i’m gonna give you a word, and i want you to think of the first thing that comes to your mind.
here’s your word:
muslim.
if i’m correct, you probably think of the war we’ve been involved in in the middle east for too many years, the attire muslims wear, 9/11, or even just an enemy.
there has been quite a stigma on muslims in america since i can remember. actually, since september of 2001, to be real and straight to the point. 9/11 changed americans’ view on muslims.
i’ve got news: when muslims hijacked those airplanes, they also hijacked the muslim faith.
my point here is not to bash people for having a perspective on a people group that their culture and nation teaches them, but to call humans to a higher standard of loving people.
this month, my team and i are in a predominantly muslim community called Novi Pazar in Serbia. let me tell you, these people are the most kind, generous, and hospitable people. (probably because they’re just like everyone else, ya know, humans in general tend to be pretty kind beings)
we’ve made lots of friends that are muslim. some of them have their heads and arms covered, and some of them dress just like you and i.
most everyone is open about their faith with us, and we reciprocate that. many people are interested in what we believe because there are also orthodox christians here, and that is polar opposite from the protestant christianity that we are here sharing.
in fact, i would say that the muslim faith is closer to protestant christianity than even the orthodox faith.
muslims believe that they can pray to God for anything.
so do we.
muslims believe that God is almighty and powerful.
so do we.
muslims believe in doing good deeds and taking care of their neighbors.
so do we.
the main difference between islam and christianity is that christians believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. we believe he was sent to this earth because we are so far beneath God in terms of holiness.
muslims believe the more good they do, the more likely they will end up in Heaven. their good must outweigh their bad.
Jesus was sent to earth to be God in human form. he was sinless and blameless. he had absolutely no reason to die on a cross for every person on earth.
humans are sinful creatures. the price for sin is death.
Jesus was sinless. he took our place and died for each of us.
he paid the price that we would have had to pay for being a sinful human.
he was human, yet sinless.
muslims don’t show their head or arms to be holy.
muslims pray facing mecca five times a day to gain holiness.
muslims take care of one another to prove their holiness.
muslims believe in working their way to God and maybe he will see them as “good enough” to enter into Heaven with him.
so here’s the major difference: as christians, we believe that we must accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior in order to enter into the Heavenly gates one day. we do not need to perform any tasks on earth for us to secure our place in Heaven. quite frankly, if you did good deeds your entire life, you still wouldn’t measure up to the holiness of God. christians still do good things, and that’s to express the love of Jesus to others so that maybe, just maybe, one day they will accept Jesus as their own savior.
this month i have absolutely loved getting to learn about a new religion and culture. i love that i get to have personal relationships with people who so many other people, especially my fellow americans, consider their enemies.
never in my life would i consider one of my muslim friends my enemy. after all, the battle is not against flesh and blood. we are all fighting against the same enemy and his name is Satan.
take the time to love those around you, no matter the differences between you and them. i promise you won’t regret it. think about how boring this life would be if we were all the same!!!
get the chance to know someone before you decide how you feel about them. don’t listen to someone else’s perspective and base your own off of theirs. go learn about that person – not with the intent to change them or tell them how they’re wrong in your eyes, but with the intent to love them.
“…and if i have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, then i am nothing.” ~1 corinthians 13:3b
