08-14-2006, 12:00 AM
Dear Richard.
Thank you for your very fine posting. I reckoned you were a Muslim from the beginning, as I started reading, since you said "Peace..." after every mentioned prophet. That I admire. For Jesus, however.. say not "peace on Him" but rather "He Who Is Peace". A Christian former-Muslim said to me once, that the Quran says: "Jesus is the Spirit of G-d". These are strong words.. which he also indicated while stating that the prophet Mohammad is not described in the Quran any way similar....
Firstly, about Jack: another brother above here says that Jack has a way with words. I don't find that, in particular. I thank Jesus for giving Jack a better role model than to be speaking like this to a Muslim brother who seeks only honest dialogue. Please forgive him for the sake of the Love of G-d.
You wish to enlighten us, Christians, Richard. (I must admit I am not a Jew but rather one of the gentiles. I have always had a strong love for the Jews however, which I didn't understand until the person of Jesus became more known to me three years ago. I also love the muslim brothers and sisters of my society, although often with a certain pain in my heart.) I can understand that. - Many of us suffer from the same virus: The "want to testify to the Truth-virus". So we understand each other quite well all though we don't agree on what this Truth is
Now to your first made point. The Canaan woman. As I was reading my New Testament yesterday I read this story, and I asked the Lord to enlighten me since I did not understand. I did ask Him all day and also today. Then I came across your dialogue here and I felt I better say what I feel the Lord did say to me. Jack is right: The end must be considered: Jesus on the Cross. He said: "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself". And he really did.
You say that Jesus harsh words are testifying to the fact that the Quran is the only true revelation from G-d. Well, I can only agree - IF I saw it like you do. In fact I don't. Jesus never said anything harsh. He said some things, which were hard to listen to. The Word is like a Sword, yes? But what He spoke was always Love. When He spoke to the Pharisees He had great pain in His Heart while looking into their hearts, because of what: LOVE. He loved them, therefore He spoke severely.. He spoke because He Loved and what He said was always The Word eternal Truth; whatever a particular person needed to hear at a particular time. I believe the Canaan woman was loved from the beginning but that Jesus wanted to test her faith as well as that of the disciples'. The question I think is crucial here is: Who are the lost sheep of the house of Israel?. This, I know, is a highly explosive topic. But according to my faith I believe that Israel is a word of a very profound meaning. It is not only a litteral word for an ethnic group whom G-d favours with His Grace but also a Name for the children of G-d... And who are these children? Well Jesus explains it to us Himself saying in His Word: "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12)
Richard. I know this may not be a very useful argumentation for you, since you don't believe that the Gospel is in fact the Word of G-d. You think it has been manipulated etc.
I have read a book you might find useful.. its written by a certain Bilquis Sheikh.. a rich Pakistani Muslim woman who did read the New Testament. I hope you have done so yourself while praying for G-d's enlightenment. Sheikh was reading both the Gospel and the Quran and as she was once in a hospital with her ill son she met a nun. The nun did not say that the Quran was not from G-d. She only humbly and quietly said: "Ask G-d to show you the Truth.. talk to Him as if He were your friend.. as if He were your Father...". I urge you to do likewise Richard, with the courage of an open heart. Later on in the book it is asked: Which Book of the two testifies to Love?.. In which Book are you allowed to call Me Father? I have my answer.. you may have another. I wish the best for you in your further quest. May the Lord bless you abundantly.
Katarina <><
Thank you for your very fine posting. I reckoned you were a Muslim from the beginning, as I started reading, since you said "Peace..." after every mentioned prophet. That I admire. For Jesus, however.. say not "peace on Him" but rather "He Who Is Peace". A Christian former-Muslim said to me once, that the Quran says: "Jesus is the Spirit of G-d". These are strong words.. which he also indicated while stating that the prophet Mohammad is not described in the Quran any way similar....
Firstly, about Jack: another brother above here says that Jack has a way with words. I don't find that, in particular. I thank Jesus for giving Jack a better role model than to be speaking like this to a Muslim brother who seeks only honest dialogue. Please forgive him for the sake of the Love of G-d.
You wish to enlighten us, Christians, Richard. (I must admit I am not a Jew but rather one of the gentiles. I have always had a strong love for the Jews however, which I didn't understand until the person of Jesus became more known to me three years ago. I also love the muslim brothers and sisters of my society, although often with a certain pain in my heart.) I can understand that. - Many of us suffer from the same virus: The "want to testify to the Truth-virus". So we understand each other quite well all though we don't agree on what this Truth is
Now to your first made point. The Canaan woman. As I was reading my New Testament yesterday I read this story, and I asked the Lord to enlighten me since I did not understand. I did ask Him all day and also today. Then I came across your dialogue here and I felt I better say what I feel the Lord did say to me. Jack is right: The end must be considered: Jesus on the Cross. He said: "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself". And he really did.
You say that Jesus harsh words are testifying to the fact that the Quran is the only true revelation from G-d. Well, I can only agree - IF I saw it like you do. In fact I don't. Jesus never said anything harsh. He said some things, which were hard to listen to. The Word is like a Sword, yes? But what He spoke was always Love. When He spoke to the Pharisees He had great pain in His Heart while looking into their hearts, because of what: LOVE. He loved them, therefore He spoke severely.. He spoke because He Loved and what He said was always The Word eternal Truth; whatever a particular person needed to hear at a particular time. I believe the Canaan woman was loved from the beginning but that Jesus wanted to test her faith as well as that of the disciples'. The question I think is crucial here is: Who are the lost sheep of the house of Israel?. This, I know, is a highly explosive topic. But according to my faith I believe that Israel is a word of a very profound meaning. It is not only a litteral word for an ethnic group whom G-d favours with His Grace but also a Name for the children of G-d... And who are these children? Well Jesus explains it to us Himself saying in His Word: "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12)
Richard. I know this may not be a very useful argumentation for you, since you don't believe that the Gospel is in fact the Word of G-d. You think it has been manipulated etc.
I have read a book you might find useful.. its written by a certain Bilquis Sheikh.. a rich Pakistani Muslim woman who did read the New Testament. I hope you have done so yourself while praying for G-d's enlightenment. Sheikh was reading both the Gospel and the Quran and as she was once in a hospital with her ill son she met a nun. The nun did not say that the Quran was not from G-d. She only humbly and quietly said: "Ask G-d to show you the Truth.. talk to Him as if He were your friend.. as if He were your Father...". I urge you to do likewise Richard, with the courage of an open heart. Later on in the book it is asked: Which Book of the two testifies to Love?.. In which Book are you allowed to call Me Father? I have my answer.. you may have another. I wish the best for you in your further quest. May the Lord bless you abundantly.
Katarina <><