Muslim attitudes
Concerning the West and Christians in General
Jumeirah Mosque
Many Muslims would have preferred to maintain a traditional lifestyle and to have limited their contact with non-Muslims to a minimum. However, for decades the world has continued to move toward greater interaction. Globalisation, the Internet, television, improved travel and communications bring Muslims and non-Muslims into constant contact. Some Muslims are delighted; others cringe.
For many Muslims Western society is Christian. Many of them do not make any differentiate between Western culture and Christianity. For Muslims, alcohol consumption, pornography, popular films, music, a liberal lifestyle and a lack of public religious practise are sure signs of the failure of Western countries. For them, the word “Christian” signifies materialism, a lack of spirituality and moral failure. Because of this numerous Muslims reject trends and attitudes that come from Western society, which they consider perverted. Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists have termed Western societies as Satanic. Muslims often believe that Christians are deceived and that they have an obligation to lead them to the truth of Islam.
On the other hand, many Muslims do not practise their own religion regularly. They find themselves torn between Islam and Western values and culture. The relationships between Muslims and Westerners are sometimes tense. Each have attitudes of suspicion, rejection and feelings of injustice toward the other. This can lead to hatred. In addition, simple non-moral differences between cultures can be a major source of prejudice, problems and misunderstandings.
Unfortunately, believers are not always good examples of God’s character. In the words of one person who knows Muslims well, “Many Muslims have never met a believer who is actually living a real Christian life. This is certainly one of the greatest hindrances to effectively making the Messiah known among Muslims.”
Prayer Starters:
- Pray that Muslims will be able to meet sincere practising believers and discern how they are different from cultural Christians.
- With your children, share how a Christian should live in order to show a Muslim what it means to believe in Jesus.
- Scriptures to meditate on and proclaim in prayer: Leviticus 19:2, Mt 5:48, Rom 12:2
Muslims Believe In…
- One God, the Creator of all things
- Angels and evil spirits
- Prophets (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jonah, Jesus, Mohammed)
- Mohammed, the last and greatest prophet
- Holy books (the Torah, Zabur (Psalms), Injil (Gospel) and the Qur’an)
- The Day of Judgment for all people
- The Bible has been corrupted and modified by Jews and Christians.
Jesus says,
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
Are my ideas and attitudes toward Muslims shaped by this commandment?
I’m sure you know the harvest that is taking place among M people. Many are turning to Christ daily in Iran!
Just want to say a special thank you to Capitol Hill “Daily Brief” for the mention of 30-Days on their blog. Wonderful.
Also a huge thanks to the North America Mission Board (NAMB) for pushing “30-Days” this year, yippee! http://www.namb.net
While I agree with the article, I want to add that the Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and even many Christians preferred to maintain a traditional lifestyle and to have limited their contact with Muslims to a minimum. However, Muhammad and his followers imposed the religion of Islam upon the unwilling. We read in the Koran about the resistance on the part of the Jews, and the Meccans. We can be certain that there was resistance in every other country in the Middle east, Africa and Asia. Just like there is resistance in Europe today. When the resistance stops, Islam takes over. It is good if Christians are convicted by the devout and pious Muslims, but there are just as many worldly and sinful Muslims as there are pious ones. Christians are also convicted by the devotion of all who belong to the kingdom of the cults, but that doesn’t mean they are right and we are wrong. There is no one who has lived up to his religious believes 100% of the time, except Jesus. What we as Christians should be doing is lifting up Jesus and defending him from the false accusations of Muslims instead of lifting up and defending Islam.
30-Days International, i have a question for you regarding the article above.
It states: “For many Muslims Western society is Christian. Many of them do not make any differentiate between Western culture and Christianity. For Muslims, alcohol consumption, pornography, popular films, music, a liberal lifestyle and a lack of public religious practise are sure signs of the failure of Western countries. For them, the word “Christian” signifies materialism, a lack of spirituality and moral failure. Because of this numerous Muslims reject trends and attitudes that come from Western society, which they consider perverted. Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists have termed Western societies as Satanic.”
Why then do so many want to live here? It is as if they are desiring to live among the things they are actually against.
thank you for your comments,
xen
xen, there are a number of studies and books on “social and political determinants of immigration” and they include a number of factors. Some include economic, political and social “freedoms”. In context of the article above, many Muslims do not practice their faith so deeply. Others become relatively secluded from the West in which they live due to the close social / family circles. It is one reason relationships between groups can be somewhat tense, which was the thrust of the article.
Anyway, if you google “why people immigrate” you will find some books, studies, papers and discussions on the subject. Trust that helps, Admin
Some claim they are not here by choice, others are here for the money, others are here to take over and offer Islam as that solution.