Chrislam - the Bottom of the Slide

While Terry Jones wanted to burn the Qur'an there are pastors that want to read the Qur'an in church to their congregations. In response to a local Qur'an burning, Larry Reimer, a minister of the United Church of Gainesville, decided to read Scripture from the Qur'an as part of worship services on September 12, 2010, prodded further about religious relatives. “Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all part of the Abrahamic tree of faith. We all believe in the same God, and in many aspects we are all trying to accomplish the same goals.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2584630/posts

Islam recital in Methodist church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybSAinBMb_g

This GROWING TREND is a natural slide to the bottom for common ground to have a peaceful coexistence. There is a movement saying that other religions are as valid as “Christianity.” Unfortunately the way Christianity is practiced today, there may be some truth to this. But if one were to go by the Bible and live Christianity the way it was originally taught, it becomes as different as night and day (Christianity being the day.

Chrislam is an interfaith movement that is a dialogue with Islam - a syncretistic movement that speaks about “spirituality without boundaries.” These churches, softening John 14:6, are opening the door to allow the conversion of their people. Because to them it matters not what you are anymore. For the most part, the majority of these churches are already removed from the faith, so this is expected in the days we live in.

It was Robert Schuller, pastor of Crystal Cathedral, that began this process by housing the offices for "Christians and Muslims for Peace." Schuller had told an Imam of the Muslim American Society that "if he came back in 100 years and found his descendants Muslims, it wouldn't bother him...." (The Berean Call (April 1998), -What's Happening to the Faith? by Dave Hunt ). That should bother any authentic Christian, but not those who espouse the “new Christianity” of our modern times.

The assumption is that Christians and Muslims all worship the same God; they, along with the Jews, are all faiths from Abraham. This is something we have steadily warned about for years. When you see people make the name Allah acceptable, that it is suitable for a Christian to pray in his name because it is the same God, or that Muslim converts can continue to go into their Mosques and pray and worship as if nothing happened to them, this is leading Christians toward accepting the Qur’an as equal in inspiration as the Bible (both Old and New Testament) when it contradicts it more than it agrees.

Consider the story of Rev. Ann Holmes Redding, an Episcopal priest for about 21 years, who says, "I am both Muslim and Christian" On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest. On Fridays, she ties on a black headscarf to pray with her Muslim group. She says both Islam and Christianity are compatible at the most basic level.

Are they? Can one be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time? Islam’s Jesus is not divine in the Qur’an; Jesus is not the only-begotten Son of God, nor the Messiah, God in human flesh; He did not die on the cross for our sins; He did not resurrect. Islam denies the gospel of Christianity – the core reason Jesus came to earth for. This is what these churches want to make peace with!

We have no commonality with Islam. The Bible says, “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness. This movement is apostasy in action, and we can expect more of this type of compromise.
A few years ago, 138 Muslim scholars and clerics sent an open letter to leaders of Christian churches, titled “A Common Word Between Us and You.” Many of America's top Christian leaders and known scholars signed in support to find commonality between the religions, ignorant that it contained a rebuke and an Islamic warning.

Now we have Chrislam, which blends the minimalist parts of Christ with Islam, with the intention of making them as equal faiths. In some churches, the Qur’an is placed in the pews next to the Bible; all of this is promoted under “loving your neighbor,” which was part of this open letter that the unwary undiscerning Christians signed to have peace.

This is part of a Jihad: to expose those who normally would not be interested in the Islamic religion, (of course it will be all the peace quotes). Muslims certainly know how to take advantage of this new openness to convert the kafirs to Islam. Islam condemns the belief in the divinity of Jesus as shirk, so to an authentic Christian –born of the Sprit of God there is no debate in this matter.

But to others who name themselves as Christians but care little of Jesus as the truth, they want a peaceful coexistence with those that demean their religion.
The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. along with 50 churches in 26 states have already joined the effort, As MORE THAN FIFTY CHURCHES AGREE TO HOLD QUR'AN READINGS “Faith Shared is a project of Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First.”

My immediate reaction to the first line… is it faith SHARED?
Christian clergy at churches across the country hosted readings from the Qur’an and other sacred religious texts as they welcomed their Muslim and Jewish colleagues on Sunday, June 26, 2011. Their purpose was to counter the Anti-Muslim bigotry. On the website sponsoring this (faithshared.org): “Tensions around Islam in America have erupted throughout the country in the past year, leading to misconceptions, distrust and in some cases violence.”

I have to disagree with their premise. Bigotry is part of Islam, as they have no allowance for other religions, even those they call “people of the book.” Tensions and violence have come from Islam itself, not just in our country but all over the world. This becomes enigmatic when you are including the Jews of whom Islam has an open war with and the religious leaders in their most religious lands vow to eliminate. Are people deaf and blind to what is taking place? Leave it to those who accept everything to ignore the obvious. Liberal thinking rules over all logic and common sense.

So we need to ask: What would Jesus do? We know he NEVER once read or quoted from another religion of his day to promote his teaching. He instructed and rebuked when necessary those of his own religion that spoke incorrectly. Which certainly would be applicable in this case with those who profess to be his followers, who apply his name to themselves and call themselves a church.

 Stahnke, director of policy and programs for Human Rights First, stated, “We want to send a message to the world,” he said, “that Americans do respect religious differences and reject religious bigotry and the demonization of Islam or any other religion.”

If I may make sense of his false argument by allowing reality to intrude … America has always allowed all kinds of religions to worship in our country, including Islam. It is the Islamic countries that do not allow the other religions to freely worship. They have no integration in their lands or culture, and they certainly do not allow any integration with their religion.

We have a conundrum; they are the ones who are intolerant; they have bigotry thriving; but it is implied that we are the bigots and haters because we quote their own sermons and measure their actions.

Are we to intentionally put aside hundreds of statements like this to show we are not bigots?
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah ’s Apostle said, “I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,’ and whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,’ his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)” (Bukhari, Hadith, Vol. 4, Book 52, 196)

It’s not whether we respect them, but do they respect us, or others? Do we see Islam asking for rights of other religions in their own land? Of course not. In fact, in most Islamic countries other religions are OUTLAWED. Once they live by Sharia law it becomes difficult for them to allow anything that is contrary. Let’s not overlook the obvious, which would be the things right in front of your nose in plain view (called the news). Of all the compromises made these days, this has got to be the most asinine, irrational, and ignorant.

We have freedom to worship any way we want in America. Go try to have the same freedom, or promote your interfaith in one of the countries that have Islam as the state religion. This is why the whole matter is self-defeating and an exercise in futility.

The fact is, the only religion that is being used for violence is Islam, so we must ask why? Why are the majority of terrorists throughout the world Muslim? It’s because of the Qur’an, not their ethnicity; it is their religion that can affect their person and culture.

The idea of appeasement may exhibit tolerance to Islam, but it exhibits disloyalty to Christ. It is these people who call themselves a church that are not going to stand up against the tide of persecution. You can’t uphold what you don’t know. They will probably convert, since they are halfway there already. They are Christian in name only because they will not stand up for Christ or his gospel. This shows who the head of their church is. For the Lord is not consulted, they have abandoned the head of the body for spiritual correctness and the way of the world.

This supposedly includes reaching out to the Jews. They want to read from each other’s “sacred texts.” Do we expect the Hebrew or Christian Scripture to be read or spoken well in the Mosques? Is it too much to ask to see them do the same for Israel that they do for Islam and stand up for their right to exist and practice their religion not only in their homeland but in Muslim lands.

The Berean Call: Even Atheists on occasion recognize that the real threat to them is not biblical Christianity, but Islam. Consider the comments below, prompted by an article from the Religion News Service printed in the Salt Lake Tribune.
“More than 50 Churches Agree to Hold Koran Readings!!”

In the past I have stated I am not religious, but my goal is to help educate and unite Atheists and members of non-Islamic religions against a common enemy. That enemy is Islam. The good news is that our voice against Islam is clearly getting louder, the bad news is that far too many Americans who identify themselves as "Christians" are taking the easy way out and bowing down to Islam, in an effort to avoid a conflict that has been raging for 1400 years.

Muslim Hadith Book 019, Number 4366: "It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim."
A conflict in which Christians are clearly losing!

[The author then quotes the article from the Salt Lake Tribune.] Pulpit pals: Christians, Jews, Muslims plan shared worship "Religious and human rights activists are asking U.S. churches to invite Jewish and Muslim clergy to their sanctuaries to read from sacred texts next month in an initiative designed to counter anti-Muslim bigotry.

The June 26 initiative, called "Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding," is co-sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First. Leaders of the two Washington-based groups said the event hopes to demonstrate respect for Islam in the wake of Quran burnings in recent months….
(Adelle Banks, "Pulpit pals: Christians, Jews, Muslims plan shared worship," Religion News Service, May 17 2011).

There are some trying to respect a religion that considers itself superior to all religions and challenges the Bible on nearly everything it says, giving untrue alternate stories.

Agenzia Fides (the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies) Continental News reports an increase in rape and forced marriage to convert to Islam of Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan, a Muslim nation. This has been taking place at a larger scale in Africa. This is what Islam allows with Sharia law? We see no repercussions for this from Islam. Is this what they want us to respect?

Modern History of the Chrislam Movement

Nigeria, like many other African countries, has been experiencing increased violence between Muslims and Christians; the answer came religiously not politically.

The most popular Chrislam movement in Lagos, Nigeria at present is called Oke Tude: Mountain of Loosing Bondage. The older Chrislam movement is called Ifeoluwa: The Will of God Mission.

Oke Tude was founded in 1999 by a Muslim man calling himself Prophet Dr. Samsindeen Saka who was born in a Muslim family. He believed in Allah and went on a pilgrimage to Mecca four times. “During Saka’s second hajj in 1990, he received a divine call by Allah, telling him that he had to unite Christians and Muslims by enlightening them that they are serving the same God, but in different ways:

“The vision to bring mutual understanding between Muslims and Christians was revealed to me by Almighty God, when I rested near the Ka‘aba. In a dream God showed me pictures of religious intolerance in Nigeria, and He assigned me to bridge the misunderstanding between the two religions, to stop the killings. Initially, I didn’t understand the dream. On New Year’s Eve I called several Muslim scholars to my house. They prayed and afterwards fell asleep. It turned out that they all had the same dream: in their dream they saw me bringing together Christians and Muslims. This is how it started.” (Chrislam: Forging Ties in a Multi-Religious Society)

As far back as January 26, 2006, Christian Science Monitor did an article on this movement stating:

“Pastor Saka explains that his father was an herbalist and that both Muslims and Christians would come to him for healing. Although he grew up Muslim, and has been to Mecca on pilgrimage several times, he couldn't comprehend Nigeria's sectarian strife. He now considers himself a Christian, ‘but that doesn't mean Islam is bad.’ Quite the opposite. Next to his mosque is a televangelist's dream - an auditorium with 1,500 seats, banks of speakers, a live band, and klieg lights. On Sundays the choir switches easily between Muslim and Christian songs, and Pastor Saka preaches from both the Bible and the Koran. His sermons are often broadcast on local TV.” (In Africa, Islam and Christianity are growing - and blending)

Think about what is being said. That God (Allah) told him that he is the same God of both religions and to stop the killing (which was from the Muslims initially). This new revelation from a Muslim started this new synthetic blend that has become the answer for their conflicts.
This is what is being termed “Muslim-Christian coexistence” to accept the premise and practice of the coexistence movement you must depart from faith in Jesus Christ and what He said in the word of God. These religions are not to be united but to stay separated. Clearly, we have prior examples for us today: “They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them”(Jeremiah 11:10). Islam believes Christianity has another God but will feign being of a kindred source when it is advantageous to them.
See: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/february-13-2009/chrislam/2236/

The Modern Chrislam movement in Lebanon
The main Chrislam organization on the web has a minimal amount of content. On its home page, it has a quote by Malcom X. This organization is more about dialogue and recognition of equality with the Abrahamic religions. But it does have some interesting points made in its agenda. We are told that “The members of the Committee are de facto members of the Arab Group for Islamic-Christian Dialogue, affiliated to the Middle East Council of Churches. Some are founding members of this Group.”

It appears there are two main people involved; Emir Hares Chakib Chehab and Mr. Mohammad As- Sammak. Emir Hares Chakib Chehab is the General Secretary of the Committee. Emeritus President of the Maronite League. Emeritus President of the Union of Christian Leagues in Lebanon. Maronite Syriac Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome.
Emirs Chehab, jurist and lawyer, is a consultant in the field of public relations and the owner of the Arab News Agency, which he founded after leaving his key position in the Ministry of Information.

According to the Maronite Syriac Church, they believe in the human nature of Jesus Christ and the reality of the incarnation of the Son of God for our Salvation; they hold to the divinity of Christ. So how this can be reconciled with Islam that calls this blasphemy is perplexing.

Mr. Mohammad As - Sammak is listed as no.101 on the common word website. Sammaka Political scientist - Secretary General of the Islamic Spiritual Summit in Lebanon member in the National Lebanese Unesco Committee, Editor in Chief of the review Al-Ijtihad and writes in several other newspapers. He represents Dar Al-Fatwa on the Committee, which is a Sunni council upholding Sharia law.

Dar al-Fatwa has commissioned lawyers to prepare a lawsuit against Aoun leader of the Free Patriotic Movement who has taken “stances hostile to Islam and Arabism since he began interacting with public affairs.” They accuse him of inciting tensions among sects in Lebanon and of defamation against the Sunni sect:

http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=274837#ixzz1PYadEL7x

 http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/7018-dar-al-fatwa-to-sue-aoun-for-inciting-strife-advises-him-to-treat-himself

Dr. Jean Salmanian is the Chancellor of the Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon, representing the Armenian Orthodox Church.

Mr. Camille Menassa is Director of “L’Orient- le Jour,” newspaper and CEO of the publishing house “L’Orient-le Jour.” He is a professor at Saint-Joseph University, Vice-President of the Arab World Cultural Council. He represents the Greek Catholic Partriachate of Antioch and all the East.

Judge Abbas Selim El-Halabi- Jurist and judge as a background, he is member of the Permanent Secretariat of the Islamic Spiritual Summit and in charge of the key responsibilities in the Druze Community who appointed him as her representative to the Vatican Synod for Lebanon in 1995.
He represents the Druze House of the Community on the Committee

Mr. Michel Elias Abs is Professor at Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, he is the former Chairman of Department and Sociology and Anthropology. He is the former Director of the Lebanon Emergency and Development Program of the Middle East Council of Churches. He represents the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East.

Dr. Ali El-Hassan is the founder of “The Lebanese- German Friendship Society" in Germany, the founder and chairman of "The Graduates of German Speaking Universities" in Lebanon, the Vice-President of the "5th of June society" and a Co-founder of "AMAL Organization,” Dr. El-Hassan was a close associate to Imam Moussa El-Sader in his various political and social endeavors. He represents the Chiite Islamic Supreme Council on the Committee.
See also: chrislam.org website : http://www.chrislam.org/actions.html

[Moussa El-Sader was a Lebanese Shiite religious and political leader who came from Iran to Lebanon. He founded the Amal Movement the “Brigades of the Lebanese Resistance,” the military wing of the movement of the Deprived, which fought alongside the Lebanese National Movement and the Palestinian Resistance.
Lebanon has a real potpourri of political parties at work. Progressive Socialist Party, Socialist Arab Union Lebanese Communist, Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Christian Democratic Party, Hezbolla, Islamic Gathering Movement, Islamic Jihad Movement, Union of Muslim Ulama, Free Patriotic Movement, Democratic Secular Party, Arab Democratic Party. Many other parties take part in politics and the landscape is constantly changing as new parties spring up and others become defunct.
On the Chrislam site: Under the link “actions” Islamic-Christian National Dialogue Committee- Unified Working Paper, The Islamic-Christian National Dialogue Committee

“On the basis of the fundamental principles on which the Lebanese are agreed, as enshrined in the Document of National Entente (1989), and which affirm the commitment to Lebanon as the definitive country of all its people in its internationally recognized borders, with its Arab identity and membership of the Arab world;

“As an ample human terrain for freedom and dialogue between the followers of the divinely revealed religions, a land of life shared in common between Christians and Muslims, in which the aspirations and goodwill of all Lebanese come together and interact to build their state and political entity on the basis of a free republican, parliamentary, democratic system, under the protection of complete equality in rights and duties between all the people of one single country;
A state committed to the principle of freedom of religion, thought and information, as well as economic freedom, without monopoly and anarchy.” (underline mine)

What they call Chrislamogy is coming from Lebanon. The Lebanese population consists of 28 percent Sunni Muslim, 28 percent Shi'a Muslim, 5 percent Druze, 22 percent Maronite Christian, 8 percent Greek Orthodox,  and 4 percent Greek Catholic. There are also very small numbers of Jews, Bahai’s, and Hindus.

On the site: 4-Christian-Muslim Dialogue

“The coexistence between all denominations of Muslims and Christians is Lebanon’s greatest value. It is Lebanon’s mission to the world, in that it is a pattern of life, as well as a relationship of constant dialogue between the Christian and Islamic worlds, a link of continuity to enrich the values imprinted on human character by these two divinely revealed messages. To safeguard this formula of civilization and emphasize its credibility are therefore both a Lebanese and a human responsibility. However, since the struggle of power is usually exercised in a way that harms this formula, the establishment of a balanced political system constitutes a bulwark to protect this formula from any evil exploitation.
“National fraternization between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon is not merely a commitment dictated by the essentials of coexistence or a necessity for avoiding sectarian strife, but also a destiny, a choice, and a noble human task which makes Lebanon have a world mission. For this purpose, we have to work to unify national oratory so that it transcends sectarian selfishness, rising to openness and the interest of one country, for all denominations and all Lebanese.

“This requires the establishment of a just and conscious national state, which will open up horizons for emerging national forces to participate in creating a better tomorrow, reassure citizens and encourage them to shift from the shadow of the sect to the protection of the state which is responsible for their security and stability, and for providing them with the essential elements of a life of freedom and dignity.”

We need to pay attention to these next statements:
“These include the necessary guarantees of work, education, medical treatment and other social guarantees. The return of all displaced persons to their villages and houses, and a halt to the exploitation of their agonies and sufferings, are considered an essential basis for strengthening the credibility of the state as the protector of all citizens.” (underline mine)

The coexistence movement is not only interfaith but has strong elements of communism. Those involved in Chrislam make Lebanon sound like a prototype for a new world model.

These concepts are lofty goals under the heading of “moving forward” to forge unity. Yet we need to have a better name for Chrislam - maybe Islam-ity, as it is part of the Islamization of Christianity in America.

 
List of churches involved http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=5441