Topic: True religion
Received: 18 August 2004
Subject: thanks for the clarity
first and foremost i want to thank those who supported this site in anyway. there is no better tiime than this time we are in to have a site like this . you know what i mean. there ar e many issues i never knew about . but know i know where the truth lies thank God for that. to cut along story short i want to tell u that i started write this letter not knowing the truth.bit at the end i found the light at the end of the tunnel. ISLAM IS THE ONLY TRUE RELIGION.I HAVE NEVER CAAME TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM IN A BETTER WAY THAN THROUGH YOUR SITE !
Our answer:
Dear ...,
Thank you for taking the time to write us. It is also good to hear that we are representing Islam fairly accurately. It is not our desire to communicate Islam in a false light.
It is interesting to me to hear you say that Islam is the only true religion. What is your definition of religion? A set of rules to keep in order to please God? If this is true, how are you doing? Have you kept every one perfectly? Have you some times forgotten to pray as you are commanded to do 5 times daily?
To say that God isn't that strict, that he will forgive sin if your overall intent is good, would mean that he is not a perfectly righteous judge. The Scriptures teach us that God's holy nature demands that all sin be judged and punished. When we disobey God, it's not just a mere disagreement-we are in defiance against him-we are saying he is a liar and our way is best, making ourselves out to be higher than God. It goes further-when we do our own thing, we become enemies of God.
He is the standard of truth, the standard of what's right and wrong. In him is no lie. Listen to how accurately God's plan will be fulfilled, spoken by Jesus the Messiah:
Matthew 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
And this one, by the Prophet Moses:
Deuteronomy 27:26 "Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them."
I do admire you in one sense - you do have a passion about what you believe. However, I would like to ask you a question: What confidence do you have in your relationship with Allah? Is he pleased with you? After the final judgment, will you be accepted in God's presence? Are you perfect?
The Scriptures teach us that God is great; he is holy; he is perfect. It would be an affront to his character to accept people that are evil, that do wrong, that even have wrong thoughts.
I know that I am not a perfect person. I've done lots of things that are wrong. I've lied, stolen, got angry without cause, had lustful thoughts, plus many more things that would make me unacceptable in the Day of Judgment. In fact, just one thing done wrong made me unacceptable to God - because he is so great, he will not tolerate any wrong in his presence.
But I can say this: that because of the Good News message proclaimed in the Scriptures, I now know I have been made perfectly acceptable to God - not because of any good found in me, but because of HIS provision for me. He has provided a way by which I can be declared as righteous before him. Do you know what that way is?
Respectfully,
John
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