Why are you a Muslim? (Part 3: The Founder Challenge)

iBookworm
iBookworm
Jul 29, 2017 · 6 min read

Messianic Prophecies: the bridge between Judaism and Christianity. However, one could argue that not all Jews would agree that the Messianic prophecies in the Jewish books allude to Christ but Christians believe they’re true. Therefore, Christians do not also agree that the Mohammadian prophecies in the Bible allude to Mohammed but Muslims believe they’re true. As both logics are the same, Christians should logically accept the islamic argument. Valid point actually! But not really. Many, if not most of the Messianic prophecies are agreed upon by both Christians and Jews together, they agree that those prophecies refer to the Messiah, Christ. However, Jews do not believe that Jesus has fulfilled those prophecies, or that He probably fulfilled them, yet He is not the One because they are expecting more of Him (like becoming a king and establish a strong Israeli country, non-biblical but traditional hopes, yet He is the King of all). Like we would all agree that He should be from the Tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, but Jews would argue that Jesus was never actually born of a Virgin, or they are still expecting another person of a virgin. So Christians and Jews to a large extent agree that the Messianic prophecies refer to a Messiah. The problem, however, is different when it comes to Islam and causes more dilemmas. Muslims would, first of all, believe that the Bible where the prophecies about Mohammed exist is corrupted. When that is the case, how could the one discern what is actually corrupted and what is not, therefore you can’t use any prophecy as there is no way for you to prove that it’s entirely true; maybe Muslims and Christians teamed up to change those verses. The second point is: unlike the Jews who are still waiting for the Messiah, Christ, to fulfill their prophecies and hopes, Christians are not waiting for anyone else. They are even warned many times to accept anyone who would preach a different gospel (teachings) different from what they know and accepted as it says

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:8).

Even the Jews are waiting for Christ and no one after. Christians accept Christ, so there is no way there could be another prophet after Him. Christ has entrusted His Church, The Only One Holy Universal Apostolic Orthodox Church to carry His mission forever more and unto the age of ages. Therefore we cannot compare the prophecies between both religions are they are based on different contexts and evidence.

How about the founders?

When one compares religions, we might ponder on the “founder” of that religion. Mohammed seems like a humble person who never claimed to be a god to be worshipped; he suffered pains and tortures to direct people to worship the One God. Without getting into many details why I would disagree with all these claims, let us examine another “founder” of the other religion: Jesus Christ. Unlike pharaohs and kings of old civilizations, Jesus was not a regular man (you know that! He was a born from a Virgin and ascended to Heaven, how could he possibly be just a man), He is God appearing in flesh as human (John 1:14) (you might argue that God cannot incarnate and become man, do you have any Koranic pieces of evidence for that claim?). So “Who, being in very nature God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:6). The biblical claims about Jesus’ divinity are numerous! Back to Mohammed. If what makes him great is his endurance to persecution, then you are missing out on the Life of Jesus and the history of early Christians. Jesus has always been persecuted by His own people that they once wanted to push Him off a cliff (Luke 4:29). The Jewish leaders excommunicated anyone who would just listen to His teachings (John 9:22), to the point that the people cried “Crucify Him”; yet on the Cross “Jesus Said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24). He never fought back as the Scripture says

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

When one of His disciples wanted to defend Him,

“Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)

and He even, on the spot, healed the man who was coming to capture him (Luke 22:51). Also, the Apostles themselves who witnessed for Jesus and His resurrection, went throughout the Earth to preach and eventually were martyred (except one who was brutally tortured). Why would they and endure something they know it is false? And it was 70 of them, pretty sure not all of them were hallucinating. Even the early Christians were heavily persecuted, fed to lions and Christianity was illegal for 3 centuries yet it prospered. These could not be contrasted with the Muslims martyrs in early Islamic caliphates expansions as those Christians offered their lives for the faithfulness and the truth of their faith, were never promised anything on earth like acquiring a land, honor, slaves or women. They were harmless swordless Christians, just like the 21 Coptic martyrs of Libya, Ethiopia or Syria recently. Christians, especially in the Middle East, are offering themselves as a living sacrifice rather than abandoning their faith. Jesus Himself is the ultimate example of humility. Speaking of humility is speaking of Jesus, who while born miraculously of a virgin, He was born in a dirty manger, to a poor family of a poor woman and a carpenter. Yet He was the Logos (Word of God), “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). He came to serve us, to set an example for us

“just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28)

and by His own, He said, “I do not receive glory from men” (John 5:41). Jesus led a simple life. He did not reside in palaces nor was He a warlord. He even discouraged a would-be follower saying, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). He never led an army, conquered lands or captivated slaves. His simplicity and humility become even more impressive when we remember that He is the one who created the universe. By all rights, everything belongs to him, but when Jesus entered into Jerusalem as king and Messiah who could save all the people, he chose to come riding on a donkey! He has taught us

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant; And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:26–27).

Other than his lifestyle, it was obviously manifested in the story of washing the feet on Covenant Thursday. Actually the church commemorates that the priest or bishop, whoever has the highest rank, washes the feet of people in the church:

“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 15:12–17)

Jesus: He had no degree, yet they called Him teacher. He had no medicine, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today!

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