Books

Categories Book Notes, Missions

Evangelizing the Muslim

1 Comment by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 16: Inside the Muslim (Earning a Hearing and Winning a Soul)

It is important that Christians be culturally sensitive and Biblically articulate in befriending the Muslim and communicating the gospel to him or her.

Some tips:

  • Never offer your left hand for a handshake
  • Never call a Muslim “brother”. “Friend” is a more appropriate term.
  • Accept Muslim hospitality (including eating their food and observing their household rules without question)
  • Extend hospitality (and be sure to be sensitive to their dietary protocols such as no pork, lard, or shellfish, and no alcohol served with meals)
  • Avoid conversation with the opposite sex until you have ascertained that it is safe to do so.
  • Attend an Islamic service, if asked to, but you need not (and should not) participate in the acts of worship). Instead, stand to the side quietly and ask your host questions in an unobtrusive manner.
  • Earn a right to be heard through friendship–don’t rush in to convert the Muslim. (Demonstrate love for them first.)
  • Avoid political arguments and avoid equating patriotism to American with Christianity.
  • Don’t defend or underplay the sins of so-called “Christians” throughout the ages or in the present day.
  • Remember that many Muslims face a great “cost” for converting to Christianity–including complete rejection by family and friends. It is right that Muslims should count the cost.
  • Avoid “church talk” like “born again”, “saved”, “lost”, or certainly “crusade”.
  • Clearly communicate the elements of the gospel that are most foreign to Muslims: grace (liberation from dead works and complete payment of all debt owed) and love (a personal, loving God as seen in the cross.)
  • Be prepared to defend Scripture and its sure testimony regarding Christ
  • Read the Qur’an and be able to use the Qur’an to encourage Muslims to give the Bible a hearing (This may be the most helpful section in this book–giving a clear argument for why the Bible is a reliable witness, using the Qur’an and Aristotelian logic–which is accepted by Islam.)

Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.

Categories Book Notes, Missions

Islam’s Jesus

Leave a comment by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 15: Jesus According to the Qur’an

Muslims believe in Jesus. Did you know that?

Well, they do.

But that doesn’t mean that they believe in the Jesus of the Bible.

According to the Qur’an, Jesus…
…is the son of Mary
…is a man like Adam (created from dust)
…is a messenger of God
…is a miracle worker with a limited ministry
…preached obedience to Allah
The Bible agrees that Jesus is the son of Mary, that Jesus is a man (although not created from dust), that Jesus is a messenger from God, that Jesus was a miracle worker, and that Jesus preached obedience.

But there were and are many other men who worked miracles and preached obedience as a messenger of God–and the Bible (but not the Qur’an) makes clear the differences between Christ and all of these.

The Bible says that Jesus was not only man, but God. The Bible affirms that Jesus came not just to POINT the way to the Father, but as THE WAY to the Father. The Bible says that Jesus’ primary work was to be crucified and rise again.

The Qur’an denies all of these. It denies the divinity of Christ, denies the necessity of Christ, and denies the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The Muslim believes in Christ as you and I believe in Santa Claus–yes, originally there was a person named St. Nicolas who helped some youngsters by throwing money in their windows, some of which may have fallen into their stockings, or something like that. We believe in that–but it has no bearing on our life. It’s nothing more than an amusing story with some hint of truth. Except that unlike St. Nicolas, who made no claims of entering houses through chimneys and riding flying reindeer, Jesus Christ claimed that He was God. Jesus Christ truly WAS crucified. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and had dozens of witnesses of His resurrected body. These things that the Muslim denies are not rumors that sprung up long after the life of Christ. They are claims made by Christ Himself, witnesses born by His closest companions.

While Islam might say that Christianity’s claims about Jesus are a perversion of the true Jesus, a “Santa Claus” rumor belying Jesus’ true nature, the truth is that the scenario is reversed. Islam’s “Jesus” resembles the historical Jesus about as well as Santa Claus resembles the historical St. Nicolas. The two couldn’t be more different.

Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.

Categories Book Notes, Missions

Christianity through their eyes

Leave a comment by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 14: Clash of Cultures (Christianity through the eyes of the typical Muslim)

According to the Caners, Muslims interpret all religions, including Christianity, through their central doctrine “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.” They believe that Allah is everyone’s god. All other religions are simply corruptions of or delusions regarding the true religion of Allah.

This chapter addresses five perceptions that Muslims have regarding Christianity, and responds to each of these.

  1. The true Christian gospel has been changed. (Response: Historical evidence affirms Christianity)
  2. Christians are divided and weak (Response: Christians and Muslims are both divided)
  3. Christians have maligned true Islam. (Response: Islam maligns Christianity far more than Christians malign Islam.)
  4. Christians are blind and unreasonable. (Response: Christian faith is reasonable and can be understood.)
  5. The Christian faith overlooks immorality (Response: Western nations are not Christian nations.)

    6. This chapter gives a nice look into some of the perceptions Muslims may have about Christians and provides a jumping off point for study for anyone who desires to minister to Muslims.

    Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.

Categories Book Notes, Missions

Jihad: Holy or Hellish War?

Leave a comment by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 13: The Bloodshed of Jihad

Despite some Muslim apologists attempt to say otherwise, Jihad is clearly intended as a military, combat word rather than as a struggle towards personal piety. This fight includes the command to “slay them wherever you catch them” (surah 2:191)–not exactly a nonviolent expression. In different places within the Qur’an, jihad is ordered against Christians, against Jews, against pagans, and against former Muslims who have converted to another religion.

The reward for martyrdom in jihad is great. Jihad is a requirement for followers of Islam and requires a pledge of allegiance. Fighting to the death is encouraged. Jihad is considered one of the highest calls in life and martyrdom balances the scales (see Righteousness in the Balance for a closer look at Islam’s conception of righteousness). Any action taken in jihad is justifiable–there is no such thing as a “war crime” in the pursuit of jihad. What’s more, the martyr of jihad is promised fantastic houses, a huge feast, dozens of virgins, and amazing sexual prowess in paradise.

For the Muslim, war is not an unhappy necessity, but a central tenet of faith. Jihad is commanded, encouraged, and richly rewarded. Brutality in jihad is completely excused.

Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.

Categories Book Notes, Missions

Religious Freedom under Islam

Leave a comment by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 12: The Illusion of Religious Liberty (Terrorism from within)

Religious Freedom in a “Christian” Nation

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
-US Constitution, 1st Amendment

Religious Freedom in a Muslim Nation

“Christians…

  • shall not build, in our cities or in their neighborhood, new monasteries, Churches, convents, or monks’ cells, nor shall [they] repair, by day or by night, such of them as fall in ruins or are situated in the quarters of the Muslims
  • shall not manifest religion publicly nor convert anyone to it… [Christians] shall not prevent any of [their] kin from entering Islam if they wish it.
  • shall show respect toward the Muslims, and shall rise from seats when [Muslims] wish to sit
  • shall not display crosses or books in the road or markets of the Muslims….[They] shall use only clappers in churches very softly.

-Caner and Caner, Unveiling Islam, page 175, quoting the Pact of Umar

Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.

Categories Book Notes, Missions

Muslim Sects

Leave a comment by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 11: Islamic Sects and Splinters

Sunni

  • Largest sect
  • Leader is a caliph elected from among the people
  • This group systematized Shari’a law
  • Maintains the relative uniformity of Muslim practice throughout the world

Shi’ite

  • Leader is an imam who is direct descendant of Muhammed
  • Has a messianic figure of sorts, the twelfth imam
  • Shari’a law a governmental absolute–leading to harsh intolerances (even of Sunni’s) within Shi’ite governments

Sufism

  • Mystic sect that draws from Buddhism
  • Believes in simplicity, meditation, denial of self
  • Pantheistic
  • Follow an allegorical or symbolic interpretation of the Qur’an

There are numerous other, smaller sects that make up about 2% of the worldwide Muslim population. Many of these sects are rejected by the larger sects as being cultish, not Orthodox Islam.

Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.

Categories Book Reviews

“The Haunted Cabin Mystery” created by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Leave a comment by

Children's Classics Mystery Challenge

I didn’t read this (or review it) with the intent to participate in 5M4B’s Children’s Classics Mystery Challenge. But if the shoe fits…

I don’t remember ever reading on of the Boxcar Children books that was only “created by” Gertrude Chandler Warner rather than written by Gertrude Chandler Warner. But I must have read at least one, because I developed a deeply rooted suspicion of “created bys” and avoided them at all costs through my mid-elementary years. My main beef with the “created bys” was that they returned the four Alden children to their original ages rather than continuing to have them grow in age as they had in the “originals.”

Reading The Haunted Cabin Mystery confirmed my childhood antipathy toward “created bys”. The children abruptly return to being 6, 10, 12, and 14 after 19 books in which they’d aged at least 2-4 years (since Henry is in college in book 19.) This shift, and the uncharacteristic first chapter “recap” of book 1, was jarring to me–but not as worrisome to me as a mature reader than some more subtle elements in the story.

Like the other stories, this one centers around the four children solving a mystery in a relatively independent fashion–while still under the benevolent watchful eye of a concerned adult. Except that this story introduces a new element of secrecy and disobedience. In Warner’s “originals”, the children were always quite transparent with their older caregiver, sharing each new discovery as it occurred. Secrets in the originals were about what they were going to have for lunch or a special surprise gift they were planning–never about the mystery. Here, the children keep the mystery entirely a secret–ostensibly to avoid worrying the older man they were staying with.

In the original series, the children are energetic but obedient, following both the letter and the spirit of the law. In The Haunted Cabin Mystery, the children are expressly told not to go outside after dark–a rule that they routinely broke in solving their mystery. Despite this flagrant disobedience, the children are never punished or made to feel sorry for their behavior (even just in their own consciences.) In fact, the children were commended for solving the mystery with no mention whatsoever made of their disobedience or deception in doing so.

As a youngster, I probably wouldn’t have caught onto this. It was subtle, not intrusive. It wasn’t like the children were disrespecting their caregiver to his face. They were just ignoring his directives. But it’s the subtlety of this disrespect that most concerns me as an older reader. When “badness” is flagrant and straightforward, it’s easy to condemn it. The reader can easily see that they should not emulate the characters in that aspect of their actions. The reader is forced to read with his filter on when “badness” is clearly seen. But when something is billed as wholesome, the story can slip in bits of compromise to an unsuspecting reader. Without even realizing it, children can begin to think that there is no need to be obedient and no consequences for disobedience. They can begin to think that concealing the truth is a better policy than telling the truth. After all, the Boxcar children did and it all turned out for the best.

My opinion of the “created by” is hereby reinforced. I am highly in favor of the original nineteen Boxcar children books. But I can’t place my mark of approval on the subsequent additions to the series. Not only are they more clunky stylistically than the originals (admittedly, the series was never about literary style)–but I fear that they leave the moral high ground and embrace a relativistic approach to morality. I cannot recommend the “created bys”.

Rating: 0 stars
Category: Children’s fiction
Synopsis: The four Alden children go to stay with a retired sea captain and discover a mystery surrounding the cabin he lives in.
Recommendation: Tolerable story, intolerable moral relativity. I cannot recommend this book.

Categories Book Notes, Missions

Holidays: Celebrating God or man?

Leave a comment by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 10: Holy Days (A Calendar of Islamic Community)

“Christians must understand that Islamic holidays differ in both essence and meaning from the holy days that Christians observe.

First, and of most importance, Christian holidays remember divine interventions, while Islamic holidays are based upon human accomplishments. In Christianity, we celebrate Easter as the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and His completion of the sacrifice for our sins. In Islam, ‘Eid-ul-Adha celebrates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Ishmael, not Allah’s substitution of the ram in the thicket. In Christianity we celebrate [Christmas] the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, for our redemption. Islam celebrates Mawlid al-Nabi, the birth date of Muhammad, their warrior. Christianity and Judaism recognize Passover as the work of God sparing the firstborn children of the Israelites. Muslims mark the end of their own personal sacrifice in Ramadan with ‘Eid-ul-Fitr. The complete inversion of the purpose of holy days cannot be overstated.

Second, the communal activities and meals celebrated in Islam are exclusively for Muslims. In Christian terminology, Muslims believe emphatically in “closed communion.” While Jews often make a point of inviting their Christian neighbors to celebrate Shabbat or the Passover Seder with them, non-Muslims (even if they are friends or family) are unwelcome at Muslim celebrations….

Christians take note: While we should understand Islamic customs, we can easily fall into syncretistic idolatry [by participating in Islamic prayer or other forms of Islamic worship that the Muslim considers a pledge of devotion to Allah]. Respecting other religious traditions enables us to witness more effectively. Validating their traditions waters down the gospel witness. We center our celebrations on the provision of the Lord, not on our personal endeavors.”

-Caner and Caner, Unveiling Islam, pages 159-160

Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.

Categories Reading My Library

The Twelve Dancing Princesses Princes Knights

1 Comment by

Reading My Library

The Twelve Dancing Princesses was not a fairy tale that figured heavily into my childhood. Mostly I remember either the fairy tales found in our red-covered copy of Andersen’s Fairy Tales or the Disneyfied or otherwise pop-culturified tales found in videos and Golden books.

My first real exposure to the story occurred this last February, when I read Jessica Day George’s Princess of the Midnight Ball. I loved the story. I loved how George told the story. I still haven’t read Grimm’s version–so I have no idea how it compares.

I haven’t been actively seeking out Twelve Dancing Princesses stories–but I managed to stumble across one this last week in my run through the picture book section of my local library.

And, boy, is this one a STORY!

Debbie Allen’s Brothers of the Knight is an imaginative retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses–except that instead of twelve princesses, there are twelve brothers–the sons of the Reverend Knight.

Reverend Knight is a hard-working black preacher in Harlem, taking care of his congregation and his twelve sons–Brooke, Bobby, Joe, Snacky, Gerald and Jackie, Teeny Tiny Tappin’ Theo, Lazy Leo, Big fat Raoul, Billie and Willie, and Michael (head of the clan, a ladies’ man). He tried to keep the twelve under check but without a wife (there’s no indication of what happened to her–I presume she must have died) he’s somewhat at a loss. He’s gone through dozens of nannies and housekeepers, but none of them can solve the problem that plagues the house–every morning, the twelve young Knight’s shoes would be threadbare and worn.

One Sunday after church, Reverend Knight goes into his office and prays for help with his sons–and when he gets home, a woman name Sunday is waiting on the steps. She wants the job of housekeeper. She’s come to help with the boys.

But can Sunday succeed in solving the mystery when all the other housekeepers and nannies have failed?

Turns out there are a lot of secrets in the Knight house–and Sunday’s determined to uncover them all. Who knows but she’ll have the Reverend Knight dancing before the tale is told!

I adored this rendition. It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it’s all about dancing (Sorry, I should have warned you that there’d be spoilers.) The story itself is fun enough–but add in that it’s narrated by the family dog and you’ve got utter hilarity.

Check this one out next time you’re at your library–and if they don’t have it, get them to order it. It’s a BLAST!!

Categories Book Notes, Faith, Missions

Righteousness in the Balance

2 Comments by

Notes on Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner’s
Unveiling Islam
Chapter 9: Salvation (Mathematical Righteousness)

“Then those whose balance [of good deeds] is heavy,–they will be successful. But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls; in Hell will they abide.”
surah 23:102-103 (as quoted in Caner & Caner p. 149)

In Islam, righteousness is measured as on a balance. The righteous man is the one whose good deeds outweigh his bad deeds when the time of judgment comes.

One might think that this is a kinder, more merciful idea of righteousness than Christianity’s conception of righteousness. Christianity declares that in order to be righteous, one must be completely without sin. There is no leniency towards bad deeds, no way for bad deeds to be “made up.” What’s more, Christianity affirms the doctrine of original sin–saying that even the tiniest baby who has of yet done nothing good or bad is sinful. According to Christianity, we are all born stained–and even the smallest blot excludes one from heaven.

Original sin is a harsh doctrine. The absolute holiness of God is a harsh doctrine. That God cannot tolerate sin is a harsh doctrine. One cannot believe in the absolute depravity of man and the absolute holiness of God without hating his flesh. One cannot believe in the Christian doctrine of righteousness without being forced to depend upon Christ for his righteousness.

Christianity posits that man is helpless, stained, unable to attain to righteousness of himself. Islam, on the other hand, suggests that man can achieve righteousness. All he need do is make sure that his good deeds outweigh the bad.

Which is where the difficulty comes in. If we could all keep a scale in our house where we could collect together our good deeds and our bad and weigh them out, then perhaps this conception of righteousness could give hope. We could clearly see that the balance is tipping in the wrong direction and do some speedy acts of righteousness to even the scale.

But we do not have a scale by which to judge our righteousness. Only Allah holds that scale. How are we to know the weight of our actions? I cannot begin to comprehend the consequences of my actions in the here and now–how am I to understand their consequence in the hereafter? How much heavier is murder than lying? Is giving to charity heavier than doing street cleanup in a disadvantaged neighborhood? I know not the density of my actions.

Under Islam, my only hope is to be eternally striving–striving against bad deeds and towards good deeds. But this striving neither eases the conscience nor gives assurance for eternity. It simply begets more striving.

Compare this to Christianity, where the scale is plainly set forth. Even our smallest sins are infinitely weighty. Even our most spectacular good works are infinitesimally light. There is no way for us to balance the scale.

If this were the only information we were given about righteousness, we would have reason to despair. Better to believe in Islam, where at least there is some chance of attaining to righteousness.

But this is not the end story in Christianity. For Christianity says that man is utterly fallen and utterly incapable of lifting himself up–but Christianity also says that God has provided a way for man to be righteous.

This week, we celebrate the Passover. This week, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. This week, we celebrate Good Friday. We celebrate the spotless lamb Jesus Christ, absolutely righteous, without blemish. We celebrate the exchange that took place on the cross: our sins placed on Jesus, His righteousness imparted to us. We celebrate God’s righteous wrath poured out on Christ; His favor bestowed on us.

Christianity teaches man to despair of attaining righteousness by good works–but it offers a far better righteousness, a righteousness attained by surrender, by the work of God Himself.

If it were not for Christ, Islam’s conception of righteousness as a giant set of scales would be a far more merciful righteousness. As it is, the reality of the cross of Christ, purchasing righteousness for those with no hope of ever earning, makes the God of the Bible’s implacable holiness infinitely more merciful than Allah’s scales.

To achieve Allah’s righteousness, man must work tirelessly, without any assurance of reward. To achieve Christ’s righteousness, man must recognize the worthlessness of his own works and receive the righteousness that has been bought for him, with eternal assurance.

When I weigh Christ’s righteousness vs. Allah’s in the scale, there can be no doubt in my mind. Christ’s righteousness is far better.

Addendum (May 10, 2010): Ergun Caner’s testimony as a converted Muslim has been challenged by several bloggers who claim that he has grossly exaggerated the extent of his Muslim upbringing. Readers of this book ought to be aware that the Caners may or may not have the experiential knowledge of Islam that they claim to have, and should therefore be careful to test the statements found in this book against other reliable sources.