Tag: Christianity

Rush – “Something for Nothing”

I recently saw the band Rush in concert.  The audience was almost all male and 30+ years in age.  Pretty, funny.

rush 2012

They didn’t play my favorite songs, “Working Man,” “Take a Friend,” “Here Again,” or “The Necromancer.”  But at least they played part of 2112.  So I made a burn CD for my car, I know I still burn CDs, and before that recorded mixed tapes, so I could hear the songs they didn’t play.

I decided to put most of Rush’s album, 2112, on this burn CD, including the song, “Something for Nothing.”  Here are the lyrics to the song:

SomethingForNothingI disagree that “you can’t get something for nothing.”  Grace that comes from God is free to us.  But I’d agree that nothing is free!

Grace is free!  True or False?

Uh, yes, and no!

For us, God’s grace is free.  For God, grace is not free.  The Father had to send his Son.  The Son made the ultimate sacrifice of taking on flesh and being made in human likeness, despite the fact that he is by very nature, God!  That alone is a massive sacrifice.  To imagine, God himself, creator of all, in the person of Jesus Christ, defenseless, helpless, as an infant, a babe in the arms of his mother.  Imagine, God, who never grows tired or weak, sleepy, thirsty, and hungry, through the incarnation of the person of Jesus Christ experiences all of these things.  God who cannot die, who cannot bleed, innocently, cruelly, being beat, tortured, dying, a humiliating death on a Roman cross at the hands of creation, FOR HIS CREATION, being able to experience these things because of the Incarnation of Jesus of Nazareth.  No Grace (God’s riches at Christ’s expense) is not FREE!  Not for God.  Free for us, yes, but it’s not for God.

Just some thoughts I had listening to Rush last night in car.

Andy Wrasman1 Comment

Contradict – They Can’t All Be True #8

This video provides a more detailed explanation of the “Contradict” message. “Contradict” on its own does not say which religion is true, if any any. It only points out that they can’t all be true. To know which religion is true, if any, investigation must be done and more information must be shared.

This video also addresses two complaints that I have received regularly using “Contradict” to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are: “You can’t know the truth concerning God.” and “You are being arrogant and thinking you are superior when you claim to know the truth concerning God.”

I read Colossians 1:15-23 in the video. The key is that in the person of Jesus Christ humanity has seen God and we can know God through his interaction with us in history. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians%201:15-23&version=…

If you want to know more go to http://www.contradictmovement.org for more videos, a blog, a Facebook link, and a page to order a Contradict sticker for yourself and friends.

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Islam and the Five Pillars

Christianity speaks of a foundation for our beliefs – Jesus Christ!  
Islam has pillars.  
Pillars, of course, hold up the roof of a building.  The pillars of Islam are then viewed as holding up the Islamic faith.  Following these pillars are essential to all Muslims.  Salvation comes through observing these pillars, yet, there is no guarantee to any Muslim that he or she has followed these well enough, as well as having other good works in their lives, enough to warrant salvation from Allah!
The Five Pillars of Islam
  1. Creed – The creed of Islam is “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.”  When this single sentence is spoken in faith it makes a person a Muslim.
  2. Prayer – Muslims must pray five times a day facing Mecca.
  3. Charity to the Poor – Muslims must give a percentage of their income to the poor.  Generally, this is 2.5%.
  4. Fasting during Ramadan – Muslims must fast from food and water every day of the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.  This fast is known as Ramadan.   When the sun goes down, they can eat and drink.
  5. Pilgrimage to Mecca – This pilgrimage is called Hajj.  Muslims must travel to Mecca once in their lifetime if they have the financial means to do so.  Once in Mecca, there is is a series of numerous acts that must be performed, but the central task involves worship in the Kabbah.

So… how can a Christian present the Christian faith to a Muslim using these five pillars? 

First, ask questions, even if you already know the answers.  Show that you want to learn from them.  Ask,  “What are the five pillars to you?”

For the Creed, which for them is “There is no God but Allah, and Muhhammad is his messenger,” you can share that Christianity also has creeds.  The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.  You could also share that you too believe in only one God.  They’ll likely argue that… and say that you believe in three gods.  But you can then share the Christian faith to them more.

For the daily prayers, you can ask questions about what are the prayers you say?  Why do you have to say them in Arabic?  You can can share that Christians pray too, and that God hears our prayers at all times, not just at certain moments, because he is all powerful and knows all things and wants to listen to what his children have to say.

Charity – you can share that it’s good that they give to the poor.  You can share that Christians give too.

Fasting – you can share that Christians fast too, but that it’s optional for us, and that we can do it anytime we want, and that the purpose for the fasting for us is lead us to pray and to remind us to pray.

Hajj – you can share that to Christians this entire life is a pilgrimage!  This is not our home.  Our home is in heaven with God and we are just strangers passing through this world to our eternal home with God.

They may even ask you more questions about these similarities.  If you have a Bible you can share verses from the Bible with them.  Many Muslims have not read the Bible, yet they believe that the prophets of the Bible, and even Jesus, were prophets for Allah, so their words should be authoritative (although they believe the Bible has been corrupted).

Andy Wrasman3 Comments

Significant Discoveries from Studying Other Religions #3

I gave a test to students on an overview of what religions are, Hinduism, and Buddhism, and for many of them it was the first time they had studied a religion other than Christianity.  I asked a question at the end of the test for extra points: “Explain the most significant piece of religious information that you’ve learned so far this semester from this class and how it has impacted you.”  Here was one response:

I learned so much from these chapters, since I am from Asia where Buddhism is a great influence.  I always wanted to learn about this religion.  However, I never knew that they don’t have God and that their teachings have mostly to do with one’s self.  This was kind of shocking to me because I have believed in God my entire life and couldn’t imagine how a religion could exist without believing in God.  Also, the eight characteristics common with religions helped me to define religion easily.  I actually had an opportunity to talk to a friend in Life Group who is Buddhist.  She said her family is not vegetarian and goes to the temple only for special events.  Talking with a friend of another religion was fun because now I know some key terms from their teachings.  However, I knew more about the Buddha’s words than her.  I learned that knowing other religions’ teachings makes it easier to evangelize people.

 

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