One night, sometime ago, I was listening in on a T.B.N. Praisaton program (they still broadcasted in shortwave then), and heard one of the Crouch (I don’t remember which) brothers raised the issue of the seductively similar nature of Islam to Christianity. I felt it was quite unfortunate that his wife thought to shush him up since he was, no doubt, voicing the doubt and confusions of many Christians who are confronted with Islam daily.

The problem is Islam; and some other religions like it are so very superficially similar to Christianity as we understand it, and so zeal provoking in its differences; more of the human touch and angle, much easier to understand and relate with, less mysterious and more spontaneous than Christianity that if one was left with a choice, one would choose Islam.

That is the problem of viewing Christianity as a set of rules and regulations. You see, as long as you fight the devil on his own tuff, you always loose, whichever way the battle goes. This is another example of what I call “the Babylonian balance”, a dilemma founded on the foundation of a confusion of the truth.

You see, it is not about the rules or practices; it is about who gave them and for what reason. It’s like saying it is not about the party, it’s about who’s footing the bill and for what reasons. The Bible says;

“The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Da. 11:32b)

It also says, “those who serve you are strong”

Islam and other religions like it is built on a foundation of zeal without understanding or, in other words, religious fanatism. People are encouraged to give their life and souls to something they do not understand and may or may not have any basis in truth. People may, if they take a closer look at what they are upholding, may be repelled by what they see but this is not encouraged and, humans being what we are, once confronted with a quick formula upheld by a crowd, we will immediately tag along and switch off the sixth sense; “Don’t question it; it is the creed”.

It takes a belief in the almost magical power of creed to be dazzled by religious fanatism. What I mean is, a set of magic formula that must always work “All things being equal”. It does not matter that the god of the creed is supposed to have a mind and a purpose of his own and for establishing the creed; like he was some king of computer setting and observing rules based on criteria; “Throw ‘god’ out and give me creed”; ‘God will understand; He is not above the rules’. That is not true either; God IS above the rules. The rules only stand because He UPHOLDS them (“for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Ps. 138:2b) and that because, if He disregards the rules, He will not expect anyone to justly adhere to them; He leads by example. How much more tragic it is if God does NOT uphold these rules, Hum?

Our devotion is not to rules; it is to the living God, responding to His demands of us; not because these rules are just so nice we could just get used to living with them. And, knowing God, He will never leave us without a ‘witness’; i.e. a good reason and proof why we should have it His way so we are never left in the dark.

I don’t think God will thank us for fighting darkness with darkness. What I mean is “Islam” in its essence, is in the Church. Most people who try to battle the appeal of Islam to the Church end up using something very similar to it; Christian fanatism. It states, “Don’t question it; it is just so”. Every once in a while, God shows me in vision, that the spirit of Islam is in the Church. What He shows me are people who uphold “Biblical principles” that God denounces by His spirit;

1Th. 1: 4 - 5

“4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.  5 For our gospel came not unto

you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance” 

When I am faced with a dilemma like this, I do not believe in suppressing my doubts, I ask God about them. The doubts you suppress will eat away at your Faith. The ones you express to God will point you to the door to the next crown of the overcomer you would have to your name.

Da 11: 31b – 33a

“and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people

that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many:” 

Ho. 4: 5 - 6

“5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the

night, and I will destroy thy mother.

 6 ¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge,

I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law

 of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” 

Is. 45: 11 - 12

“11 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things

 to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out