Religious Meanings Calgary Christian School January 11, 2006

1
Religious MeaningsCalgary Christian
SchoolJanuary 11, 2006

• Islam and Christianity
• Prepared by Gokhan Kaya

2
The Monkey and The Fish

• A typhoon had temporarily stranded a monkey on an
  island. In a secure, protected place, while
  waiting for the raging waters to recede, he
  spotted a fish swimming against the current. It
  seemed obvious to the monkey that the fish was
  struggling and in need of assistance. Being of
  kind heart, the monkey resolved to help the fish.
• A tree precariously dangled over the very spot
  where the fish seemed to be struggling. At
  considerable risk to himself, the monkey moved
  far out on a limb, reached down and snatched the
  fish from the threatening waters. Immediately
  scurrying back to the safety of his shelter, he
  carefully laid the fish on a dry ground. For a
  few moments the fish showed excitement, but soon
  settled into a peaceful rest. Joy and
  satisfaction swelled inside the monkey. He had
  successfully helped another creature.
• What was monkeys motivation?
• Why did the monkey help the fish by taking it out
  of the water?
• What did the monkey assume about fish worldview?
• How do you think the fish felt about the help it
  received?
• What advice would you give the monkey for future
  situations where he would like to help?

3
What is Worldview?

• Prodigal Son according to NT Luke 1511-32
• Islamic interpretion of Prodigal Son
• Why is there different results in actions between
  Muslim and Christian?
• What is Worldview?
• A Worldview is a set of presuppositions (or
  assumptions) which we hold (consciously or
  subconsciously) about the basic make-up of world
  James Sire.
• Ideas and values it embraces always seem logical
  and obvious to the people of the particular
  culture.
• Anthropologists often say that people of
  different cultures live in different worlds.
• In evangelism, count every person as a different
  planet. Hence, It is better to focus on
  understanding people before telling your ideas in
  the long run. James 119 Know this, my beloved
  brothers let every person be quick to hear, slow
  to speak

4
What is Worldview?

• People are reluctant to change their worldview
  unless it proves totally inadequate to help them
  cope with their current situation.
• You only become aware of it when you come in
  contact with someone who is different from
  yourself.
• Everybody does not need to know philosophy but
  everybody must have a worldview.
• Because we are limited cultural beings we cannot
  comprehend all reality so, we must construct
  mental models (paradigms) in an attempt to cope
  with the life which we know and experience.

5
Worldviews in ethics

• How Do We Know that Adam and Eve were not
  Chinese?
• Simple, when temptation reared its delicious
  head, they would have thrown away the apple. Both
  of them would have eaten the snake instead.

6
Worldviews Compared
7
Extreme Dangers of Human Nature

• Greatest struggles of humans are heart issues.
• Sinful Fear
• Sinful Pleasure
• SINFUL FEAR
• Fear of Man (largely)
• Fear of losing relationships, job, losing your
  honor, losing your friends attention, love,
  fearing of losing money, honor etc.
• SINFUL PLEASURE
• Pleasing ourselves
• Pleasing others

8
Worldviews Compared
Humans attribute anger and/or pleasure to idols.
Therefore, it is NORMAL to find Allahs anger
against those who are infidels.
9
Islamic Worldviewaccording to Creation, Fall,
Redemption

• CREATION
• Q What is Islams ultimate origin of everything?
• A Impersonal, holy Allah
• FALL
• Q What went wrong according Islam which brought
  evil and suffering to the world?
• A Mankind is lack of guidance and knowledge of
  Allah. Man is weak and forgetful. Man is born
  Muslim but does not know it.
• REDEMPTION
• Q Whats Islams solution to restore the world?
• A Submission to Quran and Sunnah traditions.
  Caliph religious leader will unite the world
  through submission of people to Islam and will
  bring peace to the world.

10
How is God and Allah pleased?
11
How do you please God?

• Trying to be a good Christian?
• Trying to please yourself?
• Trying to please others?
• Or are you trying to please God?
• How does a Christian please God?

12
Jesus pleased God

• How?
• Mat 313-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the
  Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would
  have prevented him, saying, "I need to be
  baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But
  Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus
  it is fitting for us to fulfill all
  righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus
  was baptized, immediately he went up from the
  water, and behold, the heavens were opened to
  him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like
  a dove and coming to rest on him and behold, a
  voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son,
  with whom I am well pleased."
• When did the Father be pleased with His son?
• Before Jesus started his ministry?
• After Jesus started his ministry?
• ANSWER IS Before, not after.
• What is this to do with Islam?

13
Appeasing Allah is through pleasing people in
Islam

• Muslim seeks to please others in other to get
  confirmation or affirmation of internal assurance
  of his good deeds.
• Greatest goal of a Muslim is to appease Allah or
  gaining the pleasure of Allah in order to have
  the assurance of salvation of heaven.
• In the OT, King Saul did the same thing
• Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have
  transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your
  words, because I feared the people and obeyed
  their voice. 1 Sa 1524

14
How could I evangelize Muslims?

• By fearing God more than fearing people or losing
  things
• By understanding Islamic Worldview and Christian
  Worldview
• Effectiveness or power of a Christian is sharing
  the gospel with Muslims is abiding in Christ for
  the glory of the Father.
• Joh 154-8 Abide in me, and I in you. As the
  branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
  abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you
  abide in me. I am the vine you are the branches.
  Whoever abides in me and I in him,MEANS he it
  is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you
  can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he
  is thrown away like a branch and withers and the
  branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and
  burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in
  you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done
  for you. By this my Father is glorified,PURPOSE
  that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my
  disciples.

15
Gods Big Picture
Suggested book Gods Big Picture by Vaughan
Roberts