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Mar 06

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THE 31ST ANNUAL OKLAHOMA CITY LECTURES

On Friday the 13th, the lectures will start. The theme is “Replies to one Moslem’s Attacks on the Bible.” Please notice the word “one” in the theme, as all the lectures will address only this one Moslem’s attack on the Bible as opposed to all Moslems. All Moslems may agree with this “one Moslem’s” but this is not the purpose of this series of lectures. It is our hope that many people will hear, as being part of those present for all the lectures, but even more by way of the recording that will be made of each lesson.
Islam has its beginning with Muhammad, who as he reached his 40th year, was a merchant, but it is here that he begins to have his so-called “revelations from Allah,” which became the basis for the Koran. May I kindly point out that “Allah” is not the God of the inspired word of God, the Bible. In fact, there is little to no respect for the Bible at all among those who embrace Islam. Thus, the lectures which will take place, starting March 13th and end on Sunday the 15th.
Muhammad was born near the year 570 A.D in Mecca, which is now part of Saudi Arabia. Muhammad’s father died before he was born; therefore, as it came to be, that he was raised at first by his grandfather but then not long after his uncle would raise him.
At this time, many tribes living in the Arabian Peninsula were nomadic, as went “to and fro” across the desert. Most of these tribes were polytheistic, and they worshiped their own “set of gods.” As Muhammad was in his 20’s, he started working for a wealthy merchant woman, Khadihah, who was 15 years older. Interesting, she soon became attached to him and she proposed marriage and he accepted. Muhammad, it is said, was a very religious man and on occasion, he would take journeys of “devotion to sacred sites near Mecca.” It was on one of these journeys, in 610 A.D., that as he was “meditating” in the cave on Mount Jabal al-Nour, that he claimed the “Angel Gabriel” appeared and delivered the so-called “word of God.” The first words he received were: ““Recite in the name of your Lord who creates, creates man from a clot! Recite for your lord is most generous….” Not surprisingly, these words became the opening verses of “surah” chapter 96 of the Qur’an. However, he did not reveal these “so-called” revelations publicly for several years. Compare this with God’s revelation to the apostles of Christ who on the day of Pentecost: “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words” (Acts 2:14). The true word of salvation was not to be hid, no not for a day let alone for several years but delivered the day it was received! Islamic tradition holds that the first persons to believe were his wife, Khadija and his close friend Abu Bakr (regarded as the successor to Muhammad by Sunni Muslims). Not surprisingly, most people living in Mecca either ignored him or mocked him as just another “prophet.” Near this time, when his “message” condemned idol worship and polytheism, the tribal leaders began to see Muhamad and his words as a threat!
Some may say, “Well, this all seems to be like the apostles of Christ and what they preached.” Here is one major difference, the apostles, on that great day of Pentecost: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). Muhammad had no miracle to confirm his words! Then, the apostles directed those who heard them to the word of God in the Old Testament; when Peter said: “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; …” (Acts 2:16). Now get this, the inspired apostle referred to the inspired word of God, as the word of God always goes “hand in hand” with itself!
As this article concludes, notice this great difference between Christianity and Islam. Between years 624 and 628, the Muslims were involved in a series of battles for their survival. In the final major confrontation, In the Battle of the Trench and Siege of Medina, Muhammad and his followers prevailed, and a treaty was signed. Never did true Christianity reach for a physical sword, never did Christianity engage in physical warfare but spiritual with the word of God! Never did an apostle of Christ engage in the making of a “treaty” with the enemies of Christ! Hear Peter: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). May the words of Peter and the other apostles be our words!

Frank R. Williams

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