CNN today broadcast a call and a warning.

THE CALL TO ISLAM.
Ayman Al Zarawiri called America to embrace Islam. "and you will be safe"
His call was amplified by an American convert who dabbled in Heavy Metal Rock before progressing to mainlining on Islam.

Mohamed made the same call to Byzantine Emporer Heraclaeus.

"Embrace Islam and you will be safe"

The Emporer declined and soon the battle of Yarmuk saw a defeat for the Byzantines and the initial expansion of the Islamic Empire.

CNN described the approach 'Their Interpretation' of Islam, when it should have stated "This is the exact approach of TRUE Islam."

So, we have a man who murdered iritating poets, who tortured, who mutilated living prisoners bodies, and a litany of other sins proclaiming himself 'Messenger of God'......

In the light of the absolute certainty of the judgement of God on sin, to embrace the religion of such a man and look to him as our example, (the best example of Islam) would be to place our eternal destiny in the worst possible hands.

The CALL TO CHRIST.

and Jesus went around the countryside, proclaiming the Gospel of repentance and faith.

"I stand at the door and knock, whoever opens the door, I will come in" Rev 3.20

"Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" Mat 6.33

"To all who received him, who believed in His name, he gave the power to become children of God" John 1.12

The power of the Gospel was moral and spiritual. To believe could mean death, not from the Christians, but from the State. But this simple Word of Truth, from The Man of truth who said "I AM ..the truth".. proved more powerful than all the might of Rome.
Heart by heart, will by will, person by person, "Even those of Caesars household" gave in to the irresistable grace of Gods love.

Religion belongs in the same category as magic and pseudoscience. A faith based dogma with no supportive evidence to it. It is responsible for most of the major conflicts in this world but also has a uniting aspect which in the absence of foreign powers threatening our shores can actually help to promote stability. Well, it used to. Today God is seen by many including myself as a fictional charactor not unlike the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and Tooth Fairy.

That said, the public is made up of many religious groups and Governments must therefore respect these people.

David
I wonder if the two journalists recently kidnapped in Gaza & "forced" to perform in front of cameras declaring they had converted to Islam, will be killed if caught a second time, since apostasy is punishable by death in most Islamic cultures & they have apparently reverted to their old non-Muslim ways since being released.

BD, glad to see that you've finally got a place to do this stuff.

If you get a chance I'd still like to see that article explaining how you are able to dismiss your gods OT character. That could generate some interesting debate.

On this topic you missed another option, it's not just between Mohammed and Christ. People can turn to the well being and development of humanity. They can take responsibility for their own lives, to caring for this planet that we live on and treating others as well as they will accept. They can put away the tools of humanities childhood and move on to adult things. Having the other kid call out that his dad is going to beat up your dad does not mean that you have to reply in kind.

R0bert

I try hard to be apart from my questions, to keep them open to allow more opinions which widens my views and lets me see the thoughts of the people I live with and rarely speak to. I have studied many societies and i thought I would be whipped by my colleagues who had children (I also have 5)for believing in peace to the point of death. It might cause a caustic snigger from some who would believe that on the point of death you would fight, but there are thousands in the world who are dead because of their strength of faith. I am not christian but my children are. I have seen women hold their child while they died because their faith had them without fear for that child. This is the most changing sight you can see. There are so many religions out there but who would allow a lion to kill them or a group of soldiers to rape and murder your family and then you without fear of death? Stupidity? No. Absolute belief in their God and why they are here on earth. I wish I could be a christian with that much faith and love for my god and his path for me, maybe I would not fear the hatred and the pain that is being thrust upon us in todays society. In the bible it states that on our death we shall sleep until the second coming where we will be judged. Imortality as it states in the bible for the good and righteous who have earned this place. For the ones who need to try harder they will be given their judgement after a hundred years on earth. The dammed will be mortal and know death, eternal sleep. What a leap of faith. You either believe in dying for your cause by dying or dying for your cause by dying while causing death. I cannot believe without proof so I will either be dammed in death or dammed on earth for another hundred years either way it seems I am dammed.

Hi all,

I love al-qaeda.. Shocked?? I mean .. I love them because they always show the truth about themselves and clarify the doubts I have.

Infact, I love that guy Azziz.. He wants to kill my friend (American) for not believing in his religion.

Well, Azziz.. I have to say something to you.

You may kill us (christians).. but, you can't kill our spirits.

" He (Jesus) who is in us is greater than He who is in the world. "

" He (Jesus) conquered death and made us conquerors over death & satan. "

So, we don't fear death.. Infact death fears us. So, go ahead and as Paul says

" If we live, it is for Christ; If we die, it is for Profit ".. Good luck.

Hi Alpha
please let me clarify one point you made.. you said "those who earned it" referring to Salvation.

This is a common and tragic misconception about what it means to know God. Please oh please... read this.

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.(Romans 3:21 etc)

This is the key.....'justified FREELY by His grace'. How ? Through the redemption that came by Christ...

We never have been nor ever will be 'worthy' in ourselves to stand before a holy God. We can only ever be 'born again'...renewed.. changed, transformed, saved... etc..

ROB.. I should give that a go some time. I fear though, that no matter what I say, it will boil down to a differing view of the incidents concerned. God did order the total 100% elimination of a whole people, but He did not order the elimination of 'any' people who are in our way. More as time and energy allows. I have addressed this, but ended up as per sentence 2 above.
I see the fatherhood and love of God most manifest in the life of my namesake..BOAZ.. (read Ruth) and I also see the downfall and misery of the human condition in David... murderer, adulterer, yet in the end totally repentant.."My sin is ever before me.. create in me a clean heart oh God" (Psalm 51)

Micheal.. your simple posts are most powerful, as the gospel should be. Your comments on the animal cruelty thread are outstanding.

Not called to Mohamed or Christ. Am all about treating myself and the world kindly.

Have three questions for BD.

1.Do people who have never heard of christ go to heaven?

2.Why was Michael4's post on the animal welfare thread so powerful - all he did was quote scripture and claim he cared about animals - he didn't offer to help in anyway. (Have been asking for email addresses of religious organisations to see if they are interested in animal welfare).

Which brings me to my question #3.

3. Who cares about the well being of animals more, Mohamed or Christ?

Peace

Hi Boaz,

Thanks for your words. Please pray for me and my family so that we can remain faithful witness to Him and to reflect Christ in our lives.

Michael.

Dear Scout

on question #1 Those who have not heard of Christ.

This is probably the single most vexing question for any caring Christian. The idea of people never having had even the chance to believe or hear going to an eternal lostness is to put it mildly 'saddening in the extreme'

I comfort myself with the confidence that an all knowing God does right. I don't try to put myself in the Lords position. For reading, I recommend the following, and perhaps you might be able to form your own conclusions on this.

Romans 2 with particular attention to verses 12-16
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=52&chapter=2&version=31

Its almost as if Paul is aware of this same question, and is reaching out for a glimmer of hope for the unevangelized. Anyway, have a read pls and see what you come up with.

On this subject Romans 9 is also relevant, but focuses more on the soveriegn right of the Creator to arrange creation as He sees fit. Not as heartwarming as the other reference.

#2 Micheal can answer that himself.

#3 I don't think its an issue of decisive import. Jesus always taught compassion and justice and I would judge Mohameds attitude by his treatment of humans let alone animals. Jesus did one 'violent' act during his ministry (chasing the money changers from the Temple) but even this was more symbolic and deliberately to fufill a specific prophecy than simply 'outrage'. I certainly don't read of him doing anything like poking red hot irons in peoples eyes etc...as Mohamed did.

I cannot imagine spending time in quiet prayerful reflection with our Lord, and then being cruel to an animal.

Why are Christians not doing 'more' for animal welfare ? Good question. I'll put that on my list of things to protest about. My concern is more for the squashed condition of pigs than chickens.. though I do know a happy chicken when I see one. Sadly, happy chickens happily murder other chickens if they can get away with it :)