Just the other day I read an article about a United Methodist Church allowing the Islamic Center of Nashville to use their facility for Friday prayers during the month of Ramadan. The need for a substitute place of prayer was the result of a remodeling project at their center of worship. This situation brings up questions on both sides of the issue. Is it right to allow other faith traditions the opportunity to use United Methodist properties to support worship of other gods?
The first question that arises is this: “Are we dishonoring God by allowing what we would consider a false faith to use a facility that has been built and dedicated to our Christian God? Sure, we’re supposed to help others, offer our best to those in need, but are we helping to solidify a “false” or “incomplete” faith that does not believe that Jesus is the way, the only way?
When we look at the Scriptures regarding belief systems outside of Christianity, we are instructed to not become involved with them, and to basically stay away!
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Galatians 1:6-10 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
And the list goes on and on. There are many places in the Bible that focus on the problem of being influenced by other faith traditions, especially to the point that our Christian faith starts to become watered-down. Without any doubt, Jesus states that He is God, is One with the Father, and salvation only comes through that belief, trust, repentance and obedience.
NOTE TO SELF: What happens when you mix red food coloring in white icing?
The first question that arises is this: “Are we dishonoring God by allowing what we would consider a false faith to use a facility that has been built and dedicated to our Christian God? Sure, we’re supposed to help others, offer our best to those in need, but are we helping to solidify a “false” or “incomplete” faith that does not believe that Jesus is the way, the only way?
When we look at the Scriptures regarding belief systems outside of Christianity, we are instructed to not become involved with them, and to basically stay away!
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Galatians 1:6-10 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
And the list goes on and on. There are many places in the Bible that focus on the problem of being influenced by other faith traditions, especially to the point that our Christian faith starts to become watered-down. Without any doubt, Jesus states that He is God, is One with the Father, and salvation only comes through that belief, trust, repentance and obedience.
NOTE TO SELF: What happens when you mix red food coloring in white icing?
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