This whole “Gay Marriage” issue is a “tempest in a teapot!” It is a secular issue, not a church issue. No church is required to perform “Gay Marriages,” or even to recognize them, for heaven’s sake! And how does opposition to “Gay Marriageââ‚�...more

This whole “Gay Marriage” issue is a “tempest in a teapot!” It is a secular issue, not a church issue. No church is required to perform “Gay Marriages,” or even to recognize them, for heaven’s sake!

And how does opposition to “Gay Marriage” “protect” heterosexual marriage? Does it prevent spousal abuse? Does it lower the number of abortions? Does it lower the divorce rate? I think not.

Why do we “major in the minors,” the enemy wants us to argue about secondary issues, rather than concentrate on things above, there are people anxious to hear the gospel, why are we not talking to them instead of arguing about something over which we have no control?

And yes, they did misspell “foresee,” but then who of us is perfect?

Grace and peace!less

Of course Christians and Muslims will not agree on such theological issues as the trinity, the nature of Jesus, or grace vs works for salvation. That is a given. But as to morality and ethics we have much in common. And if we can come to some agreement on these issues, I for one, am all for it. Let us pray that God will send His Spirit on this gathering of honorable men and women of both...more

Of course Christians and Muslims will not agree on such theological issues as the trinity, the nature of Jesus, or grace vs works for salvation. That is a given.

But as to morality and ethics we have much in common. And if we can come to some agreement on these issues, I for one, am all for it.

Let us pray that God will send His Spirit on this gathering of honorable men and women of both faiths, and that there might be a glimmer of peace at the end of the tunnel. We’ve certainly experienced enough violence already.

Grace and peace!less

I believe that it was Martin Luther who said, “If I knew that Christ would return this fall, I would still plant my garden this spring.” If Christ were to return in our lifetime, what would He have to say to the church, about the environment, global warming, health care, our consumer culture, our treatment of the poor, greed, war, factions and in fighting, hesitation in sharing the ...more

I believe that it was Martin Luther who said, “If I knew that Christ would return this fall, I would still plant my garden this spring.”

If Christ were to return in our lifetime, what would He have to say to the church, about the environment, global warming, health care, our consumer culture, our treatment of the poor, greed, war, factions and in fighting, hesitation in sharing the good news. . .?

Still, if one truly believes that the second coming of Christ is just around the corner, this scheme does have a certain logic.less

This has to be one of the most ludicrous arguments that I have heard in years. Satan wants Christianity to appear ridiculous to the world, and these people are doing their share to help him. Legitimate scientists and any informed citizen will laugh these people off the stage, and unfortunately genuine Christianity with them. Pray with me that people who hear their misguided message will not equ...more

This has to be one of the most ludicrous arguments that I have heard in years. Satan wants Christianity to appear ridiculous to the world, and these people are doing their share to help him. Legitimate scientists and any informed citizen will laugh these people off the stage, and unfortunately genuine Christianity with them. Pray with me that people who hear their misguided message will not equate this counterfeit with the real thing.

Jesus took away my sins, not my mind!less

Isn’t it ironic that Christians are often willing to die for our God, but certain others are often willing to kill for their God. I hope and pray that if the Lord ever calls me to make that measure of sacrifice, that His Spirit will give me I the kind of courage to which Miss Haile bears witness. There have been Christians in Eritrea for centuries, and they have often be subject persecuti...more

Isn’t it ironic that Christians are often willing to die for our God, but certain others are often willing to kill for their God. I hope and pray that if the Lord ever calls me to make that measure of sacrifice, that His Spirit will give me I the kind of courage to which Miss Haile bears witness.

There have been Christians in Eritrea for centuries, and they have often be subject persecution. But as Tertullian observed, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Father, I pray that the martyrdom of your saints in Eritrea will be the seed that brings forth an outpouring of evangelism and renewal in this troubled land. I pray also, that the perpetrators of these vile deeds might come to see the evil of their acts, and find forgiveness in the Blood of Jesus. Amen.less

Sorry, that garble was supposed to be al-ialh, but the phonetics didn’t translate form Word Perfect to CT’s program.

Far be it from me to suggest that western Christians use the word “Allah” in our prayers. Of course not! But let’s not, at the same time, make an idol of the word. If you check with the “Encyclopedia Britannica’, the “Encyclopedia of the Orient”, “Wikipedia”, or “The Catholic Encyclopedia,” all of which are available online, you will find t...more

Far be it from me to suggest that western Christians use the word “Allah” in our prayers. Of course not! But let’s not, at the same time, make an idol of the word. If you check with the “Encyclopedia Britannica’, the “Encyclopedia of the Orient”, “Wikipedia”, or “The Catholic Encyclopedia,” all of which are available online, you will find that “Allah” is not a name, it is the Arabic word that means “God,” much like the Hebrew word “Elohim.”

The Islamic “99 Names of God” are not names in the sense that you and I would understand them, rather they are attributes of God, such as “the Merciful,” “the Compassionate.” Muslims do not believe that God can be called by a name. (Al-ˈilāh, by the way, actually means “the God,” and yes, it is used by Muslims, and Christians as well).

I am not suggesting that we English speakers use the word “Allah” in our prayers, no, of course not! I simply want us to be mindful that there are many devout Christians whose native language is Arabic, and that the only word in Arabic that is equivalent to the English word “God” is “Allah.” Many of these Christian brothers and sisters pay a great price to keep their faith. Rather than strain at gnats, and possibly cause offence to native Arabic speaking Christians, would it not be a better thing to pray for those who suffer such great persecution, and for their persecutors as well?

Sincerely, in Christless

The use of the word “Allah” by a Christian depends on the context. In the English speaking world, North America, Europe, Australia, it probably would be inappropriate because of the theological baggage imposed on the word. However, in the Arabic language “Allah” is the word meaning “God.” And we must remember that in Palestine, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, ...more

The use of the word “Allah” by a Christian depends on the context. In the English speaking world, North America, Europe, Australia, it probably would be inappropriate because of the theological baggage imposed on the word. However, in the Arabic language “Allah” is the word meaning “God.” And we must remember that in Palestine, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, and other Arabic speaking countries, there are Christians and Jews, in some quite a large minority. When they pray or read scripture in Arabic they use the word “Allah” the same way as we use the word “God” in English.

Just as a Muslim believes that “God has no Son,” an Arabic speaking Jew believes in the Allah of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and an Arabic speaking Christian understands that Allah does indeed have a Son, Jesus.

So again, it is the context. As I am a native English speaker, I pray to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If I were a native German speaker I would pray to Gott. If I were a native Arabic speaker I would, of course pray to Allah.less