"Do Muslims have the Strongest Argument after All?"
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007760---
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No.
The tomb is still empty.
Further rambling follows which contradicts all human reasons for
hopelessess:
Summary: the Lord is God, the Lord alone.
==> Let's love Him with our all everything.
...
The article had 1 major flaw: in reality trees don't have a much
better fate than people in Islam. (Have you ever seen a photo of a
lush garden in Mecca? The most famed fotos are of people whirling
around a vieled black building ... much like a mosh pit.). Pick fruit
from the wrong tree & the whole garden starts to shrivel. Mere
demography is death. Democracy unrestrained _always_ leads to
degenerate mob rule, just ask _anybody_ who has read classical works on
political science.
However, there is another City that is not governed by confusion. In
it there is a tree of Life, that always has fresh fruit. Perhaps you
know with crystal clarity the Road of gold I speak of?
Be fruitful & multiply, make disciples. Why be afraid merely because a
few people desire to have kids & impose law? Cannot every one of those
kids be redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ?
Remember, if we DO NOT LOSE HEART BUT REMAIN ALERT, WATCH & PRAY, we
could see a greater work come to Europe than in legendary days of Old.
See, God is doing new things even today. Look around you, yes. & Look
above you.
In the "historic heartlands" of Islam, the Good News is starting to
advance against the nonsense of Islam. Islam will fall. Not because
we possess better arguments, but because the earth is the LORD's.
NEVER get afraid because of a little war. Jesus said these things
would happen (Matthew 24). But he said, DO NOT BE DISTURBED!! Our
confidence is not in our DNA but in our Deliverer.
Missions were going along great & many were hopeful ... until WWI ...
then people thought "Oh, no ... people really are sinners. How can we
ever share the gospel?" The church began to drift. Some lost all hope
for the church in Russia as Communism was established under Lenin.
Slowly a little hope picked up between the battles, some folks started
getting excited about the Lord's work in China ... then WWII cam along
.. as did Communism .... then people though, "Oh no, ... people really
are sinners! No one seeks God, no not one. How can we ever share the
gospel & expect people to respond?" The church began to drift, people
lost hope for the church in China. The same sense of hopelessness set
in for many regarding Eastern Europe, after all, they had godless
leaders.
Yet, in other places & times, people were hopeful that there, surely there the gospel could spread. Meanwhile, the good news was really starting to take root in the very places that people had lost hope. The faith of Abraham was being displayed: a hope against hope. God's promises are so much more sure than man's certified & credentialed
doubts.
Iran fell to an Ayatollah ... and people thought, "Oh no, Muslims are sinners, too ... and secular governments cannot save us. Oh no, how will we ever save the world? We have propped up secular governments with our hands and now another has fallen. How ever can the gospel of Christ stand against such infamy?" Hopelessness again. More people became disappointed in the gospel.
The same thing has been happening again since 9/11 in the USA. Alas, we built these tall towers, but the fell. They weren't supposed to fall! Why did this happen? Just a few people? So religious? Oh me, O my, we are sinners, whatever will we do? We must build not two towers, but one big tower, a taller tower. We must send out bigger guns, bigger planes, bigger boats, a war to end all wars. Let us wave banners higher & sing our songs louder & die bravely on the battlefield." Yet people are finding that these & all their own methods & concepts do not win over Muslims. We are finding that sin still affects the vast majority of the sons of Adam. We are finding that sinners beget sinners, whether they wear the name Muslim or Buddhist, Hindu or Communist, Tribal or Tyrant. What ever will we do?
Across the earth, shame covers the face of so many who look in the mirror. Who will clothe us with dignity & strength? What are these few among so many? It would take years & years of wages to feed & clothe, much less save so many.
After the Tsunami in Aceh & affected areas over a year ago, people were distraught. Many died. Some were angry at God. Some were philosophical. Many were suffering. Some were faithful. Since then, what has happened? New openings for real, honest, down-to-earth service. A ceasefire has been called. New beginnings. And, for those who are climatologically inclined & can tell the difference between when it is raining & when it is not: It was raining more in Aceh than in had in a long time. Last I checked, these are the kinds of things the Lord God does.
So what does Jesus say, "You feed them. Go out as sheep among wolves. Take up the cross. Could you not stay awake & watch with me just one hour?"
Again, what does the Lord say? Watch & pray so that you don't enter into temptation / trial. If there are but two or three, I am in their midst.
So let us love one another, and watch & pray ... and we will see the salvation of our God.
Walking with the Lord,
Mert H.
mertaka@everybody.org
(Watch & pray does not equate to "Watch CNN & worry." Prayer implies faith in God's desire & ability to act decisively on behalf of those who look to Him.)
hopeful