Islamic View of Life

[ITS]

What can Christians learn of value from an Islamic view of life?

[trevorjohnson]

Submission: Islam is a religion of submission. Christians forget that Christianity also is. While ours is not a Master-Slave relationship of submission; but rather a Father-Son relationship, submission is still key. Too many times we desire to have our wills instead of God?s in our lives.

Zeal: If only many Christians had the zeal of the Muslim. Muslims pray and fast and take pilgrimages. Christians rarely or never do these things. For many, Islam is a way of life and totally envelopes all other areas of life. Christianity, too many, is only a Sunday morning excursion from ?real-life?.

The Muslims pray at least 5 times per day. What about you!

Modesty: We have a lot to learn from the Muslims concerning modesty.

After the defeat of the Taliban, instead of praising the ouster of those who practiced murder and genocide, the Western media decried their manner of dress and the burkha on the women instead. The mainstream news seemed infatuated with stories of women discarding their headwear as signs of advance as a culture. A Muslim could easily conclude that America was not the land of opportunity, but rather the land of MTV and STDs. Freedom is not licentiousness, and Christians need to remember this. The garb of the Muslims is actually more Biblical than the Christian garb seen in most churches today.

Hospitality: Many Christians are not hospitable. We get insulated from the world and live in rows of houses, not even knowing the names of our next-door neighbors. How guilty I am as well in this regard.


Sincerity and openness to dialogue: It would be hard for a Muslim to fall prey to Postmodern relativism. And yet, many Christians have at least accepted some of relativism?s assumptions. We are not even conscious many times as to what degree of influence it has had on us. The ?West? is awash in Postmodernism. And, partly because of this, the area of religion has been pushed into the private realm. It is viewed almost in the same category as taste; De gustibus non est disputandum. Yet, most Muslims are very open to talk of God and dialogue. Religion for most Muslims is not merely private; nor is it a matter of taste.

One?s personal judgment is always in view: The Koran, in many, many places, speaks of the Last Judgment with great solemnity. Christians, as well, should always be looking for Christ?s return.

And yet most speculation about the future for Christians centers on spectacular scenarios and the ?Rapture? which will sweep Christians away from any pain or judgment.

Many Christians have a rosy picture of the Judgment; but I believe that the Muslim view should be read as a corrective for our own false assumptions concerning this great and terrible day. We have lost all soberness concerning this doctrine from an individual level. Many see it as a time of international strife, etc, and not a time of personally standing before God to give account of every single word spoken. Even those who will be pardoned in a court of law still feel a great deal of anxiety before the announcement of the verdict is given.

I don?t want to pick a theological fight about the doctrine of the Rapture; but I believe that many Christians, because of their view of Eschatology, have an all-too-rosy view of the Judgment to come.

Family: When I heard Dr. Cate describe all the intricate terms for cousins and other family members in the Muslim culture, I realized the difference between their view of the family and our own. We have the word ?cousin? to describe many, many relationships. Most Muslims have a broader spectrum of terms to utilize; evidencing to a tighter familial net.

Even regarding multiple wives; which is farther from the Biblical ideal; 4 wives and many children, which are all supported by one man, or 4 wives in a row, and many children not supported except through child support? Even Muslim polygyny is better than the horrid stain of divorce upon the lands where Christianity should more influence. Much could be learned on our part concerning marriage and the family from Muslims.

[Dean]

What did the Israelites have to learn from their neighbours who worshiped Baal and their other Gods? What did Early Christians have to learn from the Zoroastrians, the Greek or the Roman religions? They likely learned how not to live. They already had the truth.

Every group and culture has things that we can learn from or consider. Some are related to their religion. Some are related to their culture. Sometimes religion and culture cannot be distinguished. The Muslims are very passionate in a variety of areas. The points listed by Trever in the previous posting demonstrate some of these areas. Some of these things are not Islamic, but cultural. Western Society is the one which has promoted individualism over communalism. Christians today in many other places in the World still have close familial ties. Spanish culture (as seen by many in South America) is a prime example. With some of my Spanish friends, the first thing discussed is how each person in the family is doing. Our well-being is inseparably linked with our families well-being. In regards to Prayer ? George Muller and other Puritans are but one small example of True Christians dedicated to prayer. Monks are another example of ?Christians? dedicated to Prayer and simple lives. Hospitality is lacking in the West. Hospitality is booming in many other Christian Cultures.

The question, as I see it, is not what can Christians learn from an Islamic view of life. The problem is most people claiming to be Christians are not Christian. In fact they have no idea what a Christian is because they have never seen it modeled in their churches. And the problem is only getting worse with liberalism in our churches and seminaries.

What needs to be done is: We need to return to living a life with Christ as Lord. Christ is everything we live for. We would then become truly transformed. True Christianity practices hospitality second to none; it practices with a view of family second to none; Christians are called to speak and dialogue about religious things and Christ at every possible moment. We have innumerable Zealots in our history. Those today are often called ?fundies? and ?radicals?. Modesty is taught throughout the Bible, as is submission.

We need to return to true Biblical, Christ-centred lives. Observing Islamic practice should remind us of what we already hold dear ? and even more so ? remind us of our calling to share what they do not have ? the gospel which leads to salvation.

Considering the above, and noting the course is about Muslim Evangelism, it should be asked: What can Muslims learn from a [True and Biblical] Christian view of life?

The number one answer I believe is love and salvation. We are born in sin and not one of us is good (Rom 3). All our deeds are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6). We are separated from God. Christ was perfect and paid our ransom. We deserve to go to hell. Eternal hell-fire. And nothing less than death and hell. Christ came and paid that price. Christ ? fully man and fully God paid that price. He loved. He is love. Because of him I too can now know love. My faith in Him allows me to know I have eternal life (1 John 5:13). I now follow in his ways (a sign one is truly saved. Works do not lead to salvation ? they follow it). All are created in the image of God. He died for all. Those who believe will be saved. This is the good news. This leads to a true knowledge of what a family is. What hospitality is. What a zealot can strive for. What a personal relationship through prayer is really all about. How to look at my neighbours ? and love my enemies. That we are not destined to whatever befalls us ? for God listens to us. God is one. He is in control. He is a judge that will judge with a severest penalty all who have sinned. The proof is seen throughout the Bible. We are to fear and tremble in his awesome presence. And when the final judgement comes ? those who do not know Christ will perish and remain in eternal torment forever.

Christians need to learn from their Bible and history before looking to learn from the Muslims. Most 'Christians' are not Christian although they would not realize that, and take offence to those who point that out for they have self-chosen leaders teaching them false doctrine(1 Tim 4:3-4). That is the power of Satan. They need to become a true Christian, and then live as a Christian before looking to see how the world around them lives. Then we will have an abundance to share with our neighbours ? one of the most populous being the Muslims.

[jer]

Dean truthfully questioned who should be learning from who. The Koran states in Sura 10:94 that ?If you are in doubt about what We(Muhammad) have revealed to you(the Koran), then ask those who have been reading the Book (the Bible) before you. The truth has come to you from your Lord, therefore do not doubt it.? This disturbing verse to the Muslim, he is being told that the authority of the Bible is equal to the Koran.

[Derek Schultz]

One thing I believe that Christians could learn from Muslims is their dedication and fervor to their belief. Remembering the few Muslims that I have met and have relationship with, they are Muslim 24/7. While at work, at play, at the mosque and even while shopping in the store, they are exhibiting their faith through their lives and live out their Muslim ideals daily.

If the majority of Christianity, and not just the minority, would live out daily the teachings of Jesus Christ and follow his example in their own lives, the world would be a different place. If the Light of Christ would clearly shine through all of those who proclaim to be Christian, there would untold numbers flocking to learn more about Jesus Christ, and then Islam would not be the fastest growing religion in the world.

[Derek Schultz]

I agree that these are a number of traits that Muslims as a whole exhibit in their lives, but I do find it is distressing that it is not them learning from Christians.

We have been told, shown, and given the Love of Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God, through the cross and His resurrection. We have also been the recipients of His Word through the Bible, a veritable Love Letter. Why are we not the examples of Submission, Zeal, Modesty, Hospitality, Family, Sincerity and Openness? If anyone in the world should be the Light on the Hill or the Salt of the Earth, it should be Christians as God has intended it. Instead of learning these traits of kindness and grace, we should be the ones demonstrating them to the rest of the world who still needs a Savior.

[kerry.moos]

A Christian can be challenged to spend more time in spiritual discipline. There is a fair amount of time spent in prayer each day. It has become a trademark of the Islamic way of life. A person wants to take more time for personal inspection when looking into the spriritual discipline some Muslims show.

The manner in which they pray does show a desire to remain humble before God. Prostrating oneself before God does cause one to search the inner thoughts and attitudes of one heart. It can be a sign of true repentance before God.

[kerry.moos]

One thing I believe that Christians could learn from Muslims is their dedication and fervor to their belief. Remembering the few Muslims that I have met and have relationship with, they are Muslim 24/7. While at work, at play, at the mosque and even while shopping in the store, they are exhibiting their faith through their lives and live out their Muslim ideals daily.

If the majority of Christianity, and not just the minority, would live out daily the teachings of Jesus Christ and follow his example in their own lives, the world would be a different place. If the Light of Christ would clearly shine through all of those who proclaim to be Christian, there would untold numbers flocking to learn more about Jesus Christ, and then Islam would not be the fastest growing religion in the world.



Yes, your response makes me once again do some inner inspection as to how faithful and dedicated I am to God. Muslims are a group that have made a pledge to keep the Muslim Ideals. As Christians, we have promised God to put Him first. Yes, the point is very well taken that this is not just for one day a week. It means that His goes with us to every activity we participate in, and He sees our every reaction to what happens at home, and in the work place.

Generally, a Muslim trully believes what he has been taught from the Koran, and it is true that knowledge is usually put into action. The Muslims I have spoken with want to please God, and say that they can do that through their worship. As Christians, many times we feel worship is that special time on Sunday when we meet in church. Let us strive to worship Him in each response we show to those around us, and in each activity we participate in daily.