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Radical Christianity vs Radical Islam
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Posted by: akabezalel
This was written by my Daughter in law, Kim on her My Space blog. She gave me permission to reprint it here.
Radical Christianity vs Radical Islam
There was a quote on the news today from Rosie O'Donnell. Ms. O'Donnell made the statement that radical Christianity is every bit as dangerous as radical Islam.
I'd like to examine that for a moment. History tells us that from Islam's conception, Mohammed won converts at the point of a sword (and that is indeed the Reader's Digest version). History also tells us that Christianity, from its conception, won converts through teaching, preaching, and the working of miracles by those who believed.
That's not to say that some Christians aren't idiots. We have the Crusades, the Inquisition, and our own ethnic cleansing in certain areas of the world; times in history for which those responsible will be called on the carpet on Judgement Day.
On the other hand, of the 14 major armed conflicts in the world right now, can you guess how many of them are a direct result of radical Islam--the "religion of peace"? All of them. That's right...every major armed conflict in the world today is a direct result of some sort of conflict with Islamic militants who would not be dealt with through diplomatic means.
But let's examine Ms. O'Donnell's statement at face value: radical Christianity is dangerous. Is it? Let's strip away religion...the centuries of man's fooling around and tinkering with Christianity, and let's look at Christianity in its pure form, as it was in AD 33 through AD 60 or so, the days of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John.
What did any of these men, certainly radical Christians, do that could be construed as being dangerous? Teach the truth about the character and nature of God? Each of these men taught that God is love, that God forgives, that all one must do is believe in his heart and confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord, and he can be saved. These men taught that one who believes is both subject to the governmental authorities (because no authority exists except that which is given by God) AND has a clean walk with his brother because he does not judge his brother--he leaves the judging to the only one who is able to do it--God.
These radical Christians were clear that we must love our brother as ourselves. Would most of us blow ourselves up in an effort to blow up anyone who disagrees with our point of view? Not likely. Would most of us point an assault rifle at ourselves when we discover that we've changed our minds and no longer agree with a prevously held belief? Nope--we adjust our thought patterns and behavior to line up with our new belief.
These radical Christians went out of their way to teach people the truth--even when the people they were trying to teach plotted to have them killed for their efforts. These radical Christians healed every manner of sickness and disease people had, regardless of whether or not the person being healed could repay their kindness or would later revile them for it.
These radical Christians had love and compassion for all of humanity--not just the people who showed them love, compassion and kindness in return. If that is the definition of radical and dangerous, then I can only hope that one day I am as dangerous and as radical as they were.
Posted by: youngijp
www . baptist2baptist . net/b2barticle . asp?ID=93
FIRST PERSON: Seeking Light in the Heat of Controversy
by R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
June 18, 2002
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--The public panic attack over Dr. Jerry Vines' statements on Muhammad remind us that controversies can produce both heat and light -- but this will require cool and careful thinking.
Preaching to the Southern Baptist Convention's Pastors' Conference, Dr. Vines reminded the preachers of their responsibility to preach salvation through Jesus Christ, and through Jesus Christ alone. In the course of these remarks, he made comments about the biography of Muhammad, known to Muslims as the Prophet. Fury quickly followed.
The response of the Muslim community was predictable. The man they honor as the Prophet had been criticized as a "demon-possessed pedophile." Given the sensitivities of our modern age, this seems an intolerable breach of inter-religious ethics. Those familiar with the history of Muslim-Christian relations would recognize old and enduring points of argument. Dr. Vines has invited Muslim scholars to explain the statements of their own historical sources, from which he had drawn his comments.
We should note, however, that the flashpoint of the controversy is really not the accuracy of Dr. Vines' comments, and he has identified his sources. The real source of outrage is the fact that he -- or anyone else, for that matter -- would say such a thing in our politically correct age. His comments broke the rules that secular Americans and their liberal Christian counterparts had long ago adopted.
Tolerance has been repackaged to mean that everyone is right, no one's deepest beliefs can be challenged, and one system of belief is just as good as another. Postmodern America has exchanged truth for therapy and is more concerned about how people feel than how they believe. Modern ideas of politeness trump concern for truth.
Historian John Murray Cuddihy calls this the "culture of civility." The most that many Americans can say is they "happen" to belong to this or that "faith community." It is as if they just fell into it -- and it doesn't really matter. It would be impolite to argue otherwise.
Modern Christians did not invent the idea that salvation comes through Jesus Christ -- the sinless Savior -- and through no one else. It was Christ who identified himself as "the Way, the Truth and the Life," and specified that "no one comes to the Father but through Me." Liberal Christianity has abandoned this belief -- along with many others -- but orthodox Christianity stands or falls with our commitment to hold all biblical truth as non-negotiable.
The authentic gospel includes hard truths that cannot be negotiated away with soft words. Dr. Vines is standing in good company as he preaches that salvation comes only through faith in Christ. He cannot escape teaching that Christianity is superior to all other systems of belief. He loves the gospel and he loves seeing men and women come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the gift of eternal life. The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville is filled with such persons.
Dr. Vines has been accused of bigotry and hate-speech. He has been castigated as uncaring, uncompassionate and uncivil. I know Dr. Jerry Vines as a dear friend, and as a faithful pastor, compassionate evangelist, and seeker of souls. He did not question the right of Muslims to be Muslims nor would he coerce anyone to become a Christian. He loves persons enough to tell them the truth. He offers them the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christianity and Islam have been engaged in a battle for souls for more than a thousand years. Postmodern politeness insists that none of this really matters. Bible-believing Christians and Muslims faithful to their own beliefs both agree that the truth matters supremely. We must respect each other enough to speak what we firmly believe to be the truth. We must love each other enough to be honest -- even when it doesn't seem polite.
Dr. Mohler is president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. This commentary first appeared in the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. This article reprinted by permission from Baptist Press www . bpnews . net/
We must disabuse our friends of the notion that all religions and belief systems are basically the same. They’re not. If grace is at the heart of Christianity while obeying rules is at the heart of Islam, the two will produce radically different cultures. And this is exactly what has happened....Of course, we want all Americans to love our Muslim neighbors, but Christians ought to love them enough to want to lead them to a true religion of love....When Jesus told us to "preach the Gospel to all nations," He included Muslims. In the light of September 11, I believe, Muslims should be having doubts about their own religion and, perhaps, be open to the Gospel.
Chuck Colson, April 30, 2002 & September 30, 2002, BreakPoint
Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10; 16:15
www . cbn . com/cbnnews/cwn/092906zakaria . aspx
Islam
Talking Truth to the Muslim World
By Steve Little
CWNews . com – Father Zakaria Boutros looks like a mild-mannered, unassuming priest. But his message is rocking much of the Muslim world.
His television program called 'Truth Talk' is broadcast daily into the Middle East over the Al-Hiyat satellite channel. On it, he challenges Muslims to examine what he says are inconsistencies in Islamic doctrine – inconsistencies that he says Muslim leaders don't want exposed and ordinary Muslims are told never to question.
“Islam cannot stand in front of intellectual questions and no one can understand because of contradictions in Koran, contradictions in *Hadith, contradictions and false doctrines. So they don't want anybody to ask and to learn. 'This is Islam, you have to accept it as it is' lest you should be killed,” Zakaria said.
Father Zakaria doesn't stop at challenging the teachings of Islam. He also questions the Prophet Mohammed himself, who Zakaria says had his mind set on wordly pursuits.
“He said that his concerns are three things: women, perfume, and food,” he said. “Where is the kingdom of God? Where is the glory of God? Where is the salvation? Where is love? Where is the mission of a true Prophet of God?”
Father Zakaria's broadcasts have generated intense anger in the Muslim world and there's a $60 million bounty on his head. But he makes no excuses for his confrontational style.
He says the provocative statements are designed to challenge Muslims to examine their faith.
“This is my way: short, sharp, shock for the unconscious,” Zakaria said.
That was the case with James, an Egyptian who began watching Truth Talk late at night while the rest of his family slept.
"When I first saw the show, I was angry at him. I wanted revenge," he said.
He began studying the Koran and the Bible to refute father Zakaria's claims, and in the process learned more about Christianity and Islam.
"I started to think about things I had never thought of before. My understanding changed and things became clear," James said.
James came to faith in Jesus Christ watching Father Zakaria. His wife soon followed.
"I realized Islam was a fake religion, Mary said. “When I learned the truth, I removed my veil. I felt freedom. I had been released. "Life is not about religion it's about a relationship between us and Christ. Christ is life."
Father Zakaria says the Muslim world is full of people like James and Mary.
Thousands of people visit his Internet chat room on 'Pal Talk' every month.
They come to challenge Father Zakaria's teaching and end up learning more about Jesus Christ.
*hadith (hädēth') -- a tradition or the collection of the traditions of Muhammad www . infoplease . com
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Posted by: guardianangel
Praise God for the souls that have been saved. 
I pray for a hedge of protection about Father Zakaria. May the angels be dispensed for his protection as they were for Paul and Silas. This is what I have prayed for!
Father, thank You for hearing our prayers that not one soul be lost. I ask for absolute protection for those who spread Your True Word. I pray for open ears, eyes, minds and hearts in the Islamic world to Your truths. In Jesus Name I bring these requests before Your throne. Amen.
Posted by: MarkSentMe
You have your "radical Christians"- the ones who blow up women's clinics because they don't believe in abortion. Or the people who would kill someone because that person is homosexual. I always shook my head on those. They are against killing an unborn baby, so to express that anger, they kill. Instead of loving the person and loathing the sin, they choose to kill someone over their lifestyle choice. The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination, but I am not going to kill someone over it.
The Bible says,"Thou shalt not kill." That's both the unborn and the born.
So, yes, some radical Christianity is as dangerous as radical Islam. Maybe instead of radical we should say "fanatical". Because Jesus and His disciples were, in fact, radical and extreme. And I Thank God that they were!
Posted by: Christian Commando
Yes, Christianity does have it's share of believers so zealous, thier passion is out of control at times. But, I like Akabezalel's examples because in fact, the Apostles and other Early Church Leaders back in the first Century to the first part of the 2nd Century were called "Radical", because of the "New Covenant" God gave His Children, which now included Gentiles as well.
Even Jesus Christ was considered as "Radical" in His Day, for the fact people thought some great "Warrior Leader" was coming to set Isreal free from captivity. The problem was, they had no true conception of what this mean't.
Yet the religious Leaders also thought Jesus as "Radical", for the fact He taught such a meek and mild doctrine, yet with such bold authority in meekness, they could not catch Him in a lie or stumble Him in doctrine.
Very good discertion in this thread.
God Bless!!