ARE EVANGELICAL PULPITS ABOUT TO PRAISE ISLAM?

ARE EVANGELICAL PULPITS ABOUT TO PRAISE ISLAM?

By Jan Markell

www.olivetreeviews.org

Following a four-day conference last week at Yale University, Christian and Muslim leaders from around the world announced the first step of the "Common Word" exchange drafted last November.  A joint statement was affirmed in their support of religious freedom and further interfaith dialogue based on their common love for God and neighbor.

But something is very wrong with this picture.

Over 140 conference participants unanimously approved a cooperative statement that signaled a "new beginning of collaboration between Christians and Muslims" where stronger assertions of faith would be required. So the statement began by affirming the "unity and absoluteness of God" and God's merciful love as central to both religions.

Wait a minute! Allah has merciful love? And Allah is central to both Christianity and Islam? Isn't it devotion to Allah that causes people to strap explosives onto themselves and blow innocent people to shreds? And seems he also encourages some of his followers to cut off heads of the innocent?

In attendance and in agreement, sadly, were both the head of the National Association of Evangelicals and the World Evangelical Alliance.  Those two organizations represent most evangelicals in America.  But both faiths pledged to spend one week a year sharing the good aspects about the other's faith. Our pulpits are already lacking in sound gospel preaching! Now we must take one week each year to learn that Islam might really be "a religion of peace?"  And that Christians and Muslims worship the same God? 

The Lord's Day is just that: A day to worship and learn about the God of the Bible, not to hear about the positive nature of Islam or any other faith. It's tough enough that many reading this are laboring in churches that have forsaken the Bible for "new ways of doing church." We have leftists and Emergent Church leaders praised in our pulpits, and now once a year we will have Islam praised in our pulpits-and I am speaking of "evangelical" pulpits since the heads of the evangelical world signed on to this.

Don't these evangelical leaders know that deception is part and parcel of the Muslim religion when they deal with "infidels"?  Do they really think American mosques are going to start heralding Christianity once a year and really mean it? Don't they know that many American mosques-certainly not all-are the breeding ground for calling for the destruction of America and its takeover by Islam? 

I have to conclude that the primary goal here is ecumenical unity. The second goal is to get Christians to see Islam in a positive light. Sharing the gospel with Muslims is not part of the agenda with this interfaith effort, even though thousands of Muslims are turning to Christ today. If this element were a part of the plan, it would be less egregious.  I ask, "Where is the outrage toward the evangelical leaders who are promoting this agenda?" 

It has long been the standard of congregations who are a part of the National Council of Churches to promote ecumenical unity and praise false religions. Now that so-called evangelical organizations are doing same, is there a dime's worth of difference between them?

Forgive my cynicism but I think the Muslims are laughing all the way to Mecca.

By Jan Markell Click here for bio and archived articles

Re: Please help me out Posted On: 08/19/08 12:43:51 PM Age 51, MN You said, "Whatever is good in Islam (namely some aspects of its moral code)came from God's word revealed to Jews and Christians anyway, so why not take up pulpit time teaching the Bible?" Do not the "good parts" of all religions have their basis in our Creator? Have you not read, "The Peace Child?" How about "Eternity in their Hearts?" Both books authored by Don Richardson. Don and his wife lived among headhunters and cannibals in Papa New Guinea and ended up using the religion and mythology within the Sawi people group in order to bring them to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. They didn't tell the Sawi people to stop loving their families (part of their religion, and ours) but found within the ethnic and tribal traditions and culture an opening to point them to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Some believed and some didn't. Do not the missionaries first live amongst the various people groups in order to get to know them and learn the language before the gospel is presented to them? Of course they do! Why should it be any different from reaching the Muslims? You said, "Who's Christianity involves "men in uniform bombing and shooting for their oil?" My goodness. Where have you been for the last 8 years? The Evangelical church almost crowned President Bush with divinity in both elections. Young Christian men from Christian colleges around the country were encouraged to join up to go after the Muslims because of 9-11. Hagee, Markell, Lindsey, Colson, Franklin, Dobson, Falwell, Robertson, Kennedy, etc. consented along with unbelievers when Iraq and Afghanistan were attacked. About a year ago Robertson said that Chavez from Venezuela should be assassinated. Hagee wants us to attack Iran to protect Israel. As you said in the title of your post, Please help me out? Where in the New Testament are believers in Jesus Christ commanded to support, join, or partake in the murderous foreign policies of whatever country they may belong when it involves the slaughter of another people group no matter what they have done to us? Pray for our troops? How? Does not "Love your enemies" ring a bell to evangelicals. Reminds me of the verse in Acts 8:1, right after Stephen was killed. "And Saul was consenting unto his death." Good Church. Posted On: 08/18/08 08:04:03 PM Age 58, CA For my brother in England, I would like to encourage you to look for a Calvary Chapel or any other Church that uses expository Biblical teaching if you can. It is good to be in a Bible believing church that systematically goes through the Bible from front to back, book by book, chapter by chapter, and word for word! Unless the Whole Bible is the standard, then as the other brother said, our aim is going to be off and we will miss the target(Truth)! I pray for your success to find a good church home, in the body of Christ! Love in Christ Please help me out Posted On: 08/16/08 01:24:46 PM Age 40, GA First Post: "There is nothing wrong with highlighting or 'sharing the good aspects about the other’s faith.'" 2nd Post: "The followers of Islam or Judaism, whether they be orthodox or not, do not have the Son, therefore they are followers of the devil. And they have nothing in common with Christianity." So followers of the devil have something which it would be good for Christian ministers to share with the Body of Christ? I don't understand. Also, exactly whose brand of Christianity involves "men in uniform bombing and shooting them for their oil trying to usher in the 2nd coming?" I've never seen that brand of Christianity proclaimed. If Muslims have seen very few lives exhibit the "Prince of Peace," is it because they kill off the true Christians in their midst before they have much time to observe their lives? True believers will never earn the trust of followers of the devil until God does a supernatural work in the hearts of the unbelievers in question (see 1 Corinthians 2:14, for example). The world hates Christ and his followers. That is because the words of Christ convict the world of its sin. Muslims deny God's very promise (in which the belief of Abraham was credited unto him as righteousness): that Isaac, not Ishmael as Muslims believe, would be the channel of blessing for the entire world. Whatever is good in Islam (namely some aspects of its moral code)came from God's word revealed to Jews and Christians anyway, so why not take up pulpit time teaching the Bible? Then the good parts of Islam are covered,while giving credit to God rather than to Mohammed. I believe your point is correct that Orthodox Jews hate Christ. I've seen recently in the news that Christians in Israel are being persecuted (including by bombings) by the Orthodox Jews there. Also, perhaps Muslims wouldn't say anything evil about Christ in terms of the world's definition of evil, but by killing those who refute the Muslim lie (and a lie about Christ is evil) that Jesus is only a prophet, aren't they perpetrating as great an evil as the vile language used by the Orthodox Jews? Read it again Posted On: 08/14/08 06:52:40 PM Age 51, MN You may have read my post, yet you very clearly have not understood. I never said anything about race, but Judiasm. The term "orthodox Jew" always to the hearer implies a follower of Judiasm. No matter what you think, they follow, honor, pray, and serve the devil, not God. No different than a follower of Islam. Jesus said "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Nothing anti-semitic about that, yet you accuse me of it. The followers of Islam or Judiasm, whether they be orthodox or not, do not have the Son, therefore they are followers of the devil. And they have nothing in common with Christianity. Or do you still not understand. Judeo/Christian a falsehood? G-d forbid! Posted On: 08/10/08 01:54:18 AM Age 49, MA To the supposed "Christian" who wrote that all this hoopla about Judeo/Christian and our connection to orthodox Jews is basically nonsense. Can I say respectfully, 'YOU need to get a grip, and please, read your/our Bible over again. Apparently, you've never read it to begin with. Number one, Jesus was and is still a Jew. A term you use so mockingly. I'm very appalled at your blatant anti-semitism! You need to read Romans 9,10 and 11...the whole chapters if you want to understand the Bible is a Jewish book, written by Jewish authors, about the coming death, burial, and resurrection of (you guessed it!), a (the)Jewish Messiah!!! I need to pray for you, you really need to know the right Jesus, the Jewish one! What's the problem? Posted On: 08/07/08 06:24:10 PM Age 51, MN Since the evangelical church has been praising the false religion of Judaism it might as well add the Muslims to its list of apostasy too. I hear the phrase Judeo/Christian thrown around so much it makes me sick. Christians have nothing in common with Judaism yet nary a peep from the end times folks. Jesus said their religion/traditions were of their father, the devil. The Talmud and it's followers (orthodox Jews) hate Jesus Christ with a passion. While the Muslims do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, they do say He is a prophet, and they wouldn't think of saying anything evil about Him, or his earthly mother. The rank and file Jew who follows the teaching of the Talmud (thats every orthodox Jew bobbing up and down at the Wailing Wall) say that Jesus (God in human flesh) is burning in feces and semen at this moment. There is nothing wrong with highlighting or "sharing the good aspects about the other’s faith." Bring the gospel to the Muslim, but first get to know them and earn their trust. After all, when they think about Christianity, most of them think of your brand of Christianity, which is men in uniform bombing and shooting them for their oil trying to usher in the 2nd coming. No wonder they reject the gospel. They're told about the "Prince of Peace", yet they've seen very few live it. let the blind lead the blind Posted On: 08/06/08 10:33:10 PM Age 38, CA Since the world says to be politically correct, many people who aren't sincere about following the Lord Jesus have been deceived. It is no suprise to me because Romans 1, 2Peter 2, Jude, Matthew 24, Rev 2& 3, and many other biblical passages reveal the spiritual disaster we are witnessing today. The true church are those who believe that JESUS is the only way and they do not subscribe to every wind of doctrine. A religious fanatic is blind and only the Father can draw them to JESUS. It is high time for "the church" to cast down any and everything that tries to exalt itself over CHRIST. The Lord said let the blind lead the blind. And that is what has to be done in this apostate age. We should strive to preach the TRUTH that JESUS commanded and make no provision for the flesh; i.e. allah or arm leg leg arm head. The Lord is the standard and our Sovereign God will judge every motive and every soul in the end. It is sad when "the church" partakes of false doctrines and bids the deliverer of them godspeed. A Christian can't drink from of the cup the Lord and the cup of satan at the same time. This grieves the Lord. Even the scriptures say the devil comes as an angel of light but he is a murderer and the father of all lies. These are truly the last days. Come Lord Jesus. Duality Of Islam Posted On: 08/06/08 04:17:15 PM Age 69, TN Good on Jan Markell, Where are our scholars that understand what is going on in Islam and why are they not coming forward. The Muslims will do and say anything, they will lie, cheat, defraud, to farther their cause. Their cause is to take over the World and I might add, their doing a bang-up job of it. We can only hope that our Religious Leader when meeting with the Muslims face to face are able to see behind the mask. Find a good church!? Posted On: 08/06/08 02:12:41 AM Age 41, ENGLAND If you can find one tell me where it is. Over the pond here in GB there are very few churches left that uphold sound doctrine and preach a Biblical Gospel. It is heartbreaking to see and hear christians sneer at the very idea of preaching repentance. As for the Resurrection, that too has gone missing from our pulpits. A man centered, man pleasing message is what our so called ministers want to preach and it is leading people down the broad road to Hell. We need to fervantly pray and educate Posted On: 08/05/08 03:48:03 PM Age 42, MN We need to fervantly pray for our nation, its leaders, our churches, our church leaders, and our families, and our schools. I knew how bad the culture was, and mainline denominations. I knew how bad the schools are and how dumbed down most churches are. Then I became very upset by all this stuff I am reading about the Emergent Church within evangelicalism. NOw we have this! It seems falsehoods are attacking on all fronts. This is spiritual warfare. We need to fervantly pray. Against the forces of darkness. "We do not struggle against flesh and blood but against principalities..." Let us continue to pray: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven." Let us be "wise as serpents and gentle as doves". Let us never give up but pray and have true spiritual discernment wherever we go. And when our antenna comes up, pray and discern what GOd is calling you to do. ANd do it! I talk to people when I see pagan stuff in public museum gift shops... Confront evil wherever you go, in a nice, respectful, way. But get the point across. "All it takes for evil to prevail, is for good people to do nothing." We need to fervantly pray. And be the answers to our own prayers. TO educate and teach others. Our children, our families, our churches, our friends. We need to organize and educate everyone on the Bible, and on Christian Worldviews and what is happening. Summit Ministries is one very good ministry in this regard. We need to continue to evangelize and to purify our world, to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Just make sure we are doing the Lord's work, not ours, and in His strength, wisdom, and timing, not ours. Amen.