Some of you may know that I speak to Muslims on discussion boards. I have tried to understand them and I have tried to correct their misunderstandings of Christianity.
There is a particular Muslim who I have known for 3 years now. He has read the Bible and he considers himself an expert at interpreting Scriptures. I considered him a friend, but right now I don't like him very much. His last post is just too much for me to handle. I'm too angry. Could some of you give me some advice on how to answer him? The problem is that since he has read the Bible, other Christians and Muslims listen to him, as he can be very charming. He is addressing a Christian who said this:
This is the Muslim's response to the quote above:I even like his bible interpretations, as they come from the heart and not from profesional bible courses.
Thanks & I appreciate your comments on my ability to interpret the true meanings of the Bible which my noble Christian friends here, appreciate.
They feel surprised that a Muslim can explain the true meanings of their own Scripture to them. Instead of asking them to hold their right earlobe with the fingers of their right hand, they are made to cross over the left hand to the right ear followed by the criss crossing at the back of the head, till their hands get locked. That is the way a preacher teaches people.
It is so hard and diffult to believe in One God. How to explain? Analogies are created, references are made to the conversion of water to steam to ice, etc. Yet people are unable to understand fully. When I tell them about One God, the Only God, it sounds so simple, straight and clear that all the confusion vanishes. The Buddhists have the best example: "If you want to look at the moon, do not point a finger and look at the finger. Look at the moon direct" (From the Zen Masters who were not taught at all by the Master).
When I explain to them about: Love thy God, I tell them that you cannot tear up God into three personalities and expect to love each with the same vigor. They sit silent and flabbergasted first but when they realize what I said, they start talking and discussing.
After that, I ask them a simple question: Why do you love Jesus so much more than God? Shouldn't God be loved more than Jesus? They usually agree.
Jesus said, "Hear O Israel, Your God is one." He did not say, " Hear O Israel, Your God is me and my father and an Spirit (belongs to who)"
They sit down and reflect upon the point "Whose spirit anyway"? God's own spirit or Jesus' own spirit. But then there would be two spirits. The triune God would then have to have a fourth spirit and if we are Talking about the spirit as a Spirit on it's one, that makes it five in the trinity. So people start querying why isn't called a Pentagon?
After all people are reading the best-ever translations done which took two thousand years and these translations should be able to convey the message, not confound it.
Another example I quote is on the names of God.
Yahweh: Just a pronoun in Semitic language but turned into a proper noun and soem guys as usual were so frightened that they dared not call the pronoun in full so had to seek Greek's help in Tetragramming it to YHWH, just make it vowel-less because Hebrew has no vowels. By the way Yahweh simply means He, the one who or he who is. If we write yaweh God, then it would mean He is God. That is all to it.
Then comes the big one: Before Abraham I am, should have been "Before Abraham was". "I am" became a proper noun. Then the Israelite knows well about Moses before God. Lord! What shall I tell them your name is? God said "I am that I am" So this also became a proper noun of God.
When I explain in this argumentative manner, the Christians listen but the Jew, you know, will never listen because he has never listened even to Moses, who suffered miserably at the hand of Jew.
Thank you, once again for giving me this opportunity to explain how I teach Bible to Christians.
If I ever write a book it would be titled: "The obstinate Jew & the Impertinent Israel" but I will have to do it by writing for forty days and forty nights, when I get that chance.
Signed (Muslim)
This man is very well educated.
What is your advice? I wish I had more Christians on this site to help me out, but I don't.
Thank you all any may God Bless us all