Muslims believe the Koran is a book from God or Allah. They believe it has eternally existed and is without error. They believe the angel Gabriel revealed the Koran to Muhammad their prophet. The Koran even mentions Jesus.
The Koran teaches the virgin birth of Jesus, but denies that he is the Son of God. Muslims do not believe that God could have a son. There seems to be a misunderstanding of this doctrine in Islam. They seem to think that God having a Son means that there had to be male/female relations. Christians do not believe that. Islam denies the doctrine of the Trinity as well. Muslims hold to a unitarian monotheism, believing Allah alone is God. Christians hold to trinitarian monotheism, believing God is three persons of one essence. The Koran mistakenly lists the Trinity as God, Jesus, and Mary. The Trinity is actually God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There was an obvious misunderstanding of basic Christian doctrine by the writer of the Koran. It is also interesting to note that it gets Mary mixed up with Miriam the sister of Moses. Muslims also believe that Jesus was not crucified. They believe that someone else took his place on the cross, maybe Judas Iscariot. Since Muslims do not believe in the crucifixion of Jesus they also do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus.
Muslims believe that Jesus was a great prophet. They believe there was a line of prophets (Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad). They believe Muhammad was the final prophet and the messenger of Allah. Islam holds that the Old and New Testaments were corrupted by the "People of the Book", that is Jews and Christians. Though they do believe the Old and New Testament were from Allah. Muslims believe that Deuteronomy 18:18 speaking of a prophet to come is referring to Muhammad. But the prophet spoken of in the passage is obviously fulfilled by Jesus. Islam also holds that John 14-16 is speaking of Muhammad but it is obviously talking about the Holy Spirit.
Islam believes in a salvation by works. A person must earn his way to heaven and he cannot be sure of his salvation. Islam rejects the belief that Christians hold in the atoning death of Christ on the cross.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah. It teaches that Jesus came to save his people from their sins. Christians believe that Jesus lived a perfect life without sin, died on the cross taking the sins of his people on himself, and was resurrected proving he was God. The Bible teaches that salvation is by God's grace through faith in Christ alone. Christians can have assurance of their salvation because of what Christ has done.
Muslims believe the Koran is from God but the evidence says it is not. It is obvious the author does not know or understand the basic beliefs of Christians. Surely Allah would be able to get the beliefs of Christians right. The evidence also does not support the corruption of the Bible theory of Islam. Surely Allah could have prevented it's corruption. And if Allah allowed it to be corrupted, what would prevent the Koran from being corrupted? The Koran also denies the crucifixion of Jesus. This goes against the views of almost all historians. It is attested to by non Christian sources such as Josephus (the Jewish historian), and Tacitus (the Roman Historian). Even radical, liberal scholars do not doubt the historical fact of the crucifixion of Jesus.
The author of the Koran was most likely Muhammad himself. He seemed to have little knowledge and understanding of Christianity. It is also interesting to note that Muhammad himself had doubts that the Koran was really from God. Muhammad was not a true prophet and the Koran is not the word of God. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and the Bible is the Word of God without error.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Christians And Abortion
It has been 41 years since the Roe vs. Wade decision that declared abortion legal in the United States. It was a terrible decision that had no constitutional basis. The U.S. Constitution says nothing about abortion.
Evangelicals were largely silent on the abortion issue at first. But they were eventually awakened by leaders like Francis Schaeffer. It became a major issue in the 1980's with the religious right movement. Unfortunately there were some extremists associated with the movement. The movement did some good things but also did some harm with the approach of some of its members.
The Bible speaks to the abortion issue in passages such as (Exodus 20:13, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, and Luke 1:39-45). It teaches that life begins at conception. It also shows us that abortion is murder and clearly wrong. Unborn babies are created in the image of God and therefore have great value.
Some in the evangelical movement say that Christians should avoid issues like abortion and just focus on the gospel. The gospel is the most important message for Christians to present to unbelievers. But abortion is a matter of life and death, and justice demands that we take a stand. Christians must confront the culture and speak the truth to it. We must tell them that abortion is murder even if it is hard for some people to accept.
Christians must also speak the truth with love. We must have compassion for the people involved. Also adoption should be promoted as an alternative to abortion. We should stand strong in proclaiming abortion as a sin, but we must also remember the gospel. People who have had abortions can find mercy and forgiveness in Christ. All people need to repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation.
Evangelicals were largely silent on the abortion issue at first. But they were eventually awakened by leaders like Francis Schaeffer. It became a major issue in the 1980's with the religious right movement. Unfortunately there were some extremists associated with the movement. The movement did some good things but also did some harm with the approach of some of its members.
The Bible speaks to the abortion issue in passages such as (Exodus 20:13, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, and Luke 1:39-45). It teaches that life begins at conception. It also shows us that abortion is murder and clearly wrong. Unborn babies are created in the image of God and therefore have great value.
Some in the evangelical movement say that Christians should avoid issues like abortion and just focus on the gospel. The gospel is the most important message for Christians to present to unbelievers. But abortion is a matter of life and death, and justice demands that we take a stand. Christians must confront the culture and speak the truth to it. We must tell them that abortion is murder even if it is hard for some people to accept.
Christians must also speak the truth with love. We must have compassion for the people involved. Also adoption should be promoted as an alternative to abortion. We should stand strong in proclaiming abortion as a sin, but we must also remember the gospel. People who have had abortions can find mercy and forgiveness in Christ. All people need to repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Does 2 Peter 3:9 Disprove Calvinism?
( 2 Peter 3:9) "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (ESV)
This verse is often cited by those on the Arminian side to disprove Calvinism. They say it teaches that God is trying to save every single person. They say it is his will that every person be saved. But is this what the verse really teaches?
The passage deals with those scoffers who think that the day of judgment and the return of Christ will not happen. They believe things will just continue to go on as they have. But the Lord is not slow or late in returning as scoffers may think. The judgment and return of Christ will happen in God's own time. God views time in a different way than man does. He operates outside of time. A day is like a thousand years to him (2 Peter 3:8).
The second part of the verse says God is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish. We should ask who the word "you" is referring to. To find out we should ask who Peter is writing to? (2 Peter 1:1) tells us that he is writing to Christians. So the word "you" in the verse refers to believers.
The next part of the verse says God is not wishing that any should perish. We have seen that Peter is writing to Christians so the word "any" also must apply to believers. It refers to the chosen people of God. God does not wish or will that any believer perish. The passage does not teach that God is trying to save all people. Because the previous verses of the passage talk about the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly (2 Peter 3:7). It is obvious that God is not waiting for all people to be saved. Those who perish and go to hell are not God's people. They have rejected Jesus who is the only way to heaven.
The final part of the verse says, but that all should reach repentance. As we have seen this refers to believers. It refers to all the people of God. God is patient waiting for the full number of his people to come to Christ. He is giving them time to repent.
This verse does not teach the Arminian view. God is not trying to save every person. If he was trying to save all people but not accomplishing this, it would mean that he had failed. All Christians know that God does not fail. The verse is simply teaching that the Lord patiently waits for those he has chosen to come to him. When we view the passage in context we see that the Reformed or Calvinist view holds up.
This verse is often cited by those on the Arminian side to disprove Calvinism. They say it teaches that God is trying to save every single person. They say it is his will that every person be saved. But is this what the verse really teaches?
The passage deals with those scoffers who think that the day of judgment and the return of Christ will not happen. They believe things will just continue to go on as they have. But the Lord is not slow or late in returning as scoffers may think. The judgment and return of Christ will happen in God's own time. God views time in a different way than man does. He operates outside of time. A day is like a thousand years to him (2 Peter 3:8).
The second part of the verse says God is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish. We should ask who the word "you" is referring to. To find out we should ask who Peter is writing to? (2 Peter 1:1) tells us that he is writing to Christians. So the word "you" in the verse refers to believers.
The next part of the verse says God is not wishing that any should perish. We have seen that Peter is writing to Christians so the word "any" also must apply to believers. It refers to the chosen people of God. God does not wish or will that any believer perish. The passage does not teach that God is trying to save all people. Because the previous verses of the passage talk about the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly (2 Peter 3:7). It is obvious that God is not waiting for all people to be saved. Those who perish and go to hell are not God's people. They have rejected Jesus who is the only way to heaven.
The final part of the verse says, but that all should reach repentance. As we have seen this refers to believers. It refers to all the people of God. God is patient waiting for the full number of his people to come to Christ. He is giving them time to repent.
This verse does not teach the Arminian view. God is not trying to save every person. If he was trying to save all people but not accomplishing this, it would mean that he had failed. All Christians know that God does not fail. The verse is simply teaching that the Lord patiently waits for those he has chosen to come to him. When we view the passage in context we see that the Reformed or Calvinist view holds up.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Benny Hinn, Mike Murdock, And The Prosperity Gospel
The prosperity gospel is found all over charismatic television channels. It's focus is all about health, wealth, and fulfilling your desires. People are told they will be blessed if they send money to the prosperity preachers. They make it seem as if God is obligated to give blessings to people. The prosperity preachers call it sowing the seed. The prosperity gospel teaches that God is just there to make you happy and fulfill your dreams. Two of the most visible prosperity preachers are Benny Hinn and Mike Murdock.
Where do you even start with Benny Hinn? He claims to be a faith healer. Of course the healings he performs are not verifiable. People whose healing could be verified are kept away. Why don't Hinn and his fellow faith healers go to hospitals and nursing homes and heal those people? Could it possibly be that they do not really have the gift of healing? Those not healed or blessed after they have sent in money are said to lack faith. At Hinn's meetings people are said to be slain in the Spirit. But this practice is not Biblical at all. Benny Hinn often talks about sowing the seed to receive God's blessing of health and wealth. Hinn simply manipulates people in order to get them to send him money. Meanwhile Hinn lives a life of luxury and indulgence. Benny Hinn is a con artist and false teacher who takes advantage of people.
Another popular prosperity preacher is Mike Murdock. He is everywhere on charismatic television. Has anyone ever seen Murdock when he was not talking about money? He is obsessed with money and is a lover of money. Murdock constantly talks about sowing the seed. If people send him a certain amount of money God will have to bless them. Mike Murdock constantly manipulates people in order to get their money. If a person just has enough faith health and wealth will be his. Murdock simply defrauds people to enrich himself. He even seems to be proud of his indulgent lifestyle. Mike Murdock is an arrogant false teacher who has even questioned God's sovereignty.
A main influence of the prosperity preachers is Oral Roberts. He made popular the sowing of the seed teaching. Roberts was infamous for saying God would take his life if he did not raise a certain amount of money. Television channels like TBN and Daystar should be ashamed of themselves for promoting so many false teachers. The prosperity gospel is a false gospel which brings disgrace on true Christianity. The prosperity gospel focuses on the person and his desires. While the true gospel focuses on Jesus and the cross. Galatians 1:8 says if anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be accursed. This should serve as a warning for Hinn, Murdock, and all prosperity preachers.
Where do you even start with Benny Hinn? He claims to be a faith healer. Of course the healings he performs are not verifiable. People whose healing could be verified are kept away. Why don't Hinn and his fellow faith healers go to hospitals and nursing homes and heal those people? Could it possibly be that they do not really have the gift of healing? Those not healed or blessed after they have sent in money are said to lack faith. At Hinn's meetings people are said to be slain in the Spirit. But this practice is not Biblical at all. Benny Hinn often talks about sowing the seed to receive God's blessing of health and wealth. Hinn simply manipulates people in order to get them to send him money. Meanwhile Hinn lives a life of luxury and indulgence. Benny Hinn is a con artist and false teacher who takes advantage of people.
Another popular prosperity preacher is Mike Murdock. He is everywhere on charismatic television. Has anyone ever seen Murdock when he was not talking about money? He is obsessed with money and is a lover of money. Murdock constantly talks about sowing the seed. If people send him a certain amount of money God will have to bless them. Mike Murdock constantly manipulates people in order to get their money. If a person just has enough faith health and wealth will be his. Murdock simply defrauds people to enrich himself. He even seems to be proud of his indulgent lifestyle. Mike Murdock is an arrogant false teacher who has even questioned God's sovereignty.
A main influence of the prosperity preachers is Oral Roberts. He made popular the sowing of the seed teaching. Roberts was infamous for saying God would take his life if he did not raise a certain amount of money. Television channels like TBN and Daystar should be ashamed of themselves for promoting so many false teachers. The prosperity gospel is a false gospel which brings disgrace on true Christianity. The prosperity gospel focuses on the person and his desires. While the true gospel focuses on Jesus and the cross. Galatians 1:8 says if anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be accursed. This should serve as a warning for Hinn, Murdock, and all prosperity preachers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)