The Bible And The Koran

There is little understanding between the Christian and Muslim world. Americans are beginning to get a glimpse of the cultural differences. The spiritual differences are not well defined in the minds of most Easterners.

Mohammad referred to Christians and Jews as “people of the book,” referring to the Bible. He felt bad that the Arabs did not have a book. In reality the Bible is intended for all races. In 610 AD Mohammad was convinced in his own mind he was called by Gabriel to be a prophet of Allah. Soon thereafter he began writing the Qur’an, or Koran, a book for his people. He was received by his followers as a prophet who spoke for Allah.

In Mecca he became persecuted and his message rejected. In 622 (year 1 of the Muslim calendar) he fled to Medina. From his base there he enjoyed his first major military victory in the battle of Badr on March 15, 624. By January 630 Mohammad conquered and took control of Mecca. Medina continued to be his home. There he died June 8, 632.

Muhammad learned of monotheism from Christian and Jewish merchants during his youth. Unfortunately these tradesmen were not theologically well versed. The Bible had not been translated into Arabic at the time.

Mohammad was not versed on orthodox Christianity or the Bible. This shows in portions of the Qur’an. For example, his text denies Christ as the Son of God, that Christ died on the cross, and the doctrine of the Trinity. It also seeks to disproves certain claims allegedly made by Christians, such as, Mary was a sister of Aaron and Moses (Sura 19:28) and that Mary was a part of the Trinity. The Bible and Christians who believe in it have never made these claims. Rather than admit Mohammed made an error his followers claim his text is correct and Christians have corrupted theirs in total.

Mohammed lived in a time when success was thought to be a sign of divine favor. This made the idea that God would let one of His prophets die of crucifixion unrealistic. The Qur’an makes light of the idea. Sura 4:157 speaks of those who boast “we killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God.” It then denies the crucifixion noting: “but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for a surety they killed him not.” This refutes Christian teaching regarding salvation.

When the Jews rejected his book he forced two powerful tribes out of Medina. The third group, the Quarayza, Islamic biographers say he “sent for them and struck off their heads in those trenches as they were brought out in batches.” Christians were treated more benevolently at first. However, his campaigns against fellow Arabs and the massacre of the Qurayza established the ideological basis for later persecution of them.

The difference over the crucifixion in two books has been the basis of division between the three faiths.

An Astronaut’s Faith

A friend familiar with some details of the crew of the spaceship Columbia shared with me the following.

Astronaut Rick Husband, a quiet and humble man, was a man of great faith. A story circulated from a suit technician on the pad. After the astronauts “suited up” on that final day before the flight, they walked down a hallway to meet the press. Rick stopped the crew before the door opened to pray for each one on the crew. Later, the technicians commented to one another and said that in all of their years, they had never heard a captain praying for and with his crew.

The spouses of the crew each have the opportunity to pick a song to wake up their mate on one morning of the time the crew is in space? What would you pick for your spouse, if married? Rick’s wife selected Steve Green’s song “God of Wonders” which is on his popular CD “Woven in Time.” The song goes like this:

Lord of all creation
Of water, earth and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your Majesty
(Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me)
You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Early in the morning
I will celebrate Your light
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night

Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Rick responded by saying, “Good morning. Thank you. We can really appreciate the lyrics of that song up here. We look out the window and see that God truly is a God of wonders!”

Rick had shared with friends via email that it was overwhelming to see God’s vast creation from space. He said that he never cried while exercising before, but while peddling the stationary bike and looking out of the window at God’s incredible creation, it simply brought tears to his eyes.

Rick made 34 devotional videotapes for his children prior to the flight. There were 17 for his daughter and 17 for his son. It was a special way for him to be with his children, one little message for each day while he was gone. What tremendous treasures these will be to his children for years to come.

Maybe we should ask ourselves, if our lives were to end tomorrow, what would we leave behind? Could we honestly say we have been happy as to how we have been disciplining our own life and that of our children or grandchildren?

America: The World’s Only Superpower

More twins are being born today than ever. One child said it is because the world is such a scary place babies are afraid to come in alone.

Global pressures make that sound reasonable. Iraq, North Korea, and Venezuela are only a few of the hot spots. Coupling that with America’s unpopularity in many nations and hatred in Arab lands makes for a boiling caldron.

America is the only legitimate global superpower. That is a first in the history of the world. Even during great empires such as Rome, Egypt, and Greece there were challenging dynasties. Our singular state is one of the primary reason certain countries are insisting the US get United Nations sanctions before acting. It is an effort to subordinate America to this world organization.

France and Germany are foremost in this effort. There are several reasons for their attitude. One is the massive Muslim population that has settled in their countries since the Ayatollah returned to Iran and urged Muslims to move to Europe. This milieu has resulted in an attitude of placating these outsiders lest terrorist elements in their ranks strike them. Watch for even greater influence from their immigrant population. The numbers are staggering.

As an aside there is a reason for the French reluctance to back America in efforts against Iraq. It is revealed in the spurious report that there is to be a major sale of World War II French rifles in mint condition that have never been fired and dropped only once.

North Korea has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Conditions within this isolated land are deplorable. I have a friend who has been working with the limited relief efforts there. They say starvation is so rampant that guards are posted at cemeteries to prevent bodies from being dug up and used as food. Their million man army gets priority on food. Their military arsenal is formidable. An all out clash with South Korea would be a major mismatch favoring the North. Fortunately for us we are not opposing their nuclear efforts alone. Their neighbors are justifiably concerned.

Under normal conditions Venezuela would not be of such concern. Their oil is important to our economy. Efforts to reconcile opposing groups have been futile. It is class warfare stimulated by political interests. The oil supply has been curtailed to the point it is influencing two continents.

To withstand these international pressures coupled with internal discord America is going to have to be a super power in more ways than one. The moral fiber and spiritual vitality that has carried us through many crises has been eroded at a time it is most needed. If a realization that our super military power is not enough to see us through this dark hour results in a returning to the supernatural power that has sustained us previously this will prove to be a good hour.

The prophets of ancient Israel exhorted the people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Let’s pray for the peace of America.

Abortion

The most dangerous place in America today is a mother’s womb. Every day in America over 4,000 preborn babies are aborted. Those for and against the procedure call it abortion. The word “abort(ion)” defined by “Webster’s Encyclopedia of Dictionaries” means “to fail to bring to fruition.”

If that which is aborted were allowed to come to fruition it would be a human being. What is it that is not allowed to come to fruition? A human being.

It is in the womb so it must be acknowledged to be a being. It is not a non-being. Since it is the product of copulation by two human beings, it is human; a human being.

Some skeptics refer to the preborn as “fetal matter” which they do not consider a human being until it starts breathing. Against that background consider this.

Dr. Luke, “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14), used the Greek word “brephos” in referring to unborn infants. The term means “a breathing infant.” He used the same term to describe Christ after birth. Question, how can a preborn be considered a “breathing thing.”

That had to be accepted by faith for years until modern science has answered the question. The answer is that the preborn actually “breathes” and gets nourishment through the umbilical cord coming from the placenta. An explanation of this is found in open-heart surgery known as “cardiopulmonary bypass.” Although the lungs of the patient are artificially ventilated during the procedure to prevent them from collapsing, they do not oxygenate the blood during the surgery. This has to be done mechanically through the blood. During the procedure the patient actually “breathes through the blood.” In like manner the preborn breathes through the blood.

These beings not being allowed to come to fruition are living, breathing human beings.

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” wrote the Psalmists (139:14). He did so long before modern science knew the body consists of 30-trillion cells, each with twenty-three chromosomes all having a memory. At the moment of conception the genes are resent that determine whether you will be an ectomorph, tall person; endomorph, fat person; or mesomorph, in between. Innate in these genes at the instant of conception are the color of your hair, eyes, and skin, sex, and whether you will be an early or late riser each morning. Eighteen weeks later all toes, fingers, and organs are formed. A human being is in process of coming into fruition.

Who are these people? Various “exceptions” are offered for legitimizing abortion. Would you have aborted the following child?

The mother was pregnant with her fifth child. Her husband had syphilis and she tuberculosis. The first child was born blind. The second child died shortly after birth. Their third child wad deaf. Their fourth child had tuberculosis. Would you have advised aborting their fifth child?

If so, you just suggested aborting Ludwig van Beethoven.

Every young woman considering an abortion should ask herself this question posed by the prophet Micah (6:7), “Shall I give my first-born for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

Even if the pregnancy is unwanted the child deserves to feel wanted. The Lord has used many adults who’s conception was unwanted. Each preborn human being deserves the right to life.

Where To Find Help In Time Of Need

PSALM 121: 1 -2

David was in a stressful situation desperate for help. Indications are this Psalm was written when he was confronted by a superior army badly needing reinforcements.

He knew from what direction his help would come. It would come from the people living beyond the mountain range.

The fact he was lifting up his eyes to the hills indicated he was confident it was coming. He was just waiting expectantly for it.

There is here a fuller expression of confidence. Though his help would consist of an army coming from beyond the hills he was fully aware that it was the Lord who was sending them. Therefore, he said, “My help comes from the Lord.”

We like he need help in three primary areas:
PROTECTION, VERSES 5, 6. He is our protector who “keeps” us as noted in verses 3,4, 5, 7,8.
GUIDANCE, VERSE 3. He will not allow His followers foot to slip.
BLESSING, VERSES 5, 6. The language speaks of blessing. In the hot arid desert shade is a blessing. It speaks summarily of all the blessing to follow.

David had need of the blessings of protection and guidance. Our Lord was in the process of giving both. However, from David’s perspective there was no evidence of it. He waited expectantly for it in faith.

In our times of need we can confidently anticipate the timely provisions of our Lord. They may not come as soon as we desire but they never come too late.

Our God is on time, in time, every time.