A Christian Response to the two Muslim Jihads(Holy War)
Name: Michael
Please tell us your need and what you would like us to pray for you about? Respected Sir,
Blessings1
My name is Michael i am christian male from pakistan.
I am sending you an articale about christian mission
work in pakistan, i wish you read and start work in
pakistan. I would like to get involve with your work.
Work In Pakistan
Pakistan is situated in the south of Asia and in this region it is the largest Muslim State. Its population is 160 million out of which 97% are Muslims, 2% Christians and 1% others (according to the census conducted by the Govt. of Pakistan). Out of 2% Christians 70% are Catholics.
Mission work was started in this region in 1934 when the Dutch Franciscans Friars came here and give the Good News. And since then the work is still in progress. All the Christian people now in Pakistan are the 3rd or 4th generation of those Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs families who were converted and were born again in Christ.
Nowadays the local young boys and girls are also engaged with this work and have devoted their lives for it. As after 9/11 incident the life for foreigners was becoming difficult day by day. I personally know about a girl from London who was working in interior sindh (a province of Pakistan) in a school and over there she used to teach the children about Christianity, Bible Stories etc. and when it came in the knowledge of their families they started worrying her but BRAVO for that girl she kept working with those kids and now not just those kids but their families have accepted Jesus Christ (the true witness of Christ).
As it is rightly said that where there are flowers there are thorns as well. In Pakistan the religion teaching are necessary in every school but only Islamiat (Islamic Study) and hence each and every student has to study Islamiat wither he is Muslim or Non-Muslim. Which makes a child very confused that which religion he should follow. May be thats the reason that the cricket player Yousuf Youhana is Mohammad Yousuf now. On the contrary to this she was teaching Christianity. They beated her very badly, even then her spirit to work for Christ grew day by day. After working for 4 years over there she was that much successful that now the whole village is of Christians. But off course she had to suffer a lot for it. That time period was the heaviest Cross in that way. Now she is not with us (may GOD grant her peace) but her work will be remembered in golden words forever and ever.
Only a few months before a Pastor Rev. Arif Khan was killed in Rawalpindi along with his wife who was an American citizen. As the Pastor was a evangelist and due to him many were thinking seriously about the teachings of Bible hence he was killed. But who can stop the mission work. Many are killed, burnt alive, made paralyzed etc, even the zeal is growing day by day.
One of the drawback in the constitution of our country, is the law of Tohien-e-Rasalat. The word Tohien means, insult and Rasalat means Prophet hood. And this law states that if any Non-Muslim will insult or talk something in abuse language for the Prophet Mohammad (the Prophet of Muslims as per their belief) he or she shall be killed. The thing is, this is only for Non-Muslims as they believe that any Muslim cannot do like this. So even if any Muslim says something in this regard, the case will be discharged for him after just saying a sentence that I am a Muslim, I believe in Prophet Mohammad, I can never ever even think about this.
On the other hand if any Muslim even makes a false claim and suits a file against any Non-Muslim then only one witness is enough and the person will be hanged to dead, even if he is innocent. This is one of the most deadly law for the Non-Muslims here, which is fully protected by the State. And hence creates a fear for all Christians and other Non-Muslims living in this part of the world.
After meeting some of the missionary workers, working in Pakistan one thing is very clear that they only fear the Almighty GOD and their only hope is the LORD. And they dont fear anyone. They believe that if someone is creating problems for them this is a good sign as they are successful in their work, their success is troubling others and hence they worry all the missionary workers working here.
Apart from leading a tough life here they say that, We Dont Have Any Problem. As to die in the name of Christ is the greatest pride for them. You, you all around the world do PRAY for all those working here as our Heavenly Father listens what we ask from Him. Amen.
My dearest brother in Christ,
It is an honor to read your prayer request. The Apostle Paul summed this walk up like this; "To live is Christ but to die is gain!" My friend, not many have ever or will ever know the true meaning of this. I can sense that you are well on your way to understanding this because you live it day-to-day. To be a witness for Christ with such a small following in a hostile place really defines the character of a true Christian. "Many are called but few are chosen!" Your work is very valuable in the Kingdom of God. To love in a world of hate is very difficult. Jesus led the way. He loved us while we were still yet sinners! Imagine Christ dying for the ungodly, the worst of the worst, and those that hated him the most! He died for them too! You are challenged everyday to love those who hate! What a challenge! We will certainly pray for you all! God is remarkable in that you have written me today. I am currently working on a discipleship program that identifies "The Christian response to Radical Islam." I hope to equip Christians with material that will help them to understand how to respond to Islam with love but also with wisdom from above. With all sincerity I would love to respond to you regarding visiting your work in Pakistan, it is not for me to imagine where God will have us to travel, yet we are willing to do all that he says. Thank you for the invitation and please remember to pray for us that God's will be done in these areas of ministry.
Know this my brother you are not alone! As it is written: "One will put one thousand to flight and two will put ten thousand!" "Two are better than one and a three fold chord is not easily broken"
I want you to visit another site that we are friends with they often help the persecuted church. Below is a link, Jesus be with you!
In Christ' love
Brother Cary
Persecution.com
This week we will take a look at Jesus and his response to Muslim Jihad. How are we as Christians to respond to the current radical beliefs that are enciting hatred and violence towards Christians and Jews as well as others that do not follow the teachings of Muhammed? Jesus taught us to love and to reach out in love to our enemies, but we must first understand what makes them act this way. The lie that they believe and what is the truth.
Read John10:1-10 What questions do you have after reading this?
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Answer the following questions:
Who is the door to heaven?
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If anyone tries to get in another way what are they compared to?
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What did Jesus come to the earth to do?
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What does the thief do?
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In your opinion what is other beliefs as described by John chapter 10?
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Fighting against unbelievers is taught by the Qu'ran (Koran) as a means to promote the Muslim faith and their fight is called "jihad" or "Holy war." There is two types of jihad that are taught. In what is called the "lesser jihad" it is taught that Christians, Jews, and non-believers are infidels (satan) and that Muslims are to destroy them, (that would be the lesser jihad) and in the "greater jihad" it is taught that ther is a battle of the mind over one's self. This is what most muslims practice and the greater jihad is what Muhammad taught as the greater of the two jihads. Jesus teaches in Ephesians 6:12 "that we do not fight against flesh and blood" just as Muhammad taught later in the "Greater jihad." Generally, Muslims believe there are two types of jihad: a “lesser” and a “greater.” Muhammad is said to have taught that warfare to destroy the infidel is actually a “lesser” jihad, (Jesus taught that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.) Muhammad taught that the Muslim should practice the “greater” jihad, which is the war every man must wage within himself to follow their god. In Middle Eastern countries the emphasis certainly seems to be on the “lesser” jihad. However, Muslims in democratic countries, and Western Muslims in particular, currently tend to interpret jihad as the “greater” jihad, but the great concern in the world is that of the "lesser" jihad which is calling Muslims to war against all non-muslims. Jesus taught a message of the war within and not of war with those who deny Him as Lord. He taught Christians to fight, but here is how Jesus taught us to fight.
Read Ephesians 6:10-18 What questions do you have after reading this?
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Answer the following questions:
Who's power does it teach that we should rely on?
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Who are we fighting according to verse 12?
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How many weapons are in our arsenal?
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What are these weapons?
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What is the final thing that we are to do to fight our enemy according to verse 18?
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As Christians we often endure persecutions and the tempation is to fight back. Jesus never taught us that we are not to fight back, in fact He taught us how to fight back by telling us to pray for those who despitefully use us and for those that persecute us. Some might say that praying is not fighting, but that is not true. When we pray we call our mighty God to fight for us. By faith we overcome it is our faith in which we use to fight our enemy.
Read 1Timothy 6:11-13 What questions do you have after reading this?
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Answer the following questions:
What fight are we to engage in?
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How are we as Christians supposed to do this?
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The book of Hebrews tells us in chapter 11:6 "it is impossible to please God without faith." The biggest enemy we have to our faith is ourselves, our own minds cause us to fall from faith! All our imaginations and our fears cause unbelief in our lives, which is difficult to overcome. Fear and vain imaginations work against faith and without our faith we cannot please God. So how do we fight against our mind?
Read 2Corinthians 10:1-5 What questions do you have after reading this?
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Answer the following questions:
The battle of our minds require us to take what action to walk as a Christian?
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What do our thoughts and imaginations exalt themselves against according to verse 5
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In conclusion is our fight against Muslims or any other religion?
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Jesus never said that we would not have persecution and He never taught us to fight with human swords, in fact He instructed Peter to put away his sword. We are to fight with God's Holy Word as our weapon. To know God's Word and to properly use it in prayer and in our daily walk is sufficient against all the attacks of our enemy.
Read Isaiah 54:15-17 What questions do you have after reading this?
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Answer the following questions:
Does the Bible tell us that we will not have enemies?
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Does Jesus ever state that we shall lose against our enemies when we walk in faith?
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Read Philippians 4:4-13 What questions do you have after reading this?
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Answer the following questions:
Why do you think that we are told to rejoice in the Lord always?
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What will keep us in peace even when we are going through hard times?
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What are we to think about during hard times?
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Can we do anything if we have the strenth of Christ?
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Please remember to pray for all who are fighting the good fight of faith in Pakistan and in so many parts of the world where many are dying and are being beaten daily for their faith. Also pray for our enemies and those who persecute and kick against the name of Jesus. You can visit many of our brothers and sisters of the persecuted church at http://www.persecution.com Thank you.
May the Lord Jesus forever be glorified and may he strengthen and protect our brothers and sisters in Christ, may He continue to provide for them safety, food, raiment, and love in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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