Bible Question:
I'm not really sure how to begin here. I have never posted before. Heres the situation that I would like help with... My fiancee recently returned for a year tour in Iraq. He was always a very active Christian before leaving. While he was there, he met and grew to love a family that "adopted" him. They are Muslim. My fiancee is now questioning his faith. He feels like he can take no comfort in a religion that he believes will send those children that he loves to hell because of their beliefs. Thankfully, his views have not changed my faith yet.... but I am having some of the same questions as he does now. Does anyone have thoughts about this or is there a place I can look in the Bible about these types of issues? I'm really starting to worry about this. If I have to choose between my fiancee and my faith, I chose my faith. I love him with all my heart though. Please help-- my marriage depends on it. Thanks so much... Lola |
Bible Answer: Hi, Lola! I understand your predicament... I can tell you that what your fiancée has experienced may change his life completely... but I think he is confusing the impoverishment of a nation due to mismanagement of wealth by their own people and Christ's Salvation... God does not condemn anyone: 30 "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! (Ezekiel 18:30-32) Knowing this, Jesus came to give life to all who believe in Him: 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[a] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:10-13) Jesus came to offer us all Life... but not even the people of Israel can be saved if they reject Jesus! My understanding of Islam is limited... but I've come to learn a few things about this religion... though it may be regional (related to the Muslins I've met in the Eastern US) but I do believe that it is safe to say that these are their basics: * All who do not accept their religion are seen and called infidels (with especial emphasis on Israel and the US) * They believe that it is their religion which is the only true religion * They believe that to live among the infidels means to fail their God (hence their desire to exterminate those who refuse to convert to their religion--ditto for those who convert their people and the people themselves who convert to Christianity) * They boast of their anti-Christianity (whatever Christians do they do the opposite) * They boast of their prophet and their lineage This latter is of particular importance because they are in essence rejecting Christ and Yahweh; their prophet of prophets is not Christ Jesus; their God is not Yahweh; they trace back their lineage not to Isaac (which would unequivocably lead them to Christ) but to Ismael... Here are two specific passages dealing with these two brothers: 11 The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, [a] for the LORD has heard of your misery. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward [b] all his brothers." (Genesis 16:11-12) 19 Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. [a] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year." (Genesis 17:19-21) These are self-explanatory... why the Muslins would choose to side with the son who does not receive the promise is beyond me... but history clearly demonstrates that Ismael's descendants are clearly against the world and the world is set against them... again, this due to their own determination to set the world afire! God Bless! Angel |