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Chrislam? Really?! Chrislam? Really?! Perhaps you are like me and had not heard the term "Chrislam", but it was in an article, "Churches Open Doors to Muslim Worship" dated February 18, 2011 on the Fox News website. Obviously the term Chrislam is a combination of Christ and Islam which is what some people are trying to do. This is a product of the ecumenical movement. In the list of definitions on dictionary.com the following are given for ecumenical: 3. promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world, 4. of or pertaining to a movement (ecumenical movement), especially among Protestant groups since the 1800s, aimed at achieving universal Christian unity and church union through international interdenominational organizations that cooperate on matters of mutual concern, 5. interreligious or interdenominational. For years, people have claimed unity in diversity and it does not matter what one believes as long as they are worshipping the same God. Now we see that some people are so broadminded that they believe it is ok to worship a different god, and believe me the god of Islam is not the God of the Bible. The article is referring to the Heartsong Church in Cordova, Tennessee, where members of the Memphis Islamic Center held Ramadan prayers there last September. Also, Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, allows the Islamic Circle of North America to hold regular Friday prayers in the building while their new mosque is being built. They justified this practice on the basis of being good neighbors and Christian love. The article mentioned that, "as of September, there were 1,897 mosques in the United States, a 57 percent increase since 2000." One final quote from the article I would like to cite. Steve Stone, Heartsong's senior pastor, wrote in Christianity Today that "No thought at all was given to the political ramifications... The decision was firmly based only on our understanding of the mission and nature of the church.” He also pointed out that”there was no trading of theologies. They are Muslims, we are Jesus followers; both of us are clear about that.'" There you have it. This is not evangelistic, for they are not trying to convert their Muslim friends, but aid them in their worship. This is wrong on so many levels my head wants to explode! It is not the mission of the church to open its doors to every kind of doctrine of man available. The church is the "pillar and ground of the truth," (1 Timothy 3.15). The mission of the church is stated in Ephesians 4.12, "For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." The church is to preach the Gospel, to build up its members, and to aid needy saints. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers" (Acts 2.42). The churches mission is spiritual in nature, Romans 14.17. We are involved in a spiritual war for the souls of mankind, 2 Corinthians 10.3-4. Jesus did not die to set up a community center for false religions. These "churches" are in fellowship with the religion of Islam. I could understand debating those of the Islam faith, but to say, "there was no trading of theologies" is as wrong as wrong can be. They are allowing a group to come into their building and preach the doctrine of Mohammad. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5.11). To fellowship means to partake with, to have in common, to work together with; they are working together with the teachers of Islam to spread their faith. How many visitors will come to the Heartsong Church in Cordova, Tennessee or the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia? How many will be converted to Islam? No one knows, but however many there will be, the people of those two churches will have had a hand in it. They are selling out their duty to be separate from the doctrines of men. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord had Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? (2 Corinthians 6.14-16a). What would Paul say to those two churches today? One cannot be a member of Christ's body and in fellowship with idols or those promoting a false religion. These two churches seem to be thinking that Islam and Christianity can be combined, but they are wrong. They are diametrically opposites. Jesus claimed to be The Son of God, Luke 22.70. Islam claims Jesus was in some places, but they deny His deity in other places. "The Christ, son of Mary, was but an apostle, and many apostles had (come and) gone before him", Surah 5.75. They say Jesus was just another prophet, but Mohammad was the last prophet of God. Therefore, Mohammad is greater than Jesus. "Those who offend God and His Prophet (speaking of Mohammad, D.T.) will be damned in this world and the next. There is a shameful punishment ready for them," Surah 33.57. "The Christians say; 'Christ is the Son of God.' That is what they say with their tongues following assertions made by unbelievers before them. May they be damned by God: How perverse they are!" Surah 9:30. I could give you many more quotes, but you get the idea. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” (John 14.6). He died on the cross for our sins as recorded in the Gospels and was resurrected. By His blood we are redeemed, Ephesians 1.7. His blood is the blood of the New Covenant between man and God, Matthew 26.28. Jesus affirmed His deity by claiming to be eternal, John 8.58. The Gospel of John earlier affirmed Jesus' eternal nature and power by stating His role in the creation of the world, John 1.1-3. The religion of Islam denies all of the above. They believe Jesus to have been a created being, Surah 3.59. Thus they deny His virgin birth. They deny His death and resurrection. "And because they denied and spoke dreadful calumnies of Mary; And for saying, 'We killed the Christ, Jesus, son of Mary, who was an apostle of God;' but they neither killed nor crucified him, though it so appeared to them" Surah 4.156. Thereby they deny His blood being shed for our sins, and the blood of the New Covenant. One last point I want to make on this subject. Many Muslims believe those who convert to Christianity should be killed. Why? Because of their very doctrine. Muslims deny that Jesus Christ was God incarnate. Any Muslim who believes Jesus Christ is God has committed 'the one unforgivable sin' called shirk -- a sin that will send him to hell forever. From The Facts on Islam, pages 20-21. There is no such thing as Chrislam. Unfortunately they are not really following after Christ, for if they were they would be contending for the faith instead of selling it out. --Dennis Tucker
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