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)
de nada.
If he is "abandoning" the faith to become a Muslim, he was NEVER a Christian.
When you speak to him, start right from scratch. He never understood the Gospel if he is going to become a Muslim.
Here's an interesting article you may want to read newberger.
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38997
"'Martyrdom' graduation sashes incite violence?
California Muslim students' item emblazoned with 'shahada' in Arabic"
Posted: June 17, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Ron Strom
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Muslim members of the University of California, Irvine's graduating class will wear green sashes emblazoned with the word "shahada" in Arabic along with their commencement robes in Saturday's ceremony – a reference some say is an incitement to violence that should not be allowed.
"Shahada" can be translated several ways, including as a declaration of faith in Islam, but it often is used in reference to "martyrdom" – especially martyrdom attained by suicide bombers."
I will pray for your e-mail friend newberger.
Since he is a teenager encourage him to talk to his parents and his pastor.
If he is considering becoming a muslim, he obviously never grasped the concept of being a CHRISTian which is a follower of Christ.
Prayers will be ongoing.
Please keep us updated.
Thank you.
"If he is "abandoning" the faith to become a Muslim, he was NEVER a Christian. "
This is my sense too.
The most important thing to realize is that if this person is actually seeking 'witness', that's a good sign. But if this person engages ONLY in apolgetic type debates, then chances are he's merely trolling data for future arguments with the lost. If only emails are used as the communication method, then that is a red flag I think.
Remember, if Satan can't claim you, that doesn't mean he doesn't see you as a threat to those already waiting at his gate. Thus, given you have finite resources, like time, it is in his interest to place obstacles in your path to prevent you from witnessing to others - others who are more honestly seeking perhaps.
The fact that he's considering to convert to Islam, out of ALL the other options, is a very, very bad sign about his motives. At the least, it suggests that discerning the truth is not a priority. In all my encounters with the lost, the idea that truth is available to be acquired is the starting point.
Islam, once you review the central passages of the Koran the underlie it, is hopeless, and advocates murder in its name. That is a fact, written in black and white in the Koran. That can't be said for the Bible.
So, my prayer is for you ... to seek wisdom as you advocate for Christ.
Yep. My point, too. Since Christianity is not a religion, but something that happens when the Spirit changes the heart, that's the first issue to mention to your friend. Saying, "I'm a Christian" is about a significant as saying, "I'm a grapefruit." You can say it, but that doesn't make it so.
Oh,and er...praying! :-D
Paul-
I pray that this young man will choose to walk in The Light rather than stumble down the path of darkness!
Ask him which verse he will use to kill you once he converts:
2:190-193 "Fight in the cause of God those who fight you ... And slay them wherever ye catch them ... And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in God ..."
2:216 "Fighting is prescribed for you and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth and ye know not."
2:224 "Then fight in the cause of God and know that God heareth and knoweth all things."
3:157-158 "And if ye are slain or die in the way of God, forgiveness and mercy from God are far better than all they could amass. And if ye die, or are slain, Lo! It is unto God that ye are brought together."
3:169 "Think not of those who are slain in God's way as dead. Nay, they live finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord."
3:195 "... Those who have ... fought or been slain, verily I will blot out from them their iniquities and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath; a reward from the presence of God ..."
4:101 "... For the Unbelievers are unto you open enemies."
4:74, 75 "Let those fight in the cause of God who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of God whether he is slain or gets victory, soon shall we give him a reward of great (value). Those who believe fight in the cause of God and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil, so fight ye against the friends of Satan, feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan."
4:89 "They but wish that ye should reject faith as they do, and thus be on the same footing as they. But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of God. But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them…"
4:95 "Not equal are those believers who sit at (at home) and receive no hurt and those who strive and fight in the cause of God with their goods and their persons. God hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than those who sit (at home).
5:36 "The punishment of those who wage war against God and His apostle 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."
5:54 "O ye who believe. Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust."
8:12-17 "Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you. Give firmness to the believers. I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips off them. This because they contend against God and his apostle. If any contend against God and his apostle, God is strict in punishment ... O ye who believe. When ye meet the unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them. If any do turn his back to them on such a day, unless it be a stratagem of war ... he draws on himself the wrath of God and his abode is Hell, an evil refuge (indeed)."
8:39 “Fight them until all opposition ends and all submit to Allah.”
8:59-60 "Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly). They will never frustrate (them). Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of God and your enemies and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom God doth know ..."
8:65 "O apostle! Rouse the believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred. If a hundred they will vanquish a thousand of the unbelievers, for these are a people without understanding."
9:5 "... fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war) ..."
9:14 "Fight them, and God will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame ..."
9:29 "Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and his apostle nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth (even if they are) of the people of the Book, until they pay the Jizya [religious tax] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
9:112 “The Believers fight in Allah’s Cause, they slay and are slain, kill and are killed.”
47:4 "Therefore, when ye meet the unbelievers, smite at their necks, at length when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them) ... but if it had been God's will, he could certainly have exacted retribution from them (himself), but (he lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the way of God, he will never let their deeds be lost."
61:4 "Truly God loves those who fight in His cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure."
The Hadith Volume 4, Book 52, Number 176:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight with the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.' "
The Hadith Volume 4, Book 52, Number 177:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "The (Final) Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."
The Hadith Volume 2, Book 26, Number 595:
Narrated 'Aisha:
(the mother of the faithful believers) I said, "O Allah's Apostle! We consider Jihad as the best deed." The Prophet said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj Mabrur. "
The Hadith Volume 2, Book 26, Number 594:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet was asked, "Which is the best deed?" He said, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle." He was then asked, "Which is the next (in goodness)?" He said, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." He was then asked, "Which is the next?" He said, "To perform Hajj-Mabrur. "
I will pray for this young man.
What a blessing you have been to him. You have done what God wanted you to do.
And He knows those who are His and will draw them, by the Holy Spirit into the fold.
He, and He alone can open this boys heart to the truth of the gospel of Christ!
We are only responsibile to give the truth. It is their responsibility to receive it.
I will pray for you too!
God bless you!
God bless you and this young seeker.
Anglican branch of the faith family will be praying.
Peace of the Lord.
Love and prayers.
Incoming.
He can choose, being a voice of love, or a voice "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks that You have placed Paul before this young man to speak of his faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. May he boldly speak, O God, in the Power of the Holy Spirit, for You have promised that Your Word will not return void. May Your words find fertile soil, for You are not willing that any should perish. May his friend become utterly deaf to the beguiling words of the enemy ... put stumbling blocks before him that prevents him from plunging headlong into darkness ... cast aside all intellectual reasoning within this young man, that He would receive the Word with simple, childlike faith. If he, indeed, is Your child, call him back into the fold. If he is not, O God, we thank You that uttered prayer remains throughout eternity ... we pray for the salvation of this young man. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, may it be thus, Amen ...
Prayers for you and for this young man. May God enlighten him.
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Prayer Ping List.
Please post your prayers to newberger;
There you have it. When his head stops spinning around, we should pray that it is to the front again.
St. Augustine bounced around between various extremities of belief before he found Christianity.
By accepting what Christ did for him on the cross as the final sacrifice for his sins, this young man can have the Father look down from heaven and declare, "this is my son in whom I am well pleased", for the righteousness of Jesus Christ is placed to the young mans account.
Any other religion does not make a person right with God, and His justice can only send that person to eternal damnation. Allah is capricious with his wink and nod. The Judeo-Christian God is unchanging.
Prayers Up!
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