Presentation Transcript

1. A Christian perspective on islamPart 1History

   BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF LIVING SERIES
2. Current World Situation Theism is on the rise and humanism and secularism are on the decline. 100 years ago FredrichNitzsche predicted: “God is dead!” Through the rise of “Enlightenment” and “Rationalism,” there was a “decline of religion, belief in God, and belief in the Bible”.
3. World Situation Religion was believed to be nothing more than superstitious “myths & magic” believed by the ignorant and unenlightened – but now disproven by science and education. Darwin
4. World Situation Religious belief and practices were being discarded in the garbage dump of history. Rationalism rather than religion would govern society.
5. World Situation Human Reason was elevated over Divine Revelation. Enlightenmentruled and reigned throughout the world through the new “rational gods” of science, education and technology. Through education and the “religion of humanism,” man would surely evolve from “protoplasm to paradise!” John Locke
6. World Situation Through Humanism, man became his own god and savior. The God of the Bible – even the gods of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam – were no longer needed. Man had now fully “grown up” and “come of age.” He no longer needed the “religious crutch” to lean on. Truly, “God was dead” and Humanism conducted His funeral!
7. World Situation But today, just the opposite is the case. “God is alive” across the globe with a resulting “clash of the gods.” It’s “The battle of the gods” just like in Egypt between God & Pharaoh: “I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you… when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Ex. 12:12)
8. World Situation Big Question:“Which is the true god?” Jehovah, Jesus or Allah? However, the most influential “ism” in the west is no longer “secularism”… “scientism”… or “humanism” – but “hedonism” – living for pleasure! The “goddess of pleasure.” Living for “self” rather than for God. (Last Days) “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of pleasure, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having the form of godliness but denying its power.” (II Tim. 3:1-5)
9. World Situation Popularity of the “Prosperity Theology” – “Health & Wealth Gospel” (False teachers and false doctrine) “…who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain…People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (I Tim. 6:5-10)
10. World Situation World’s 4 Great Religions: (in order of size) a. Christianity (2.1 billion) (*) b. Islam (1.5 billion) (*) (Christianity and Islam make up ¾ of the Global Population) c. Hinduism (900 million) d. Buddhism (370 million) (*)  (*) 3 great “Missionary Religions” = all seeking converts. Hinduism was not “evangelistic” until the last century when “gurus” began coming to the West.
11. World Situation Note: Judaism, Christianity & Islam all believe in a “Theocracy” or “Rule by God.” Judaism = Spiritual/Political Theocracy: “Rule of Jehovah” until “King Saul” Christianity = Spiritual Theocracy: “Rule of Jesus” through “The Church” Islam = Spiritual/Political Theocracy: “Rule of Allah” through a worldwide “Caliphate”
12. World Situation So, we increasingly do not live in a “secular society” void of religion and gods – but in an increasingly crowded “religious world” of conflicting gods and goddesses.
13. World Situation In past decades, “inter-faith dialogue” assumed that at our “religious core,” all religions basically taught the same thing: “All roads lead to the top of the mountain.”
14. World Situation Therefore, we can live together in “religious harmony” with common goals that will benefit and better the human family.
15. World Situation Not so today. There is a growing realization in interfaith dialogue that there are basic MAJOR DIFFERENCES in our “spiritual DNA” that bring us into inevitable and unavoidable conflict!
16. World Situation Question: “How do religions that are mutually exclusive peaceably co-exist side-by-side in our global village?” As theologian, MiroslavVolf, said: “Do Christians, Jews and Muslims believe in a ‘common moral universe’ to the degree that we can inhabit ‘common space’ peaceably?” (Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and author of Allah, A Christian Response). The answer from history and contemporary experience seems to increasingly say, “NO!”
17. Christianity and Islam Both are monotheistic:Theybelieve in one God. Both are revelation-based:They believe their faith was directly revealed by God.
18. Christianity and Islam Both are evangelistic: Both are under the mandate to share and enlargetheir faith. (“dawah” or “invitation”…Muslims must invite others to follow the “straight path” of Islam.) Both are exclusive: Both believe their faith is the one true faith that excludes all others.
19. Islamic Divisions Just like Christianity and other major religions are divided, so is Islam. Experience oriented Pentecostals of Islam! Protestant Christianity Catholic Sunni (Majority: 85% - 90%; 940 million; “Caliphs”) Islam Shia (Minority: 10% - 15%; 20 million; “Imams”) Sufi = Mystical sect of Islam
20. Islam The two major divisions took place after the death of the Prophet Mohammad since he had not established a clear “line of succession.” The issue was whether a “blood relative” was to succeed Mohammad, or a “spiritual successor” who would follow Mohammad’s teachings.
21. Sunni Islam Sunni Islam: This group followed “Abu Bakr,” the father-in-law of Mohammad who became his first successor. Immediately after Muhammad’s death, a meeting was hastily called to decide on his successor. Abu Bakr was elected by a small group of successors. None of Muhammad’s immediate family was present. So the Shiites do not accept this “election” as valid.
22. Sunni Islam Bakr was one of Muhammad’s closest friends who also fought alongside him. He was related to Muhammad by marriage since his daughter, Aisha, was one of Muhammad’s nine wives. They follow the “sunnah”…“tradition”…“custom” of the prophet.
23. Sunni Islam Abu Bakr was the first “Caliph,” or supreme leader after Mohammad. Note: The word “Caliph” means “successor” or “representative.” He is both the temporal and spiritual headof Islam – but not necessarily a “divine successor” because only Muhammad is that. The Caliph is the incarnation of the “Islamic state” and “Islamic law” (sharia).
24. Sunni Islam First 4 Caliphs: Abu Bakr Umaribn al-Khattab “Patriarch Caliphs” UthmanibnAffan “Golden Age of Islam” Ali ibnAbiTalib
25. Sunni Islam The Caliphs ruled from the death of Mohammad until the breakdown of the “Ottoman Empire” in 1924. At that time, Turkey abolished the “Ottoman Caliphate”. Islam has been without an official “Caliph” since then.
26. Sunni Islam The first 4 Caliphs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the breakup of the “Ottoman Empire” at the end of World War I. In 1928, 4 years after the Caliphate was abolished, the “Muslim Brotherhood” was established in Egypt by a school teacher, “Hasan al-Banna.” This was the rebirth of “Muslim Fundamentalism” or “Radical Islam” in the modern world. Banna decried the rapid moral decline of Islam in Egypt after the war:
27. Sunni Islam “…The victorious Europeans have imported their half-naked women into these regions, together with their liquors, their theatres, their dance halls, their amusements, their stories, their newspapers, their novels, their whims, their silly games and their vices…” Furthermore (their schools and institutions have) “…cast doubt and heresy into the souls of its sons and taught them how to demean themselves, disparage their religion and their fatherland, divest themselves of their traditions and beliefs, and to regard as sacred anything Western.”
28. Sunni Islam Osama bin Laden was a Sunni Muslim. To him, the breakup of the reign of the Caliphs in the 1920 was catastrophic and a devastating blow to the dignity of Islam. And, after 9/11, he made this statement to Al-Jazeera on Oct. 7, 2001: “What America is tasting now is only a copy of what we have tasted…Our Islamic nation has been tasting the same for more than 80 years of humiliation and disgrace, its sons killed and their blood spilled, its sanctities desecrated.”
29. ShiaIslam Shia Islam: (“Shiites”) “Party of Ali” These Muslims believe that “Ali ibnAbiTalib” is the rightful successor because: Muhammad’s cousin First convert of Muhammad Son-in-law of Muhammad (married Muhammad’s daughter, Fatima) He fought alongside Muhammad on many occasions. Shia Muslim on Ashura
30. Shia Islam They believe that Muhammad chose Ali as his successor when he reputedly said: “I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its Gate” and “ Whoever I have authority over, Ali also has authority over.” They follow the concept of “Apostolic Succession” of the “Imamate” or “Imam”. The Shia believe that the Imam is the divinely appointed spiritual leader of Islam. He alone has the “secret knowledge of god.”
31. Shia Islam The Shia believe that Adam was the first Imam. Moses was an Imam, as was Abraham – and Ali was an Imam, and rightful successor of Muhammad. They are in many ways the “persecuted minority” of Islam.
32. Shia Islam The Shia are concentrated in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, but are also found in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria. (Oil producing areas of the Middle East).
33. Shia Islam In 931 AD, the Shiites’ “Twelfth Imam” disappeared into isolation. In 874, after the 11th Imam died, his young son is said to have disappeared from the funeral, never to be seen or heard of again. As a result, the Shiites lost their “divine guidance” and “political leadership”. They came to believe that this anointed child was the Islamic “Messiah” who had been hidden from the public by Allah.
34. Shia Islam He became the “Hidden Imam” and is known as the “Imam Mahdi,” or “rightly-guided one”. The largest sect of Shiites are known as the “Twelvers” who are preparing for the return of this Mahdi. They believe he is the “Messiah” and will come back at the end of time during a period of cosmic chaos. He will lead the forces of righteousness against the forces of evil in the final “apocalyptic battle” of history.
35. Shia Islam This “Hidden Imam” will establish a world-wide Muslim Theocracy and the world will live in peace and harmony for several years. Jesus will then return along with the other Imams and all believers will enter Paradise.
36. Shia Islam When the Ayatollah Khomenireturned from exile in France in 1978, they had a new leader. In many ways, he was the “John the Baptist” or “Forerunner” for the coming of the Mahdior “Muslim Messiah.” But today, President Ahmadinejad has assumed that role.
37. Islam and America Important: We must be careful in generalizing about Islam. It is a diverse and complex faith just like other religions, because there are… Muslim extremists Jewish extremists Hindu extremists Buddhist extremists Christian extremists
38. Islam and America So no religion has a corner on “extremism” or “fanaticism.” Every religion has produced a “radical fringe” that has damaged the reputation of that faith. Therefore, we must never compare the worst of someone else’s religion with the best in our own!
39. Islam and America Al Qaeda does not represent mainstream Islam any more that the Ku Klux Klan represents orthodox Christianity! Too often we speak out against the extremes of other religions while defending the extremes in our own! Therefore, we must speak out against the extremism in our own faith as much – if not more so, than in others, particularly Islam. The Bible says: “Judgment must begin at the house of God.”(I Pet. 4:17)
40. Islam and America So it is wrong to generalize and make a “caricature” or a “straw man” of other faiths. However, it is important to realize a major principle: Muslims who live in America – or in any other country, are Muslims first and Americans second. * “Can Muslims be good Americans?”
41. Can a Good Muslim be a Good American? Theologically - no, because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon god of Arabia. Religiously - no, because no other religion is accepted by His Allah except Islam.  (Qur'an 2:256) Scripturally - no, because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of Islam and the Qur'an. Geographically - no, because his allegiance is to Mecca , to which he turns in prayer five times a day.
42. Can a Good Muslim be a Good American? Socially - no, because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews. Politically - no, because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach the annihilation of Israel and the destruction of America, the great Satan. Domestically - no, because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him. (Qur'an 4:34)
43. Can a Good Muslim be a Good American? Intellectually - no, because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt. Philosophically - no, because Islam, Muhammad, and the Qur'an do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
44. Can a Good Muslim be a Good American? Spiritually - no, because when we declare "one nation under God," we believe/know the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as Heavenly Father, nor is he ever called loving in the Qur'an's 99 excellent names. Madison Avenue New York
45. Islam and America Important: “Conquering the world for Allah and Islam is the stated goal of every faithful Muslim. The goal is a worldwide “Caliphate,” or rule of Allah through a “Caliph” or Muslim Leader. Therefore, you cannot be a true Muslim and not submit to Allah and his mandate! Any more than you can be… A Buddhist and not follow the 8-fold path A Jew and not follow the Torah A Christian and not follow the teachings of Jesus
46. Islam and America So whether it is the… Wahabis of Saudia Arabia who see themselves as the only “trueIslam”; fundamentalists (most American mosques are under the influence of Wahabi money and influence)… Mullahs and Imams of Iran and Iraq… Mosque in Michigan
47. Islam and America Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt (Slogan: “Islam is the solution.”) Talaban of Afghanistan Followers of Osama bin Laden
48. Islam and America “Freedom Fighters” in many of the Middle Eastern Countries …All of this “Islamic Radicalism” is nothing but a reincarnation of the “Islamic Invasion” of the 7thCentury.
49. Islam and America As Omar Ahmad, cofounder of the “Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),” said in 1998: “Those who stay in America should be open to society without melting, keeping mosques open so anyone can come and learn about Islam. If you choose to live here, you have a responsibility to deliver the message of Islam…Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.” (Emphasis mine)
50. Historic Tipping Points Everything in our world changed in 1979-80 as a result of the “Iranian Revolution” when the Ayatollah Khomeni’s returned from exile in France and hijacked a popular uprising against the “Shah of Iran.”
51. Historic Tipping Points While the Ayatollah was hailed in the media as a peaceful religious leader – in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi – he transformed a popular “people’s movement” against the Shah, into a “Radical Islamic” movement that took over Iran and spread its fundamentalism and fanaticism throughout the Arab World. That movement is much like the ones that are taking place today in Northern Africa and the Middle East.
52. Historic Tipping Points The defeat of the Soviets after the 1979 “Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan” was an ultimate victory for the “Mujahedeen” or “holy warriors,” becoming a further catalyst for radical Islam.
53. Historic Tipping Points The birth of Al Qaeda in 1988 by Osama bin Laden, as Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in defeat. The superior power of the USSR was defeated by the rag-tag “holy warriors” of Islam!
54. Historic Tipping Points These events sparked a worldwide “Radicalization of Islam” and the igniting of a “Global Intifadi” against the West in general and Israel in particular. America became the “Great Satan” and greatest enemy of Islam – primarily because of our historic stand with Israel. Withdrawal of the US from Somalia and Lebanon
55. Historic Tipping Points The ultimate assault of 9/11 against the World Trade Centers and Pentagon became the most defining event of the first decade of the Twenty- First Century. These horrific events were nothing short of a “Declaration of War” against America by radical Islam.
56. Historic Tipping Points These acts of terrorism demonstrated that most Muslims have a pan-Islamic mentality– their highest allegiance is to Islam, not to America or Europe where millions have immigrated. There is NO “separation of politics and religion” in Islam. Islam is all-encompassing.
57. Historic Tipping Points Islam is a religion system, political system, cultural system, economic system – EVERYTHING! It is absolutely impossible to separate or segment Islam from ANY aspect of private or public life! You are either “all Muslim” or you are not “Muslim at all!”
58. Cultural Wars Today, there is a “cultural jihad” (holy war) taking place between the “Islamic Religion & Culture” and the “Christian Religion & Culture” The ideal of “multi-culturalism” is being taught in American schools today. That means: “All cultures are equal.” No culture is morally “superior” to another one. There are no “inferior cultures” – only people with inferiority complexes!
59. Cultural Wars But that is a lie! All Cultures are NOT equal! The Culture of Hitler and Nazism = killed 6 million Jews The Culture of Hinduism = enslaves millions of Dalits/Untouchables The Culture of Racism = Slavery in Europe and America The Culture of Women’s Rights = abortion of millions of babies, etc.
60. Cultural Wars Multi-culturalism has basically failed in Europe where there are growing “civil wars” and “cultural wars.” Nationals feel like foreigners in their own countries: France, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, UK; London = “Londonstan”) 55 million Muslims in Europe (radical Islam is growing fastest;sharialaw)
61. Cultural Wars Islam has become a “nation within a nation” and a “culture within a culture.” Europe = “Eurabia” or the “Islamization of Europe” A great fear among European Government leaders: “giving offense” to the Muslim immigrants living among them.
62. Cultural Wars America appeals to Muslims because… Our “freedom of speech” allows them to freely propagate Islam.
63. Cultural Wars Our “rule of law” gives them protection by our legal system to carry out almost any extreme activity under the banner of “freedom of worship”. As one Muslim cleric said: “Thanks to your democratic laws, we will invade you; thanks to our religious laws, we will dominate you.”
64. Cultural Wars Under the protection of our Constitution, Muslims are subverting the very Democratic foundation and freedom upon which our nation was built. Muslims also love the prosperity that America offers – which they secretly feel belongs to Allah and Islam. So, while they cry out for “their rights” as Muslims in America, they champion the lack of similar rights for Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists in their countries of origin.
65. Cultural Wars Studies show that rabid “anti-American sentiment” is preached in most mosques in the USA. The young people are taught to be “Mujahadeenin America” for Islam.
66. Cultural Wars On scores of Americanuniversity campuses, young people in “Islamic Study Centers” are taught very biased perspectives of America, Palestine and Israel.
67. Cultural Wars This Muslim bias is also widely propagated in the US prison system where Islam is growing rapidly – with an anti-white, anti-America, anti-Jewish bias.
68. Cultural Wars Islamicjihaddistsare eager to sacrifice their lives to “win the West” – which is the last prize to be won for Allah. We are already engaged in “World War III” – but most Americans and Europeans are in denial!
69. Islam:Marriage & Family In Islam, religion is assigned by birth – not by rebirth. You are Muslim by birth and not by choice. You are Muslim by birth. You live as a Muslim. You die as a Muslim.
70. Islam:Marriage & Family Your only family, spiritual, political, cultural identity is Islam. Outside the “Dar-al-Islam” or “House of Islam,” you are nothing and nobody. To leave Islam or convert to another religion is apostasy and blasphemy deserving death. (“Honor Killings”)
71. Islam:Marriage & Family Islam is definitely a male-oriented, chauvinistic religion where everything revolves around the superiority of men – in this life and the next. An Islamic man lives in a “master-slave” relationship with his wife or wives (up to 4).
72. Islam:Marriage & Family Women have little “freedoms” or “rights” as we understand them in Christianity or America. The weight ofsharialawalmost always comes down on the side of the man rather than the woman.
73. Islam:Marriage & Family Heaven = an “eternal, lustful, sexual fantasy land” for men and an “eternal nightmare” for women! 72 virgins in heaven awaiting each man So polygamy is for both time and eternity.
74. Islam and Lying Truthfulness is a virtue in Christianity – but a vice in Islam. Note: “Taqiyya” or conceiling one’s true belief; deceit to dissimulate Islam; lying to promote Islam. So if it promotes Islam, lying is a virtue – not a vice.
75. Christianity and Lying However, both Jesus and Paul commanded truthfulness of speech: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘no’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37) “Do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’? But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’, but in Him it has always been ‘Yes’. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” (II Corinthians 1:17-20)
76. Christianity and Lying “…no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” (James 3:8-11)
77. Islam and the Qur’an Knowledge of Islam is based on “rote memorization” and “indoctrination” – not on “understanding”. The essence of Islam = “submission” to Allah through the Qur’an – whether or not you understand it. Illiteracy among Muslims is high world-wide. Millions cannot even read the Qur’an they practically worship! That gives the Mullahs total control over the thinking and behavior of the people.
78. Weaknesses of Islam First, it is a “religion” that does not come from the true God but from the evil one. (Matthew 13) Because it is a “religion” rather than a “relationship,” it can never satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. God created man “…in His image and likeness” (Gen. 1:26-27) so that the man and woman could have a personal “face-to-face” relationship with the Triune God.
79. Weaknesses of Islam Religion of Inferiority (being covered up with an air of “superiority”) Ever since the collapse of the “Ottoman Empire” and the worldwide decline of Islam, Muslims have lived with a sense of “defeat” and “inferiority.” Colonialism by the British Empire and other nations only reinforced this sense of “inferiority” and “resentment” for this “Westernization” of Islamic civilization.
80. Weaknesses of Islam The “great humiliation” was the Arab defeat in the “Six Day War” in 1967 with a decisive preemptive air strike by Israel against Egypt, Jordan and Syria. As a result, Israel took: Gaza Strip & Sinai Peninsula (from Egypt) West Bank & East Jerusalem (from Jordan) Golan Heights (from Syria)
81. Weaknesses of Islam This religious and cultural backlash spawned many Islamic fundamental groups who saw their only salvation in a “return to their Islamic roots” – including “sharia law”, with the Qur’an the sole regulator of life. A purging of everything “non-Islamic.” Muslim Brotherhood in 1928 Result: Continuous “religious wars” from Crusades until now
82. Weaknesses of Islam It is a religion that produces a “culture of blame” rather than one of personal responsibility. No one is responsible for their own behavior in Islam (Fatalism).
83. Weaknesses of Islam They blame everyone else for their situation: Blame America Blame Jews Blame Poverty Blame Western Values Most Muslims grow up with and live with a “conspiracy myth” about the West in general and the Jews in particular.
84. God& Allah, Jesus&Isa (Similarities in our understanding of God] God is One God is Merciful God is Just
85. Major Attributes of God... God is Creator (Gen. 1:1; Jn. 1:3) God is Triune (Gen. 1:26; Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 12:14) God is Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Jn. 4:24) God is Holy (Ex. 15:11; Lev. 19:2; Isa. 6:3) God is Sovereign (Ps. 135:6; Isa. 46:9-11; Eph. 1:11)
86. Major Attributes of God... God is Eternal (Deut. 33:27; Isa. 57:15; Rev. 1:8) God is Righteous (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 119:142) God is Merciful (Ps. 62:12; 89:14; Rom. 9:14-16) God is Jealous (Ex. 20:5; 34:14; II Cor. 11:2) God is Omnipotent (Gen. 18:14; Job 42:2)
87. Major Attributes of God... God is Omnipresent (Ps. 121:3; 139:7-12; Prov. 15:3) God is Omniscient (Job 21:22; Ps. 139:1-6; Rom. 11:33-34) God is Immutable (Ps. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Ja. 1:17) God is Faithful (Deut. 7:9; Lam. 3:23; II Tim. 2:13) God is Transcendent (Ps. 115:16; Isa. 66:1)
88. Major Attributes of God... God is Immanent (Matt. 1:23; Jn. 1:14) God is Incarnate (Jn. 1:14; 14:9) God is Father (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5-6) God is Love (Ex. 15:13; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; I Jn. 4:8) God is Savior (Ps. 18:46; I Tim. 2:3)