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If you are a muslim, let me begin by saying that I would like to be your friend. We may not agree about everything but we have a lot of points in common. I myself spent time reading a large portion of an English language interpretation of the Koran when I was in Turkey. I admire the zeal of many muslims, and wish that Christians in general were as serious about following Jesus as many Muslims are about following the teachings of Muhammed, the founder of Islam.
I encourage you to read the Bible. But first read my short article
The Integrity of the Bible According to the Qu'ran
which shows strong evidence that the Qu'ran itself teaches that the Bible is NOT corrupted.
Further Reading
The Western World is not Christian
What do you mean, the Son of God?
Which "Holy Book" can you trust?
Miracles Today, Because Jesus is Alive
The links in this section below contain the views of others which I may or may not share. I would value very much if you would write me so that I could be better informed on Islam.
A Personal Message from Michael Fackerell
Let me begin by saying that historically Muslims could well object to many things found in the "Christian" world. Just as I would like to understand where you are coming from, so I want you to understand where I am coming from.
1. The Western World is not Christian. No one would deny that Christianity in its various forms has influenced Western culture and even the world in many ways. You may think that the majority of North Americans are "Christians". You see the pornography coming from Hollywood and other places which Americans give billions to view every year and you could well be disgusted. This is not Christianity. You may know that Americans spend many billions of dollars on illegal drugs every year. This is not Christianity.
Many, many people say they are Christians, but that does not make them Christians. The cause of Christianity would be greatly advanced if a lot of these people would tell people to call them "pagans". For they are certainly not disciples of Christ. They live for themselves, not for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan tried to destroy Christianity in its early days through persecution. Hundreds of thousands of Christians were killed for their faith in Christ but the cause of Christ marched on, and more and more believed in Jesus, seeing the power in His name. Then Satan tried another tactic. He joined the church. For proof of this we need look no further than the Crusades, in which much evil against Muslim people was done by the Roman Catholic Church.
The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and hundreds of "saints" as well as much foolish superstition has been embraced by millions of Roman Catholics and Orthodox people. Very few of them understand their own religion, but they make the claim to be the only historically authentic Christians. Many Muslims equate Roman Catholics and Orthodox people with "Christians". While there are some Christians in these groups, it is by far the minority. There is a big difference between being "religious" and being a true follower of Jesus.
I and millions of other true Christians worship ONE GOD. We do not believe in bowing down to icons and statues and praying to saints, dead or alive. This God is manifested in three Persons but is still One God. It will do no good to argue about this now. The real issue is: where is the Living God who ANSWERS PRAYER? Does He answer with miracles when we pray in Jesus' name? Look at Christian testimonies on the Internet. You will find out that He does. Can Islam point to the same results based on following the teachings of the Koran?
2. We do not believe that Jesus Christ is the result of the sexual activity of God.
When we talk about Jesus being the Son of God, we don't mean that God had a wife and physically fathered a Son. Neither do we mean that there was a time when part of God - Jesus - did not exist. We mean that Jesus Christ fully reveals God to us. Jesus is God revealing Himself to us in human form.
See some of the things the Qu'ran says about Jesus here
You can know what God is like by studying the Christian Gospels concerning Jesus Christ. God is compassionate andloving as well as just and righteous. Christians also believe in hell. However, nowhere does the Bible clearly teach that God predestines anyone to hell. He has predestined some to Eternal Life. It doesn't say about the rest.
The Koran however teaches that Allah is leading all the unbelievers into deception and ultimately to hell. Can you believe that Allah is right in deliberately destroying some people? Could you be one of them? In Islam, you can never know if your good works are enough to get you to Paradise. Actually, they never are, and deep in your heart you must know this.
The New Testament was written by men who walked and talked with Jesus. The apostle Paul, who also wrote much of the New Testament, was a violent persecutor of Christians until Jesus literally knocked him down and revealed Himself to him. Paul knew Christ as any Christian could know Him, if that Christian would be as zealous, humble and self-denying as Paul was.
Muhammed, on the other hand, wrote about Jesus 600 years after the events took place. He was an eyewitness to NOTHING concerning the life of Jesus. Are there good reasons to trust what Muhammed said about Jesus? Everything depends on the source of the inspiration that came to Muhammed. Please check out this article:
The Inspiration of the Qu'ran - a tough look at this controversial issue.
New Agers, whose doctrines are also different to Christianity, have a lot to say about Jesus. What they say differs from both to Christian and the Muslim view. Yet they claim it is inspired and feels right to them. What gives the Koran more credibility on the subject of Jesus than the writings of new agers, such as "The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ"? The gospels were written by people who were there at the time.
There is strong evidence that the New Testament has come to us today basically unchanged. We have manuscripts for the Bible that date from before the time of Muhammed. Muslims are exhorted to reject none of God's books, but to obey the message of God. How can a muslim do this faithfully? Consider the following quotes from a reliable translation of the Koran.
"We believe in God, and that which has been sent down on us, and sent down on Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and the [Jewish] Tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets, of their Lord; we make no division between any of them ...."
John Ankerberg and John Weldon in "The Facts on Islam" write:
The Koran claims that Allah is the God who inspired the Old Testament and the New Testament: "...We gave to Moses the Book and the Salvation, that haply you should be guided." Muslims are commanded, "Observe the Torah and the Gospel ... what is revealed to them from Allah."
Elsewhere, Muslims are told:
O believers, believe in God and His Messenger [Muhammad] and the Book He has sent down on His Messenger [ the Koran] and the Book which He sent down before [the Bible]. Whoso disbelieves in God and His angels and His Books, and His Messengers, and the Last Day, has surely gone astray into far error ... God will gather the hypocrites and unbelievers all in Gehenna."
Arberry's translation of the Koran also reads in one place, "Those who disbelieve in God and His Messengers and desire to make a division between God and His Messengers, and say, "We believe in part, and disbelieve in part," desiring to take between this and that a way - those in truth are the unbelievers; and We have prepared for the unbelievers a humbling chastisement [in hell]."
Which Muslim can then truly call himself a believer, according to these verses? To believe the Bible you have to know what you are believing in! Why would Allah command the believers to believe in a corrupted book? (Actually, it was only after the muslims started to read the Bible not long after Mohammed's death that they concluded it was corrupted. But Mohammed didn't know that when he gave his messages, and was probably afraid to check it out for himself.)
The evidence for the reliability of the Bible is a big subject. I encourage you to search the web for yourself. There are some materials on my home page, also.
I would encourage you to take the time to read my Foundation Teaching on Christianity and send me your comments. It will explain step by step many of the really important issues of the Gospel Message.
4. Jesus Does Miracles TodayI have heard so many reports that Jesus, who both Christians and Muslims say is alive (but for different reasons) is speaking to many, many Muslim people in their dreams. This happened to an entire North African village at one time. Many have now given up everything to turn to Christ.
In Africa, South America and Asia especially, but really all around the world, multitudes are witnessing the power of the name of Jesus Christ. Miracles are happening. Blind eyes are opening, cripples are walking, lepers are cleansed, even the dead are raised. Why can the Imams not produce these feats if they are the true representatives of God?
5. Are You Ready to Pay for Your Sins?
The Bible message reveals that God will punish sin. You cannot go on sinning deliberately and get to heaven. (See Hebrews 10:26 and following). God is certainly going to judge sin.
As a Muslim you will never know if you are good enough for God. Christians have realised the futility of trying to earn a right place with God by our own efforts. All of us have debts to God we cannot pay.
But just as I could pay your electricity bill if I have enough money, so someone else could pay for your sins in your place. This is what Jesus did for you. The disciples saw that Jesus died on the cross - Muhammed saw nothing because he wasn't there. Jesus did it for you to pay for your sins. Then he rose again.
This was God's practical mercy. The punishment for sin was still given - but Jesus took it for you. He could do this because He was sinless and of such great value in God the Father's eyes. Do not think that the Christian message promotes injustice or the idea that you can go on sinning and Christ's death alone will assure you a place in heaven no matter what you do.
Christ's death will do you no good unless you want to come to God and turn away from your sins. But also, you must believe in Jesus. Those who don't do this will go to hell. It doesn't matter how sincere they were in other respects. No one else paid the price for your sins but Jesus. No one rose from the dead like Jesus. The historical and contemporary evidence is all there.
Pray this prayer: "Dear Jesus, if you are a true prophet of God then show me if you are also the Saviour of the World. If you are I want you to save me. Thank you. Amen."
If you would like to receive Christ, click here.
I hope you will visit this site again from time to time, as I plan to constantly update the materials and references as time allows me.
Michael