THE CONVERTS IMPRESSIONS OF DEEN-ALISLAAM BY ABDULLAHI JONATHAN [Ex-CHRISTIAN] I have brought up in a Christian family, trained in S.D.A Primary school, Jenre, and a graduate of ECWA Theological college Kagoro, Kaduna State of Nigeria. I used to be known as Mathias Jonathan, but later a new name, with a new resolution. I am now Abdullahi Jonathan, and the resolution is a change from Christianity to Islaam. It is my pleasure to share with you my personal conviction and an insight on the concept of God, the person of Jesus, and the Holy spirit, an insight I acquired based on my background and the theological training. Christianity to me was the only true religion. The Bible was the only guide in life to eternity, with Jesus as the saviour of mankind. But at a point in time, I noticed a conflicting religion organisation called Islaam, which to my best of knowledge, was a rival religion, competing with the Christian faith. By virtue of my background, the Bible was the only revealed word from God to mankind, but the Quran was another book that claimed divine inspiration. While Jesus Christ was the saviour and the only way to God, Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] was another man that claimed to be sent by God with a message that gained much acceptance. I was later exposed to subjects in the secondary school which served to broaden my thinking faculty about life in general and about religion in particular. The history lesson describes the birth of the Prophet of Islaam, his examplary life, his encounter with Angel Gabriel and his struggles to establish and maintain Islaam. I develop an interest in this mans courage and his life of faithfulness. Some of my friends were Muslims, whose way of life and mode of worship differ from mine of course. I loved listening to them as they recite Quranic verses in a strange tongue and the way they do protrate in unison in their worship to the Great Creator. As my curiosity increased, I sacrificed one term for Islamic Religion Knowledge instead of my usual Christian Religion Knowledge in order to gain more insight on what Islaam was all about, and what that strange dialect meant to the society. (I quit thereafter of course) but the effect remained. A story that discouraged my effort in my attempt to discover Islaam was that the Arabs and Hausa/Fulani were the true sons of Islaam. All others who came into the religion were not considered real Muslims. And that at the moment of death, during the funeral sevice, the deceased was kicked with the left leg and was told to return to his or her original life of infidelity (of course that was cooked up story designed to tanish the image of Islaam and the Muslims. For that reason, I developed hatred towards Islaam and the Muslms. There and then I dis-missed thought about trying to discover Islaam by choosing rather to go into Christian theolgy. While in theological training, Isalmic studies and cults was one of the course one must offer. That was designed to get the student acquainted with various religion organisations which were rooted in falsehood. Islaam was one of these false religion. The lesson of course was very exciting. I enjoyed the course and even won award in Islamic studies and cults in 1995. To my former colleagues, the pastors, this is nothing but the denial of the faith. To them, it is selling Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, crucifing him the second time, thereby exposing him to public shame and disgrace. In other words, it is apostasy, a blasphemy against the holy spirit which is an unpardnable sins to Christians There are speculations as to the motive behind my acceptance. In an attempt to the discover why I should concieve, entertain, and take up that nasty decision, some school of thoughts emerged. Some are of the opinion that I am insane- it is a sign of mental disoder. While others thought I have been bribed by a wealthy family. Another school of thought believed I have been reading destructive books that led to my confusion. You dont have to go that far in your assumptions, dear reader. The reason behind my acceptance has to do with God and my conscience. I have problems with Christendom on the concept of God, the holy scriptures and the promised successor of Jesus Christ. Why, after all should you judge my conviction and criticise my decision destructively? I am certain that the Chief justice of the universe is everliving. He has the full knowledge of the secrets of the heart of men, and is the master of the day of judgement. And because religion issue has to do with life and death, a matter between man and his God, one should be left no ones conscience. As far as the life hereafter is concerned,each person is accountable to God Almighty. I have the single honour to share with you my conviction and understanding in regard to the concept of God in the Bible, and to shed some light based on my little knowledge about Islaam which has been misunderstood by most Christians. Abraham has been described in the Bible as the friend of God, and the father of many nations. He was therefore the common ancestor of the Jews, Christians and the Muslims. Through Isaac, come all the Prophets including Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus. The coming of all these Prophets was a partial accomplishment of Gods promises to bless all nations through the seed of Abraham. Genesis 12:3 said: I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples (nations) on earth will be blessed through you. Hence, Romans 4:11 added....So then, he (Abraham) is the father of all who believe... (In oneness of God). And glory be to God, for one of the Islamic articles of faith urge muslims to believe and respect all Prophets. Attention! Was the first son of Abraham, Ishmael and his descendants included in the convenant and promises God made with Abraham? After the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac, Genesis 17:4-6) repeats Gods promise of chapter 12:3-3 as for me, this is my convenant with you: You wil be father of many nations...for I have made you you a father of many nations. I will make you many fruitful, I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. Isaac was blessed specifically, in Genesis 21, and Ishmael was also blessed specifically, and promised by God to become a great nation in verses 13, 18 and I quote: I will make the of the maid servant into a nation also, become he is your offspring. Lift the boy up and take him by one name, for him into a great nation. Therefore Ishmael and his descendants were included in the Abrahamic Convenant. The descendants of Isaac are the Israelites. While that of Ishmael are the Arabs. From Isaac came Jesus Muhammad came from Ishmael. And so, we have Christainity and Islaam as the major religions of the world. But before Christianity there was Judaism with Moses as its mediator. Therefore, chronologically, we have Judaism, Christianity and Islaam. Hence God never left a generation in the darkness of uncertainty of life. He had always provided guidance and light to every nation. Now the challenge of our time is how to recognise and identity the mediator and message that have a bearing on us today, since every religion claimed to have the truth. There are people today who adhere to the principles of Moses, Judaisers. Other prefer that of Jesus, Christians, and there are believers in the message of Muhammad. Do all these religious organisations differ in their origin? Not at all. They also go back to the patriach Abraham, the father of all those who believe, and the three Prophets are directly descended from his (Abrahams) sons- Muhammad from the eldest, Ishmael and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. It is noteworthy that all of them brought the same message, namely, the Oneness of God and to worship Him alone. But Gods final message and a summing up of all that has gone before, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad through Angel Gabriel. He is therefore the last of Gods Prophets with the last testament to mankind- Quraan. The questions that call for our consideration are as follows: which of the Prophets should we adhere to- Moses, Jesus or Muhammad? (May Allaah peace and blessings be upon them all). Who was Jesus and had he any successor? Which of the inspired scripture should we abide by- The Torah, Injil or Quran? Where, for Gods sake, lies the truth?! In answer to the latter question, the Christian woud exclaim in defence: we are the ones! We have the truth, for truth is in Jesus who said: I am the way, the truth and thelife, no one comes to the Father except through me.(John14:6) Luke added, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved.(Acts 4:12) We also have the Bible. The Christian continues. Which was written through inspiration and is profitable for teaching rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2Tim 3:16). The Muslims on the other hand would reply in protest: we are the ones who own the truth. Our is the last messenger with the last testament. Judaism and Christianity, which proceeded Islaam had served their purpose. We now, however have the last Gods messengers and with him the final and concluding revelation, which sums up the previous scriptures, and the Prophets that proceeded Islaam, And so, the Muslims conclude: The true religion in the sight of Allaah. (Al-Imran 3:19) and in chapter 3:85, the Quran said: Whoever seeks any religion other than Islaam, it will not be accepted of him, and in the hereafter he will be one of the losers. Before going further, let me comment on a well established fact religion in general. Religion has been abuse by many of those who practice it- and this without exception. There are indred cases of deception, dishonesty, betrayal and hypocriscy among Muslims and Christians alike. While it is mandatory to keep the commands of God and believers are expected to live pure holy lives, sin however has come to stay in peoplees heart- and hypocrisy characterises our dalings with fellow men and the creator. Nevertheless, I would like to persuade you the reader: of the fact that the criteria for determaining the part of truth are not based on certain human weaknesses associated with the religionist. We are indeed wrestling weak human tendencies: how sad! What a pity. But the struggle to maintain the faith that has been handed down to us through the Prophets must continue until the day of resurrection. Yes, the accepted way with its mode of worship which approves is judged regonised by what such religion teaches (its creed and doctrines) I am for Islaam because all the Prophets of God, From Adam to Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them all) including Jesus were Muslims. How? All of them believed and taught their people to worship none but one true God. They were truly Muslims as Arabic word Islaam means, submission to God. This point to the foundamental religious creed which afirms that a Muslims submits of the will of Sovereign Lord. Confirming inwardly and outwardly to His laws. It lays emphasis on the oneness of God Almighty and urges us to adhere to strictly to certain teachings and acts of worship. Islaam is simply there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah. It enjoins submitting not only to Gods will , but to worship Him as examplified by the Prophet of Islaam, hence the concluding part of the Ash shahaadh which means states Muhammad Rasoullah Christendom in its disregard to the Bible. Attached too much importance to Christ than the Father and so not only elevated him to divinity but also lost the very essence of theology namely, the Lord our God the Lord is one. (Deut 6:4) It is worth nothing here that in the Christians theologcal Institutions, the study of God the Father is called theology proper, that of the son is christology, while the study of the holy spirit is pneumatology. Why is the study of God the Father so unique? It is because the Bible bears testimony to the oneness of the only true God. The concept of God amongst the Chistians is indded obscure and confusing. According to the Athanasian Creed, there are three divine persons (the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost) each is said to be God, each is Almighty, each is eternal, none is greater nor lesser than the other, yet together being but one God. Other statements of the dogma emphasise that these three persons are not separat and distinct individuals but are three modes in which divine essence exists. Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly unitarian (believe in that God is one person) it is at the council of Nicea in the 4th Century that Trinitarian, who did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching rtegarding the nature of God went as far as defying Jesus and the holy spirit. This was on the countrary a deviation from the teachoing of Gods Momtheism. In his dictionary of the Bible, John L Mithenzie S.J. Say: the trinity of person within the unity of nature is defined in items of person and nature which are Greek philosophical terms: Actually the terms do not appear in the bible. The trinitariarian definitions arose as the results of long controversies in which these terms and others such as ascence and substances were erroneously applied to God by some theologians. (New York 1965 pg 899) The Platonic trinity itself is merely rearrangement of the older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypstases or divine person taught by the Christian chuches. This Greek philosophers (plate) conception of the divine trinity...can be found in all the ancient religion. (Neveau Dictionaries universal Paris 1865-1870) edited by M Lachatre. Vol 2 p. 14-67. Certainly, both logic and the Bible say God is one . In his prayer. Jesus decleared: Now this eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3). Friend, God cannot be one, who alone is truly god. if there are two others who are co-equal, co-existed, each being god. Granted. I cor. 8:5,6 said: for even if there are so called gods whether in heaven or on earth as indded there are many gods and many lords. Yet for us there is but one God, the Father from whom all things came and for whom we live. For there is one God, says the bible, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. No! Jesus cannot be God and at the same time a mediator between God and men, that is unreasonable. The truly one is God whom we end up describing as! He is omni-present i.e. Everywhere present. He is omni-potent i.e. (Can do everything, he is omni-science i.e. (He knows everthing). He is creator the sustainer. He is invisible. Did Jesus claim all these attributes? Not at all. THE TEACHINGS OF THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST! The doctrine of the trinity actually deify Jesus Christ. But who Jesus according to the bible? Was he god or son of God? In human understanding a child is begot by his father. The child depends on his father for his sustainance. In page 39 of the book A summary of Christian doctrine by Louis Berkhof says: The distinctive characteristic of the Father is that the generates the son from all eternity ... Mark the word generate. The advance leaners dictionay defines as cause to exist or produce. And so ... Proverb 8:22-31 (commonly referd to as wisdom personified_said the lord brought me forth as the first of his works before his did old I was appointed from eternity... When there no ocean, I was givin birth... Before the hills, I was given birth ... Theologians agreed this a reference to Ghrist, the point there is; Jesus had a begining. He was brought forth; he was given birth. No wonder collosians 1:15 says; He is the image of invivible God, the first born all over creations, revelation 3:14 added: These things said Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Jesus actually had a mother without human father, but is that too great a things for the Lord who produce Adam without Father and Mother? And how miraculous was the birth of Eve had come from the husbands rib without a mother. In God sight, Jesus was as Adam was, pure without defect at the moment of creation. The writer of Hebrews tells of one Meichizedek. Without father or mother, without genealogy without beginning of the days or end of life... (7:3) What would be your comment on mysterious man? Will you not say he was greater than Jesus? As for christs mighty work of miracle, other also performed under nomal circumstances are imposible. Prophets such as Mosses, Elisha, Joshua performed miracles ranging from healing every kind of diseases, to raising the dead, some of them had power over nature. For rxample Joshua stilled the sun, Elisha shut the heavens for three and a half days, there was no rain. God granted the power and grace to do things in order to accentuate authenticity of their Prophethood. As Jesus decleared: By myself I can do nothing: I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just. For I seek not to please myself but he who sent me (John 5:10). Jesus was not equal to the father even after his resurrection. And he said: God instead to my brothers and tell them, I am returning to my father. And your father, to my God and your god Paul added ... The head of Christ is god (I cor. 11:3) Jesus had a father and a God. The oneness of God and Jesus does not show equality but a oneness in purpose. Hence he said I and my father are one (John 10:30). The same principle is shown in John 17:21 where Jesus prayed: that they (disciples) may all be one, father, just as you are in me and I in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that the you have sent me I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of your Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another, so there may be no division among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and though I that was Jesus decleared I and father are one and in another place he said ...for the father is greater than I (John 14:28). It was oneness of purpose. MAY ALLAAH [SWT] GRANT US UNDERSTANDING.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 08:36:42 +0000
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