Christians Reach Out To Muslims

NewsMax ^ | Saturday, Apr. 10, 2004

[nickcarraway]

Seeking to dispel highly publicized statements by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, that Islam was an "evil" religion, and by the Rev. Jerry Vines, a past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, that Muhammad was a "pedophile," evangelical Christian leaders are working to reach out to Muslims, according to a report in the Washington Post.

A group of evangelical ministers has announced a plan to put on a Christian music festival, establish humanitarian relief projects and hold a theological conference in Morocco.

"We don't want the whole Islamic world to think that a couple of spokesmen, though well-intentioned perhaps, speak for everyone. We're taught to love people," said the Rev. Harry L. Thomas, a Medford, N.J., producer of Christian concerts. "I don't know anyone who has been won over by hate talk. We prefer to reach out and build some bridges."

The project and concert are the first results of a conference of evangelical Christian leaders held in Washington last year to try to moderate rhetoric toward Islam and begin a positive dialogue with Muslims around the world.

"We have stereotypes of Muslims, and they certainly do of conservative Christians. They're both caricatures we need to dispense with," said the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for government affairs at the Washington-based National Association of Evangelicals.

Aziz Mekouar, Morocco's ambassador to the United States, welcomes the group's effort:

"My point of view is, there are lots of misperceptions on both sides, and I think it's good that people get together," he said. "Here in the U.S., people have absolutely not the slightest idea what Islam is. It's coming from the same revelation, the same scriptures, and they don't know that. . . . On the other side, people didn't know what evangelicals are, and they saw a bunch of nice people wanting to do good."

Cizik and Thomas were part of a delegation that visited Morocco from Feb. 29 to March 8. They met with the North African nation's prime minister, several cabinet ministers, regional governors, and top Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic authorities.

"I think a great deal of mutual trust came out of this first visit, which surprised me," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, an association of 5,000 U.S. clergy.

Cizik said top Moroccan officials enthusiastically agreed to a series of exchanges, partly because the pro-Western government wants to combat rising anti-American sentiment among young people.

Schenck said he will coordinate a "theological exchange" to bring Muslim philosophers and evangelical Christian thinkers together for conversations that are "not just academic but spiritual."

The first session is tentatively scheduled in Morocco this fall, and the second meeting in the United States in 2005.

Thomas was invited by regional officials in Marrakech to put on a one-day Christian contemporary music festival there next spring. He is the co-founder of Creation Festivals, which produces three-day outdoor Christian concerts with multimillion-dollar budgets in Pennsylvania and Washington state.

[Ol' Sox]

A group of evangelical ministers has announced a plan to put on a Christian music festival, establish humanitarian relief projects and hold a theological conference in Morocco.

Great. Be prepared to be taken hostage, guys.

[Fitzcarraldo]

As a Christian, I'd like to extoll the virtues of swine consumption and pigs as household pets to beloved of the muslim persuation.

[cardinal4]

A group of evangelical ministers has announced a plan to put on a Christian music festival, establish humanitarian relief projects and hold a theological conference in Morocco.

That makes about as much sense as establishing a free trade zone in North Korea..

[My Dog Likes Me]

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer a form of "masculine Christianity" to this building bridges crap.

[ccmay]

I'd like to reach out to them too-- with a GAU-8.

-ccm

[Ladysmith]

No doubt - this one just keeps coming to mind: "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

[tkathy]

There is a difference between "hate talk" and the "truth". Part of the intellectual honesty gap the the left continues to have.

[ZULU]

Ever see the camp movie "Mars Attacks"??

Watch it. These Christians remind me of the initial reactions of the earthlings.

[sgtbono2002]

What can you say to people who want to make friends with folks who are sworn to kill them.

[blueyes]

Each of them was given a white robe; and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow-servants should be reached, of their brothers who would be killed, just as they had been.(Rev.6:11)

The missionaries are are going for their crown. Give them their opportunity. They just may succeed in evangelizing the moon-mad muslims.

[Voltage]

A group of evangelical ministers has announced a plan to put on a Christian music festival, establish humanitarian relief projects and hold a theological conference in Morocco.

It's probably best that they don't try this in Saudi Arabia..where they would be arrested at a minimum.

[G-Man 1]

islam is just a bunch of ideas that are perverted, taken from the Christian Bible, cult.

[Iscool]

Great...Maybe they will both compromise and come to some middle ground...Maybe we can get Jesus sitting on Mohammed's lap on the throne of David...

"No one comes to the Father but by me, and uhh, oh yea, Mohammed..."

[E Rocc]

Morocco is the main meeting ground between the Islamic nations and the rest of the world. It's where the Israeli and Egyptian intelligence heads allegedly met in 1977 for the former to hand the latter details of a Libyan-funded plot against Anwar Sadat (leading to the Camp David accords). Pope John Paul II has spoken to Muslim groups there as well.

-Eric

[TonyRo76]

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer a form of "masculine Christianity" to this building bridges crap.

Agreed totally. And calling a pagan death-obsessed cult "evil" is nothing to apologize for. Franklin Graham was absolutely right!

[Wneighbor]

Seeking to dispel highly publicized statements by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, that Islam was an "evil" religion, and by the Rev. Jerry Vines, a past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, that Muhammad was a "pedophile," evangelical Christian leaders are working to reach out to Muslims, according to a report in the Washington Post.

Those who contend that they must dispel these words of Revs. Graham and Vines show themselves not to have studied the truth for themselves. And they are called "evangelical leadership?" poppycock

[Wneighbor]

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer a form of "masculine Christianity" to this building bridges crap.

Didn't know that was "masculine Christianity" but you got one gal backin' it here! :-)

[James Mabry]

Aziz Mekouar, Morocco's ambassador to the United States, welcomes the group's effort:

"My point of view is, there are lots of misperceptions on both sides, and I think it's good that people get together," he said. "Here in the U.S., people have absolutely not the slightest idea what Islam is. ...."

No, Ahhhkkkmed, I think we have a pretty good idea about Islam.

[Clintonfatigued]

I have to give them credit, that's very courageous of them. I wish them well.

[jongaltsr]

How many times have Muslims reached out to Christians or any other religion except to claim persecution against themselves? Reason - They would just like to see everyone convert to Islam or die! Americans and the whole world had better get wise to this religion. They never allow other religions in their countries except underground. They occasionally bring these other groups out and hang, stone or imprison them for life, however they come to the U.S. and other western countries and DEMAND equal treatement. Sorry folks, I've lived in the middle east (Saudi Arabia and Turkey) for a total of 4 years and I know how they think. At least the Turks regulate their Muslim population rather than the other way around.

[NRA2BFree]

"My point of view is, there are lots of misperceptions on both sides, and I think it's good that people get together," he said. "Here in the U.S., people have absolutely not the slightest idea what Islam is. It's coming from the same revelation, the same scriptures, and they don't know that. . . . On the other side, people didn't know what evangelicals are, and they saw a bunch of nice people wanting to do good."

Yeah, I think MOST Christians KNOW what Islam is. They want to kill ALL Christians and Jews! They even want to kill each other. I sure hope these Evangelicals live through this concert. Those 'peace loving' Muslims may martyr them.

[Hibernius Druid]

What these Evangelicals should be doing is demanding unequivocal demonstrations and declarations of SOLIDARITY with the United States by Muslim religious leaders worldwide -- that plus condemnation of Islamicist terrorism.

Some of their (Evangelical) colleges are becoming seedbeds for Hate-America-First, pro-Palestinian advocacy, as their watered-down, anti-Western curricula become catechisms for "white guilt" multiculturalism.

[Mr. Mojo]

Seeking to dispel highly publicized statements by the Rev. Franklin Graham ....that Islam was an "evil" religion, and by the Rev. Jerry Vines, a past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, that Muhammad was a "pedophile,"

It is, and he was. Some people just can't handle the truth.

[Clemenza]

I'm sure you don't approve...

[Clemenza]

TO CACIQUE:

I'm sure you don't approve...

[Michael2001]

In related news, the NAACP is making efforts to reach out to the KKK...

[ovrtaxt]

To send Bibles to Iraq, (probably smuggled) go to www.bibleleague.org . Very cool ministry.

[ovrtaxt]

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

Agreed. These missionaries had better be hearing His voice clearly.

It will happen eventually, the Gospel shall be proclaimed in the Spirit and Power of the Kingdom over the whole world. Iraq is just another stepping stone.

[My Dog Likes Me]

"death-obsessed cult.."

You are totally correct. I think our people at FBI, State, etc., fail to recognize this central fact, and are living in another dimension.

[Ethan_Allen]

Thanks for the tip, ovrtaxt. Better to light a candle, than to curse the darkness. I am so distressed after reading so many posts here and on other threads by people who dare to call themselves by His name; yours was one bright spot.

Mat 5:6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Mat 5:7 Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Mat 5:8 Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Mat 5:9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Mat 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Mat/Mat005.html#15

God's Blessings on these folks willing to put their works where their mouths are.

John 3:16 For God so love the WHOLE world......

[Diddle E. Squat]

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer a form of "masculine Christianity" to this building bridges crap.

Yeah, nearly 2000 years ago there were a lot of bitter and disappointed Jews that thought Jesus the Messiah had wimped, since he didn't lead a rebellion and free them from Roman rule. Not that we should ever actually look to the Bible as a guide in how we should act...

And I know those "Love thy neighbor" passages can get in the way of the 'Nuke 'em All Theology', so maybe the latter adherents can get a Loose-Leaf Bible, and simple remove the inconvenient passages...

Seriously though, I realize that there are times when, like Paul, we have to shake the dust from our sandals and turn away from those refusing to accept the message. I certainly hope that these groups don't suspend their judgement when going in there. But we are called to make an effort at evangelism, even in the face of danger, so I'm not going to criticize their efforts or the audience they chose. Perhaps God is really using them. He is always extending his hand to his children, but it is ultimately the decision of each of us as to whether to grab hold of that hand. Who would have predicted that Saul would convert? And then later, though he knew it was risking death(and history most likely confirms that was the price), he had to take the gospel to Rome. Those planting the seeds of Christianity may not live to see the results sprout from the ground, but we don't know what God is doing underneath the soil.

Not trying to pick on you, but rather am offering a counter thought to some of the likely responses to your post. BTW, great freep name.

[Ethan_Allen]

Seriously though, I realize that there are times when, like Paul, we have to shake the dust from our sandals and turn away from those refusing to accept the message.'


Agreed. However, have they ever truly been evangelized? This crop of Arabs, I mean? We were all appointed a time to live and a time to die. Perhaps the Arabs of today are appointed to everlasting life. Perhaps God appointed Mel to pave the way with The Passion. God works in mysterious ways. Our duty is to obey whenever and wherever we can, and not to act in any manner that would reflect poorly on Him or the faith.

[Ethan_Allen]

For good measure, since some of us have seem to have forgotten the Rock from whence we were carved, and WHY:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Mat/28/19.html

1Pe 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/1Pe/2/9.html

and the consequences for our forgetfullness:

Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Rom/11/21.html

[mtbopfuyn]

Come on everyone, group hug and a nice round of "Kumbayah"!