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Showing posts from August, 2011

Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:15

Ecclesiastes 7:15 - "All things have I seen in the days of my vanity there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness." This verse is seemingly contradictory to Proverbs 10:27 saying, "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." It's indeed quite true that many people in this world die early but sadly many of them are also good Christian workers aside from the heathen people. On the other hand, there are many bad people who can really live long which develops the statement that bad grass doesn't die easily. It's a shame that some Christians die of fatal illnesses or accidents while it took a long time to get rid of the world's greatest terrorists. There's indeed a huge gap between a good Christian who dies at 35 years old or even less (such as the case that a good Church worker died at only 22 years of age ) to an antago

Acts 5:29- Obey God or Man?

Acts 5:29 says, "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men ." This is one of the trickiest verses to understand until you take it into context.  One cannot say they will only obey God who they cannot see if they cannot obey their human authorities. The Bible is clear that God in His wisdom has set human authorities to do His work.  For example, he set Moses to rule over the nation of Israel and then we have Joshua, the judges and eventually kings.  Romans 13 is clear that people are to submit and respect authority.  That this verse really means is this- that when an authority regardless of position whether parent or not, gives a command that is contrary to the Word of God then he/she has to be politely refused.   An example of this would be Daniel and his friends.  First, Daniel knew he was not to eat of the king's food because it was against God's Law back then.  Second, there was the example of Daniel'

Islam and Works Salvation

This is another reason why true Christianity is incompatible with Islam is because they teach salvation by doing good works.  Here are verses straight from the Koran that really show that the Muslim faith relies on good works compared to the Christian who relies on faith in Jesus Christ: To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness hath Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward," (Surah 5:9). "O you who believe! If you are careful of (your duty to) Allah, He will grant you a distinction and do away with your evils and forgive you; and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace," (8:29, online, trans. by M.H. Shakir). O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and speak the right word, He will put your deeds into a right state for you, and forgive you your faults; and whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle, he indeed achieves a mighty success," (33:70-71, online, trans. by M.H. Shakir). "And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so th

God's Original Plan for Marriage was Lifelong Monogamy

There was the big question why God allowed polygamy in the Old Testament while His original plan in Genesis 2:24 saying, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh ." The reasons behind God allowing polygyny (one husband, many wives) arrangement could be as follows during the Old Testament: Unmarried women in the past were frequently prone to prostitution or slavery. The population problem was another. After the flood, the Earth wasn't very filled. Men can impregnate multiple women at the same time. There was a huge population imbalance of women back then as well. Jesus during His earthly ministry later affirmed the one man, one wife policy as God had originally intended it to be. Matthew 19 and Mark 10 specifically bans divorce and directly suggests a monogamous relationship, therefore it no longer allows polygamy. Ephesians 5:22-23 is clear that the husband is the head of the wife NO

Islam and Discrimination and Violence Against Women

Here are some quotes straight from the Koran to prove that Islam condones spousal abuse and taking mistresses (as long as no man owns them): Men can divorce their wives any time they want.  In fact, this really is the matter that Jesus mentioned that Moses permitted divorce in the Old Testament because of hardened hearts. "Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise," (2:228) A man can take up to four wives- technically one legal wife and three concubines.  Islamic law allows a man to have up to three mistresses (until their "ex

How NOT To Witness to Muslims

This Ramadan, it's very vital that one should know how witnessing to Muslims should be done. Here are some things a soulwinner should be aware about Muslims as not to offend them and these tips should be helpful in the churches: DO NOT assume every Muslim to be a terrorist and a murderer. While true that the Koran is indeed a terrorist manual, that Muhammad was no godly man but there are Muslims who are not aware of the real nature of their religion and are living peaceful lives. While it's true that the Al Qaida is operating in harmony with the Koran but to say all Muslims are terrorists based on the activities of the Al Qaida is the fallacy of division. DO NOT show fear in front of the Muslim but rather show them the love that Jesus showed for His enemies. The example of Jesus to love one's enemies, praying for the persecutors, and repaying evil with good enhances soulwinning. During fasting seasons, DO NOT eat or drink in front of them or be seen by them doing so.

Some Scientific Errors in the Koran Prove Allah is NOT God

While the Bible is in fact scientifically accurate the Koran is not.  Scientific error is one proof to why Christians cannot embrace anything that's not scientific like evolution (which its followers atheist or not tries to make it look like as such), so why embrace the Koran as another book of truth?  It isn't. Flat Earth is taught in the Koran: Quran 15: 19 And the earth We have spread out (like a carpet); set thereon Mountains firm and immovable; Quran 78: 6-7 Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, And the mountains as pegs (anchor)? What the Bible REALLY says: Isaiah 40:22- "It is He that sitteth upon  the circle of the earth , and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:" Man is made from blood clot: Quran-23:14: Then fashioned We the drop (semen) a CLOT OF CONGEALED BLOOD then fashioned We the Clot a little lump (foetus), fashioned We the little lump i

Did Christ Abolish the Law or Fulfill It?

Ephesians 2:15- Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; So here's a confusion that people would try to point out- did Christ abolish the Law or fulfill the Law? Ephesians 2:15 seems to contradict Romans 3:31 that says Christians fulfill the Law and Matthew 5:17 that Christ came not to destroy but to fulfill the Law. Jesus abolished the ceremonial laws (Old Testament) but NOT the moral law. That is from verses 11-14, one can see it's really talking about the Old Testament ceremonial law like not eating pork, circumcision and blood sacrifices. In short, it would be a fulfillment of Psalm 40:6 and Psalm 51:16 where King David said that the LORD does not desire in burnt offerings. When one reads through the Old Testament, one realizes that the LORD is no longer accepting burnt offerings. Why is that? The time for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

Why Jesus is Better than Muhammad

This is a love message for Muslims this Ramadan.  Here's where Jesus Christ is better than Muhammad and always was, always will be.  And Jesus Christ is more than willing to forgive any Muslim who will simply repent and believe in Him, forgive all their past wrongs and give them eternal life.   Between their natures: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came down from Heaven to Earth, He is God in the flesh.  Muhammad was but a man. Jesus Christ knew no sin who became sin for man for salvation (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Muhammad was a rotten sinner who was unrepentant. Muhammad died without Christ and is still in Hell, Jesus has conquered death and is in Heaven. Differences in their methods of evangelism Muhammad was a taker of life, Jesus is a giver of life (John 10:26-28). Muhammad said, "Convert or die." but Jesus said "Believe and live" (John 6:47). Muhammad was an Anti-Semetic but Jesus ordered the Gospel to be preached to the Jews even if many wo

Some Obvious Contradictions in the Koran

While Muslims have dared to put the Bible to the test and even forbade it in their countries.  However here are some really huge contradictions that's too obvious. The number of days creation in the Koran has contradicted itself in this way. The seven day Genesis model is agreed with the following verses: Quran 7: 54 Your gurdian-Lord is Allah who created the heavens and earth in Six Days Quran 10: 3 Verily your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in Six Days Quran 11:7 He it is Who created the heavens and earth in Six Days Quran-25:29: He Who created the heavens and earth and all that is between, in Six Days The model below does not fit in the Genesis model and it contradicts the Koran agreeing with Genesis, doing the Math below you get an eight day creation model: Quran 41:9 Is it that ye deny Him who created the earth in Two Days ? Quran 41:10 He set on the (earth) Mountains standing firm high above it, and bestowed blessing on the earth, and measured t

What the Bible Says About Praying and Announcing One's Fast?

As Ramadan goes on for the whole month of August, it's kind of necessary to actually get this out.  What does the Bible REALLY say about praying in public and announcing one's fast?  Here are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ who the Muslims regard as a great man and a prophet: Matthew 6:5-8 on prayer: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly .  But when ye pray, u se not vain repetitions , as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." Jesus had

Former Buddhist Student Leader Becomes Christian

Editor’s Note: Samuel Autman, a journalism student at the University of Missouri in Columbia, was once a student chapter leader in a growing sect of Buddhism known as Nichiren Shoshu American. Nichiren, which emphasizes world peace, boasts a membership of 17 million world-wide with half a million in America. I’m Samuel Autman, a 22-year-old native of St. Louis. I want to share how the true and living God delivered me from Buddhism. I had searched high and low for the “perfect teaching,” until finally I discovered a group of Buddhists who seemed happy. This sect believed that by chanting a specific phrase everyday, humans can experience true happiness. I attended one of their meetings and discovered that they were average people who chanted this single phrase rhythmically. The leaders told me to not believe in the chanting, only to try it and see what kind of results I got. I was instructed to make a list of things and chant to see if it worked. This was the measure th

Ex-Buddhist Monk in Myanmar (Burma)

Introduction  The story that follows is simply a translation of a taped testimony from a man with a life-changing story. It is not an interview or a biography, but simply the words from the man himself. Different people react in different ways when they hear this story. Some are inspired, some skeptical, a few will mock and ridicule, while some others have even been filled with rage and anger, convinced these words are the ravings of a mad man or an elaborate deception. Some Christians have opposed the story simply because the radical and miraculous events described herein do not fit their feeble image of an Almighty God. We were first made aware of this story from several Burmese church leaders who shared it with us. These leaders had looked into the story and had not found any suggestion of it being a hoax. It was with this in mind that we decided to step out and circulate the story. We do not do so for any monetary gain, or with a motivation of self-promotion. We just want to let