Posted on 12/29/2001 5:07:26 PM PST by mfreddy
Today my local newspaper had a nasty response to a LCMS pastor's claim that Christians and Muslims do not believe in the same god. The author goes on to say "This is contrary to all the sources I've seen, which explain that Jews, Christians and Muslims do indeed worship the same god, in what is termed the Abrahamic tradition. Perhaps he is confused my the term "Allah" (Arabic for "the lord"), not understanding that it is a different name for God, not the name of a different god." The letter closes with a personal attack on the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
Can anyone help me understand what the philosophical differences between the three religions and provide me with information to refute the letter if untrue?
Given the nasty nature of the letter and the attack on the Church I feel strongly compelled to at least investigate whether a response is warranted.
We'll have to see if God answering the prayers of Jews is okay with Mr. maranatha, eh?
Jesus came preaching the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God. What was the good news?
It is paid in full and our sin is forgiven and we can be reconciled with God if we, in our whole heart and soul, believe that and ask God's forgiveness for our sins and repent and live our lives following Christ as our Lord. We can do that because at the time we truly repent and ask forgiveness, God does a miracle rebirth and puts His spirit in us and empowers us to know truth and to live for Him. Then, all the promises of God are ours...peace, joy, eternal life with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and all of the rest of promises of His protection, wisdom and so forth. That is GOOD NEWS! By His Spirit through faith in Jesus you can be born again and be His child forever.
I did give you an answer ,you just didn't like it..He does not hear the prayers of the unsaved.Directly NO God doesn not hear the "prayers " of the Muslims. They can bow in adoration to Mecca daily and the one true God covers His ears to their requests.No he does not hear the prayers of Jews or unsaved "Christians".The only prayers of the unsaved He answers are prayers of repentence and salvation, or prayers that are in his will and plan.I know this sounds harsh..but it is what his word says not me! The only prayer God hears from the unsaved is the prayer of repentence and the acceptance of His free gift of salvation through Jesus..
1 Samuel 8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
Isaiah 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
>Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Jeremiah 7:16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee
Jeremiah 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
Lamentations 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
Lamentations 3:44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
By the way that assertion just happens to be true.
God Bless
Mel
It was obvious what you thought of Jews and Muslims, but you still aren't saying whether you believe that
1) Catholics are "saved Christians"
2) Eastern Orthodox are "saved Christians"
3) Episcopalians are "saved Christians"
4) Lutherans are "saved Christians".
You may answer, for some of these 4 groups, that SOME members are saved Christians and some are not, depending on their internal spiritual state, and that's fine. I just want to know where you draw the line between "members of sect X, because X is so non-Christian, are definitely NOT saved Christians and God does not listen to them" (which is what you say about Muslims and Jews) and "members of sect X MIGHT BE saved Christians" (which is presumably what you say about your own Christian denomination whatever it is).
There are many "Social Christians",that have no true relationship with Jesus Christ (yep in my church too)
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