With Missionaries Spreading, Muslims' Anger Is Following (NYT sees missionaries deserving of death)

New York Times ^ | Dec. 31, 2002 | SUSAN SACHS

[Doctor Raoul]

As evangelical Christian emissaries have spread throughout the Muslim world, their presence has increasingly proved to be a lightning rod for anti-American sentiment while provoking the anger of native Christian sects and Islamic clerics.

If they really think that's all it takes to "provoke" someone and thereby justify killing, then Howell Raines is a complete sociopath. Raines knows better, but his hatred of Christians is obviously much greater than his love of justice.

[twntaipan]

Well said.

[2sheep]

Happy New Year to you, too! Take care.

[cookcounty]

"Christian missionaries were active in the Middle East before Islam even existed!"

Bingo!

But because, by violence, the missionaries were forced to stop, they are rquired to be silent for all time? NYT shallow thinking at work (work?) again.

[Kevin Curry]

So Hindus and Muslims despise conservative Christians. So do gays, liberals, and atheists. That isn't news.

[cookcounty]

"I have been told by a Jehovah's Witness who rang my doorbell that even though I have been a Catholic Christian all my life that I would not be saved......"

Jehovah's Witnesses are not Evangelicals. They don't believe in the divinity of Christ, and thus can only be considered "christian" only when using a broad cultural definition.

[FormerLib]

I believe there IS a difference between Christians who are born again believers and those who blindly follow the teachings of churches without question or without reading the scriptures for themselves to find out the real truth.

That statement alone proves how little you know us. Yet, you are comfortable in judging us and our faith. How truly sad that is.

[Eva]

Excuse me, but the clinic where the doctors were murdered had been in existence for 35 years. I don't think that the spread of missions has anything to do with the increased animosity of Muslims. It has more to do with the recent spread of virulent fundamentalist Islam.

[twntaipan]

yepp.

[Marysecretary]

I'm not comfortable in judging and I'm not trying to judge. All I'm saying is that church doctrine at times does not line up with scripture. Read the scripture for yourself and come to your own conclusion about truth. Always check out what your pastor or priest tells you from the pulpit. All of us needs to do that. There's a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of it is in the pulpit.

[Marysecretary]

I agree, 2sheep. We do need to live in holiness and purity and obeying God's commandments. No argument there. Salvation has to come first for us to do that and many, many churches don't have a clue about that first and necessary step. When you are filled with the holy spirit, you can live in holiness and purity for he is our teacher and guide. Just going to church isn't going to enable you to do that. He wants our true worship.

[paul51]

Under Muslim law, conversion from Islam is punishable by death

That pretty much says it all.

[FormerLib]

All I'm saying is that church doctrine at times does not line up with scripture.

I'm sorry, but I must disagree. Nothing in Scripture contradicts the teachings of the Orthodox Church (although we do not line up with the scriptural interpretations of some sects - particulary those who keep inventing new teachings).

Read the scripture for yourself and come to your own conclusion about truth.

I think seeking out the truth is a little more complex then simply trusting in my own personal interpretation. The Bible tells us that there is no prophecy (literally truth) in such interpretations.

I prefer to combine my study of scripture with the study of the Church fathers so that I can know how the church taught the scriptures from the very beginning. It's a wonderful defense against modern reinterpretation!

[Marysecretary]

The holy spirit is capable of helping you understand God's word. Ministers and priests don't always get it right either so all I can say is "buyer beware." You are just as able to interpret it as anyone else when you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you.

[Marysecretary]

The holy spirit is capable of helping you understand God's word. Ministers and priests don't always get it right either so all I can say is "buyer beware." You are just as able to interpret it as anyone else when you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you.

[FormerLib]

The holy spirit is capable of helping you understand God's word.

Demanding that He do so is the equivalent of challenging God, in my opinion. And then there are those who claim to be so guided but come up with new interpretations (but are actually just the repitition of centuries-old heresies).

There is no truth in personal interpretation.

[Marysecretary]

And WHERE do I say I demand the Holy Spirit do anything, Former Lib? I prayerfully ask Him at times to show me what it means and how to apply it to my own life and situation. There is no demand here, only guidance. Ministers and priests don't always have the right answers and I'm only saying that you need to always be aware of that and to seek out the truth for yourself. You can, you know. God is more than willing to show Himself to you through His word.

[FormerLib]

God is more than willing to show Himself to you through His word.

He is also willing to do so through His Church.

I'm sorry, but relying on my own interpretation sounds as if I'm setting myself up as my own personal infallible Pope. Scripture warns us against that behavior.

[Marysecretary]

God's word also says that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. The church doesn't always have it right, FormerLib. We would like to think they're infallable but they aren't.

[FormerLib]

The church doesn't always have it right, FormerLib. We would like to think they're infallable but they aren't.

Actually, I don't believe there is such a thing as an infallible human. That's why I would never trust my own personal interpretation of Scripture. It is much better for me to look upon the total of the writings of the Church Fathers for assistance.