Rifqa Bary: "I am fighting for my life, you guys don't understand...he said he would kill me!"
“When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed. In such a case, it is obligatory for the caliph (A: or his representative) to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does, it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed.” — ‘Umdat al-Salik o8.1-2
“Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.” — Muhammad
Other sources for this story:
WFTV
CBN News
ASSIST News Service
Jihad Watch
ABC News: Christian Teen Flees Home, Says She Fears Honor Killing by Muslim Father
Orlando Sentinel: Runaway teen who fears family after Christian conversion ordered to DCF custody
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Friday, August 14, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Twisting Scripture
It's not only cults that take verses from the Bible and twist them, or take them out of context, to try to prove their false doctrine, but some Christians do this as well---especially many televangelists and some popular Christian book authors.
Some televangelists, and even Pastors, are fond of doing "word studies." Now, Lexicons (i.e., a Greek Lexicon) are great for Bible study when used properly (note: the 'lexicon' of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions). But to the uneducated, they can quickly make some word or passage in the Bible say nearly anything you want, if you don’t use the proper procedures. Often, a televangelist or preacher will have a point to make, so, using a Lexicon, they look at every possible or conceivable angle, until they find something close, and then they twist it around to make their point. Using a Lexicon like that is very dangerous and completely irresponsible. Context is the key. Taking verses out of context, and comparing them to other verses out of context, is not only how cults and some Christians find their so-called 'proof texts' for their false doctrines, but it's also the method some non-Christians, seeking to discredit the Bible, use to try to show that the Bible contradicts itself. In addition, people will sometimes quote a Bible verse out of context in order to justify their argument. In such a case, when the verse is checked in context, you will find it does not support their claim. Such "reading into the text" (i.e., trying to make the text mean something it was never meant to mean) is called eisegesis. Cults are masters at eisegesis, but it’s also a danger for Christians. Christians who support the Gap Theory, for example, are reading into the text things that the text never says.
While a particular passage may have many applications, it has only one meaning - the one the author (through inspiration of the Holy Spirit) intended. Hermeneutics is the science that teaches the principles and methods of interpreting the Word of God. Proper hermeneutics provide tools to help ensure that we are basing our interpretations on the truth as God has revealed it, while avoiding error to the greatest degree possible.
The Error of Taking Verses Out of Context
The Error of Selective Citing of Bible Verses
Some televangelists, and even Pastors, are fond of doing "word studies." Now, Lexicons (i.e., a Greek Lexicon) are great for Bible study when used properly (note: the 'lexicon' of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions). But to the uneducated, they can quickly make some word or passage in the Bible say nearly anything you want, if you don’t use the proper procedures. Often, a televangelist or preacher will have a point to make, so, using a Lexicon, they look at every possible or conceivable angle, until they find something close, and then they twist it around to make their point. Using a Lexicon like that is very dangerous and completely irresponsible. Context is the key. Taking verses out of context, and comparing them to other verses out of context, is not only how cults and some Christians find their so-called 'proof texts' for their false doctrines, but it's also the method some non-Christians, seeking to discredit the Bible, use to try to show that the Bible contradicts itself. In addition, people will sometimes quote a Bible verse out of context in order to justify their argument. In such a case, when the verse is checked in context, you will find it does not support their claim. Such "reading into the text" (i.e., trying to make the text mean something it was never meant to mean) is called eisegesis. Cults are masters at eisegesis, but it’s also a danger for Christians. Christians who support the Gap Theory, for example, are reading into the text things that the text never says.
While a particular passage may have many applications, it has only one meaning - the one the author (through inspiration of the Holy Spirit) intended. Hermeneutics is the science that teaches the principles and methods of interpreting the Word of God. Proper hermeneutics provide tools to help ensure that we are basing our interpretations on the truth as God has revealed it, while avoiding error to the greatest degree possible.
The Error of Taking Verses Out of Context
The Error of Selective Citing of Bible Verses
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Self-Centered Christians
Modern evangelism often promotes the idea of coming to Jesus to get healed, or to become more prosperous, or to find happiness, or to fix your marriage or any other problems in your life. Yet, the ones who followed Jesus when He was on this earth for similar reasons (i.e., healing or free food), left Him when His message became more serious.
Today's Western Christian is generally very selfish and self-centered. It's all about "me." Many Christians today are focused on how God can build up their finances, or how God can heal any physical ailments they may be experiencing, or how God can otherwise improve their life here on earth. They're generally not interested in studying and learning deeper doctrine; they only want to hear feel-good, positive-thinking messages that give them warm and fuzzy feelings. They're more interested in learning about healing or about some new way to manipulate God into blessing them, rather than about the deep doctrinal truths taught in such books as Romans. The god they have created for themselves is like a giant teddy bear in the sky, who only wants to love everyone, and holds out his arms desperately to people, looking for people to love him back. Or like a giant slot machine in the sky which, if you just know the right formula, will bless your life with abundant riches. Or like a magic genie in the sky who will grant your every wish.
In Evangelism, things like God's wrath and the wicked sinfulness of man, let alone something like the doctrine of Election, are not only generally ignored, but are often even considered taboo or repulsive.
Among evangelical Christians, dying to self seems to be a lost art. Instead of focusing on glorifying the Name of God, televangelists glorify their own fame, and Christians in general are so focused on their own happiness, comfort, feelings and entertainment that they seem to forget that it's not about them; it's about God, and enlarging His kingdom, and bringing glory to Him.
Today's Western Christian is generally very selfish and self-centered. It's all about "me." Many Christians today are focused on how God can build up their finances, or how God can heal any physical ailments they may be experiencing, or how God can otherwise improve their life here on earth. They're generally not interested in studying and learning deeper doctrine; they only want to hear feel-good, positive-thinking messages that give them warm and fuzzy feelings. They're more interested in learning about healing or about some new way to manipulate God into blessing them, rather than about the deep doctrinal truths taught in such books as Romans. The god they have created for themselves is like a giant teddy bear in the sky, who only wants to love everyone, and holds out his arms desperately to people, looking for people to love him back. Or like a giant slot machine in the sky which, if you just know the right formula, will bless your life with abundant riches. Or like a magic genie in the sky who will grant your every wish.
In Evangelism, things like God's wrath and the wicked sinfulness of man, let alone something like the doctrine of Election, are not only generally ignored, but are often even considered taboo or repulsive.
Among evangelical Christians, dying to self seems to be a lost art. Instead of focusing on glorifying the Name of God, televangelists glorify their own fame, and Christians in general are so focused on their own happiness, comfort, feelings and entertainment that they seem to forget that it's not about them; it's about God, and enlarging His kingdom, and bringing glory to Him.
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