Monday, December 23, 2013

Muhammad's Secret Santa

Blast from the past.

10 comments:

Mike said...

David I find everything you post to be more then informing. I have found that most people could care less about this poison that is spreading like wildfire in america. Have you put anything in print that can can be used in a group type study?

Unknown said...

god did not created human as like infallible angel but fallible human being

did bible say god created human infallible?

rivan said...

@syed
What is your point?

Unknown said...

Hi David,

Further to what Mike said, I have looked for books addressing Islam's commonly raised objections to Christianity, and my assumption is the objections from Islam are not half as strong as they are vast. I read Dr White's book on What every Christian needs to know about Islam, which I thought was an excellent book, however, as Dr White is a very considerate man I think his book is based on a premise (rightly) of thoughtful considerations from the Muslim perspective, however, the other side of this coin is the misguided rhetoric which, I heard it said, can be a game 'stump the Christian' which also needs to be addressed (..and it would save me writing out my own lists because I cannot find an adequate book !:) ).. e.g. bible passages Muslims take out of context, Quran mistakes about Christianity, comparative historicity of both Christian and Islamic faiths, various objections to the Trinity, the types / authorities / important parts of the Hadith, what Muslims dont know about Islam itself etc etc. From my view as an utter novice - there is so much to learn on everything but it is equally fascinating at the same time and Im sure many others are similar to me. Most importantly I think we are close to a new tipping point of Christian focus on Islamic polemics which hasnt really begun to occur yet - Im off to Catholic Mass tonight (dont judge me ;)) and Im pretty sure a large portion of the Catholics here in Edinburgh still see Islam as a fellow 'Abrahamic Religion who honour Jesus' in complete naivety to what Islam truly stands for.

Even if there is something else out there already, I think you are uniquely placed to provide this because of your videos / debates which I think are going to be a continual reference for the future along with your colleagues. I also think using the Muslim objections to deepen an understanding of the multitude of aspects of the Trinity and the Incarnation can be of excellent benefit to Christians like myself who realised they need a kick up the backside to dive deeper into concepts which can be taken for granted.

Cheers :)
Adam

Unknown said...

rivan

god created human to choose between good and bad

if human unable to do bad thing then god failed to create fallible creature

FIWI said...

David, You are WICKEDLY FUNNY, and BRILLIANTLY ABLE to turn ANY ridiculous argument OR verse in that ridiculous so-called religion on it's HEAD !!!! Keep on doing what you do and doing it in the way that only YOU can. You are an original.!!!

I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Anonymous said...

Syed, you say,

"god did not created human as like infallible angel but fallible human being"

Angels were not created infallible because a vast number of them under the leadership of Lucifer rebelled against God and became evil spirits/demons.

You say,

"did bible say god created human infallible?"

The Bible says that God made man upright and good.

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. Genesis 1:31

Truly, this I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. Ecclesiastes 7:29

The ability to willingly resist temptation, to prevent taking the wrong option and avoiding catastrophe was built in and was more than capable of resisting any attempt at being led astray.

If he had made man so that there was no possibility of this occurring then man’s love and obedience to his Creator would not come from genuine willingness but would just be robotic.

God does not make robots or puppets in his own image. He does not force anyone into a relationship with him. It has to be willingly and from the heart.
He originally gave man the power of contrary choice, but since man’s fall this no longer exists except at a superficial or mundane level. Since man is now driven by his own sinful nature, he has no choice but to act according to what he is; a sinner; a slave to his own nature; a slave to sin. The true freedom that man had before the fall was destroyed when he abused the power of contrary choice. Before the fall he the choice. He was free and he was free to choose. But at the fall that choice died. He was no longer free and he was no longer free to choose because he had made the wrong choice in sinning against God, and thereby became a slave to sin and death (“and you will surely die” genesis 2:15).

It was having the choice to do something foolish and lethal (like driving off a cliff), but then, against all logic, actually doing it.

Against the benevolent Creator’s command/good counsel, Adam’s arrogant wrong choice in following Satan’s foolish (“I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:14) example and counsel of deceit (“…and you will be like God…” Genesis 3:5) cost him and his descendants’ true freedom.

Radical Moderate said...

Merry Christmas Everyone

Mohamed said...

Brilliant stuff, David! Loved it!

Anonymous said...

Radical,

Merry Christmas to you too.

Syed,

Man's fall into sin and death as explained above was the bad news.

But here is the good news:

The only escape from this slavery to sin and death has been provided by the second Adam, Christ.

And so it is written, “The first Adam became a living being [Genesis 2:7].” The last Adam became a life giving spirit... The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 1Corinthians 15:45, 47

For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 1Corinthians 15:21-22

Therefore, as through one man’s offence judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19

This righteous act by Christ is celebrated every year at Christmas where people give gifts as a symbolic gesture and remembrance of the free gift of life given by Christ.