One of Us is Wrong - is it the Muslim or the Christian

As a culture we have come to value tolerance almost to the point of worshiping it.  How many of you desire to be referred to as ‘intolerant’?  Our society tends to believe that truth is whatever you believe it to be, and at the same time, truth is whatever I believe it to be.  There is no absolute right and wrong, good and evil; to be called ‘tolerant’ is the best compliment one can receive.  Truth is subjective to the individual.  Don’t worry - Be Happy.

This is how those in our culture can contend that a Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and a Christian, all holding completely different worldviews, can each be right. Those of us who are ‘Christians’ have no problem asserting just how preposterous that is.  However, we have no such objection when it is applied to those within the faith.  It is how we within the Christian faith, can say ‘what I feel the Bible means’ and hold a completely opposite view of what the listener ‘feels the Bible means’.  Paul addressed this very issue in his letter to the Galatians (Gal 1:6-8)

It plays out something like this – while sitting around a table in a bible study group you hear a discussion between ‘believers’ where one says he ‘feels’ that  a Christian can seek a divorce and that gay ‘Christians’ should be allowed to marry, only to have another categorically state that he ‘feels’ that both are abominations.  Both cannot be right, however at the end of the bible study, everyone leaves; complementing themselves on what a great conversation they had, yet they are no closer to uncovering the actual truth.

The reason God gave us the Bible is so that we would know His truth.  He has only one meaning for each text, only one true belief.  The next time you are thinking of saying ‘I feel the Bible means’ – STOP- and instead ask yourself ‘What is God telling me?’

The Muslim and the Christian can not both be right.  One of us is wrong,

 

While You Were Sleeping - Christian Martyrs

On January 7 of this year, one day after a phone conversation with her neighbor, during which Asha Mberwa shared her testimony of her Christian faith; in front of her children and the villagers in Warbhigly, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Islamic extremists slit the throat of 36-year-old Asha because of her faith in Christ.  Asha is survived by her children – ages 12, 8, 6 and 4 – and her husband of 17 years, who was not home at the time she was apprehended.  According to Compass News, Asha’s children are being cared by “a good Samaritan” in Mogadishu.

Sadly Asha’s story is hardly unique, yet we in the Western world prefer statistics, we do love our statistics, confident that everything can and needs to be demonstrated empirically.  Can we measure our own Luke warmness with statistics?  If so, perhaps it would be by this statistic.  Last year 105,000 Christians just like Asha were martyred for their faith.  That works out to 1 person every 5 minutes.   A number that begs the question, how does your faith stack up compared to Asha’s?  How is your walk?  

On your way home tonight, as you stop to pick up the latest movie and dinner, driving past the man on the corner with the sign begging for food.  As you pat yourself on the back for ushering at your church, or perhaps as you are walking to your bible study group contemplating divorce, because God just wants you to be happy, and your spouse isn’t making you happy.  Think about this short list of names; a list of those just like Asha Mberwa, those who like her gave their life for their faith.  Just a short list of names, the number of Christians that will be martyred as you get your 8 hours of sleep tonight.  By the time you are done reading this post, 1 more name will be added to it.

Asha Mberwa Rei Unius Hasem Patros Dman Helda Zuhair Astefan Nadan Yonadm Safae sabah habesh Dani Eshak Weliam Qaiser Esmaeil Yuosef Sadeq Sargon Nato Bashir Toma Dr. Sarmad Sami Majed Bia Toma Haitham Sulaka Hanna Eklas Qorial Yokana Narmin Yonan Aodisho Shamun Aodisho Marta Zkaria Warda Farid Aodisho Shamun Zaia Audisho Shamun Amijan Kona Eaziz Jaudat KaKos Ednan Hanna Bia Al-Shaklaui Rannin Raeed Rafi Raeed Romio Aisha Daud Emad Mika Wesam Yakob Asoffi Samir Shlemon Ashur Korial Yalda Saher Farej Murdakai Aisho Nissan Markos Ramzia Nuia Youkana Duraid Sabri Hanna Alis Ara Maiss Aida Bedros Bogos Muna Jalal Karim Sami Saeed Rami Saeed Shada Sada Janet Sada Janan Jossef Hanni Yuohanna Naeum Rimon Farok Shamun Firas Moefak Raed Eishoe Naem Takrid Abd Almasih Hala Abd Almasih Tara Majid Nessan Sliua Shamueel Kaled Poles Hani Poles KorKis Yoaresh Nessan Mark Luis Shito Bassam Sabri Sanne Toma Munir Toma Maradona Emanuel Nessan Raeed Nessan Amer Nessan Amir Shabo Rassm Elias Sliwa Naeem Korkis Emanuel Nessan Mammo Majd Sako Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom Mother of Lao Lia Po Hrudayananda Nayak Shakeela Bibi Luis Edilberto Velazquez Francisco Meléndez Suzan Latif David Muna Banna David Basil Shaba Gregor Kerkeling Mohammed Sheikh Abdiraman Yemane Kahasay Andom Pastor Sabo Yakubu, Rev. Sylvester Akpan Rev. George Orji and 9 other believers Hameed Masih, Akhlaq Hameed Asia Hameed Parveen Asifa Hameed Umia Hameed Musa Hameed. Ahmed Matan Omar Khalafe Mariam Muhina Hussein Amina Muse Ali Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf Patras Masih

Patras Mashi is meet by a small group of his friends on the outskirts of Karol village, all of their eyes focused on their long time companion and friend.  After Patras refuses his friends urging him to recant his professed faith of Christianly, His friends draw guns and Patras is ordered to recant his faith if he wishes his friends to spare his life, Patras again refuses.  Patras Masih died from multiple gunshot wounds. 

His dejected and grieving father said with a sad, faint but proud smile, “My son bravely refused to recant Christianity and clung to Christ, he bravely embraced martydom.” Each of the names listed above all knew, what is Christianity.