Bible Discussion Thread

I am aware that the descendants of Ishmael became many of the Arab tribes. Unfortunately, most of those tribes today follow the teachings of Muhammed, a false prophet who claimed that Ishmael was the promised heir, not Isaac. However, there is not a 100% Muslim population in any Islamic nation. There are Christians "seeded" among these Muslim communities. Pray for God to protect them from the Muslims who are pressed to persecute and execute Christians. These Christians are the hands, feet, and mouths of Jesus in situations where people are following false teachers who cannot offer hope of salvation to their followers. Most Muslims have not known any other belief system, (same for the Jews). They are in bondage to their religion, not free in Christ Jesus. Our intercession is needed and valuable.

I am concerned about what has and is transpiring in the Middle East. Such turmoil for such a long, long time. And in these times it doesn't just involve those who live there. It involves the whole world. Islam has spread across Africa and Asia as well as the middle east. Many are very devout and committed to honor their god no matter what. Are we more devout and committed to honor the True God more than the Muslims of the world? We need to be. WE have the most excellent promises of all of history. Let us seek for the fulfillment of these promises to be accomplished God's way, not ours. this takes faith and wisdom and courage. I pray to have these in fuller measure as I face the senior years of my life.

Indeed, all nations are a melting pot of diverse nationalities, languages & beliefs; that even Islamic nations are only so because of a predominance of Muslim population & governance.

From my observation when in ministry in Pakistan, most Christians (like many of us in the West: some strong, some nominal in faith), will almost never share the Gospel with their Muslim neighbours or consider going into public places to reach them. With the nature of Islam, & specifically govts. which are increasingly adhering to Sharia Law or aspects of it, reaching out to Muslims or even making ill-considered references to Allah, their prophet, or the Quran, may get them into very hot water. So when we foreigners went into the marketplace (or the girls, door-to-door) to sell/give out literature & share the Gospel, the indigenous Church began to tremble. We were always warned, as the apostle was in Acts 21:10-14, to be very careful or better, to spend more time with 'us' to teach 'us', but it was for that purpose that we were there: to bring Light & Hope to many living in darkness & hopelessness.

As you correctly stated, there are many believers "seeded" within those communities, yet the very poor amongst them already suffer under the Islamic ruling, by not receiving electricity or water for their homes, kept segregated, & being held back from higher education. If we showed the "Life of Jesus" film to them followed by a message, we had to take our own electricity generator & lighting, for they could only depend on sunlight or moonlight to do their work, or homework for the kids. We had a special leading to such folk who always hungered to learn more of the Bible, but we knew that the Church at large also needed feeding. Pastors were present, but often they too needed teaching. So, I relate this to share with you that the Church (in Pakistan at least) needs to be more than just a visible entity but to be "the hands, feet & mouth of Jesus". We were trying to meet that need, D.V.

Good morning Chris,

I have not traveled farther than my neighboring states, except one trip to Hawaii. I am thankful for those who have gone far and wide to different countries and cultures to minister in minister as the Lord has directed them. I understand the obstacles you mentioned for the peoples of Pakistan. My sister-in-law from Africa is a Christian and she has told me about the poverty and lack of basics we take for granted. Also, she has told me how occultists will go to the homes of Christians and speak curses to the households. Many became sick or had a serious accident or died. She is inspiring as a woman who know the desperate need of prayer in these situations. There is also a significant population of Muslims in sub-Sahara Africa and girls and women are oftentimes kidnapped to be made wives whether these females are Muslims or not. They are often abused. Her sister died from domestic abuse,, being trapped in such a "marriage".