Hybels missed a very important opportunity to be genuinely useful for the work of Christ's Church. While Christians are supposed to love our neighbors, we have a special and higher obligation to first love our brothers and sisters in Christ. He just plain got his priorities wrong, and as a minister of the gospel, he of all people should have known better.
Oh yes, Pastor Hybel, who gave Bill Clinton a forum before the DNC's national convention! I have no respect for Pastor Hybel! He is a very misguided man! Period!
The church boasts a congregation of 4,000 + (based on members) - and weekend services that bring in 12,000 + - but I question if they have ever calculated the turnover rate of those who walk in the front door and exit out the back without ever a comment to the "people up stairs."
Unfortunately, as with most things, it is the power that has corrupted Willow. Its aim and goal was innocent, but its success has destroyed it, and unfortunately not enough people notice. Instead, like me and the Rogmonster, we simply walk out one day and don't return. Hybels in his heart thought he was doing the right thing. Unforunately, Hybels has determined that what Hybels decides is the right thing means it is a message from God.
Too many common threads run through the prayers that the terrorists verbalized, such as God open all doors, and the prayers that are often verbalized by Hybels. I hope that someday he will realize that it is absolute power that has corrupted so absolutely the church that he heads.......
It is a sad day when we let them do that, as if we accepted the protection from those murderous mobsters.
After reading many of the posts I have but one thing to say:
Perhaps if you return to this 'church' for another service you might try just standing and turning your back to the speaker when this stuff starts up again.
WATCH, STAND FAST IN THE FAITH, BE BRAVE, BE STRONG. 1Cor 16:13
Some quotes that may inspire you to read the rest of this text, taken from the same place as these translations are found:
" Of all the conspiracies hatched against Islam in modern times, the most dangerous is a false claim to Prophethood made in the beginning of this century. This claim has been the main cause of wide spread mental chaos amongst the Ummah for the last sixty years. Like all other schisms, the root cause of this mischief is that the Muslims are generally ignorant of their religion."
" The Holy Prophet (PBUH) observed: "God has bestowed upon me six favors which the former Prophets did not enjoy:
I have been endowed with the gift of pithy and perfect speech.
I was granted victory owing to my awe.
The spoils of war were made lawful unto me.
The whole earth has been made the place of worship for me and it has become the means of purification for me also. In other words in my religion, offering of prayers is not confined to certain specified places of worship. Prayers can be offered at any place over the earth. And in case water is not available it is lawful for my people to perform ablutions with earth(Tayammum) and to cleanse themselves with the soil if water for bathing is scarce.
I have been sent by Allah to carry His Divine message to the whole world.
And the line of prophets has come to its final end in me."
"Allama Zamakhshri (467 A.H.-538 A.H) writes in his commentary entitled Kashshaaf, "If you ask how Muhammad can be the last of the Prophets when Hadrat `Isa (Jesus Christ) will appear towards the end of the world? I shall reply that the finality of Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) means that no one will be endowed with prophethood after him. Hadrat 'Isa is among those upon whom prophethood was endowed before Muhammad(PBUH). Moreover, Hadrat 'Isa will appear as a follower of Muhammad and he will offer prayers with his face towards the Qiblah of Islam, as a member of the community of the Muslims." (Vol. 2, p. 215)"
Jesus- just a prophet.
Now, onto the teachings that all good muslims should be knowledgeable about (remember the first quote):
Three tranlations. Keep in mind to whom the book is written.
Surah
Chapter 4
4:29
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily Allah hath been to you Most Merciful!
PICKTHAL: O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity, except it be a trade by mutual consent, and kill not one another. Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you.
SHAKIR: O you who believe! do not devour your property among yourselves falsely, except that it be trading by your mutual consent; and do not kill your people; surely Allah is Merciful to you.
Chapter 5
5:33
YUSUFALI: The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;
PICKTHAL: The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;
SHAKIR: The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement,
5:34
YUSUFALI: Except for those who repent before they fall into your power: in that case, know that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: Save those who repent before ye overpower them. For know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: Except those who repent before you have them in your power; so know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Chapter 9
9:5
YUSUFALI: But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
9:73
YUSUFALI: O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed.
PICKTHAL: O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end.
SHAKIR: O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.
That was the very impression I got from OBL's speech yesterday.