Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: one man's journey to faith

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi is his journey from devout Muslim to full heartedly falling in love with Christ. Nabeel grew up in a loving and devout Muslim family, he shares how he developed a passion for Islam and its teachings. It was through friendships and friendly debates and questions, Nabeel investigates to prove Islam and disprove Christianity. As he investigates, it becomes undeniable that everything he knew and felt about Islam was false. When he is unable to deny the evidence for Christ and not wanting to disappoint his family, Nabeel’s inner turmoil will challenge many Christians and Muslims. He tells a powerful story as one man faces the clash between Islam and Christianity and has to make a very difficult choice. 

I was first introduced to Nabeel Qureshi in the documentary American Gospel (2018). Last year, I read his book, No God but One: Allah or Jesus? (2016) as he answered in detail the questions he faced during his investigation. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is his in depth and brutally honest memoir of his journey. It is an amazing journey and another great example of the transformative power of the Gospel. I enjoyed that he refers to No God but One if readers wanted more details to the questions he was facing and trying to answer. I also liked that even though he was being drawn to Christ, he is very respectful and does not demean Muslims or their beliefs. His purpose is to detail his own journey. I highly recommend Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus as well as No God But One. 

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

No God But One: an in depth examination of Christianity and Islam

No God but One: Allah or Jesus? A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi is an in depth, analytical examination of Christianity and Islam. Mr. Qureshi sets out to examine Island and Christianity in detail, exploring areas of crucial conflict and seeking relevant evidence. In this book, he provides a through and careful comparison of the evidence for Islam and for Christianity and addresses the important questions regarding the two religions. How do they differ? Are the differences significant? Can we be confident that either Christianity or Islam is true? And most importantly, is it worth sacrificing everything? Sharing stories from his life and ministry, Mr. Qureshi casts new light on current events and explores pivotal events in the histories of both religions as he compares and contrasts the two religions. Both Islam and Christianity teach that there is no God but one. But who is it? Allah or Jesus? Who deserves to be worshiped? 

I was first introduced to Nabeel Qureshi in the documentary, American Gospel (2018) and I immediately was curious about his journey from Islam to Christianity. Mr. Qureshi shared his journey of faith in the New York Times bestselling Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (2014), which I have not read yet. However, in No God But One, the reader gets a sense of his journey to faith as he examines Islam and Christianity to their bare bones and answers the hard questions. No God but One is a great resource that is gripping, thought-provoking and challenging while being respectful and insightful. I read the eBook edition which has bonus content of a Q&A with Nabeel Qureshi as well as access to videos in which Mr. Qureshi answers some of the common questions about Islam and Christianity. No God but One is an amazing, in-depth examination between Islam and Christianity. I highly, highly recommend No God but One. 

No God but One is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

American Gospel: Christ Alone a review

 American Gospel: Christ Alone is a 2018 documentary which became available on Netflix in May 2020. Written and directed by Brandon Kimber, American Gospel offers a critical critique of the Word of Faith Movement also known as the prosperity gospel and its influence on Christianity. Through expert interviews, biblical references and personal testimony, the documentary exposes the dangers of the prosperity gospel as well as the call to refocus on the true gospel. Through the Word of Faith history into the prosperity gospel of today, American Gospel argues that salvation with through Christ alone and a call to return to the true gospel, the gospel of Jesus. The Bible gives example after example that Jesus is the hero, the source of our salvation. Throughout the Old Testament, God is saying we need a better lawgiver, we need a better judge, we need a better king and we need a better prophet. The New Testament is Jesus as the fulfillment of those needs. The prosperity gospel teaches man as the hero and God is simply a genie in a lamp to make requests. What is the core of the documentary? What are the praises and well as the criticisms?

American Gospel opens with the core of what Christianity and the gospel is about and that is Jesus. The Bible teaches that faith in Jesus brings salvation and from other the fruit of good work follows. The prosperity gospel appeals to two basic human desires: 1) not to be sick or unhealthy and 2) to be wealthy, not to have to worry about money. A common theme among all the prosperity gospel proponents is that Christians are called to be healthy and wealthy and if you are not, then your faith isn’t big enough or strong enough. It is idolatry as it elevates the gift above the Gift Giver. At the heart of the prosperity gospel is “the more money you give to the Lord’s work, the more likely God will answer your prayers.” The prosperity gospel is a softer, gentler salvation by works. It is still the law, “do this and be blessed.” American Gospel focuses on exposing the falseness of these various teachers including Benny Hinn’s and his “healings” and well as Todd White of Gateway Church. The prosperity gospel teaches that you cannot speak against or criticize the anointed (aka the pastors) and if we do, God will curse us. However, Scripture after Scripture that tells us that we are to hold our teachers accountable and call out the false teachers. In Acts 17:11 tells us that the Bereans heard Paul’s message and checked it against the Scriptures to make sure what he said was true.

The documentary has been praised by many. American Gospel reveals that “the money changers are still in the temple, still making God’s name a mockery” (Strachan, 2019) as Costi Hinn, nephew of Benny Hinn and former Prosperity Gospel follower, “provides a key perspective that is brutally honest while being compassionate” (Vandenboom, 2020). I had known little about the Prosperity Gospel before this documentary. I had tried researching it before and the information out there was so convoluted that I eventually stopped. I knew it wasn’t biblically based as many of the teachers in the Prosperity Gospel rarely teach from Scripture with specific verses. The Prosperity Gospel’s main teaching is the “Name it and Claim it” doctrine, essentially the Power of Positive Thinking that God calls all Christians to be healthy and wealthy while ignoring the truly sick. Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries has made it his mission to expose the fallacy of the faith healers like Benny Hinn. I also liked that American Gospel shows why the Prosperity Gospel has been able to thrive in the United States as “America has always been a pragmatic, can-do kind of country” and “the material focus of the “gospel” suits the American culture” (Strachan, 2019).

American Gospel is not without its critics as Todd White, who is featured prominently in the film as a false teacher and faith healer, has stated that the film has been “demonically inspired” (Bjornson, 2020). Another criticism is that the film “enables a patriarchal power structure” (Pidcock, 2020) as men were interview for an instructional purpose while women were interviewed for their emotional stories. Unfortunately, many churches have a prohibition against women in leadership roles, especially as senior pastors. However, it doesn’t mean that women cannot have an active role the church, but that’s a different post. Another criticism is the film’s view on sin and justice (Pidcock, 2020). In the film, Ray Comfort, a minister, is seen doing his common Ten Commandments confrontation with a stranger, and with a microphone and camera in this individual’s face, Comfort questions and questions about lawbreaking until this person relents and admits he is a sinner. I understand Comfort’s motivation to share the gospel in the world; however, this is the part of the film I did not like. It is a common evangelistic method: confront, pray the sinner’s prayer, and then move on. I think the film would still have an impact without featuring Ray Comfort and this tactic.

In conclusion, American Gospel opened my eyes to the prosperity gospel which I have heard about in the last decade but didn’t truly delve into it very deeply. I knew it felt wrong, against my understanding of the Bible. The basics of prosperity gospel is great faith leads to health and wealth. The truth is that is not a great faith we need but a small faith (a mustard seed as Jesus says in Luke 17:6) and a great God. While the idea that we can be healthy and wealthy simply undermines the many examples in the gospel in which Jesus tells people to give up everything and follow him. The story of Jesus and the rich young man in Mark 10:17-31 comes to mind. The Church needs to refocus on the focus of Christianity in Jesus. Christianity is simply Jesus and nothing else. American Gospel is not perfect; however, it does an amazing job expose the truth behind the prosperity gospel. A teaching which doesn’t allow you to question and challenge your pastors is not a teaching we need in the church today. I recommend watching American Gospel and take the information they present to begin an investigation of your own. 

References

Bjornson, Greta (May 29, 2020). ‘American Gospel Christ Alone’ Controversy: Why The Film is Dividing Netflix Viewers. Decider. www.decider.com/2020/05/29/american-gospel-netflix-controversy/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Pidcock, Rick (August 14, 2020). Six ways ‘American Gospel’ is small-minded and abusive. Baptist News Global. www.baptistnews.com/article/six-ways-american-gospel-is-small-minded-and-abusive/#.X15cS2hKi1t. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Strachan, Owen (January 17, 2019). ‘American Gospel’ Blows a Hole in the Prosperity Gospel. The Gospel Coalition. www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/american-gospel-blows-hole-prosperity-gospel/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Vandenboom, Liza (June 22, 2020). “American Gospel” Shows Real-Life Consequences Of Poor Theology. Ministry Watch. www.ministrywatch.com/american-gospel-shows-tangible-consequences-of-poor-theology/. Retrieved September 13, 2020. 

A Bigger Table: an attempt to bring all Christians to the same table

A Bigger Table: Building Messy, Authentic and Hopeful Spiritual Community by John Pavlovitz is one man’s journey to Christianity and envisions a table where everyone is welcome. He focuses on homosexuality and the LGBT community. He opens with the feelings of the morning after the election of Donald Trump and sees the already deep divides among the American people becoming “cavernous.” He discusses his belief that the only sin in the world is exclusion. We need to love each other and leave us that way as that’s how we were made. He doesn’t really offer any ideas to bring all Christians to the table, only that we need to gather together. It seems to be a lot of talk without much thought to the action needed.

I really wanted to like A Bigger Table and gladly accepted an invitation to read it. However, I was turned off by his self-righteousness and self-congratulatory tones. I feel as a pastor, he questions the authority of the Bible and what it says about homosexuality. You cannot hand pick which verse to believe and follow and which ones to ignore. While I admit that these verses have been used as the basis for horrible and horrific treatment of the LGBT community and it is wrong. However, to ignore the clear language of the verses is equally wrong especially in the New Testament. I am highly disappointed in this book. I can see Mr. Pavlovitz’s goal to open the conversation and I can appreciate this goal. However, I feel he further pushes others away instead of trying to pull everyone in together at the same table. I do not recommend A Bigger Table.

A Bigger Table

is available in paperback and eBook

My Christian view on homosexuality and homosexual marriage

                I write this opinion with great trepidation because I know once it’s out there, I can’t take it back. That being said, I can’t keep it to myself any longer. This thought has been rolling in my head for a while now and I've been trying to figure out how to write it down. Many of you know that I am a Christian. I have been since I was 17 years old and with each passing day my faith in my Lord Jesus Christ grows stronger. He has shown me that He is in control and provides my family with our needs. Lately, I've been reading that the Christians have no right to claim that homosexuality is a sin that the New Testament does not talk about homosexuality.  The Bible speaks very clearly about homosexuality. It is wrong. I don’t understand why the uproar about Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty when he was asked a very specific question about sin and he quoted the Bible. Why does the world ask these questions of a Christian knowing full well what their response will be and then call them intolerant? A similar incident happened to Kirk Cameron on the Piers Morgan show.

I will address three arguments that I have read that Christians are wrong about homosexuality and the Bible. First, the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. This is false. There are quite a number of verses that speak against sexual immorality. Due to the sheer number of verses which deal with sexual immorality in general, I am referencing the verses which speak of homosexuality specifically.

• ·         Romans 1:25-27 “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their woman exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”
• ·         Leviticus 18:22 “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.”
• ·         1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers not men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor the drunkard nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
• ·         1 Corinthians 7:2 “But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”

These verses are very clear DO Not. Sex is to be between a man and a woman within the bond of marriages. That is how God created us and any other way is a sin.

                Second, I've read that a few gay advocates that cited that Jesus never spoke against homosexuality and in turn homosexual marriage. But he did. Matthew 19:3-6 sets the scene between Jesus and the Pharisees, who are trying to test Jesus. The Pharisees ask “It is lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” (verse 3). Jesus then replied, “Haven’t you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and  said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (verses 4-6).  Therefore, marriage is between a man and a woman.

Third, Christians are using the Bible to justify hatred against homosexuals. Unfortunately, this one is true. It pains me to see that Christians are using God’s words to justify their own hatred and it’s been used in the wrong way for centuries. The Bible does not give Christians license to discriminate or vilify anyone. There are countless verses in which God is telling us to love our neighbors and the Christians are not to judge one another:

·         Hebrews 13:1 “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters”

·         James 4:12 “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you –who are you to judge your neighbor?”

·         John 8:7 “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’”

·         Matthew 7:12 “So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

·         Galatians 5:14 “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

·         Matthew 7:1-5 “Do not judge others, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye?”

Sin is sin, regardless of type. God hates it all and as a sinner, I must worry about my own soul and my righteousness with God. I am commanded to follow Him and teach His teachings to my children and the world. Being Christian doesn't make me perfect, far from it. However, I will not support something in which the Bible clearly speaks against. I don’t understand how Christians will say murder is wrong because it says so in the Bible but will say that homosexuality is natural when the Bible clearly speaks that it is not. Believers do not have the option to pick and choose the verses we chose to believe. I know some who would call themselves Christian who quote the nice verses and yet ignore the hard time, gut wrenching, take your breath away verses. I must follow the commands given to me by God. God has clearly forbidden homosexuality. We all have to answer for the decisions we've made in this life. I still think homosexuality is wrong but that doesn't give me the right to condemn homosexuals. I have known several gay people in my life. Some were classmates, co-workers and even second mothers. Even though I do not agree with their lifestyle, I do not wish harm to come to them in any way. I am commanded to treat them as I would want to be treated. So, I will treat them with respect and dignity. 

Same kind of different as me: book review

I’ve just finished an amazing book about the most unlikely friendship which was brought together by one amazing woman. “Same kind of different as me” by Ron Hall and Denver Moore is about two men’s journey to God and a friendship that defies the odds. The story of how one person can make a difference.

Denver Moore is a black man who grew up in Red River Parish, Louisiana. He was tossed between family members after tragedy after tragedy destroys the home he is trying to make. He tries to make a living sharecropping for the Man as he calls him and learns quickly that it’s not a living, its virtual slavery. He leaves and lives on the road traveling the Southwest until he settles at a homeless shelter in Texas. Ron Hall is a white man who grew up in the “lower-middle class” in Texas. He pulls himself up out of poverty and first becomes a successful businessman and then a successful art dealer. He learns to hate the homeless after two men robbed his art gallery.

These two men are brought together by Ron’s wife, Deborah or “Miss Debbie” as Denver calls her. She is a God-fearing woman who feels the call of God to serve at the local homeless shelter. Ron goes with her hoping that once she volunteers and sees how the homeless act, she’ll never go again. Deborah sees Denver at the shelter and claims to have seen him in a dream and encourages her husband to develop a friendship with him. Ron does, reluctantly, not realizing that Denver will help him through the toughest time of his life. Deborah develops a fast growing cancer and when the doctors find it, it has spread so quickly that she has little time to live. Deborah passes away on November 3, 2000 after a two and half year battle. Ron rages against God and it's Denver who helps him realize that God had a plan for Deborah’s life and her death.

I loved this story. It is told from the prospective of both Denver and Ron with Denver opening and closing the book. Both men come from horrible conditions and both men learn a valuable lessons from each other. First, don’t make snap judgments. Snap judgments are usually based on our prejudices. Ron, angry that Denver is sleeping during the day, learns that Denver stays up all night to pray for Deborah since everyone is praying for her at night. Ron realized that the “roots of my own prejudice, of my arrogant snap judgments of the poor” ran very deep. Second, Ron realizes that Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. He says “I believe that, which is why I know that when my faith was shattered and I raged against Him, He still accepted me.” Third, Denver learns that some people say they want to help and mean it. Ron helps him get his driver’s license by helping clear his records. As a sign of trust, Ron hands him the keys to his truck, loaded with his daughter’s belongings, and asks Denver to drive to Colorado for him. These two men become family, tied together by the love and commitment of one woman.

The book also provides a Reader’s Guide with Discussion Questions about Prejudice, Homelessness, Sickness and Suffering. I haven’t done the questions myself but I will and they may become a future blog post. J The back of the book includes an interview with the two men. It’s an interesting read that gives more perspective on the men’s story. I highly recommend anyone to read it. It’s a fast read but it will help you gain a better perspective on people and that one person can make a difference.