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Science Forum Index » Energy Forum » "Priests & Preachers Enter Islam?"...
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| hamada... |
 Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 7:28 am |
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My ethnic background is English-Native American, Irish and German. I
was what they called a "WASP" (white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant). My
family moved to Texas in 1949 while I was still in grade school, so my
accent changed from "Yankee" to "Texan" real quick. We learned how to
say "Ya'll" instead of "youse guys" and "Howz ever thaang?" instead of
"Waz up?" We also learned how to eat "Corn bread 'n bains" instead of
"Johnny cakes and beans."
I was born in Ohio, raised and educated in Texas and was a successful
marketing entrepreneur and preacher of Christianity. I grew up in a
religious home. My parents and their relatives were all 'good
Christians.' Basically that means that you never drink alcohol, except
on very special occasions and never gamble expect Bingo at the church.
Religion was a real part of my life. I believed very much in God and
the Bible as His Word. While other children were playing 'school' and
'cops and robbers' I would sometimes play the 'Preacher.' I can still
remember my first sermon, standing on the ground in Doug Hideman's
backyard: "We must learn the Way of God! And then stay on that
Way." (That's all I said. I couldn't think of anything else)
My whole family on both my mother's and father's sides were very
active members of the same denomination of Protestant Christianity. We
all loved to go to church on Sunday mornings for Sunday school and
sermon (well maybe we didn't all love the long sermons). Then of
course, special activities and holidays such as Easter, Christmas,
Halloween and parties were always a part of our lives in my early
years. Our church was originally called only "Christian Church." It
wasn't until I turned 10 or 12 years old that the church 'split' into
two different groups that we started calling ourselves "Disciples of
Christ."
My father was an ordained minister and also very active in church
work, as a Sunday school minister and fund raiser for Christian
schools. He was the 'expert' in the Bible and its translations. It was
through my father that I came to know about the various versions,
translations and editions of the Bible as well as the introduction of
pagan worship to Christianity about the time of the Emperor
Constantine (325 C.E.). He, like many preachers would answer the
question: "Did God actually write the Bible?" by saying: "The Bible is
the Inspired Word of Man FROM GOD." Basically, it means that humans
(inspired humans, but humans just the same) wrote the Bible. That
quickly explains the errors, mistakes, deletions and additions which
have crept in and fell out over the years. He would add: "But it is
still the Word of God, as inspired to man."
God was always on my mind. I was 'baptized' into the 'Spirit' at age
12 and surprised even the minister (an ex-Jew who accepted Jesus) by
my seriousness and intent on being a 'full real follower of Christ." I
would think about Him and what He wanted us to do and why He created
us in the first place, very often. Many times I would be caught 'day
dreaming' about God when I was supposed to be paying attention to
other things, like watching the pots boil over on the stove or not
listen to the teachers at school. Sometimes I would rest my head on my
arms on the top of my desk and try to imagine: "What will happen when
we die?" and "What will Heaven be like?" or "Can we ever see God's
angels or the devil?"
My mind was frequently preoccupied with these types of thoughts as a
child. But then as with most youth, I became distracted from my
pursuit and began to be influenced by my peers. Other children would
make fun of me if I talked about these questions and thoughts, so it
seemed like a good idea to keep it to myself. No problem. I like to be
alone with my thoughts of God anyway.
After growing up and owning many business, I realized that I did not
want to be a 'preacher.' I was too afraid that I might be a hypocrite
or call people to something that I myself didn't truly understand.
After all, I had 'accepted the Lord' and considered myself a true
Christian, but at the same time I could not resolve the idea of God
being One and at the same time He is 'Three.' And if He is the
'Father', how could He also be the 'Son?' And then what about the
'Holy Ghost?' (later they changed that to 'Spirit'). But my big
question was always the same: "How does three equal one?"
Over the years I had tried to 'find' God in many different ways. I
checked out Buddhism, Hinduism, metaphysics, Taoism, different forms
of Christianity and Judaism. The one most attractive to me was a
combination of Gnosticism (Christian mysticism) and Cabalism (Jewish
mysticism) and metaphysics. This actually is a form of pantheism (God
being throughout His creation) and is similar to some of the 'Sufi'
mystics of today. But this concept in its entirety repulsed me because
I did not want to imagine myself as being a 'part of God.'
God is Pure! God is Perfect! God is All Knowing and All Aware of all
things! So, how can I come along and say things like I was hearing
from the other preachers: "In a way, we are all gods." Read the Bible:
"You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you
shall die like men, and fall like any prince." (quoted from the Old
Testament; Psalms [82:6]) & "I said, you are gods." (New Testament
John 10:34)
The rationalization which comes about in the books attributed to the
Apostle Saul (changed his name to Paul), are full of statements which
basically cancel the Torah or Law of the Old Testament. He makes it a
matter of how you 'understand' something that makes it 'permissible'
or 'forbidden.' As an example in the English Revised Standard Version
which I have carried with me since 1953, it says in Paul's letter to
the Romans:
"I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in
itself; but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean."
[Rom 14:14]
And again, in the same letter:
"So do not let what is good to you be spoken of as evil. For the
kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
[Rom 14:16]
By these types of statements, Paul pretty much destroys the entire Old
Testament Commandments. Yet at the same time, in the same English
version of the Bible in the first book of the New Testament, we are
told that Jesus preached a message which was exactly the opposite of
St. Paul:
"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I
have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to
you, till heaven and earth shall pass away, not an iota, not a dot,
will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes
one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be
called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and
teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I
tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
[Mt. 5:17-20]
So according the St. Paul's own testimony in his letter to the new
Roman Christians, he is relaxing not just the least of these
commandments, but basically all of these commandments. And he
justifies everything with his rationalization that if you don't think
it's bad, then it's not!
I just felt that something was wrong in this message and decided to
try to uphold the Commandments according to the Old Testament as much
as I could. That would mean: No Pork; circumcision; no sex outside of
marriage; no adultery; worship on Saturday (not Sunday) and most
important of all: No worship of anything which is in the creation.
This is in direct line with the verse which says:
"You shall have no other gods before (besides) me. You shall not make
yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the
Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who
hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands who love me and keep
my commandments."
[Ex 20:3-6]
It seemed reasonable to me, that there should only be One God. He
should be All in Charge and without any partners. Reason also would
demand that only He should be given any worship because He Alone
deserves it. And as God, He should be the One to set the rules and
give the orders. Then it would be clear who really loved Him and who
was following His Commandments.
I had tried not to deal with these issues for many years. But now I
was getting close to fifty years old and needed to do something for
the Lord. After all, had done everything for me. So, it was time for
me to get serious about my religion and make some head way for the
Lord. I decided to join in with some of my friends who were
evangelists and preachers who preached in various parts of the country
and even in Mexico. We traveled together and praised the Lord together
and shared in 'the spirit' and went where the 'spirit lead us.' One of
them use to carry a huge cross on his shoulders and drag it down the
highway and give out little 'mini-Bibles' to those who cared to stop
and visit. It was enjoyable to go to those who had given up hope or
had no money or jobs and give them food, money, assistance and at the
same time call them to the message of Christianity. I took my Bible
everywhere and was very fast to whip it out and begin to 'preach the
message.'
I was 'born again.' I needed to 'be in the light of Christ.' I needed
to share the 'message.' There was only one problem:
"What is the message?"
Oh sure, I know what some of the 'born again's are saying as they read
this:
"The message of salvation of Jesus Christ!" - "He died for your sins!"
- "He paid the price of redemption." - "He is the Risen Son of God!" -
"Jesus is LORD!"
Right. - I got that.
I preached that message myself and thought I understood it as well as
anyone else did. The problem is that one time I heard another preacher
say: "Don't leave your brain in the parking lot with your car."
Then it hit me to start thinking about the very serious problems and
real facts about my religion. Then came:
THE QUESTIONS NOBODY WANTS TO ANSWER -
*
*
What about the Bible? Who actually wrote it?
*
What was the original language of the Bible? (Hebrew? Aramaic?
Koine Greek?)
NOTE: - The Bible was never in English during the time of any
prophet (not even Muhammad) - because English did not exist until
after 1066 AD!
*
Does the Bible exist in the original form anywhere on earth?
(No)
*
Why does the Catholic Bible has seven (7) more books than the
Protestant Bible?
*
Why do these two Bibles have different versions of the same
books?
*
Why are there so many mistakes and errors are from the very
first verse right up to the very last verse?
*
Why do 'Born Again Christians' teach concepts that are not from
the Bible?
*
There is no word "Trinity" in the Bible in any version of any
language
*
The oldest forms of Christianity do not support the 'born again'
beliefs
*
Jesus of the English Bible complains about the 'crucifixion'
("Eli! Eli! Lama sabachthani? - My God! My God! Why have You
forsaken me?") [Mk 15:34]
*
How can Jesus be the "Only Begotten Son" of John 3:16? When in
Psalms 2:7 David is God's "Begotten Son?"
*
Would a 'Just' God, a 'Fair' God, a 'Loving' God -- punish Jesus
for the sins of the people that he called to follow him?
*
What happens to people who died before Jesus came?
*
What happens to those who never hear this message?
*
What about innocent children who die although their parents are
not Christian?
*
Didn't God create Adam from dirt? -- So, why does he need Mary
to make Jesus?
*
And what about God?
o How can God create Himself?
o How can God be a man?
o How can a man be a God?
o How can God have a son?
* The Bible says "Seth (is) the son of Adam" and that"Adam is the
son of God." [Lk 3:36]
* Can't God just forgive us and not have to kill Jesus?
* And what about Jesus?
o Jesus did not even carry the cross -- Simon Cyre'ne, a
passerby did! [Mk 15:21]
o Jesus of the Bible was NOT on the cross for longer than
six (6) hours -- NOT three days -- (from the 3rd to the 9th hour) [Mk
15:25 & 15:33]
o Jesus of the Bible did not spend three days and nights in
the tomb -- Friday night - until Sunday before dawn -- is not 3 days
and nights!
o Jesus DID NOT claim to be God - or even equal to God!
My friend with the huge cross became tired of trying to answer all of
my questions and in desperation one day, he told me to read the story
of Abraham in Genesis in the Old Testament. Especially the part of
sacrificing his son for the sake of God. He seemed to feel that this
was going to explain the whole concept of sacrifice and obedience to
God.
I read it.
But instead of convincing me that this was the meaning of punishing
the good so the bad do not have to suffer, I saw a totally different
message here.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son on the alter for the sake of
Almighty God, if that was what God wanted from him. But God did not
really want to take the life of an innocent boy for sins that Abraham
committed. That was not even the story here. And as far as replacing
his son with the ram for sacrifice, this also does not match the story
of Jesus on the cross.
Stop. Think.
Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice his son to test the loyalty of
Abraham. He did not withhold his son from God, so God's angels ordered
him to offer a ram in place of his son. God was pleased with his total
submission and as a result, God Blessed him and his offspring.
[Gen. 22:9-18]
Now think about the New Testament story of 'salvation.'
Jesus asked God NOT to put him through this ordeal.
"Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless
not my will, but Yours, be done." [Luke 22:42]
Notice in the next verse, an angel from heaven also appears to Jesus
to "strengthen him."
Abraham's angel comes to offer a ram as a sacrifice instead of the
son.
The next verse [22:44] Jesus is in AGONY as he prays "more earnestly;
and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the
ground."
Then I looked to the account of the story in the Book of Mark
[14:32-39].
Jesus goes to the garden of Gethsemane and his soul is "very
sorrowful, even to death." And "... going a little farther, he fell on
the ground prayer that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from
him." Meaning that somehow when the time came for the event to take
place he could escape it. This is NOT the submissive attitude of
Abraham.
Next I noticed in verse 36, Jesus says: "Abba, Father, all things are
possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but
what thou wilt." And then he goes to his disciples and wakes them up
and then returns to pray "... saying the same words."
This whole concept was so totally different than the one from Genesis
talking about Abraham and his son.
I asked questions and delved into 'those kind of stories' the more I
would like to facilitate the truth. Many strange things began to
happen. Very strange.
Things began to happen in my life. Things that would change many
concepts and beliefs that I had been burdened with for many years.
Solutions and answers started coming in very strange and wonder ways.
First, my father started doing business with a man from Egypt. After
introducing me to him, my father noticed right away that I was trying
to convert the man to Christianity and asked me not to do so in a rude
manner. I heard the man say he was ready to come to my religion if my
religion was better than his religion. But there was a condition, he
said he wanted proof. I told him religion is not about proof. It is
about faith. He then said something that really made me think. He told
me in his religion there was both faith and proof. Strange, I thought.
How could there be any proof about God or religion?
Next, I was to meet a Catholic priest who would enlighten us all on
the true history of the church and what was really going on in the
cathedrals and the Vatican. His name was Father Peter Jacobs. His
experiences throughout Central and South America, Mexico and the
United States would prove to be very enlightening. But most of all was
his deep understanding of the Bible and the scrolls. He brought to the
table many interesting and amazing facts about Christianity and the
organized religion of Catholicism.
Both the priest and the Muslim from Egypt came to live with us in our
home in the country near Dallas, Texas. Then things really started
getting strange.
I would love to share the details of this story of how so many
preachers and priests are coming to Islam. Please visit our website to
get the whole story at:
www.IslamTomorrow.com/yusuf/ |
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