chose another route.
Your friend has to go through the gate first, and this problem won't even exist. Christianity, as I know you know, isn't just a tag game...it's a literal turn around by the Spirit in our lives.
What's your point? Newberger asked for PRAYER. You know, the faithful prayers of a righteous man availeth much.
you oughtta try it sometime.
There isn't enough time here, but you could start by asking your friend if he want's to become closer to God or if he would prefer to impress people who may or may not be pretending to represent God. Before he decides, he should do a lot of reading. He needs to understand that God doesn't write books. He (your friend) needs to understand that God may indeed have given identical messages to many different messengers (Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, etc.) and that different parts of the message may have been lost in translation. Good luck and God bless you.
Prayers said for Paul and the confused teenager.
prayer bump
Of course I'll pray...but perhaps it might be a good idea to ask the person in question if they've been Born again...that is the key to a changed heart. I have friends and family members in the same position. As for my point, I think it's obvious.
Praying.
agreeing in prayer with you.
Thanks, Jocko!
Prayers for you from Australia !
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