I'm sure modern American Christian Fundamentalists would be the first to tell you that they have absolutely nothing in common with Islam and Fundamentalist Muslims. But I beg to differ.
As I compare the two and look at the way the apostate Fundamentalists within the Independent Baptist Movement are going, I find quite a few similarities. And it scares me!
Let's just look at a few of the many similarities between ISLAM, and the modern FUNDAMENTALIST movement, which has greatly departed from the word of God and fallen headfirst into apostasy.
1. THEY BOTH WANT TO BRAG THAT ONLY THEIR RELIGION IS THE RIGHT ONE.
If you've ever dealt with a Muslim, you know they believe you can only get to "paradise" through their religion and their "prophet." They are so intolerant, they will not allow any other religion in any country where they have taken over the government. They truly believe their religion is the only one, and all others are apostate. And they like to brag about being right, while they believe everyone else who doesn't adhere to their religion is wrong.
Doesn't that sound a little like modern Fundamentalists, who brag that only they have the right denomination, and only they are those in the last days who have not gone apostate? They like to say only they have sound doctrine, and everyone else doesn't. But doesn't that sound like "bragging" on themselves instead of bragging on Jesus. Clearly, they have the same mentality as the Muslims in exalting their religion above all others.
2. THEY BOTH TRY TO GET THE PEOPLE ONLY TO CONVERT WITH THE MOUTH
If you've ever studied Islam, or talked with Muslims (like I have), then you'll find that they count a man or a woman a convert to their religion who simply utters the words, "Allah is God." The emphasis in Islam is to get people to say these words. The emphasis, then, is on the words spoken from the mouth, and not whether a person truly believes what he says from the heart.
Modern Fundamentalism is much the same. Oh, they once preached salvation by faith, and stressed the need for repentance and heartfelt faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning blood. But that was years ago. Now most of them today have adopted the "1,2,3, repeat after me," method of soul winning, in which they stress a sinner only to make a confession with the lips, instead of instructing a sinner of his need to trust completely in Christ Jesus from the heart.
By their shallow evangelism, many a soul winner has tried only to get a person to repeat a prayer instead of repent and trust the blood of God's propitiation. This leads to the same thing the Muslims have: converts who say it with the mouth, but don't really believe in it from the heart.
There are two kinds of Muslims: 1. Those who claim they are so, but don't follow that religion much, and 2. Those who believe in their religion enough to kill for it, and even die as a martyr for it!
In Christian Fundamentalism, there also are two classes: 1. Those who claim to be Christians, but don't practice what they preach, and usually don't even live for Jesus, as they continue on in the world, and 2. Those who love God enough to give Him their all, and yea, even die for him if need be.
In Islam, just as in Modern Fundamentalism, there are those who are viewed as "not dogmatic" enough, or just plum "apathetic" to the cause. But both religions have one thing in common: They both focus on trying to make converts by getting their converts to say something instead of believe something.
3. THEY BOTH PUT THE EMPHASIS ON BUILDING BUILDINGS
No doubt you've recently heard of the Mosque that Muslims want to build close to ground zero in New York City. Most Americans are against this, calling it "insensitive," especially since it was Muslim extremists that attacked the Twin Towers and killed so many people. But Muslims seem to not care about what others think. They are interested in building, and they desire as many Mosques as they can get in as many places as they can get them. To them, it's a sign of victory that they are taking over the world.
Now let's look at Modern Christian Fundamentalists. When we study them, we find they too have a desire to build many church buildings, which often times they are quick to call "Temples." (I thought that's what the Jews built). The more buildings they build, the more they can brag about building the "kingdom" and they can gain prestige as a denomination. I've seen it first hand as a missionary, as I saw other missionaries securing a large sum of money to build "buildings," often before they even had a congregation to fill that building!
Once again, we see the similarities between Muslims and Christians in their desire to build houses of worship. But in their haste, they forget the importance of building people.
4. THEY BOTH SEEM TO FOLLOW MEN BEFORE THEY WILL FOLLOW GOD.
Muslims believe that their deity is Allah. But they also believe that to follow Allah, a person must follow Mohammed, his prophet. In other words, Islam is a religion of following a man (Mohammed) instead of worshipping God. For in that religion, you must follow a man in order to get to God.
Further, there are several kinds of Muslims: Sunnites and Shiites. What's the difference? Each one follows a different MAN instead of following God.
Is Christian Fundamentalism much different? Sadly, it is not. Within the Fundamentalist movement there are many different groups or camps. And each one was founded by a man. You have your: Bob Jonesites, Jack Hylesites, Peter Ruckmanites, Chappelites, John R. Riceites, etc. In modern Fundamentalism, it's not about following God, it's about following a man, and you are known by which school you went to, or which group you belong to. See how closely this compares to Islam?
5. THEY BOTH TEACH SUBMISSION TO MAN.
The word "Islam" means submission. And, Islam is a religion which tries to convert the world to its religous system, so that all the world might submit to it and its teachings (like Sharia law). A person who is a Muslim must submit to those in authority over him, and disobedience can and does lead to horrendous physical punishments. (Like stoning, hands cut off, beheading, etc.). Submission to others is key to this religion.
In Christian Fundamentalism we see much the same thing. With the rise of "camps" that were founded by men, Christians are taught to submit to the authority and teachings of the founders of their group. Submission to God and His law (the Bible) is frowned upon, as people are told to submit to their religious leaders (like their pastor, their Bible School teacher, their bus captain, their Deacon Board, their Mission Board, etc. and etc.). People become "Sheepeople" who are instructed to obey without question, no matter what, under threat of ex-communication (just like the Catholics). Though many Fundamentalists preach "free-will," they do not practice it, as they try to enslave others under them (See my blog on Baptist Popes for an example). And by so doing, they becoming nothing better than Muslims who try to use their religion to enslave others to themselves.
6. THEY BOTH TEACH ANGER TOWARDS THOSE THEY DISLIKE
Muslims are some of the angriest people I've ever met. Why? Because there is no love in their religion. It caters to the flesh instead of the Spirit. And because of this, we see many great atrocities practiced in Islam against others (like stoning, honor killings, suicidal bombings, etc.). Muslims are taught to hate "infidels." And instead of converting them, their writings make it easier just to kill them. That's what a "jihad" is: It is a war against anyone who won't conform to their way of life.
So, how do modern Christian Fundamentalists compare? How do they treat others? If you've been in the Fundamentalist movement for long, you'll see there too is a lot of anger and hatred. Instead of love, and the fruits of the Spirit, one usually finds Fundamentalist pastors writing dirty letters to each other in anger, and bitterly attacking others who don't go along with them and their doctrines. Internet webpages and disscussion groups are full of "Christian" Fundamentalists railing on each other, oftentimes cussing each other out and using words that aren't very becoming of those who name the name of Christ. Their anger is not directed towards the "infidels," but rather towards each other. They might not use physical violence as the Muslims, but they bite and devour one another with angry words.
7. THEY BOTH TREAT WOMEN WITHOUT RESPECT.
If you have read the Koran (or what they now call in English the Qu'ran), then you'll know what Muslims think of women. They are looked down upon in their writings, and treated as second class citizens. In Islam, women are likened to animals, and even slaves, and are worth far less than a man according to their own writings. They are even made to dress in a certain way, and even hide their faces from others.
Now compare this to Modern Fundamentalism. Thankfully, most do not treat their women as bad as Muslims do. However, there are many Fundamentalists who do treat women very disrespectfully. So much so, many an Independent Baptist has received a bad reputation because of it. I personally time and again have seen and heard what people say about those "crazy fundamentalists" and their "outdated" and "dogmatic" ideals towards women. Because they chose to follow the Bible, the world brands them as extremists who try to "enslave" women under their own control and authority. (Of course, this is how the world views Fundamentalists.)
But the truth is, the Bible does not downgrade women. In the Bible: The Man is to sacrifice for his wife, while the wife is to submit to her husband. If both are doing that, then their marriage will be a wonderful thing!
The problem is that many a fundamentalist man adopts the Muslim attitude of "I'm better than she is and worth more," so he becomes a "dictator" in his own home, and as the Muslims try to enslave women, so does he try to do the same to his own wife, whom he puts "under his thumb." Instead of treating her with "love" and "respect," he treats her like a dog, and only uses her for what he can get out of her, making sure to use "discipline" often. And she, instead of serving him out of love and respect, serves him out of fear of reprisal. Is this not EXACTLY the way muslim women serve their male counterparts?
Truly, the Modern Fundamentalist Christian movement today has a lot in common with Islam, and Muslims. This cannot be denied. But why is this? What's the cause? I believe it's a lack of following the Bible. Instead of following what GOD SAYS, many a Fundamentalist is listening to man and popular preachers, and adopting what THEY SAY, without checking them out in the scriptures to see if what they say is right or not.
So how about you? Are you a MAN FOLLOWER, or a follower of CHRIST and the Bible. If you are Fundamentalist, and love bragging on being so, let me ask you this question, "How come you and your religion have so much in common with Islam?"
As for me, I'm just a Bible Believer, and I'm doing my best to follow God and His holy word. I don't brag on my religion, claiming it's the right one. In fact, I preach against RELIGION, and stress people their need for SALVATION instead. (Religion enslaves, but Jesus Saves!) I further try to make sure to stress a sinner's need to REPENT, that is turn from trusting their works or their religion, and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
I'm not interested in building buildings that will someday be destroyed, but rather build people, teaching them and instructing them in the ways of God.
I don't try to get people to submit to a man, and follow him. Instead, I try to tell people to submit to God, and His word, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ!
I further don't need to get angry and take out my frustrations on others. I want to show them Christ in me, and His love! And I don't believe in mistreating women, but rather respecting them.
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