Tagged: Islam

Islam’s doctrine of deception

IslamLike Christianity, Islam is monotheistic, yet it denies basic Christian doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Christ, Jesus’ death and resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith.

Muhammad’s encounters with heretical Christian sects, and the lack of a Bible in Arabic in his lifetime, no doubt contributed to his faulty understanding of the Christian faith.

But two lesser-known teachings based on the Qur’an are equally disturbing.  Christians should understand them in order to more effectively evangelize our Muslim friends.

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What do you know about Islam?

Islam symbolIslam is the youngest and fastest-growing major religion in the world. But how much do you know about the beliefs and practices that Muhammad and his followers began exporting from the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century?

Here’s a chance to test your knowledge. The correct answers follow the quiz.

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The ultimate role model: Jesus or Muhammad?

revisedjesusvsmohammadMuslims have a high regard for Jesus. They believe He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and spoke prophetic truth. He is in heaven today and is poised to return triumphantly to earth.

Yet it is Muhammad to whom Muslims pin their hopes. While they confess Jesus as a prophet, they say Muhammad is the greatest of Allah’s messengers and the one through whom Allah chose to reveal supreme truth in the Qur’an. Therefore, Muhammad, not Jesus, is the ultimate role model.

Okay. So let’s look at the record. We’ll focus on three areas.

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The real tragedy of jihad

Last month’s terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya, resulting in the deaths of four Americans, brought the Muslim doctrine of “jihad” back into our living rooms as we watched in horror the murderous rage of people acting in the name of Allah.

But what, exactly, is jihad? The Arabic term means to endeavor, strive, struggle, or fight. It is sometimes translated “holy war.”

There are two ways in which Muslims embrace jihad.

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Is Mormonism a cult?

This column appeared Sept. 12, 2012, in The Pathway, the official news service of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

With the national conventions behind us and the November elections on the horizon, Mitt Romney’s Mormonism increasingly finds its way into conversations. And that’s a good thing because it prompts all of us to learn more about a belief system that remains shrouded in mystery despite its American roots nearly 200 years ago.

At the end of the day, your friends may ask you point-blank: Is Mormonism a cult?

It’s a dicey question. If you answer yes, you may be accused of political incorrectness – or worse, religious bigotry. If you answer no, you may be tacitly approving of Mormonism as just another Christian denomination, which it’s not.

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