Would You Trust...

[tango]

Well I think it is silly and absurd to think scooping fire into one's bosom will not cause severe burns. And I wish you many blessings for being a good trusting friend to your muslim friends and colleagues . May you be rewarded richly for your trust.

How is scooping fire into one's bosom relevant to loving other people like Christ told us to? Did he say that we should love others, except for the nasty Muslims who we can ignore or hate?

When Jesus said "when you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me" I wonder if "the least of these" might include people fleeing warfare even if they do happen to be Muslims.

 

[pinacled]

How is scooping fire into one's bosom relevant to loving other people like Christ told us to? Did he say that we should love others, except for the nasty Muslims who we can ignore or hate?

When Jesus said "when you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me" I wonder if "the least of these" might include people fleeing warfare even if they do happen to be Muslims.

Charity is important.
But remember all of this is a diversion. The prize is Israel. Which the false prophet seeks to seat himself.

 

[tango]

Charity is important.
But remember all of this is a diversion. The prize is Israel. Which the false prophet seeks to seat himself.

Sure, but that's something of a diversion from a thread about a former Muslim in church that already got diverted once.

 

[Brighten04]

How is scooping fire into one's bosom relevant to loving other people like Christ told us to? Did he say that we should love others, except for the nasty Muslims who we can ignore or hate?

When Jesus said "when you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me" I wonder if "the least of these" might include people fleeing warfare even if they do happen to be Muslims.

We should love everyone, but in this case it is better from a distance, especially when you don't know the heart of people. Even Lord Jesus was careful in this regard, and He knew the heart of every man, for it is written
John 2: 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.

I choose to imitate My Lord. But I admire you for doing what you think is right. And may you be richly rewarded for it.

 

[NASCAR72]

Yes.

Islam teaches discipline and most Muslims are incredibly disciplined, so I imagine they would make some of the best Christians. Not many Christians care much now days about reducing sin in their lives or respecting God's word

 

[TurtleHare]

Yes.

Islam teaches discipline and most Muslims are incredibly disciplined, so I imagine they would make some of the best Christians. Not many Christians care much now days about reducing sin in their lives or respecting God's word

You can't be serious in saying those who reject the Savior would make the best Christians?

 

[tango]

We should love everyone, but in this case it is better from a distance, especially when you don't know the heart of people. Even Lord Jesus was careful in this regard, and He knew the heart of every man, for it is written
John 2: 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.

I choose to imitate My Lord. But I admire you for doing what you think is right. And may you be richly rewarded for it.

Perhaps, but then look at the example Jesus gave of the Good Samaritan. I don't suppose he knew the heart of the man he helped but did it anyway. And, in reference to the acts of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said "go and do likewise".

 

[Brighten04]

Perhaps, but then look at the example Jesus gave of the Good Samaritan. I don't suppose he knew the heart of the man he helped but did it anyway. And, in reference to the acts of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said "go and do likewise".

The good Samaritan loved the man by taking him to an inn and paying for his care. He didn't take the man home with him. I can do that through charities.

 

[tango]

The good Samaritan loved the man by taking him to an inn and paying for his care. He didn't take the man home with him. I can do that through charities.

Of course you can, it's just a question of choosing the charities wisely.

The thread has bounced around a little, if we're talking about a former Muslim who converted to Christianity and now attends your church, what would you do if they needed help? Would you offer them help in a real and present way, or figure that the local charity would do it instead? If we're talking about a refugee who fled their country with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing and whatever they could gather from their home before the militia arrived, what would you expect to do to help them? Would the god they chose to worship make a difference to their need?

 

[Brighten04]

Of course you can, it's just a question of choosing the charities wisely.

The thread has bounced around a little, if we're talking about a former Muslim who converted to Christianity and now attends your church, what would you do if they needed help? Would you offer them help in a real and present way, or figure that the local charity would do it instead? If we're talking about a refugee who fled their country with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing and whatever they could gather from their home before the militia arrived, what would you expect to do to help them? Would the god they chose to worship make a difference to their need?

In the OP I asked others how they would handle it because I am struggling with trusting the sincerity of people who came out of a kill the infidel culture.

 

[tango]

In the OP I asked others how they would handle it because I am struggling with trusting the sincerity of people who came out of a kill the infidel culture.

I think the problem is the "kill the infidel" culture. Not all Muslims buy into that.

As I touched on briefly above (partly because my own understanding is very limited) the teachings of Mohammed changed markedly between Mecca and Medina. I forget which way around it was but essentially he went from preaching peace to preaching war. Some Muslims focus on his teaching of peace while others focus on his teaching of war.

What would you say to someone whose only experience of Christians was seeing groups like Westboro Baptist Church parading on their TV and were struggling with the sincerity of people who came out of a bloodthirsty culture where homosexuals and adulterers were put to death?

On a related note, since I used to be an occultist would you struggle with the sincerity of someone like me, who came out of a culture that brazenly cursed the name of God?

 

[Brighten04]

I think the problem is the "kill the infidel" culture. Not all Muslims buy into that.

As I touched on briefly above (partly because my own understanding is very limited) the teachings of Mohammed changed markedly between Mecca and Medina. I forget which way around it was but essentially he went from preaching peace to preaching war. Some Muslims focus on his teaching of peace while others focus on his teaching of war.

What would you say to someone whose only experience of Christians was seeing groups like Westboro Baptist Church parading on their TV and were struggling with the sincerity of people who came out of a bloodthirsty culture where homosexuals and adulterers were put to death?

On a related note, since I used to be an occultist would you struggle with the sincerity of someone like me, who came out of a culture that brazenly cursed the name of God?

Well, I was raised Christian, and any other way imho is suspect of being anti-Christ. Westboro Baptist do not act Christian imho so they are suspect. You...I think , I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I don't know you except by what you write here. So it is easy for me to say I trust you because you are in London. I think I would have suspicions of you if you came to my church and confessed that you were an occultist. This is serious with me. It is a real problem. That is why I started this thread.

My job some years ago had us do these trust exercises. We were supposed to fall backward and trust our co-workers to catch us. I did ok on the catching part but not so well on the falling backward part.

 

[psalms 91]

Well, I was raised Christian, and any other way imho is suspect of being anti-Christ. Westboro Baptist do not act Christian imho so they are suspect. You...I think , I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I don't know you except by what you write here. So it is easy for me to say I trust you because you are in London. I think I would have suspicions of you if you came to my church and confessed that you were an occultist. This is serious with me. It is a real problem. That is why I started this thread.

My job some years ago had us do these trust exercises. We were supposed to fall backward and trust our co-workers to catch us. I did ok on the catching part but not so well on the falling backward part.

Actually occultists because of their background know power and they know the spiritual; side as well and once converted make very powerful christians

 

[Brighten04]

Actually occultists because of their background know power and they know the spiritual; side as well and once converted make very powerful christians

I believe this is true. So do Muslims.

 

[popsthebuilder]

Well, I do not live near any Muslim people , but, I do encounter them frequently. I have a friend who married someone from Saudi Arabia. From my little exposure, I have not been able to let my guard down. I have been in their shops. But, they seem just as suspicious of me as I am of them. I have nursed them, but they made it obvious that they wanted as little to do with us as possible.I want to just treat everyone the same as I want to be treated. But, I am not a glutton for punishment. I am always aware that a smiling face is not necessarily a friendly face. The truth is in the eyes.I am a very analytical person when it comes to people. If a person hurts me, I am less likely to trust that person again. Don't get me wrong, I am a compassionate person. But for me, sometimes I do better loving people from a distance.And that goes for people in general regardless of ideologies. If people act like they WANT to be friendly with me, I respond in kind. But, if a person acts like the do not want to be bothered with me, I give them their space. The Bible says if you want friends, show yourself friendly. But, I think of it like this. If I show myself friendly, and a person assumes that I am weak because I am kind, they are in for a rude awakening. As for Muslim people, I am still on the fence when it comes to them. You say they just want to just get on with their lives and be left alone.Well, I see them differently. It seems like they want to be left alone, but they will not leave others alone. That is why there is so much killing and destruction in Muslim lands. It seems they want to oppress and dominate others, and they are willing to kill to make others submit to them and their god.

Their God? There is only one God. Allah translates to God. The Qur'an is very similar to the Torah and New Covenant. They all refer to the same God.

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

 

[TurtleHare]

I don't believe that someone who denies the Savior worships the same God but instead a false god. If they reject the Savior they reject all of God. There are so many false gods that man creates in order to take us away from keeping our eyes on Jesus. If we look away and say they are okay to worship a Saviorless god then are we doing so in sin since it is not by faith?

 

[psalms 91]

Their God? There is only one God. Allah translates to God. The Qur'an is very similar to the Torah and New Covenant. They all refer to the same God.

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

They are not the same as much as some may want us to believe that

 

[popsthebuilder]

They are not the same scriptures. They are all inspired by God to some extent. And yes, the God is the same God, the merciful, all powerful Creator.

All praise is God's

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

 

[popsthebuilder]

They have the same teachings and stories. One says Christ is the way. Many don't understand this though, on both sides. With time, patience, perseverance, and Faith we will unite peaceably under the one God.

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

 

[psalms 91]

They are not the same scriptures. They are all inspired by God to some extent. And yes, the God is the same God, the merciful, all powerful Creator.

All praise is God's

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

OK Tell me how they view Jesus, that should settle this