A Wrong Idea Resurfaces: Muslims Worshipping in Protestant Churches

Several months ago, I responded to an article in our paper regarding Christians "building bridges" with Muslims and other cultic groups. <br /> <br /> My point remains now, as then, that--more than building bridges--the important thing is to tell the truth.<br /> <br /> Some surmised that telling the truth and extending grace to Muslims and other cultic groups were mutually exclusive. The error of this thinking was seen in two distinction illustrations.<br /> <br /> One example was seen in a group's decision to burn copies of the Koran. I spoke out at such non-sense and utter hatefulness. <br /> <br /> The other example of wrongful thinking was the idea of Protestant churches renting or loaning out their facilities to Muslims groups while their mosques were being completed. Heartsong Church near Memphis reportedly allowed members of the Memphis Islamic Center to hold Ramadan prayers in its building last September, and Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia currently allows the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) to hold regular Friday prayers in its facility while their new mosque is under construction.<br /> <br /> I spoke out against such ill-informed benevolence.<br /> <br /> I said then and I say again, neither of these ideas sounds at all like Jesus!<br /> <br /> Fast forward to just a few weeks ago. Fox News reported that some churches were considering again opening up their facilities to Muslims for their worship of Allah.<br /> <br /> This kind of thinking and reasoning is not Christian love; it is completely against everything the Bible teaches. <br /> <br /> First, God's house should NOT be used by those who do not acknowledge the Truth about Jesus.<br /> <br /> Alan Wisdom of The Institute on Religion & Democracy is spot on when he says, "Worship is a sacred thing. We dedicate our sanctuaries to the worship of Jesus Christ. It is not appropriate in a space that's dedicated to the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ to have prayers said based on the false prophecy of Mohammad." <br /> <br /> Second, the Christ-like thing would be an attempt to minister to Muslims and point them to the only source of eternal life, Jesus Christ--God in the Flesh. This is possible thru many different avenues, without having to defame a worship chapel with religious practices that are non-Christian. Islam worships a false god, written about in a false book, founded by a false prophet. <br /> <br /> Zeal for God's righteousness (Truth) consumed Jesus, and He was not afraid to stand up against those who opposed and dishonored His Father.<br /> <br /> While engaging in hateful and hurtful actions toward any cultic group, i.e. Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and others, is not of Christ neither is loaning a Christian worship center to a Muslim congregation to worship their false god (ALLAH).<br /> <br /> Christians must realize that our task is first to tell the Truth.<br /> <br /> The Christian Truth is that the only way to know God and be forgiven of sin and to experience eternal life in heaven is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. The Bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else {save Jesus}, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Keep in mind this is not narrow thinking; Jesus is the only way for everyone in the world.<br /> <br /> It is shameful that some who call themselves Christian ministers don't have the courage to stand for the Word of God and are so ready to compromise the truth of Christianity in order to avoid social rejection. How so very weak! How so very unlike Jesus!<br /> <br />