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SKILLICORN FAMILY MINISTRIES - 48
THE PRESENT WAR AGAINST "TERROR" OR "TERRORISM" IS A WAR AGAINST AN ABSTRACTION. WE ARE BEING ATTACKED BY ISLAM -
ANYTHING BUT AN ABSTRACTION.
READ THIS INTRO. TO THE
REAL ISLAM & JIHAD.
Without being too hypothetically frightening, it has to be admitted that, down through the ages, we have seen the rise and fall of so many great and powerful empires – the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Persians, the Greeks under Alexander the Great, the Romans (secular) and Romans (religious / Inquisitional), the Byzantine, Soviet, British and now comes the turn of Western Democratic Civilization, led by the U.S.A.. Had we been living at the time, in any of those great ancient empires, there is no way we could have even imagined that their dynamic might could come tumbling down and yet, we of the “Free” world, challenged by militant Islam, now face a possible collapse of our own "empire" - of all that we consider invincible - even our high-tech Western civilization with its powerful military machines. Please treat this matter with deep concern because Islam has a subtle and definite plan to:
CONQUER THE WHOLE FREE WORLD FOR THE MYTHICAL MOON "GOD" ALLAH - THROUGH ARSON, MIGRATION, TREASON AND TERRORISM
This could mean the end of all democratic institutions - the secret ballot, free elections, multi-party parliamentary systems, justice / impartial law, liberation of women and civilization as we know it with all its scientific quest for knowledge. Virtually, Islam's total Shariah rule would take us back into the Middle Ages.
BEWARE - TAKE CARE
It would seem that, throughout history, all the great civilizations have had within them the seeds of their own destruction, not that we have been deprived of the potential for everlasting, expanding greatness.
The Hebrew “nation” had such a potential, but they failed to recognize the Messiah and now, in the so-called "Christian Nations" of the West, we are failing to recognize the “Holy Spirit” which is just another way of expressing the Messianic Presence of God in human society.
By way of illustration, let us consider the chemical H.2 O. which can be presented in three different forms – “Ice”, when the temperature is sufficiently low, “Water”, when the temperature allows the chemical to be fluid and “Steam”, when the temperature permits H.2.O. to take on invisible, (steam at its natural temperature cannot be seen) gaseous form.
It is this triune nature of God that Muslims cannot understand and which becomes an offence to them when they hear that God (“Allah” to them) has a “Son”. They cannot understand that the word “Son” (Huios)in its Biblical context, does not have a gender connotation - a “Son”, as against a “Daughter”. To Muslims, it is sacrilegious to consider Allah having a sexual encounter with a “mere” woman (considered ‘unclean’) to produce children, even a son. This is in spite of the fact that, here and there, in the Koran, certain persons are referred to as “Sons of the Desert”. How could the desert have sex ?
Just as Steam, at its natural temperature, is invisible, so too is the Holy Spirit (God incarnate in human behavior)per se, although the “fruits” of the Spirit are very much obvious in the way the followers of Jesus Love (Gr. agape) ALL people, even those not deserving of affection. Other “fruits” are service, caring, humility, graciousness, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, tolerance, etc., - all the attributes seen in One Named “Jesus”. This is the “Power” (Power of the Holy Spirit) freely made available to the so-called “Christian World” which yet has to explore it and avail of its potential. While there are many faithful followers of Jesus who have found the Secret to Life, the organised Church at large is yet to discover this Power but, meantime, it tries to humanly “manufacture” it through fervent evangelical zeal, oratorical “preaching” and sacramental ritual. It is a “Power” that is self-regenerative in that, when it is expressed in human relationships, it grows and expands to explosive proportions with ability to overcome all evil. When we think of "Son", let us think of "off-spring" - or "heirs" - a projection of the Divine which is conditional on a very special type of human relationship - one of -
SHARING IN THE SUFFERINGS OF OTHERS.
This is expressed beautifully by Paul in Romans 8:14-17. We share in HIS sufferings when we share in the sufferings of others (humans).
In Ephesians 1:14, use of the Greek word "Arraabon" ("Earnest" / "Guarantee" / "First Instalment" of the Inheritance) suggests that, as we lovingly / graciously invest in the needs of others what measure of Divine Life we have, (Holy Spirit), that degree of our spiritual experience can be enhanced - "As we sow, so we reap". In this way, we "Grow in Grace" and go from "Faith to Faith". Our Christian experience is, therefore, never static; either we are becoming more like Jesus or less and it is all conditional upon the role we play in human relationships. The imagery is also somewhat like that of a business investment. Initially, as mere "babes in Christ", we may only have a little - a "First Instalment" - to invest but, as we invest that, with pure motives (nothing "ulterior"), we receive back a "Second Instalment" and, as we invest that, we receive back a "third" and so on until we are "Filled with the Holy Spirit". Our Christian Faith is very much a "social religion" in that its full potential cannot be realized in isolation from the needs of others, but only through "Fellowship" ("Koinonia" - sharing)- as Christ shared and sacrificed his all - even his very Life. For more details as to how Faith is lived out practically, in human relationships, please read "AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
Many people limit "faith" to an intellectual assent - a historical belief that a person called "Jesus" actually lived 2000 years ago in the Middle East. However, FAITH is more than that; it is the appropriation of the very nature (personality / character / behavior) of Christ and the manner by which he related to and empathised with others, particularly those in need - less fortunate than ourselves. Such Faith can be very dangerous because it will lead us into areas of social concern that may cost us our lives as it cost him His, on the Cross.
Jesus is not only called the "Son of God", but also the "Son of Man" or better - "Son of Humankind", in that Jesus is the epitome of what a perfect human life should be . He is the Perfect Human Role Model or Mentor.
Islam, in the Koran, has given place to Jesus, not as the ultimate Mentor but as a Minor Prophet called "Isa". Mullahs would have us believe that Islam and Christianity are closely related because of a common heritage in their Spiritual Father, Abraham, however, when both religions are compared on a moral / ethical basis, there is no compatibility whatsoever.
Mohammed is regarded as the ultimate Representation of the god Allah because he came LATER in time - AFTER Jesus. Jesus ("Isa"), in the Koran has certain judgemental powers which are to be exercised on the "Day of Judgment". The "Isa" of the Koran never suffered; there is no Cross and therefore, no Resurrection. It is inconceivable for Muslims to believe that a Divine person could actually suffer as a human, specially on a Cross which was the most brutal of all instruments of torture used against criminals.
It is at this point that Islam fails to see Jesus, not as One who judges in Grace, but rather in a "judgemental" way. Look at John 5:22 in the Bible:- "The Father does not judge anyone, but has given full jurisdiction to the Son (Jesus)". Jesus is now Judge, but in a special, unique way, not as "Son of God" but as "SON OF MAN". See John 5:27:- "As "SON OF MAN", He has also been given the right to pass judgement" . How does Christ act as Judge? He does not "Point the Finger" and say - "You are a sinner, you go to Hell"; Jesus does not judge in that way, or condemn in the traditional way; rather, before his Divine Humanhood - as "Son of Man" - as Perfect Representative of what a Perfect Human should be - WE STAND CONDEMNED. He looks down from the Cross and says -
"FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO".
"FAITH" in Christ means that we (though not really ourselves, but Christ in us) also, exercise that same gracious Ministry of Judgement, not as the world judges (John 12:47) but in the Power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11; 1 Cor. 6:2). This dynamic Ministry of Judgement is empowered by a deep experience of the Cross when we, like Christ are "HIGH AND LIFTED UP". (John 12:31-33).
This is where Islam is impotent to save us from evil because it is lacking in GRACIOUS "Agape" LOVE which empowers us to love even those whom Islam brands as "Fakirs" and "Infidels".
IN ISLAM - THE CROSS IS THE STUMBLING BLOCK
and Muslims have told me that it is wrong to forgive a person before he has apologised and paid the penalty for his sin. They believe that to excuse a sinner before he has paid the price and received his just punishment, amounts to "condoning that sin". (1 Peter 2:4-6; Romans 9:32-33). This is perhaps the GREATEST OFFENCE TO MUSLIMS in that - "While we were dead in our trespasses and sins -- bent on doing our own selfish, ungodly thing -- Christ Loved us enough to die for us --.... (Ephesians 2:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:19) -
"NOT HOLDING OUR MISDEEDS AGAINST US".
This is GRACE, a virtuous, ethical quality totally missing in Islam and it is a Spiritual Gift that cannot be taught academically, even through eloquent evangelical "preaching", but only demonstrated in life, in gracious relationships with others. The concept of a divine prophet, such as "Isa", suffering injustice, is unimaginable within Islamic theology, however, for such a holy person willfully suffering for an unrepentant "Sinner" / "Kafir" / "Infidel is totally anathema. This is perhaps the
MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS.
This is why it is said that the Cross is the Stumbling-Block.
The Western Nations, now under the threat of militant Islam, are indebted to the Christian ethic for the democratic principles that have provided us with free-elections / secret ballot, multi-party parliamentary systems, equality for women and free-speech. Were it not for Jesus, I doubt if we would be enjoying Civilization as we know it today. All of that is now in peril because Islam, being a theocracy, with no division between “church” and state, is totally opposed to common decency and anything democratic.
Although we cannot refer to the West as “Christian”, because the Christian Faith is a personal experience - one that must be chosen individually - we can say that the Moral Principles of Jesus Christ constitute the very foundation of our Western political systems. All that is now in grave danger of destruction because Islam is determined to bring within its own authority, all who do not submit to the god Allah. This is the Greatest Challenge facing the organized Church in modern times. Presently, the Church is silent on the subject, obviously very afraid to voice an opinion, however, it is really the Church which, potentially, has the answer to the threat. The answer is grounded in the CROSS – THE STUMBLING BLOCK – However, the Church needs to understand how the Cross “works” in the life of the Christian and in his/her community.
Many “Evangelical” churches are eloquent in their proclamation of the “Word” and, in particular, the Cross, however, the Sufferings of Christ are “way back there” – on Calvary. It is the duty of the Church to PROCLAIM TO ALL THE WORLD, THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION. “Preaching”, therefore, has pre-eminence. They are quick to claim that, on Calvary, the redemptive process culminated when Jesus cried out during the torture - “It is Finished”. What the Church needs to understand is that what was “finished” was not Christ’s sufferings but rather a redemptive process that was destined to go on and on, down through the ages, in the lives of women and men who, by FAITH (appropriation of that Suffering Love), have pledged themselves to take up their own Cross in human relationships - (Matthew 16:24-25) - to Love and suffer for others, just as Jesus did. In fact that activity of our Lord should be in the present tense.
The Sufferings of Christ are STILL being endured and there REMAINS much more for the Lord to suffer (Colossians 1:24). In that last passage, the imagery is one of “FILLING UP CHRIST’S CUP OF SUFFERING” and we followers of Jesus are the ones who are PRIVILEGED not only to “believe” in him but also to SHARE IN HIS SUFFERINGS. (Philippians 1:29). It is only by SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS that we qualify to be his “sons and daughters” – offspring radiating his Presence. (Romans 8:16-17). Christ is STILL suffering, not in that physical body of Jesus of Nazareth, but in his 21st. Century “BODY” – the Church. (2 Corinthians 4:10). Those who bear that Cross, Love (Gr. ‘agape’) ALL people, even those like Osama bin Laden who is a Saul of Tarsus type, a religious fanatic who cannot be persuaded through words alone. In fact, the “Word” of God is no longer mere words, but INCARNATE - the WORD become Flesh, (John 1 :1-14), initially in Jesus and secondarily in the lives of women and men with Faith in Jesus expressed in human relationships in a totally gracious manner.
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