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Meeting with Muslims
This weekend, Pastor Rick Warren will speak at the Islamic Society of North America’s annual convention.
To critics of Warren, who think it’s wrong on the face of the matter for him to speak at an event sponsored by Muslims, I say: Wait until you hear what Warren says.
I don’t say that with any kind of inside information. I say it based on the fact that in the Bible, proponents of the gospel seem never to have hesitated to go anywhere with their proclamation. I appreciate Rick Warren’s boldness, and I pray for his faithfulness.
Here’s the test: If Warren shows up at the Muslim gathering and soft-pedals the truth, and talks only about how important it is for us to “get along,” then evangelicals should hold him to account. But if he is as typically forthright as he usually is, we should thank God for the opening and pray that the Lord will prosper Warren’s words.
And the rest of us should get busy and look for similar opportunities.
back to top18 Comments to “Meeting with Muslims”
“And the rest of us should get busy and look for similar opportunities.”
For example?
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“And the rest of us should get busy and look for similar opportunities.”
I don’t think I’ll be looking for “similar” opportunities. I won’t jump on Warren for taking this one though. He will certainly be a lamb among the lions at the ISNA convention. And I don’t think there are many similar opportunities in the US, unless you go to the CAIR convention. Warren should probably expect a cold response. They don’t take kindly to “unbelievers”.
Especially the Christian types. Here’s a little example of what Warren can expect to see at the ISNA convention.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/07/the_isna_conference.html
“There were hundreds of vendors, and since the conference was being held only a couple of months before the 2008 Presidential Election, there was an enormous outpouring of support for Barack Obama. Non profit organizations are not supposed to favor any certain political candidate, of course.
In 2008 ISNA had several booths with anti-American slogans on shirts, along with pro-Hamas, pro-Palestinian, and anti-Israel garments. In addition Barack Hussein Obama material was in abundance. I researched the hundreds of vendors and saw no material for Presidential candidate John McCain.
It was easy to find DVDs, books, manuals, and pamphlets calling America a terrorist organization and for the destruction of our country and Israel. It was very easy to find material calling for killing innocent men, women, and children in American who did not belief in an Islamic Ummah (Nation) worldwide and under Sharia law. There were material calling for polygamy and encouraging child marriages. If you wanted Muslim Brotherhood material, this was the location to obtain the intelligence you desired. These type materials were in abundance.”
Nope. Don’t think I’ll be looking for similar oportunities as this. And I’m thankful that this type of activity isn’t widespread here too. Thankfully they’re very limited here.
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I think we have to wait to see what he says.
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Looking forward to Monday’s “Here’s What Rick Warren Said” thread. Praying for him in the meantime. If I were he, I’d wear Kevlar.
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We can keep on praying for Random Name, RPN, Arcadia, Scroop Moth, the Obamas, the Senate, Congress and our country. I don’t agree with much that they believe in but I can pray for them.
I can love my neighbor and be open for the chance to be there for them and recognize when to talk to them about the Hope that we have.
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Amen Bob.
It takes a lot of courage to speak to a group of people who think you’re an infidel.
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NJlawyer as StuBob says, before waiting, pray.
Ministering to Muslims is no easy task. In many ways it is similar to trying to teach cannibals not to eat people. But just as there are moderate cannibals there are moderate muslims.
I jest, but only a little. I have been ministering to Muslims for decades. I can claim the title of Hafiz although I have forgotten much of what I memorized as it was just not worthy.
My keys are first pray. then trust in God. Ask for protection. and Ask that every word you speak be the ones given you by God. Trust in God to tell you what to say and what to leave out. And trust in God when He tells you to leave the encounter.
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Agreed, Monty. I just don’t want to condemn the man before he even opens his mouth. I doubt that he’s looking for a fight, and I don’t think anyone here should expect that he will give them a fire and brimstone sermon. That wouldn’t accomplish much and only get their hackles up. This effort could be the beginning of something.
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After reading the linked article, I am sure that Warren will receive a polite and gracious reception. It appears that the event is purposely designed by Muslim apologists to demonstrate their milder side to the American public. They are even having a prominent Jewish speaker. No doubt, on the surface, all will be sweetness and light.
But, will it be genuine, or is it just another case of Muslim duplicity and propaganda? We cannot know for sure.
However, Warren has a providential opportunity that should not be missed. One can only hope that he will be a faithful speaker of God’s word. Perhaps some Muslim ears and hearts will be open.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb 4:12)
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This reminds me of Brother Andrew ministering to Hamas leaders while they were imprisoned. When they were freed they asked him to come and speak to them freely. He took their offer and preached the full gospel to them. Not one of them was saved, but they were gracious to him. They had gained a love for him because of his selfless ministering to them in a time of need. He is my hero.
Will Warren preach the full gospel? Will Warren ask them to look inward at why so much violence is associated with their religion? Will he open new pathways for future dialog?
Who knows? I will be praying for him.
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I am trying to find more of Warren’s speech on Saturday. All I’ve got so far is “Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners in working to end what he calls “the five global giants” of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy.
Hmmm. OK. Those are good things, but it isn’t the mission of the church. If you solved all five problems, not one soul would be closer to heaven. Jesus fed the poor, but it was to demonstrate his deity and because they were hungry after listening to his sermons – spiritual food being the primary emphasis.
I suppose Warren’s message is that if Christians and Muslims have nothing else in common, then let us work together for good in others ways.
However, the most important point was apparently not brought up, namely that Islam is out of control and voices of reason need to prevail. Ann Zahra, of McLean, Va. agreed with much of Warren’s speech and summarized it as follows, “No religion teaches cruelty or disrespect or hatred.” (a href=”http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i-0awwqcG0uDzbrdzImYN76gqasQD9980P601″>ref)
Obviously the truth wasn’t advanced one iota.
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Quotes
Rick Warren to Muslims: Talk is Cheap, Let’s Work Together
By Michelle A. Vu
Christian Post Reporter
Sun, Jul. 05 2009
WASHINGTON – Evangelical pastor Rick Warren told a crowd of some 8,000 Muslim Americans that he wasn’t satisfied with just talking to them.
“I will tell you that I am not interested in interfaith dialogue. I am interested in interfaith project. There is a big difference,” said Warren to attendees of the 46th annual Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention Saturday evening.
__________another excerpt____________
“You know as an evangelical pastor, my deepest faith is in Jesus Christ,” Warren stated. “But you also need to know that I am committed not just to what I call the good news, but I am committed to the common good.”
Read the rest here
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You’ve found out more than I have, Xion. That’s why I came back here to see if anyone had learned more.
“No religion teaches cruelty or disrespect or hatred.”
I’d like to ask Muslims some straight yes or no questions, like isn’t it true that your religion teaches that there’s a duty to lie?
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#12 From Victoria’s post. Warren says, “I am committed not just to what I call the good news, but I am committed to the common good.”
That’s beautiful, but what about the good news? Christians have always worked for the common good, because it is well … good. Muslim charities only give to Muslim causes, including sponsorship of terror.
If Warren were to somehow fundamentally change this, so that Muslim charities began to edify rather than destroy, then I guess that’s progress.
I am hoping that Warren will be able to get to the place where we start having serious discussions about serious issues. The challenge of Islam for this world is an ideological one and our weapons are spiritual. The truth is a more powerful than an M16 (Eccl 9:18). The real battle SHOULD be waged with ideas and not war. I am hopeful Warren moves in this direction. It is the only true answer to the Islamic disaster faced by the world.
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HOMELAND INSECURITY
Islam investigator ejected from D.C. Muslim conference
Illegally detained: ‘CAIR and ISNA essentially tried to get me killed’
July 05, 2009
WASHINGTON – With a high-profile Christian keynote speaker, Rick Warren, the Islamic Society of North America billed its July 4 national convention here as a major outreach to non-Muslims, but it chose to eject by force an American investigating Islamist radicalism in the U.S.
Dave Gaubatz, a former Air Force special agent who has traveled the country investigating radical Islamist mosques and attempts at imposing Shariah law in the U.S., was forcibly removed from the conference after paying the $100 attendance fee.
______________another excerpt_____________
“I was on the street and noticed at least three D.C. patrol cars,” he said. “I took pictures. Then I started walking toward my parked car. One patrol car was following me slowly. I stopped, took a few pictures of him. Then walked to my car. I got in my car. Three patrol cars surrounded me and surrounded my vehicle. I was told to get out. I asked what was the problem. Finally one officer showed me pictures CAIR had given them and told them I was a threat. There were four pictures – three were with me in Iraq with my M-16 and 9mm, and in two I was holding AK-47s in Iraq. CAIR had photocopied the picture of me helping a sick Iraqi child from the picture. Then CAIR had cropped my head shot onto a Nazi uniform, which was obvious.”
READ the rest here
Very interesting article!
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I am sure that Warren is primarily aiming at opening up Muslim lands for free discussion of religion without persecution. Is that a vain hope? Perhaps. But if it is to happen it will be if Muslims feel their religion will be treated with respect. Perhaps also if Muslims start to ask: what are we afraid of? that everyone will ditch our religion if they even hear of others?
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Why are you “sure” what makes you feel sure? I would like to hear your sureness?
Respect? – is that not a two way street? How has Islam been disrespected versus Christianity?
Are you saying Christians will ditch their beliefs? – understand Snoke, Jesus Christ is not a religion but the Savior of the world, HE shed HIS blood on the cross for mans sins, those who will repent of their sins and turn to Christ.
Please be more explicit in your questions -
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