Christ In Me, Muslims Around Me: What to do?
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About this ebook
Christ In Me, Muslims Around Me: What to do? begins with an exploration of the common beginnings of Islam and Christianity (and Judaism), gives a brief background and overview of Islam, then continues with a general summary of the themes of the Quran, followed by those of the Bible.
The book then details some of the positional statements currently heard from Muslims and Christians, and explores the problems and options Christians have when associating with Muslim individuals or groups.
REVIEWS
...I found the book very informative from the prologue to the last page. The author is talented in her way with words, writing in a manner that is easy to understand. The chapters are each thought-provoking and offer a lot of information to digest. Any person who has questions about the Muslim way of life, especially from a Christian standpoint, will find answers to many, if not all, of their questions....
Reviewed by Brenda Ballard for Readers Favorite
...This is a very well-written book that not only provides information, but gives facts of history to support each theory or belief. I personally liked the ending of the book which includes various notes, references and appendices. This is without question a very vital part of the book and is sure to benefit the reader.... I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to learn more about Christianity and Islam.
Reviewed by Darin Godby for Readers Favorite
...This easy book is a good source of knowledge for those who want to learn more about Islam, from a secondary perspective. It is well-written and has many sources quoted in it. It is clear and easy to follow.... I recommend it to Christians from young adults to adults.
Reviewed by Author Anna del C. Dye for Readers Favorite
Patricia Bridewell
Patricia Althoff Bridewell is a graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College (BA), Western Kentucky University (MA), and Newburgh Theological Seminary (PhD).Bridewell is married, has a son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. She is a long-time member of Avon Park Camp in Florida, and is otherwise semi-retired.
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Christ In Me, Muslims Around Me - Patricia Bridewell
CHRIST IN ME,
MUSLIMS AROUND ME:
What to do?
PATRICIA ALTHOFF BRIDEWELL
~~~~
Copyright 2012 Patricia Althoff Bridewell
Smashwords Edition
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
~~~~
DEDICATION
…to my mother, Joan Saile Althoff, who led me to life in Christ—she was there when I thought my world was at an end to teach me of the loving Father and the Savior who paid the price for my sin.
…to my father, Rev. Nathan Althoff, who has remained my primary spiritual guide throughout my life, encouraged me, challenged me, and asked thought provoking questions that forced me to search the Bible for answers.
…to my husband, Jerry Bridewell, who supports me always and deserves more than I can ever give.
…and to the many who have attended or spoken at Avon Park Holiness Camp in Avon Park, FL, and have by message or action regenerated my quest for an even closer relationship with God.
To all of you, I offer my deepest love and thanks for the opportunity to know you, learn from you, and serve you.
-- Patricia Althoff Bridewell
~~~~
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book would not have been possible without the help of Dr. Tom Hermiz, who referred me to reliable, modern authors. His An Introduction to Islam is included in toto, with his permission, as a prologue to set the stage for the content of this work.
In addition, I discovered one of the crucial authors used for background research, John Muehleisen-Arnold, because of my acquaintance with a WGM missionary whose name is also John Muehleisen.
The participants in a group on Facebook, Christian-Muslim forum, and its primary moderator, Julian Bond, revealed current thought processes and sharing trends among some of those in pluralistic settings, particularly in the United Kingdom.
The many Muslims I encountered throughout my time of study brought necessary first-hand experience that made the work relative to me personally.
Last, but not least, I acknowledge the contribution of my father, Rev. Nathan Althoff, who stimulated my thinking with statements and questions, as only he is able.
~~~~
FOREWORD
This book begins with an exploration of the common beginnings of Islam and Christianity (and Judaism), gives a brief background and overview of Islam, then continues with a general summary of the themes of the Quran, followed by those of the Bible. I then summarize some of the positional statements currently heard from Muslims and Christians, and explore the problems and options Christians have when associating with Muslim individuals or groups.
It may come as no surprise that one approach is an attempt to meld the two religions, such as in Chrislam. With the help of God, I intend to show that Christianity and Islam are incompatible. I make no apologies for being a Christian, and as such present this information to and for Christians with the prayer that it will strengthen them as they are challenged to stand for Christ in an increasingly Muslim world.
An article from the Messenger-Inquirer on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 focused on some Americans who had converted to Islam. The interviews revealed some not-so-surprising observations:
--> They were disturbed by public figures portraying all Muslims as terrorists.
--> Those whose wives dressed in hijab or abaya felt uncomfortable when traveling outside their usual Arab-Muslim area.
--> Those who dressed in hijab or abaya noticed a change from being regarded as weird
to being regarded with fear after 9/11.
--> They did not face direct hostility but faced anti-Muslim rhetoric in the anonymity of the Internet.
--> The conversions to Islam often involve name-only Christians converting to please Muslim wives, or vice versa. (Jeff Karoub, September 10, 2011)
Although this article addressed how the converts to Islam felt, my heart burned with sadness, not because of how they felt, but because they chose Islam over Christianity. It increased my desire to learn more of Islam, its power to win converts, and the resultant call to Christians. As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we…discern the times—and that we know what we, the church, ought to do.
(James L. Garlow, 2005, p. 18)
~~~~
CONTENTS
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FOREWORD
AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM, Dr. Tom Hermiz
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER II. BEGINNINGS
Abraham, Call and Promises
Keturah
Ishmael
Isaac / Jacob and Esau
Comments
CHAPTER III. ISLAM
Seventh Century Arabia
Mohammed
Development of Islam
Hadiths and Sharia
Through the Centuries
Contemporary View
CHAPTER IV. QURAN THEME
CHAPTER V. BIBLICAL THEME
CHAPTER VI. POINTS OF VIEW
Islam
Radical
Liberal
Mainstream
Name Only
Comments
Christian
Fundamentalist
Evangelical
Liberal
Name Only
Comments
CHAPTER VII. WHAT TO DO?
Accept / Join
Chrislam 1 – African
Chrislam 2 – Western
US Approach
Hate / Reject
Holy War, Annihilate
Separate, Refuse Admittance, Segregate
Comments
Ignore
Tolerate
Indifference
Comments
Convert
Active Missionary
Covert Missionary
Comments
Witness
Engage
Dialog
Example
Invite
Comments
CHAPTER VIII. CONCLUSION
ENDNOTES
NOTES
REFERENCES
APPENDIXES
A. DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM (ABRAM)
B. THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
C. THE SIX PILLARS OF FAITH (ISLAMIC)
D. THE NINETY-NINE NAMES OF ALLAH
E. WHO IS GOD?
F. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
G. QUESTIONS (FACETIOUS AND OTHERWISE)
~~~~
AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
Dr. Tom Hermiz
In this article, Dr. Hermiz gives an overview to Islam. As his family is originally from Turkey, his perspective is very personal. He discusses the religious and political aspects of Islam, [and gives] a challenge to believers to develop a Biblical attitude towards Islam and Muslims.
My father was born in Turkey and lived there until he was 9 years of age. He was just 5 years old when the Muslims in that part of the world were on one of their frequent jihads (holy wars). They were determined to stamp out Christianity in that region of the world. My grandmother, great grandparents, and many other family members were all born-again Christians. Many of them were led to the Lord by an American missionary.
After a bitter battle, my grandmother and 28 other members of our family were martyred by the Muslims for their faith in Christ. A Muslim soldier picked my father up off the street and began to raise him in a Muslim environment. When he was 9 years of age, an uncle found him and smuggled him out of the country. With the assistance of the American Red Cross my uncle put my father on a freighter and sent him across the ocean to the United States, where he was reunited with my grandfather. My grandfather had escaped to the States when the Muslims put a price on his head because he was defending the Christian villages.
From this brief summary, you can see that our family has had firsthand experience in dealing with Islamic fundamentalists. Also, over the last 25 years I have had the opportunity to talk with a number of missionaries who are currently ministering to the Muslim people. Although I do not claim to be an authority on Islam, I have some firsthand knowledge as to their goals and objectives.
It is for this reason that I am deeply concerned about the unbalanced information the public is receiving today about the Islamic religion. We are receiving distorted information from Islamic leaders, the media, and our own political leaders. I trust that this article will give you a more balanced and factual perspective on the Islamic religion.
Islam is both a religious and political system. It has the stated objective of controlling the world. Currently, Islamic leaders have under their control nearly 1.5 billion people. Their passion is to convert everyone to Islam and bring the world, by force if necessary, under an Islamic government.
It is a religion based on good works. One needs to be sure that their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds. Even if you are not certain where you stand with Allah, it is a guarantee of eternal life if you make certain that your last deed is a good one. It is for this reason that Muslims will not hesitate to take their own lives if they can kill some infidels in the process. An infidel is anyone who is not a Muslim. The Koran specifically refers to Christians and Jews as infidels, and makes it clear that killing an infidel guarantees eternity in heaven.
Over the centuries, many Christians like my