The country is shaken by the shocks of the Mumbai blasts and every newspaper is filled with the event and its after effects. The persecution of christians in Orissa and the condenmable acts of the terrorists have occured in quick succession. George Anthony Paul exhorts, in the light of the scriptures, to preach to the oppressor as Christ did.
Bold witnessing converts a terrorizing king: There is a naïve belief by many today that we can simply dialogue, if we find similarities between Christian Faith and Islam. But, such an approach of equating our religion with their’s, only leads to confusion and contempt. Muslims are far more respectful and willing to listen to a person who acknowledges the great division that separates the two religions.
This we see demonstrated by the approach of Francis of Assisi. Though we may not agree with everything that Francis of Assisi did or preached, we should certainly agree with his bold approach of preaching Christ to a Muslim ruler of Egypt, Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil. Before Francis of Assisi went to see the Sultan, it is said that Sultan Kamil issued a decree saying, "Anyone who brought him the head of a Christian would be awarded with Byzantine gold pieces". In spite of such obvious threat to life, Francis of Assisi went to preach Christ to the people of Egypt and to the Sultan. The result of such bold preaching was the conversion of Sultan Kamil on his death bed.
Bold witnessing of a pastor who converts an RSS worker: Even the best efforts of the RSS and the VHP can’t stop a change of heart. Vijay Pradhan, 35, who is now hiding in Raikia, was an active RSS worker for eight years. He worked with Lakshmanananda and conducted several reconversions. He also trained many RSS workers in the art of reconverting Christians to Hinduism. “I taught people what I was taught, that I must serve the country by fighting the Muslim and Christian religions, which are foreign to us. Our culture had to be saved. Then, one day a young pastor told me about Jesus. I was surprised at his courage in accosting me, but I was curious. This man told me that I could have eternal life with Jesus,” says Pradhan.
The one-time RSS worker says he was confused after this encounter. “I began searching for Jesus because I was intrigued by what I was told about him. On January 26, 1994, I challenged the creator. I asked why there are so many religions if there is one creator. I said whoever you are, I need to know you by name. I threatened that I would turn atheist if the Creator didn’t show himself. I couldn’t sleep at night. At 4.30 am, as I was getting ready for yoga, I saw a human-like figure. There was plenty of light. A voice said, ‘I am the one you are looking for,’” says Pradhan.
He says his thought process changed after this. He began spreading the gospel and going to church. “The RSS workers came to me and asked me why I had converted. They asked me how much money I was given. I used to ask people the same things. But I wasn’t paid. The RSS searched for me. I had to hide in the jungles. As long as there is trouble, I will hide,” he says. Pradhan says only those who are called by Jesus are the true converts. “Only the attraction of God can make them that. Hindus become Christians, they are never made into Christians.
Our Excuses and Reasons from Scripture:
However, one may argue, that nothing has changed because of such conversions. The terrorists are still waging war in the name of Islam. The RSS are still reconverting people to Hinduism. I think people who raise such objections are bothered about the numbers; they want to count how many have converted. Rather than being like Christ who spoke the truth even when people rejected and crucified him, we often like to preach only to people who accept us.
According to the standards of such people who look for numbers, even Christ would be a failure because he had only 12 disciples. Further we should ask, should we speak about Christ only when people accept? Even if people reject the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, it would not change the historic fact of crucifixion and resurrection? This being the case, why should one preach only when people accept us? We should preach to all, and must not be bothered about being accepted or rejected.
I propose such preaching because I see the same in Acts 7; where Stephen preached to his killers. What was the result of Stephen's preaching? Jesus also proclaimed the truth to Pilate, saying, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." What was the result of such bold proclamation? It was death of Christ, and salvation for mankind.
I suggest this method of evangelism and preaching because God in the Old Testament in Isaiah 1:18; asked people who are oppressive towards the fatherless and the widows, who deny justice and do evil, to reason with him. In the same way, Jesus also reasoned with the oppressors of his time. Jesus reasoned by asking questions.
Reading through the four Gospels reveals that Jesus asked well over 100 questions to his critics and his questioners. And many were, “Why” questions. E.g.: Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? Matthew 15:3; Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Matthew 22:18; And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. Matthew 21:24.
Because, Jesus Christ asked such questions and also answered the religious leaders of his day in such manner, they plotted to kill him, and eventually killed him.
Jesus knew that he would die such a death, yet it did not deter him from speaking the truth in such a way. Matthew 17:22, 23; And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
Knowing fully well that he would die in such a manner, Jesus boldly spoke the truth about Himself. In Matthew 26:64, 65; Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?
Jesus wasn’t scared of being branded as a Blasphemer nor was he scared of death, but was willing to face every thing to preach and testify to the truth. Should we follow this example of Jesus or should we speak politically correct language and dilute the truth, which would be unlike Jesus?
{moscomment}
muslims terrorist are aiming their best to destroy everybody who are not in their way.these terrorist teach us a lesson that how weak muslims are in using their God given brain,coz they are to fast to be brain washed.
They are restless and they are in fear and as christian we must remember the words of lord jesus that he is the life .recently i was reading a story about how ravi zacharia gave his life to jesus .when he heard the words thats jesus gives life ,he was transformed by it.every terrorist who want to creat fear in enemies heart are fear about eternity .so let every christian be bold to share Gospel with every muslims ,coz they need jesus.
I have written “Islamic Re Search Foundation” because every now and then some one starts “Re Searching” Islam according to his own understanding of Islam. However what the mode of “Re Search” of Islam may be, it is absolutely important for such people to criticize Christian Faith and the Holy Bible without which their job remains unfinished. It looks that the Islamic Research Foundation is trying to “Re Define” Islam.
In recent years “The Islamic Research Foundation in Mumbai, India” and its seventy “so-called” have been busy twenty four hours a day to prove that their faith is “The Faith” and Christianity is nothing more than collection of prophecies of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U. H) and yet they have failed to give one single argument to prove their claim. Their leader Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik gives a most illogical argument and thinks he has won the world. I knew Dr. Zakir Naik’s “Gurru” Sheikh Ahmad Deedat from South Africa and on 7th October 1987, he failed to give any answer to my questions on Islam. The Islamists have taken full advantage of modern technology and through their web sites and Television Channels, they are once again “Re Searching” Islam according to modern day needs. These days Dr. Zakir Naik is unsuccessfully trying to prove that the Holy Koran is a “Science Text Book”. However this is not the topic of this article. The topic is “little on no knowledge” of scholars of IRF. For the purpose of insulting the Holy Bible, they pick up a verse or a statement of the Holy Bible and without having any understanding of these verses, they talk in most derogatory manner against the Holy Bible. They forget that the Holy Bible is not a common book like their Books, it is a “Path of Spirituality” that leads to eternal life. Islam on the other hand lacks spirituality and presents worldly aspect of every thing even the life after death from humanistic point of view.
Islamic Research Foundation’s television channel, the “Peace T.V” has employed people to ridicule Christian Faith. On 13th June 2007, one of the “Schooler” (Scholar) Ather Khan was bragging about his knowledge while talking on fundamentals of Christian Faith. He tried to take on the “Inherited Sin” of the man kind after disobeying God in the Garden of Eden. He used words like “all Bakwas” means all rubbish.
Trying to prove that Islam is a complete way of life, he criticized the Holy Bible on topic on “Inherited Sin”, quoting the Book of Genesis Chapter 2 and 3.
In the Holy Bible it is written, “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil”. (Genesis 2: 9) Thereafter it is written, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”. (Genesis 2:16 & 17)
Mr. Ather Khan gave a Devilish explanation of these verses when he further quotes Chapter 3 of the Book of Genesis.
He said that God told Adam and Eve that if you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall surely die. The Serpent came to Eve and made her eat from the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” Adam and Eve did not die. He puts forward a question, “Did God tell the truth or Devil or Serpent? Mr. Ather Khan himself answered his question shamelessly, “the Serpent”! God lied to Adam that the day you eat the forbidden fruit you shall surely die. According to Mr. Ather Khan, Adam and Eve did not die after eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they did not die and lived 930 years after their disobedience. So according to Muslim Scholar the Serpent told the truth and God lied. Would a sane person believe that? Absolutely not!
The ancient problem with Muslim scholars is that what all they understand or are able to understand is from worldly and humanistic point of view and what the Holy Bible tells us is from Spiritual point of view. The “Worldly People” like “Peace T. V. Team”, failed to understand the meaning of “Death” that God meant.
We don’t know when Adam was created and after Adam’s creation when Eve was created. (I would be grateful if any Muslim scholar tells me the date of birth of Adam and Eve respectively). What was the age of Adam when Eve was created? And How long did they live in Garden of Eden? It is not known. If I claim that is was a very lengthy period of time when Adam and Eve lived in the Fellowship of Lord God and in total comfort no one can challenge my claim. Had they not disobeyed God they might have been living in Garden of Eden even today. More over we must understand what Garden of Eden is? As I understand, it was a place where mankind or Adam and Eve lived in God’s Very Presence, Fellowship and Comfort. They could communicate with God freely and face to face and God was with them and visited and spoke to them. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they lost the fellowship of Lord God immediately and they came to know that they are they are naked. When they got the knowledge of good and evil, they knew that they have done an evil act. This was their “Spiritual Death”. They lost what they had in fellowship of God. They could not face their Creator so they tried to hide themselves and cover their “shame of guilt” with temporary things like leaves as it is mentioned the Holy Bible. It is a fact that when we commit a sin and we know that we have committed a sin, we are ashamed of facing any one especially against whom we commit the crime or sin. We try to hide our guilt with lame excuses and temporary means knowing that we shall not be able to hide our guilt from human beings and here in the Holy Bible, mankind has committed sin against the Holy One, the Lord God, the Creator, the Omni Potent, Omni Present, Self Sustaining and Self Existent God, and try to hide our guilt with “withering leaves or means” (as the Muslim scholars do). They had disobeyed God so they could not face Him as they used to do earlier. It is written, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons”. (Genesis 3: 7) Lord God knew what Adam and Eve have done, therefore He calls them, and it is written, “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Genesis 3: 9) (Lord God was not looking here and there as Mr. Ather claims in his foolishness). Lord God already knew that the sin of disobedience has been committed. It was not a “Call” from God to know where Adam and Eve were, it was an “Explanation” demanded by God, Where art Thou? God was not looking for Adam and Eve in bushes and behind the trees, He was asking “What have you done”? Lord God was not walking as narrated by Mr. Ather Khan, He came to judge Adam and Eve who had gone far far away from Him. Adam replied to God that they hid themselves as they were naked. God wanted to hear from the mouth of Adam that he has sinned. Lord God further questions them, “And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat”? It is written “Then Lord God asked Adam , “Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat”? Adam and Eve had a chance to repent. That is why Lord God asked them a direct question, “Have thou disobey my commandment”? Adam instead of admitting his sin, he shifted the guilt on Eve. (As though Adam was totally innocent) Likewise Eve accused Serpent. (Again telling Lord God that she was absolutely innocent) Neither Adam nor Eve admitted their sin. Adam held Eve responsible for his sin and Eve held Serpent responsible for her sin. Both had sinned and no one repented therefore they were deprived of the right to live in presence of God and they had to leave the place of comfort, they lost the close relation with Lord God and they lost the Fellowship” with Lord God. Adam and Eve were Spiritually dead after their sin against the Lord God. This was the death that Lord God warned Adam of. Not the bodily death but spiritual death. If God meant bodily death, he would have killed both Adam and Eve and would have created another couple. Was it impossible for God to create another Adam and Eve? Therefore Lord God did not lie, Mr. Ather Khan from Islamic Research Foundation lied and gave blasphemous statement for All Mighty God. I wonder how would he escape the wrath of God?
Note here, Lord God does not ask the Serpent any explanation, he punishes the Serpent before he punishes Adam and Eve. He then casts “Curse” upon the Serpent. Lord God also tells for the first time that “Seed of Woman” (Lord Jesus Christ) will destroy the Serpent. It is written, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3: 15)
Lord God punishes the Woman and decreed, “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee”. (Genesis 3:16) This was the least punishment that God gave to woman for becoming the tool of the Devil and giving the forbidden fruit to her husband.
Punishment of Adam was even more sever. God says to Adam, “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field” (Genesis 3: 17-18).
Physical Death came after the disobedience of Lord God. Yet it was not immediate death. Adam lived 930 years thereafter and finally died as Lord God had said and it is written, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return”. (Genesis 3: 19). Adam died physically 930 years latter, yet Spiritually he died much earlier.
By his sin, Adam brought physical and spiritual death upon himself and his generations to follow till the end of time. Yet Lord God gave a very glaring Hope to Adam and Eve and that is the advent of Lord Jesus Christ. Lord God says, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3: 15). As said earlier, Lord Jesus Christ is the “Seed of Woman” who has and will finally “Bruise the head of Devil”. It is written, “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ”. (Matthew 1: 16). Now let me elaborate. Lord Jesus Christ was son of Mary who was not yet wife of Joseph. Lord Jesus Christ was “Seed of Woman”. Who Bruised the head of Serpent and the Serpent tried to “bruise his heel”. Speaking from purely medical point of view, if a serpent bits on the limbs of a human being, there is every chance that the snake bitten person will survive. If the snake bits on any other part of the body, it is almost impossible to save the victim. It is proven fact that if snake bite on limbs, there is every chance of survival. But if some one’s head is smashed, that means sure death. The Devil can Bruise the heel of the people who have faith in Lord Jesus Christ but they have every chance to live. The Islamic Research people would not let go any chance to Bruise the Christians, yet Christians live. Lord Jesus Christ bruises the head of all non believers, (IRF People) or Serpent and they would surely die. (I can see death of their faces already). This death is not the physical death but spiritual death which is also the eternal death. The destination of every one who does not believe and have faith in Lord Jesus Christ is “Eternal Death”.
I state this fact with certainty that the “Islamic Research Foundation” is already “Spiritually Dead”. They are still under the “Inherited Sin” while we the Christian believers are under the Grace of God through Lord Jesus Christ.
Here I feel necessary to narrate “Islamic concept of inherited sin”. We learn from Islamic traditions that Devil touches every new born child and make him cry, then some one gives “Adhan or Azan” (Islamic Call of Worship) in the ear of the new born child to keep the Devil away from the infant. There was only one infant and one woman whom Devil dare not touch and that infant is Lord Jesus Christ and woman was Holy Mary mother of our Lord.
According to Sahi Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 641: Narrated Said bin Al-Musaiyab:
Abu Huraira said, “I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘There is none born among the off-spring of Adam, but Satan touches it. A child therefore, cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, except Mary and her child.” Then Abu Huraira recited: “And I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from the outcast Satan” (3.36)
Therefore I invite all the members of “Islamic Research Foundation” to stop “Re Searching” a doctrine that necessitates research after research and yet it fails to find any thing that ensures re-establishment of your fellowship with God. Repent and come to Lord Jesus Christ, you shall not be under “Inherited Sin” any more. “Satan will not touch you or your new born children”, you will be under the Grace. You are too busy in “Scratching” verse after verse, yet you fail to yield find any worthwhile result.
I invite you all to “Revert” to Christianity so you can be saved from the wrath of God on the Day of Judgment. Come accept Christ before it is too late.
“Hope I have made my point clear”!
Bishop Timotheus Nasir
http://www.siloampak.org/main.htm
IRF is exposing the Truth, They are showing the right way to the people. Ather Khan never said that Adam and Eve will die if they eat the God forbidden fruit, the problem is with your way of understanding. We Muslims know very well that problem with christians is they never tried to understand the Bible completely. You said Satan never touched Jesus, here is the proof from the Bible.
Mathew, Chapter-4, 1-11
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Try to understand, and keep in Mind, JESUS is not GOD, he is the prophet of God. Whoever says Jesus is GOD their final abode is HELL.
Md.Abdullah
Hi Abdullah,
You are exhibiting Islamic logic here. The Christians who love and revere God recognize and accept Jesus Christ (God-incarnate) as God and therefore, you fancy, that they will go to ‘hell’ for that noble reason! In the same breath, you (and many Muslims) shamelessly believe that the murderers (suicide bombers of Muhammad’s Allah) can go to ‘heaven’ (a disgusting brothel)! Any man or woman who love and revere true God will inevitably shun Islamic ‘heaven.’ Christians can understand why Muslims like you longing to go to an imaginary disgusting place like Islamic heaven.
Open your eyes before you end up in real ‘hell’ instead of Islamic ‘heaven’.
Just by quoting the Bible verses you didn’t prove any thing, even the devil did that with the Lord Jesus Christ. You know the end result, the devil was defeated and so are you!
May the true God have mercy on you.
Adil