Can a good Muslim be a good American?

A friend who knows | 8/11/2006 | Agent Smith

[Free Baptist]

I must wonder if you, yourself, are a Muslim, afraid of a Christian introducing Christianity to your children.

You said that in another country, you live by their customs. Actually, Christian missionaries go to other countries precisely to give people the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to teach the Word or God, which often broadsides local customs and culture. Very often the mandates of God in His Word require that we teach contrary to some customs and cultures that exist in foreign lands where we serve.

We go into the villages and set up white boards and flannel graph boards, and we teach Bible truth, and introduce the Saviour. Children usually flock around us (we don't go door-to-door to ask whether each child has parental permission to be there: most are Roman Catholic, some are Muslim, some are of other backgrounds). We do this in public places where we are highly visible to residents ans to any authorities. And, by the way, our visas and residence permits clearly state our purposes as foreigners in other nations: "Christian Missionaries." The national authorities know full well what we intend to do when we go there: EVANGELIZE their people.

Most of the time, the children come back again and again, even though it is known that we do not teach Roman Catholicism or other religious traditions, but Biblical Christianity (we never teach unconverted children to be Baptists).

We function the same way in America. We often have public/street ministries where we preach the Gospel (at fairs, exhibitions, public parks, etc.) Children are often in attendance. We do not ask anything about their background, or whether their parents approve of them listening to our message/presentation.

Do you know that in 30 years of ministry I have never received a letter or a phone call from any parent criticizing this kind of ministry or expressing anger. You have criticized the Christian evangelization of children more in two or three posts than I have heard from anyone else in the past 30 years.

What are you? Are you a Muslim?

[highball]

No, I'm not. Not that it matters. This isn't about Christianity or Islam, it's about you inserting yourself into family matters.

The arrogance of thinking you know better than the parents how to raise their children is both astonishing and pathetic.

Anyone who did that to my son would get a piece of my mind, just as if somebody presumed to tell me how to discipline him or lectured me on what he should eat. Keep your nose out of where it doesn't belong.

[Free Baptist]

Preaching the Gospel to EVERY creature is exactly where my nose belongs. It is my business, because it is what God called me to do specifically, and it is what God commanded every Christian to do (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; etc.).

You are one of those creatures yourself, and each one of your children are of those creatures. The issue includes the subject of sin amd man's rebellion against his Creator, the God that you would read about in the Bible (Genesis ch. 3; Romans ch. 5; Isaiah 53:4-6; etc.). The issue includes the truth that God demonstrated His love for you and your children (1 John ch. 4) by providing the pure, sinless and eternally sufficient Sacrifice for your sin nature and sins, and those of your children, those of every Muslim,and those of the whole world in the Person of Jesus Christ, His Son, Who is God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). Christ died for our sins (in our place of judgment for sins) on the Cross (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romand 8:3). Christ was raised from the dead for our justification (Romans 4:25; etc.)God is 100% percent satisfied with Christ's payment for our sins and accepts it for us (Isaiah 53:11; etc.) as the perfect payment because He Himself provided it.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, NO MAN cometh unto the Father but by me (John 14:6). You and your children must accept Christ as your Saviour, believing that He made the perfect payment for your sins and opened the only possible door for you and your children to have eternal life, or...you simply reject that message and run head on into the judgment of God (John 3:36).

That is sufficient light, for any person concerned about their own soul, to decide whether he or she wants more light.

At our county fair just a few weeks ago, one church with which we work erected am exhibit with huge depictions of Bible scenes in a maze through which people could walk. The object was to tell the story of how God has redeemed man by Christ. Every soul who exited was offered a package of literature, and a CD on which is recorded the same story, explaining the depictions they had seen in the exhibit. The church address and phone number, along with the pastor's was clearly on the the literature. Hundreds of children went through the exhibit during the fair week. Hundreds took home the literature and CD. NOT ONE phone call, letter or email message has been receive that we were 'astonishingly or pathetically arrogant for thinking we know better than parents how to raise their children. Instead, the pastor has received many letters of thanks and encouragement.

So, you have already given me a piece of your mind, and your children have never come across my path.

Your children's school teachers believe they know more than you, but you will send them to school. Your neighbors and their kids will believe they know more than you, but you will probably allow your children to play with those children anyway. And when they get to college, you'd better know that college professors believe they know more than you about raising your children.

You actually ought to be grateful that there are Christians willing to evangelize Muslims --- your daughters or granddaughters may be forced to wear burkhas and have certain surgeries IN THIS COUNTRY if the influence of Islam continues to expand in the USA as it is now. And when a piece of your mind goes to a Muslim...be careful...it may be your whole head severed at the neck.

[highball]

Your children's school teachers believe they know more than you, but you will send them to school.

So when I think you know more about God than I do, then I'll send my son to be converted by you.

Until then, keep your nose out of my family.

Your arrogance is sad.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Answer: no. Ethnic profiling must start. Blocking entrance to all from predominantly muslim countries must begin.

[Free Baptist]

I am wondering if there is anything that you, yourself believe to be truth, and worth dying for, that if you were to express with utter confidence (faith), others would level the "arrogance" charge at you. What would really be sad is for a man to not have anything in his life so firmly fixed. I believe you would have called George Washington "arrogant," as did the British when he was baptized by John Gano, and upon this told his troops that (almost a quote) THE WAR IS OUR SEPARATION FROM POLITICAL ENGLAND AND THAT WASHINGTON'S BAPTISM (by immersion in water) IS OUR SEPARATION FROM RELIGIOUS ENGLAND.

All people who have some things fixed, and express it with confidence (faith) hear the charge of "arrogance" at times.

What is it, for the sake of your children, that you have firmly fixed, that you KNOW will be the redemtion of their souls, and the rock upon which they will build their lives?

I know...I know...even to ask the question is "arrogance."

[highball]

Rhetorical nonsense.

A silly attempt to equate your attempts to control other people's children with the most noble cause in history, the American struggle for independence.

The bottom line is that you feel perfectly justified in interfering with a parent's right to raise his children because you think you know better than the parents do.

There's nothing noble, or particularly American, in that.

[Getsmart64]

You go to another country, and you live by their customs.

Wait a minute....are you just playing Devil's Advocate or do you really believe that the Moos pose no threat?

[Getsmart64]

Dude....the individual didn't say anything about kidnapping the kids and tying them to a chair and brainwashing them. That is how your comments read. All the individual is saying is that these kids are curious and coming out to see what's going on. The parents can come and get these kids at anytime. You are WAY overboard in your assessment of a missionary.

[highball]

When he claims that he knows better than I how my kids should be raised, then he's the one who goes "WAY overboard."

I'm not talking about any situations where parents have invited someone to preach to their kids. I'm talking about attempts to convert children away from their family's faith without the knowledge or consent of the parents. That's just wrong.

[Getsmart64]

I'm talking about attempts to convert children away from their family's faith without the knowledge or consent of the parents. That's just wrong.

No...what you are describing is a parent that doesn't know what their kids are doing....why should you care that they are being taught the word of God and not care whether or not they are hanging out with the local neighborhood gang bangers.....you're argument holds no merit...

[highball]

No...what you are describing is a parent that doesn't know what their kids are doing....why should you care that they are being taught the word of God and not care whether or not they are hanging out with the local neighborhood gang bangers.....you're argument holds no merit...

When you have to resort to bizarre hyperbole, it is your argument that "holds no merit."

He and I were discussing the attempts some people make to convert children away from their family's religion without the consent or knowledge of the parents.

That does not necessarily mean that the parents are willfully ignorant of the child's activities. It can come where the parent has approved the child spending time with a person not knowing that the person had a covert agenda. For example, many conservatives object to such indoctrination in the public schools.

If you want to join the discussion, kindly refrain from changing the subject.

[Getsmart64]

Dude...look in the mirror and you will understand the definition of hyperbole...I hate to say it but you're either pretty obstinate or a damn fool..I'm leaning that you're a fool...no wonder everyone quit talking to you...I'm done too..

[highball]

Fine by me, if you don't want to actually address my points it's probably better that we end this.

Good-bye.

[Free Baptist]

I am raising my children to be Biblical Christians, beginning with the Gospel of the Grace of God and the Sufficiency of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. We, as a family, sat in our living room this evening for two hours, and studied Colossians chapter 2, verses 8-12 with cross references to many other places in Scripture.

A real danger is that the contents of their study of the Scriptures might come up in conversation with other children at the local public park, or outside the library, or at the Dairy Queen.

May I ask, if my children happened to meet yours in a public place in a friendly way, and were to become friends, what faith might come up in conversation from your children for mine to ponder?

[Free Baptist]

I am waiting for you to tell me what, according to you, would NOT be nonsense for my children to hear, if it is important to YOU; if it has to do with your faith, your eternity, your patriotism, or anything else. This is Free Republic. Feel free. You have only expressed a fear that someone else, freely distributing material or speaking in presentation of his Biblical faith is a threat...an interference to your family, and how you raise your children. But I am curious about what YOU believe would help MY children; something that you hold so dear that you believe that it is based on some transcending principle, that it is true, no matter whose feelings it might "hurt." Do you hold anything so dear?