From Law to Grace » Entries tagged with "Muslims"
Were Van Impes Right About Rick Warren & Muslims?
UPDATE: Dr. Ed Stetzer was given permission to repost an interview with Dr. Rick Warren regarding the recent controversy surrounding the Orange County Register article that was the subject of my post below. I would encourage my readers to read this interview (here) so that you can hear from Dr. Warren directly. Even though I share my opinions — hopefully rooted in facts — I seek to be fair, balanced, and grace-filled in my responses, even if I don’t always get it right. That’s one reason I liked going from law to grace! With that being said, I do think that the OC Register article and the initial responses from Saddleback contributed to the confusion of some in this instance. I am neither a fanboy of Rick Warren nor a foe of the Southern California megachurch … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Islam, Religion
Sharia Law: Constitutional Menace or a Religious Freedom?
When you hear the words, “Sharia Law,” what immediately comes to mind? If you said an Islamic legal code that is incompatible with the laws of our nation and states, you would probably be in “good” company, at least in Oklahoma. Whether or not you would be 100% correct is debatable. I must admit that when I hear “Sharia Law,” I do not have a positive dispostion toward this Islamic code. I suspect this is the case with many people, including many Southern Baptists. Our reticence in allowing Sharia Law to be used AT ALL in the United States may stem from its misuse in foreign lands, countries which simply lack the freedoms that we enjoy here in America. Our sensibilities — rightly so — are offended when we hear stories of what most Americans would consider cruel and unusual punishment. To … Read entire article »
Filed under: Freedom of Religion, Freedoms, Islam, Law, Religion
Gen. Patraeus & Koran Burning Redux
“No reasonable person would dispute that burning Korans is idiotic and highly offensive, not to mention counter-productive for Christian dialogue with our Muslim friends and neighbors. However, what disturbs me about General Patraeus stepping into it, is the mindset that it reveals when it comes to how we as a country will deal with Islam. President Bush, who I generally agreed with, said that “Islam is a religion of peace.” I believe many Americans — rightly or wrongly — have grave doubts about the truthfulness of that statement.” (Burning the Koran: Gen. Patraeus Speaks) You just have to love the “religion of peace.” When the burning of a Koran by a clearly unstable and publicity-hungry “pastor” of a small “church” in central Florida can cause three days of rioting (and counting) and killing … Read entire article »
Filed under: Islam
Baptist Birds & Kentucky Mosques
As a transplanted Southerner living in the high desert of New Mexico, I am constantly trying to disciple the church flock on the finer points of our cherished Baptist distinctives. Every time that we have a potluck fellowship at church, it gives me another opportunity to teach these Southwestern folks about the cherished Baptist Bird. The first few times that I mentioned this, some of the ladies — who clearly were not from the South – gave me quizzical looks. It was then that I proceeded to explain to them that the official Baptist Bird, at least where I grew up in the South (and yes, Florida was still considered part of the “South” when I grew up), was none other than chicken. Fried. And lots of it! I’m making inroads with the folks in the church … Read entire article »
Filed under: Freedom of Religion, Freedoms, Islam, Worship