tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post5755493440119332440..comments2023-05-11T05:33:36.857-04:00Comments on Persecuted Church Weblog: 'Christians' celebrating Ramadan?Greg Musselmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15224965213121759243noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-31188573146515067012009-09-22T21:32:07.439-04:002009-09-22T21:32:07.439-04:00Just as scripture tells us... There is a day comi...Just as scripture tells us... There is a day coming when that which is evil will be called good and that which is good will be called evil. We are not far from this day being in full effect. The enemy of Christ is working very hard to perverse the message of the Gospels and there are many willing to embrace it. How anyone can belive the Quran, a book of abuse, hatred and violence towards nonmuslims can accept a common ground or acceptability with the one True God is beyond me. You KNOW it has to be spiritual blindness. <br /><br />These two books are diametrically opposites and there can be no marraige between them. Do NOT be fooled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-8043503851187091852009-09-21T14:57:03.626-04:002009-09-21T14:57:03.626-04:00I'm not surprised to see this coming from the ...I'm not surprised to see this coming from the emerging/emergent (or whatever the latest term is) church. It all seems to be a very personal "do what is right in your own eyes" philosophy ("That's the way I see it, but you may see it differently and that's ok"). There's no right or wrong. The Bible seems to be not much more than a suggestion to consider, so why not the Quran to go with it (or the Gitas or whatever the next fad will be)?<br /><br />I'm rather surprised this group has lasted as long as it has. Give it time. The fad seems to be fading as the fruit of their philosophy starts revealing itself.APnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-78545235565069346212009-09-20T04:43:19.121-04:002009-09-20T04:43:19.121-04:00Glenn,
If these folk want to fast [and praise Go...Glenn,<br /><br /><br />If these folk want to fast [and praise God that they do!], how about joining with the original?<br />The traditional Christian practice of the Lenten fast, leading up to Easter. <br /><br /><br /><br />Your blog aligns with some on-the-ground observations that my wife & I made relating to Ramadan in Indonesia this year.<br /><br />(We are Australians, she is of Indonesian origin, and we maintain close links with family & friends in suburban Jakarta.)<br /><br />We've just returned to Australia from our annual family visit to Jakarta. We were there for the first 10 days of Ramadan. What a curious experience this year!<br /><br />It's almost like the muslim moderates are learning from the protestant Christians. In supermarkets there was incessant islamic 'prayer & praise' type music being played over the store entertainment systems - very much like we might hear Christmas Carols in western shopping centres. Not arabic wailing - sounded just like western contemporary Christian acoustic folk/pop/light rock, in contemporary Indonesian language, and clearly and explicitly islamic.<br /><br />We also noted for the first time that muslim family groups were gathering at some of the local mosques for 'fellowship meals' as they broke the fast at the end of each day. It looked just like the Christian practice.<br /><br />Coincidently, we noticed the absence of more hard-line expressions of Islam on this visit. I have clear memories in previous years, for example, of people collecting money to support the jihad against Christians in the Maluku Islands. Nothing like that now - family told me that the government is working hard to shut down religious extremism, and such public displays are no longer tolerated. We even saw a large billboard announcing that true jihad was the war against our passions and temptations, not war against people. (Really regretting not having had a camera with me at that moment.)<br /><br /><br />There is a flip-side to this caring sharing image of Islam - the blurring of the line of distinction between us and them, and the possible seduction of well-meaning Christians into embracing Islam.<br /><br /><br />The Indonesians have always been friends with each other other across the faith boundary, and it's normal to hear Christian and Muslim friends wish each other "Salamat Labaran" (Happy Labaran = end of Ramadan) and "Salamat Paskah" (Happy Easter) respectively.<br />That has always been considered a 'safe' expression of friendship and tolerance of each other. This year we've noticed something far more disturbing from some of our Christian friends (in person and via Facebook): Greetings to Muslims, such as "May God bless your Fasting".<br /><br />When does 'tolerance' become 'embracing'?<br />How can a Christian wish the blessings of a strange and foreign god?<br />Are the Christians being seduced?<br /><br /><br />Blessings<br />Nick in Melbourne, AustraliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-76491545884448080202009-09-20T04:36:37.509-04:002009-09-20T04:36:37.509-04:00Glenn,
If these folk want to fast [and praise God...Glenn,<br /><br />If these folk want to fast [and praise God that they do!], how about joining with the original?<br />The traditional Christian practice of the Lenten fast, leading up to Easter. <br /><br /><br /><br />Your blog aligns with some on-the-ground observations of Ramadan that my wife & I made in Indonesia this year.<br /><br />(We are Australians, she is of Indonesian origin, and we maintain close links with family & friends in suburban Jakarta.)<br /><br />We've just returned to Australia from our annual family visit to Jakarta, including the first week of Ramadan. What a curious experience this year!<br />It's almost like the muslim moderates are copying the protestant Christians. In supermarkets there was incessant islamic 'prayer & praise' type music being played over the store entertainment systems - very much like we might hear Christmas Carols in western shopping centres. Not arabic wailing - sounded just like western contemporary Christian acoustic folk/pop/light rock, in contemporary Indonesian language, and clearly and explicitly islamic.<br /><br />We also noted for the first time (for us, anyway) that muslim family groups were gathering at some of the local mosques for 'fellowship meals' as they broke the fast at the end of each day. <br /><br />Coincidently, we noticed the absence of more hard-line expressions of Islam on this visit. I have clear memories in previous years, for example, of people collecting money to support the jihad against Christians in the Maluku Islands. Nothing like that now - family told me that the government is working hard to shut down religious extremism, and such public displays are no longer tolerated. We even saw a large billboard announcing that true jihad was the war against personal passions and temptations, not war against people. (Really regretting not having had a camera with me at that moment.)<br /><br /><br />There is a flip-side to this caring sharing image of Islam - the blurring of the line of distinction between us and them, and the possible seduction of well-meaning Christians into embracing Islam.<br /><br /><br />The Indonesians have always been friends with each other other across the faith boundary, and it's normal to hear Christian and Muslim friends wish each other "Salamat Labaran" (Happy Labaran = end of Ramadan) and "Salamat Paskah" (Happy Easter) at Ramadan and Easter respectively.<br />That has always been seen as a 'safe' expression of friendship and tolerance of each other. This year we've noticed something far more disturbing from some of our Christian friends (in person and via Facebook): Greetings to Muslims, such as "May God bless your Fasting".<br /><br />When does 'tolerance' become 'embracing'?<br />How can a Christian wish the blessings of a strange and foreign god?<br />Are the Christians being seduced?<br /><br /><br />blessings<br />Nick in Melbourne, AustraliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-65647329487120782682009-09-19T11:38:44.415-04:002009-09-19T11:38:44.415-04:00The article should be startling, but one has the s...The article should be startling, but one has the sense that today it is not. The celebration of Ramadan mentioned in the article seems to go beyond secular enjoyment and respect, as is often shown for Christmas around the world. It seems from the article that some Christians are seeking for something more spiritual. . . to grow spiritually from a ritual dedicated to Allah. <br /><br />And yet, at the heart of things, the promise of God is life in Christ. . . that it is the living presence of Christ alone that makes us alive to the things of God. <br /><br />While tolerance and respect for the rights of others for their own religions and rituals is to be encouraged, and it is a measure of a good soul not to hate others for their beliefs, this should not be confused with finding spiritual life or growth.<br /><br />Here in New Jersey, which has a variety of religious expression, over the next few weeks the very large Hindu population is celebrating Navratri, in honor of a goddess. Everyone is invited of course. While it may be an interesting cultural exercise to visit the festival, and it may promote peace and understanding, which is commendable, I would not expect to find spiritual life there. . . Christ is not there.<br /><br />Campolo's belief that those who do good to others already unknowingly know Christ misses the point of things. There are many 'Christians' who do good works who are not alive in Christ either. The call of Christ is that we deny ourselves & follow Him. . . not merely that we do good things to others to the best of our ability. . . but rather that in Christ we learn like Paul, "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh." We are meant to turn utterly from what we are in ourselves, and find in Christ life. The power of His resurrection is meant to be in our lives. . . there is a life for our souls in Christ. <br /><br />But that life & growth that comes only from utterly denying oneself and following Jesus, does not come unknowingly. And it is never the call from other religions. It is not doctrine that separates, it is the presence of life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-45082584668265695972009-09-19T09:44:26.630-04:002009-09-19T09:44:26.630-04:00I have just finished reading"The Lost History...I have just finished reading"The Lost History Of Christianity",by Philip Jenkins.<br />The thousand year golden age of the church in the Middle East,Africa,and Asia ---and HOW IT DIED !<br />This book should be read by all christians who love the church of Jesus Christ.The bride of Christ should not veil her self with Islam.<br />I wish that the so-called learned theologians would learn from history!!Before becoming shepherds who lead the flock astray with false teachings.<br />Jesus said:"NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME !!<br />Suzanna MeyerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-53755127531749338432009-09-18T23:46:17.361-04:002009-09-18T23:46:17.361-04:00This article is rather scary, along with what I re...This article is rather scary, along with what I read in last week's McLeans about what they're teaching children in sex-ed classes in our Canadian schools.... I get overwhelmed with the evil that is happening all around me... Then I remember that the harder we pray, the harder we fight for the coming of God's Kingdom, the harder our enemy will fight back, so what should I expect...<br /><br />I am so thankful that God placed me, as a baby Christian, in a Bible-believing church that gave me the solid foundation I needed to stay faithful to Jesus. And He got me hooked up with ministries like Voice of the Martyrs, whom I can trust to also stay faithful to His Word.<br /><br />God bless you all as you continue to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.Laurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198578950825291598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-52533725410024434192009-09-18T19:26:27.493-04:002009-09-18T19:26:27.493-04:00This is an incredibly interesting article. Last y...This is an incredibly interesting article. Last year, I fasted from lunch during Ramadan in order to follow the prayer guide provided by the 30-Days Prayer Network. I wasn't "observing" Ramadan, but I was setting aside time I would usually use for eating in order to pray for Muslims. This year, Ramadan sneaked up on me and I missed the beginning.<br /><br />I am startled and dismayed by the merging of Christianity and Islam, of which I'd never heard. I am even more bothered that the Episcopalian's choice to renounce Christ's deity "has not been controversial." <br /><br />All the more reason to hold fast to Christ and His Words, and to weigh everything accordingly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20271097.post-81300593201763638092009-09-18T18:28:16.651-04:002009-09-18T18:28:16.651-04:00A thoughtful article
It seems that a focus of try...A thoughtful article<br /><br />It seems that a focus of trying to reveal that we "love our neighbor" can lead us away from Christ as the central/primary focus of our love. Jesus told us that the first and greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind (Mt. 22:37). The second command is "like it" but it isn't the greatest commandment.pbbcchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08704676549498172277noreply@blogger.com