MY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE

 MY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE

It was overwhelming! I have a personal policy to respond to every single birthday message no matter the channel through which it came. And indeed, at a point, I couldn’t match up the frequency!

As for linkedin, I am yet to respond to even one. The love showed is great.

I have a few things on my mind to share with you.

You see, with time, it is increasingly becoming clear that claims of Jesus Christ being a myth, something being trumpeted by CSF leader Avraham is losing its grounds as it is failing to stand the intellectual test.

Well, my write up is not about him, but about us the Church! Members and leaders alike.

The issue is that there isn’t enough intellectual study of our Scriptures. And the writings are on the wall. A day before my birthday, i.e. Thursday September 17, I got a call from a friend who complained bitterly about the fact that some of his friends were losing their grounds in the faith and were beginning to question the authenticity of the Bible. According to him, it wasn’t easy answering their numerous questions, and he was literally begging that something “Apologetic” be done in his city to provide answers that young people have about the Bible, the historicity of Jesus and more.

You see, I have always opined that a time came when people were not satisfied with the “time for prayer” in their denominations. They felt they needed more, the all night services were booming all over the place. It was not uncommon to see many people on the streets on Saturday dawn returning home from deliverance and healing services.

In no time, the era of deliverance gave way to the prophetic nights, people would pray, take their seats and then the “Prophet” would begin to call them one after the order to “prophecy” about them.

Praise God for this omnipresence and omnipotence, the power of God was being displayed. Not too soon, this vacuum for more gave rise to the era of “angels”

Things began to happen.

And I don’t blame the “charlatans” for entering the Church. We did not ground our members enough about exactly what spiritual warfare is! And so "doctrinally" many weren’t prepared!

And with the era of the prophets came the era of “Akwanker3”, to wit, “direction”

All sorts of things were being done in the churches!

Well, my message is simple, this 2020 and beyond eh, it is no more about the display of power, I started trumpeting this not today. It is going to be about providing the answers to the questions that are begging for answers.

How do you understand the Trinity?

Did Jesus ever exist?

Can we trust the Bible?

And many more…..

These all have answers but the answers are not in praying all night.

Of course, prayer is too important and has no substitute. All I am saying is that, it takes more than a devotional study of the Bible to arrive at the answers to these questions and more.

And we better be ready!

Avraham Ben Moshe has not reached the level of “the four horsemen of atheism”

In fact, his intellectual ability to question Christianity hasn’t gotten close to Christian antagonists of the West in any way.

To Pastors, it is time to study more!

To members, it is time to study even more!

I was surprised when during interactions on certain platforms, Christians who have worshiped in huge auditoriums for several years, I mean university graduates on top have no clue what is meant by Hermeunitics! You see, it is time.

On this birthday of mine, like I said on my facebook post, if you are at a place where you are not receiving sound doctrine, please run for your life.

A true believer does not linger under false teachings.

If error is being mixed with truth and sold to you as truth too, that is even more a killer!

Run for your life!

If everyday you are thought about witches and their operations and yet very little is taught you about how our beloved Bible was translated, if you are taught how about the enemy and very little about our saviour, please escape!

Life is short, you wanna serve the Lord in all full capacity! You sure can’t do that with half baked knowledge.

Once again, thanks for the love.

 

Book Review: Encountering the World of Islam by Richard Keith E. Swartley

SYLVANUS GATORWU

JANUARY 20, 2020

THEO5232.01 SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

REV. PAGE BROOKS, PhD.

Book Review

Book Title: Encountering the World of Islam

Author: Richard. Keith E. Swartley

.

Description: Written by Richard Keith E. Swartley, the book – “Encountering the World of Islam” was published by “InterVasity Press” in 2005 through the Caleb Project. This particular edition, the e-book from the SUM library has 619 pages consisting of 12 lessons and an appendix that is loaded with 18 figures and tables and 20 concepts on various important topical issues that would enlighten anyone seeking further knowledge on how to find common grounds within Islam and Christianity to use as a tool for missionary exploits. The book has 80 different contributors writing on various topics, adding to the richness of its content.

Thesis: Encountering the World of Islam has a way of making the reader identify with the writer. It is like a walk with the reader from his or her location into the core of the Islamic community. It attends to the all-important subject of the history of Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam. The historical narration is so well done; it gives the reader a reason to comprehend the battles fought today by the Islamic cluster of groups. As one journeys through the pages, the question of “exactly what do Muslims want” is answered. Swartley does a good job explaining the woes of the Islamic community as he aligns these woes to the Bible. Most importantly, he points out what can best be described as God’s heart cry for Muslims as he drives the leader with a hunger to intercede for the Islamic world. The works of other authors are found in the book. These help the reader to have a good geographic and demographics of the Islamic community from the Arab world, through Southeast Asia to down to the African continent.

Summary: The book is divided into four main areas of three lessons in each of the four. These are “Development of Islam,” “Expressions of Islam,” “Christianity and Islam” and “Our Response.” Being written in a school textbook format, the book comes with further readings, assignments and has an approach that would make it welcomed even within Muslim circles.

Being emphatic that we need to read “we need to look at the world through a different lens” to be able to understand Islam,[5] the author takes time to answer the questions of what influenced Muhammad to develop into the leader he became, as to whether there is anything appreciable about Mohammed if the direction of Muhammad’s life differed from the course chosen by Christ, and what the Christians attitude toward Muhammad should be. All these questions and more are answered perfectly without any antagonism.

The author is frank enough to state that, his intention is not for the reader to agree with Islam but for the reader to have a “deep and lasting relationships with Muslims.”[1]. He goes very deep into Mohammad’s revelations, his journeys and what the Quran says. Striking is the author’s piece on Mohammad’s relationship with Jews and Christians. Mohammad is seen expecting that Jews and Christians would “affirm his message”[2]. This does not happen, and it culminates into a complex fight for acceptance. All this happens with journeys around Mecca and Madina. His family life, genogram, eventual loses of his uncle and wife is all given a detailed look by the author.

“I am a man like you.” Is a quote provided by the author to prove Mohammad did not present himself as a supernatural person? This is backed by the fact that he is stated as not having to perform any miracle to prove his being a prophet[3]. He rather evolves into a ruler looking for acceptance with a message of “submission to Allah”. This acceptance is what he eventually finds at Yathrib as many now submit to him[4].

One striking thing that emerges from the book is that the seeming hostile nature of Islam did not just happen. It seems to have evolved from people not accepting the message of Allah and his prophet, and in answer to this hostility, he gets a revelation from Allah to “contend against the infidels…and be rigorous with them” (Sura 9:73, Rodwell)”[5]. Mohammed receives further revelations from Allah that will send him on a mission eradicate all idolaters and literally force all to submit to Allah. In this revelation, he is to “…kill those who join other gods with God wherever ye shall find them,….but if they shall convert and observe prayer and pay the obligatory alms,” he is to  “let them go their way” (Sura 9:5, Rodwell). The purpose of this command was to put an end to idolatry. After his death on June 8,632[6], Islam continued to advance and has done so till date.

Jesus Christ, surprisingly is never criticized within Islamic circles[7], he is seen as a Prophet, like Moses, He is Messenger, Prophet, Servant, Word of truth, Spirit of God, Son of Mary, and the Messiah. He was born of a virgin, he worked miracles, and he was taken up alive into heaven.”[8]

After Mohammad’s death, Islam spread vigorously, the author quotes Kenneth Cragg’s reason for the massive spread as “the Christian failure of the church”[9]

Swartley is careful to also mention the crusades and how the Muslim community still remembers it. He says “Although they ended   more than seven hundred years ago, for many Muslims it is as if they happened only yesterday.” This seems to be part of the reason for the defence stance by the Islamic community worldwide.[10]

The book takes a deep dive into Islamic believes, and Christian believes, finding those that are common, those that are very important to the Muslim and giving a friendly approach to reach out to the Muslim community. The Muslim is thus seen as a friend and not an enemy in the light of the book. He touches on the Hadiths, the Sharia and the five pillars of faith. Controversial enough, the author digs out  (Sura 2:256, Pickthall) which says “There is no compulsion in religion”[11]

Surprisingly, the five pillars of Islam seem to have a lot in common with Biblical foundations.[12]

1. Confession (Shahada) “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deut. 6:4).

2. Prayer (Salat) “Pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17, Matt. 6:5–6).

3. Fasting (Saum) “When you fast..” (Matt. 6:16–18).

4. Giving (Zakat) “When you give to the needy” (Matt. 6:3–4).

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims” (1 Peter 2:11–12, NKJV).

These five pillars are different from the fundamentals of faith of Islam which are 16 in number.

This second part of the book focuses on the community of Islam, its spreading methods, contributions to education and the best approach to reach out to the Islamic community. Valuable contributions in the field of Mathematics, Medical Science, Architecture, Chemistry, Natural history, and Geography and more are well expressed in the book.

Of much concern to the author is the issue of stumbling blocks to reaching Muslims, Waleed Nassar who contributes to this part of the book lists ten things that puts Muslims off from Christianity. One interesting fact among the ten is that “Americans are virtually addicted to entertainment, and, unfortunately, this has invaded the church both practically and theologically”[13].

            Biases, strengths, weaknesses, audience, and personal insights or extrapolations.

The letter from a Muslim at the tail end of lesson 11 is an epitome of the many hearts that would turn to Jesus if Christians would take time to study more about Christianity itself. The author, in my opinion, has been very intellectual and welcoming in his approach. The other contributors have added to this gentle tone of the book. This piece of work passes for excellent work almost without a spot.

            I feel it falls short of creating the impression that Allah and the Biblical Yahweh are one. This is not expressly stated but implied. In other similar materials where the aim is to prove the difference between the “Biblical God” and the “Islamic God”, Swartley has been very cunning, albeit with good intentions. This, in my opinion, can be a “banana peel” for the Christian who is vulnerable to false doctrine.

            The strength of the book is that it is quite clear and straight forward. Swartley.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Swartley, Keith E., ed. Encountering the World of Islam. PRINT-ON-DEMAND edition. Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2005.

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[1] Keith E. Swartley, ed., Encountering the World of Islam, PRINT-ON-DEMAND edition. (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2005), 5.

[2] Ibid., 10.

[3] Ibid., 19.

[4] Ibid., 20.

[5] Ibid., 22.

[6] Ibid., 27.

[7] Ibid., 35.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid., 50.

[10] Ibid., 56.

[11] Ibid., 79.

[12] Ibid., 94.

[13] Ibid., 237.

Book Review: Islam, Its history, teaching, and practices by S. A. Nigosian

SYLVANUS GATORWU

THEO5243 SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

 

 

 

Professor Page Brookes

Book Review

Book Title: Islam, Its history, teaching, and practices

Author: S. A. Nigosian

Description:

The book has 202 pages and comes with seven chapters which deal with detailed information about everything Islam. Written by S. A. Nigosian, there is hardly anything about Islam that is not covered.

Thesis:

Nigosian does not “spare” the Moslem in stating the facts just as they are. Unlike books on comparative religion that comes in a “gentle format,” this one is as raw as it can be, exposing all that needs to be known about Islam.

Summary and Interactive Analysis:

The book opens with an introduction to world religious leaders and then zooms into a good description of the Arabia, where the Prophet of Islam hails from and where most of the events surrounding Islam occurred. Notable issues worth mentioning is the fact that the Kabah used to attract pilgrims “long before the days of the prophet Muhammad”[1]. It is interesting to also not the “numerous references” that this area has received in the Bible[2]. The author takes time to give a vivid description of the Quraysh tribe. The characteristics of which would be the epitome of the religion founded by Mohammad.

The rest of the first chapter is dedicated to the life of Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born in Mecca around 570 c.e. who would, later on, become the prophet of the second-largest religion in the world. His prophetic call, opposition and the various threats he faces are all dealt with into detail by the author. These activities “put Arabia on the map”[3]

Chapter 2 narrows down on the survival of the religion with the rise of the Caliphates following Muhammad's death in 632 AD. It is well noted that after the first four Caliphs two huge dynasties emerge. the Umayyad dynasty (661–750) and the "Abbasid dynasty (750–1517).[4] These all claim descent from Mohammad. This part of the book also touches on the Umayyad dynasty in Syria, which monopolized the caliphate for ninety years (661–750)[5]. This dynasty would restrict succession to the Caliphate mainly to family members instead of election. The end of which ushered in the Abbasid Caliphate who moves the headquarters of the religion to from “Damascus in Syria to Baghdad in Iraq”[6]. Chapter two also touches on Rival Dynasties which dominated the leadership of the religion from 945–1925  AD. These rivals are more or less local governors and military officers giving the religion a look of militarism as they dethrone each other in coup-like fashions.

The Mughals (1526–1858)

The Safavids (1501–1722) in Persia

The Qajars (1779–1925)

The Ottomans (1281–1924) Turks

The rest of the chapter looks at how recent activities like the first and second world war led to the influence of the European community into these Islamic territories. The response in pushing against these European influences becomes a complex web as each fashion tires to woe a part of Europe to their side. The author notices how these activities lead to the formation of supposed groups pushing for pan-Arabianism, Islamic socialism, and lately Islamic Marxism[7].

Expansion of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa is the next major issue handled in Chapter two. Penetration into Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco according to the author was slow, and then reached a crescendo around the 1400s.[8]

Chapter three takes on the various groups in Islam, the author makes very serious revelations about the religion that should make every missionary sit up. Differences in these Islamic groups “do not impair their basic sense of solidarity as adherents of Islam”.[9]

He then takes time to explain the three main factions in Islam, namely Sunni, Shi"i, and Sufi and the minor ones.

“The largest group of Muslims (making up more than 85 per cent of the total Muslim population) being the Sunnis, this group accordingly recognize the first four caliphs and attribute no special religious or political function to Ali or his descendants”

The Shai’s however view descent by birth in a direct line from the prophet Muhammad as crucial. The Sunnis can be likened to the Christian orthodox. One of the major differences between the two main groups in Islam as postulated by the author has to do with the Sunni’s doctrine of infallibility. To the Sunnis, infallibility is not a quality inherent in all prophets, it is a special grace received from God. They, therefore, postulate that all prophets may sometimes commit mistakes, but they are exempt from minor and grave sins, from unbelief, and from sordid deeds. This is not so with the Shia’s. On their part, Prophets and imams are sinless and infallible and therefore cannot err. In fact, the imams possess an inherited superhuman knowledge that enables them to anticipate every event in the world until the day of resurrection and judgment.[10]

The Shi make up about 10 per cent of the total Muslim population. The author further goes deeper into the differences as it pertains to (a) prayer, (b) marriage, (c) the veneration of tombs of imams, and (d) dissimulation of faith, which is the opposite of a proclamation or of a witness to faith.[11]

Other Islamic groups mentioned by the author are The Imami (the Twelvers), The Zaydi, The Isma"ilis (the Seveners), the Nizari founded by al-Hasan ibn al-Sabba, who occupied

the fortress of Alamut in northwest Qazwin and other strongholds in Lebanon[12]. All the aforementioned groups are subsets of the Shi group. 

The third group, a comparatively smaller group is the Sufi, a mystical Islamic movement.

Aside from these three groups are other Islamic groups. These other smaller sects differ in “beliefs and practices”, some of which are at variance with Islamic values.[13]

Even though it is still controversial as to whether they should even be mentioned, they are for the purposes of study given a mention by the author. Seven of which are Murji’ah, Khariji, Nusayri, Druze, Yezidi, Baha’i, and Black Muslims[14].

The fourth chapter of the book is dedicated to the Quran, a book believed by Muslims to be the final revelation of a series of revelations given to Prophets of God beginning from Adam to Mohammad. According to the author, Muslims believe in other scriptures such as the The Scrolls (Suhuf ) Ten scriptures (now lost or untraceable) revealed to the Prophet Abraham, The Torah, The Holy Book revealed to the prophet Moses, The Psalms (Zabur) The Holy Book revealed to the prophet David and The Gospels (Injil ) The Holy Book revealed to the prophet Jesus.[15]

According Islamic believes, the first book believed to be lost, while the other three all serve one purpose, i.e. to reform humanity[16].  

The chapter explores the Holy book of 114 chapters which has been arranged in order of length from longest to shortest. Unlike the Bible, the Quran is considered a holy mysterious book with strict laws that can best be described as codes of life. For example, drinking alcohol and gambling are banned on the grounds that both “are the

works of the devil” (Quran 5:93). Polygamy is strictly regulated to a maximum of four wives, provided that husbands can do justice to all. If they cannot, they may marry only one woman (Qur#an 4:3).[17]

These legal proscriptions are many, cutting across every aspect of life ranging from the honour of parents, the prohibition against infanticide, rules governing murder and vengeance, rights of orphans, property rights, trafficking, usury, and many more[18].

The Quran touches on several topics, albeit differing from the standpoint of the Bible on these, some of which are Fatherhood of God, Divinity of Christ, Doctrine of Original Sin. The Quran disagrees with the Divinity of Christ event though he is held in high esteem as a prophet. It also disagrees with the doctrine of original sin while “fatherhood of God is abhorrent to Muslims”[19]

The last three chapters of the book, i.e. five, six, and seven concerns itself with the Sunnah, Hadith, and Shari"ah, faith and action and then lastly observances and festivals.

These play a key role in Islam. The Sunnahs are the “way” of life of the Prophet. practices that Muhammad approved, allowed, or condoned, as well as those he refrained from or disapproved of which have been inculcated into the Islamic way of life[20].

The Hadiths are narratives of activities, most of which concern the Prophet Mohammad, the author notices that some of these Hadiths are not accepted within Islamic scholars. For example, Sunni Muslims (the majority group) accept six authentic collections[21].

Shariah is the divinely ordained path for Moslems to follow, these are moral codes of living.  As the book approaches the end, the author gives details of various Islamic schools, religious duties and observances of the religion. The last chapter devotes itself to the birth, circumcision and marriage of Mohammad. These are milestones in the life of the prophet that are very important to the Islamic Umah.

The books come as very detailed work on Islam making a brief review almost impossible. I find it as the finest and most detailed work on religion. What is intriguing is the depth of knowledge espoused about the typical traditional work contained in the last three chapters.

I find the work on the different groups and sects of Islam particularly revealing since these are not known to the ordinary Christian. The unity however that exists within the Islamic community albeit their differences is missing in Christian cycles and a trait worth emulating.

The Similarities in the Bible and Quran that are also enumerated is a positive one on which missionaries can ride on to get the yielded results of getting the Gospel across.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nigosian, Solomon A. Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004.

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[1] Solomon A. Nigosian, Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004), 4.

[2] Ibid., 2.

[3] Ibid., 13.

[4] Ibid., 18.

[5] Ibid., 22.

[6] Ibid., 27.

[7] Ibid., 40.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid., 44.

[10] Ibid., 46.

[11] Ibid., 47.

[12] Ibid., 76.

[13] Ibid., 82.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid., 67.

[16] Ibid., 65.

[17] Ibid., 74.

[18] Ibid., 72.

[19] Ibid., 75.

[20] Ibid., 80.

[21] Ibid., 82.