What's Faith?

Regardless of what we believe in, all of us have faith in someone or something which dictates the way we live. In our case here, and since both Muslims and Christians believe in eternal destiny (hell or heaven), the choice one needs to make becomes the most important struggle for truth and life. If you are afraid to read this, it is perhaps that you do not have a strong knowledge in your faith. You should have no fear if you know that what you believe to be true, is indeed true.

On the other hand, one could choose for some reason to ignore this issue altogether, thinking that it does not matter what one believes, since we will find out at the end which was right. That is your choice, and no one including God will force you, but if you are wrong, and end up in eternal torment, do not blame me because I have done my job, I offered you the challenge.

The "Quran" Challenge to the Judeo-Christian Faith: In Islam the Quran states it clearly; "And they say: `None shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.' Those are their desires. Say: `produce your (Evidence) if you are really truthful'." (Al-Baqarah[2]:112).

The "Bible" Challenge: "Present your case, says the Lord. Bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show us the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us the things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together. Indeed you are nothing, And your work is nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination." (Isaiah 41:21-24).

So, for that challenge which was ordered by both books, and since both encourage us to produce "proof", or evidence to each claim, I will respond to answer each challenge. Since Christians need to be in obedience to God, they are required to respond and fulfill the commission, to defend the faith, to fight the battle, the real war for souls, not by the Sword but by the Word.

We are ordered by God to produce evidence, and witness to those lost in darkness, to the world that we seek for Christ. As the Bible said: "In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15).

In the Old Testament, God encourages debate and challenge; "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord." (Isaiah 1:18a).

Both challenges assure us, that there is no need to pick up stones and fight, no need for anger or fits of rage. Simply let us reason together, and prove with evidence each his own claim.

The Bible claims that the true Christian faith is the only way to God, while Islam's Quran says that it’s the other way around. I have seen many debates concerning this issue, and the problem with such debates is that neither side is able to fully express their opinion. The element of time is always a factor, and the heated arguments would always upset Muslims, who were too quick to throw in shouts of "Allahu Akbar' (God is greater). We need to see how God is great, not by just shouting it, but by proving it. We need patience to avoid quick judgments.

The bottom line is that one of the two (Muslims or Christians) are deceived, and to understand the deception one must first understand the nature of the deceiver, Satan the Devil. The Bible gives the best explanation of him, and in general he is the most intelligent, smart, and beautiful being God ever created. He deceived 1/3 of the angels, he deceived Adam and Eve, and he even deceives the very elect. You stand no chance against his tricks without God and his Spirit on your side. He is the best con artist this world has ever seen. He appears as an "Angel of Light". He created all false theology, and he claims to be God. The Bible describes him as the false God of this world, and this world is the domain he wants to rule.

The Quran on the other hand gives some different descriptions of Satan. The Quran calls him "Iblees", which is a fiery creature or "jinn", from which the English word "genie" is derived. Muslims deny the Biblical claim that the Devil is an angel, however one cannot ignore the Quranic verse; "And as we told the Angels to bow down to Adam, All did except Iblees (Satan), refused. He was one of the jinn" (Al-Kahf[18][18]:50). One could ask, why would God order only the Angels to bow, and then expect Satan, who the Quran declares as being one of the jinn (genie) to do the same? That would logically refer to jinn (genie) as angels, albeit fallen ones, but not another creature made from fire as the Quran claims in other verses.

In the Quran, devils are found doing the work of Solomon by Allah's command. Allah is also found protecting them as declared in the Quran: "And sundry satans who should dive for him and perform other work beside: and it was We who guarded them." (Alanbya[21]:82). These devils are also found in the Quran to be Solomon's messengers: "He said (Solomon),: "Ye Chiefs! which of you can bring me her throne[Queen Sheba's] before they come to me in submission? Said an `Ifrit, of the Jinn (devils): "I will bring it to thee before thou rise from thy council: indeed I have full strength for the purpose, and may be trusted." (Al-Naml[27]:38-39). Such claims are rejected by Christianity, as nowhere in the Bible are devils used to do any physical work, especially not in the building of God's temple. God used Solomon and his people, (God's chosen people) to carry out this task (1 Kings 6:1-2). The most interesting part in the Quran's description of devils is in Surah Saba[34]:14, where Allah declares: "Then we decreed Solomon's death, nothing showed them (the devils) that he was dead as the termites gnawed the staff which supported his corpse. And when it fell, the devils perceived that if they had known ..." Muslim interpreters say that Solomon died suddenly while he was leaning on his staff, and that a full year passed while his corpse stood there leaning. Finally when the termites had eaten part of that staff, it broke and Solomon fell to the ground, and only then did the devils realize that Solomon was dead. On hearing this we must ask: What did Solomon's servants, wives, and army do while Solomon was dead leaning on his staff for a whole year? Muslim scholars conclude that demons are stupid beings whose main job is to whisper into peoples ears to try and make them sin. This description is unlike that of the Bible, which warns us that demons are in fact fallen angels, able to mix a mass of truth with just enough lies to kill.

Jamal Badawi, a well known Muslim apologist, when debating Christians, always accuses the Christian Trinity of evolving from ancient pagan beliefs such as mithraism.[1] What Mr. Badawi ignores to mention is that the idea of pagan trinities did not evolve from Persia, Rome or any other ancient empire, but from way back at the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden. Satan defied God and deceived Adam and Eve. He then formed a false trinity -- Satan, The future coming Antichrist (Al-Maseeh Al-Dajal), and the False Prophet. The first prophecy in the Bible was concerning this very issue. In Genesis 3:15, God’s judgment was declared: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." In this prophecy we find the promise of the virgin birth of Christ from the seed of the woman (her seed). The woman representing Eve and her seed representing Christ, Christ was not the seed of Adam as He did not have a human father. This was the first prophecy in the Bible of the coming Christ. This prophecy foresaw the crucifixion of Christ (when Satan was able to "bruise His heel") who was pierced in His hands and feet (heels). The verse also reveals the Antichrist to be the seed of Satan. Just as Christ, the son of Mary, was uniquely the "seed" of the woman", the Antichrist in some mysterious way will be the "seed" of Satan. Christ will ultimately bruise Satan (who will manifest himself in the body of the Antichrist) in the head, and thus the Antichrist will be Satan's seed. Satan has introduced false trinities and false gods throughout the centuries in an attempt to cover the truth. He is the crafty deceiver who will ultimately introduce his son, the Antichrist, as the one to take on the most deceptive mission yet -- to make man worship Satan, and declare himself as the God of man.

While all false religions believe that Satan and his devils are simple beings who promote sin and discord, the Bible reveals them as intelligent beings who never cease to introduce Satan's agenda in the real battle between Satan and God, a battle that is not mentioned in many false religions. Though we are unaware of this battle, God in the Bible warns: "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). The Bible describes Satan as "The ruler of darkness", "The father of lies", and "The prince of this world". He imitates the real God, and will eventually manifest himself in the body of the Antichrist to rule earth for a while. He will be represented by a false prophet. This false trinity (Satan, Antichrist, False Prophet), is indeed a false setup designed by Satan the Devil to imitate the True God and to seduce man into worship him, when they think they are following God.

This imitation started from the beginning, when Satan exalted himself to be better than God: "I will ascend above the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like The Most High." (Isaiah 14:14). The Bible clearly shows that Satan is a counterfeit, and that he claims to be God, The Most High. If he is doing that today, through which religious system, and to whom do you think he is lying?

The Bible gives the opposing names to those of the true God, and attributes them to the Antichrist. Christ is called "The Truth", while Antichrist is called "The lie". Christ is called the "Holy One", while Antichrist is called "The lawless one". Christ is called "The Son of God", while Antichrist is called "The Son of Perdition". Christ is called "The Mystery of Godliness", while Antichrist is called "The Mystery of Iniquity". God allows Satan to continue, and though He could destroy him, the Bible teaches that it is Jesus Christ who will finally destroy Satan's Son of Perdition (The Antichrist) "by the brightness of His coming". Satan's main tactic to destroy God's plan is to counterfeit the biblical prophecies concerning the coming Christ. Over the centuries, Satan has tried to destroy God's plan by burning, banning, and attacking the Bible and persecuting Christians and Jews. He introduced false doctrines, false books, and false prophets. Covering God's Truth with lies has been the major mission for Satan and his demons. Consequently, Satan has always failed in his missions to destroy and conquer since God's plan is indestructible.

God gave many warnings in the Bible concerning Satan and his works:

"Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done" (Daniel 11:36). The Antichrist's will is his fathers will (The Father of lies or the Devil), while Christ's will is His Father's will (The God of Truth). The mystery of God's nature is presented in the Bible as One God in a Holy Trinity: "Behold O Israel, the Lord your God is One". The unity of God is supported in both the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament.

When Elijah (Elias), encountered the prophets of Baal (false prophets), Elijah stood before the people and cried out "How long halt you between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." (I Kings 18:21). Elijah won the battle, as he was on the side of God, while the false prophets standing with Satan lost their lives and their souls forever. God even sent fire from heaven, cooked the beef and consumed it. Elijah prayed as I did "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." God reveals to us the truth, just ask him and say "O Lord the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, reveal to me your truth", he is faithful and just.

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