This is very interesting. A Mooslim shaikh was pontificating and suddenly died. I wonder what he felt as he met the Jewish God of Israel? He who sits on His throne laughs! This shaikh is on fire for Jesus! I wonder also, if he believed in the rapture?
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4 Comments, Comment or Ping
Whittier Heretic
Psalm 2:4-6 [ESV]
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
Psalm 59:8-10 [ESV]
8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them;
you hold all the nations in derision.
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
Aug 17th, 2007
Samuel Garcia
Mario, I want to very respectfully ask you why you think you can speak in this way. I will always remember what my theology professor said and keep it close to heart, “Never preach about hell without a tear in your eye.” Should we not be saddened to the bone by watching this? A man who rejected God and will suffer the consequences? This is no laughing matter, and I really don’t think a non-Christian will find what you said very funny. This means that it is not a good witness for Christ either.
Jesus called us to a higher demand in the Sermon on the Mount when he said to love our enemies and to bless them and not curse. There’s a point where we cannot do that anymore, like death (ha), but the spirit of compassion is essential nonetheless. I would question my view of others if I can freely say that others are on fire for Christ for a joke. I don’t say this to attack you Mario as I know you’re a good guy. I only want to remind you of our calling.
In love,
Sam
Dec 12th, 2007
Mario
Samuel,
The reason I write in this way is because these people are anti-christs. Maybe you and I see it from a different perspective. I have stood outside of mosques and heard first hand what these Imams teach. I have been attacked by them. They preach hatred toward infidels. Yes, my desire is that God would save whom he will from their midst. I preach the gospel to these people because they are condemned and on their way to hell. If they die in rebellion and preaching falsehood, they die enemies of God! I see it as one less anti-christ leading people astray. Why should we be saddened to the bone by watching this? It gives me great hope that our sovereign Lord is sitting on His throne and executes judgment on the wicked. I was not intending this article to be funny. I have seen the hatred these men have for Christ. Before we went on our retreat this year, I was driving by an old mosque site. I saw an Arab man in a suit with white garb over his head. He appeared to be praying or pacing over a new piece of flattened land ready for building or construction. I immediately thought, “they are going to build a mosque in our city.” Momentarily fear gripped me. I tried to ignore it and get my coffee, but I could not. I parked my car and waited and watched this man. Something in me compelled me to declare the gospel to him, but I thought there was no way I could do it; the coward in me. Nonetheless, I found myself walking toward him and asked him what he was doing. He replied that he was building a “church” of which he was the “pastor.” I asked him what religion, already knowing he was Muslim. He replied, “Muslim.” I told him I was a Christian. He said to me, “you and I are the same.” I responded to him that we were not because I believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man at the same time. Of course he disagreed. I asked him is he ever told a lie before, he stood and looked at me, and replied by saying no. I asked him if he ever lusted after a woman with his eyes. He thought for a moment and then said, “yes, I lust after my wife.” I said no sir, I’m not asking about your wife, I’m asking about other women. He replied by saying he wanted to talk about something else. At this point, I pressed him with the gospel and repentance toward Christ. He became offended and pushed me out of the way and walked off. Should I feel sorry for this guy? Should I feel compassion for people who want to slaughter those who don’t believe in a pedophile?(The Profit Muhammed, cursed be his name.)? If they don’t repent and turn to Christ, then they shall be tossed into Hell by the Lord Jesus. Samuel, the non-Christian will definitely not find what is in Scripture funny or appealing at all. How is this not a good witness for Christ? What would you say being a witness for Christ is? Samuel, our calling is to contend earnestly for the faith, once for all delivered to the saints. I strive to do this. I am definitely not perfect, but I press on in this great calling we have. As the days grow more wicked, I must confess that compassion for the wicked is running out fast. May the Lord continue to give us boldness to carry out His work. It is through prayer and the power that comes from God alone who will enable us to stand against the enemies of Christ, even unto death. The history of Christianity is covered with the blood of the saints who gave up their lives just as Christ gave His for His church. “Never preach about hell without a tear in your eye” sounds compassionate, but I’d rather preach about hell with conviction, because having a tear in the eye will not change anything, nor will my own conviction. It is the power of God alone who can awaken a child of Satan. Samuel I don’t take it as an attack. Samuel, I keep the calling of God in the forefront of my mind every day. There is so much to be done, and I am an unfaithful servant, but striving to Find, Follow, and Finish, His will for my life. Keep us in prayer. Looking for your response. How have you been and what are you up to these days?
Dec 12th, 2007
Samuel Garcia
Mario,
I think you are right in saying that we are looking at this from different perspectives. Let me try and bring these two together.
What is the calling of Christ? To preach the gospel which is the restoration of all things, especially of the spiritual aspect of men and women. So we both would agree that part of doing this necessitates contending for the faith, but I would deny that “contending” for the faith also necessitates “in your face” evangelism in every situation. I think that you would agree with me at least on this point. It would be just as valid for me to present the gospel to the Muslim you encountered only after having developed a relationship. Same mission, different tactic, always led by the Spirit. Actually, it’s possible that the Spirit would even lead us to deal with the same person differently.
It is true that the non-Christian would not find Scripture very inviting but we must remember that there are other ways of presenting the gospel that are equally valid (like I’ve already said). You find this even in Scripture, i.e., Jesus and woman at the well vs. Jesus and the Pharisees; Paul at Athens or Paul in his letter to the Romans (ch. 1) So should I always preach hell-fire and justice? Maybe to a prideful imam, but what of an abused teenage girl or a battered wife? Surely it’s ok to begin with love in that case? My point is only that our presentation must conform to the person and that we should be guided by the Spirit in these matters.
But in all this, we must agree that a Christian’s attitude must be, in a sense, “oxymoronic.” What I mean is that we must feel both compassion and satisfaction in light of God’s justice. I am firmly convinced of both. Yes, that shaikh is one less antichrist to lead people astray, but it is precisely because he retains the image of God that we must see value in his being and feel compassion for one of God’s children (of creation). Preaching about hell should grieve our souls and stir compassion, but this does not rule out a passionate warning with conviction. Christians are called to a superhuman love that would even lead them to prayer for Hitler were he alive now doing his despicable acts. And in this, we all fall short miserably.
I have been well Mario and just finished finals two days ago. One more semester and I graduate! I see Janine around school and she’s always so dang happy!
In love,
-Sam
Dec 14th, 2007
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