All I'm attempting to do is see if you understand that, whether we're Muslim, Christian, Mormorn, or Buddhist, we tend to be basically the same (added for clarity: Not in religions, but in human nature). It was an eye-opener for me to find out that the large number of Muslims in the countries I've visited don't actually hang out cursing the U.S. How many conversations I've had with the "Muslim on the street corner" who thanked us Americans for helping them get out from under oppression. Who are truly supportive of the American support, and are willing to sit and discuss differences in religion.
Not what you see on television, that's for sure.
I know a few Muslims, a few more Hindus, a lot more Buddhists, a good many others, and a whole lot of agnostics.
And all those fit exactly into the generalization that you've painted?
I have read some portions of the Koran in an effort to understand the venom in it and how it is directed at Christianity. Anyone who professes to be a Muslim is ultimately going to bound by the directions in the Koran. If they are not doing so they ultimately will be driven to so by others or will be forced to break from Islam and join the infidels. I don't have to know very many Muslims to understand what their "bible" instructs.
But there's a distinction there that you're not drawing. Unlike our country, theirs ties their politics and their religion together so tightly, they can't be separated. Many of them may disagree with something like stoning adulterers, and think it should be stopped (just as we don't); however, it hasn't been overturned in their laws.
Further, when you consider the literacy rate of places like Afghanistan, the additional problem you have is that the large percentages of the populations only know what their imams and spiritual leaders tell them that the Koran says. The fact that you've read it makes you decades--centuries?--ahead of them.
I don't doubt the Lord's ability to convert anyone to Christianity. He did it for me and I'm not better than anyone else. He is the only true God and every belief other than in Him is based upon lies.
Good; just checking for clarity.
What you mean by "implying something"? I meant what I wrote and don't think it needs much more explanation. We do no good service to friends and family when we avoid confronting their unbelief or sinful conduct for purposes that give Him the glory. That includes evangelizing non-believers, rebuking and correcting fellow believers, and protecting the folk around us. What are you asking about?
We are conversing in print only; I simply wanted to make sure you weren't under the impression that simply because people have friends who are Muslims, doesn't mean that they're avoiding telling those Muslim friends about the Gospel.
What strikes me is not based on the limited number of Muslims any one of us might know - you, me, or just about everyone else on this board - but rather, on the virtual lack of active objection to what many call the "radical" Muslims from within the Islamic faith and instead, the frequent connections that are made between such radicals and the current events involving Muslims. I just don't see the "peaceful" elements of Islam counting for much and consider it unwise to think it is so!
Consider what is unwise? That there are peaceful elements of Islam? I'll agree with you that there appears to be a minority; but again, I'll point out that a lot of them, due to not being able to read the Koran themselves, are simply going by what their religious authorities tell them.
Sort of like the Catholics a few hundred years ago, ya know?
I'm not affiliated with Westboro Baptist Church. Could it be that you were implying something by that question?
Nope. To come to that sort of conclusion is a stretch at best. The only implication I might be trying to draw is that your words are exactly the same as Muslims in other parts of the world, when they describe Christianity (and Baptists in particular), because all they see on television is the stories about the Westboro congregation.
In other words, if you were a Muslim with only a television to tell him about Baptists, your last paragraph would read like:
But, regardless, it is right to call Baptists exactly what they are and, while we should not seek to personally offend an individual in a manner that's based upon human hatred, we cannot proclaim the Koran to them without offending what they otherwise believe knowing full well that God does hate the evil that opposes Him. It would be nice if the world would love us but they will hate us so I don't worry too much about that they think. In fact, given the Biblical instruction, we're more likely to be on the right track when they like us the least and, no, that does not condone our improper actions.
Now, here's my point:
Understand how the other side thinks. They *don't* think "let's kill every Christian we see"; they think, "there go professors of a false religion." Once you get it into your head how the "enemy" thinks, that his thinking is not really that much different than yours, then you can anticipate his arguments and his questions, and you can develop strategies that show him what the real truth of the matter is.
Islam is yet another great threat facing our nation and Christianity today. We need to aggressively fight against it every means available and starting with prayer that we be empowered and equipped to be successful in His name.
"Every means available"? You care to elaborate on that a little more? Because here's your comment coming from an Islam point of view:
Christianity is yet another great threat facing our nation and Islam today. We need to aggressively fight against it every means available and starting with prayer that we be empowered and equipped to be successful in His name.
Tell me again how you're different than the Muslims?