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Islam |
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Between Christianity and Judaism there is clear water. Christians recognise Jesus as the Christ the Son of God (John 20:31), whereas unconverted Jews do not. They are on the side of those who crucified Him; to whom he was a malefactor (Matthew 26:66). To Christians He is "the holy one of God" (John 6:69). Upon this rests the value of his atoning work on the cross (1 Peter 1:17-21) and his resurrection (Psalm 16:10). His ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit all follow on from this and also much more. Those who follow the Jewish religion today will accept none of these things. |
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However, when we come to Islam we have a religion which stands somewhere between Judaism and Christianity. It contains elements of both with other things that stem from mankind's fallen nature. Islam came into existence after Christianity and I am strongly inclined to believe will disappear before it. Sikhism is something of a half way house between Islam and Hinduism as it contains elements of both and came into existence after Islam. |
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Islam follows Judaism in that it acknowledges that there is only one God. They call him Allah, possibly the equivalent of the Hebrew Eloah, though some think it was originally the name of a Moon God. Islam rejects, as does Judaism, the making of images. Islam follows Judaism in the practice of almsgiving, fasting and prayer. Moslems make pilgrimages to Mecca in a way that reflects the Jewish practice of going up to Jerusalem for the feasts. |
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Islam follows Christianity in that it accepts Christ as a prophet (Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:16; 24:19; John 4:19; 6:14;7:40; 9:17; Acts 3:22-24), but it follows Judaism in denying that He is the Son of God. However, although Christ is respected as a prophet and they look for his second coming, He is not to them the prophet and they deny that He died on the cross. He is not the mediator between God and man. Islam is therefore fundamentally flawed at its base. There is thus clear water between both Judaism and Islam and Christianity and Islam. Islam follows Christianity in having no human priests who interpose themselves between man and God: each person must have their own relationship with God. |
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Because the power of God has never been with Islam it has used the arm of flesh to propagate its views, that is, the Saracen armies sought to impose Islam on the nations of the world by armed conflict. Because they in this way took the sword Islam may well perish by the sword (Revelation 13:10). |
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Our attitude to Islam should be that while we must fully recognise that it is a false religion, we should seek to persuade its adherents that in following it they lie under the power of a Satanic delusion. Like Paul we should seek to persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11). |
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There are things in Islam one can find to commend. Islam is nearer the truth when it speaks of the place of women in the world; the need of the covering and so on, when compared to what appertains currently in the Western world. I say nearer the truth because some Moslems like the Taliban have become extreme. However, the truth of the matter is laid down in Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:34-38). Further Moslems go too far when they reject alcoholic drinks altogether. Scripture does not do this (John 4:46; 1 Timothy 5:23), though warning about drunkenness in many places (Luke 12:45/46; Ephesians 5:18). |
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Islam is clearly inferior to Christianity. If anyone doubts this one can only recommend such an one to read their Bible and then the Koran. The inferiority of the Koran will soon be apparent. Because it contains elements of Judaism and Christianity in it, it has a certain plausibility. Satan is not a creator; he is an imitator (Exodus 7:8-13) but he has his limitations (Exodus 8:16-19). Satan did not create the forbidden fruit, but persuaded Adam and Eve to eat it contrary to God's commandment. Islam's |
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