A Catholic Muslim
Let us look at some terms and find out what they really mean aside from the manner in which they are currently used.
Catholic / adjective / ˈkaTH(ə)lik / late Middle English ( sense 2 of the adjective ): from Old French catholique or late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos ‘universal,’ from kata ‘with respect to’ + holos ‘whole.’
1. ( especially of a person's tastes ) including a wide variety of things; all-embracing
2. of the Roman Catholic faith
a) of or including all Christians
b) of or relating to the historic doctrine and practice of the Western Church
I think we are very familiar with the second sense definition of the term catholic. I would like to bring attention to the first definition and also to the first sub definition (a) under the second definition. Some synonyms ( terms meaning the same thing ) are: universal, diverse, wide, broad, eclectic just to name a few. It is the broader definition I want to bring to your attention, not so much the manner the word has been used to classify and distinguish people ( what divides and separates ) for centuries.
Muslim / noun / məzləm,ˈmo͝ozləm /
1. a follower of the religion of Islam
We see the term "Muslim" is simply one who follows the religion of Islam... so what is Islam?
Islam / noun / isˈläm,izˈläm /
from Arabic 'islām ‘submission,’ from 'aslama ‘submit ( to God ).’
The term Muslim refers to the religion that developed from the 8th century. Yet, the term Muslim is previously derived from the term Islam, taken from the term "aslama" which literally means "submits to God."
How many are those throughout the world who live out what this term defines, aside from what they would call their specific religion?
How many are the terms which define any particular belief / faith / religion / point of view which defines people actually submitting themselves to God?
By the pure definition of the term, I am a Muslim, for I submit to God. Yet we know this word evokes a certain emotion and certain ideas in those who follow the religion called by the same name. This word also evokes a certain emotion and certain ideas in those who see that term as something to be feared. Instead of getting into the reasons to fear or not fear or the reasons to promote or not promote this or any such religion ( man's method of explaining the unexplainable ), let us realize and follow what the term actually means, shall we?
Much the same can be said about the term catholic. Didn't Christ start something that was to embrace all peoples from all walks of life? Isn't Yeshua's message of love universal and for all people in all times and in all places? Whether you align yourself with the term Protestant, Catholic, Methodist, Eastern Orthodox, etc.. or simply as a disciple of Christ, are you not part of the universal congregation which is only seen in the Spirit? None of us can accurately point out 'who' is righteous or who has the Spirit in them, because the kingdom of God is within and among us.
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Yeshua replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”
- Luke 17: 20-21
None of us knows the heart of any other person, so we cannot accurately judge who they are nor who they will be tomorrow, yet religions and their divisive techniques lead us to make such incorrect judgments. When looking at the term 'catholic' through its original meaning, I am also part of that universal / catholic church, because God's love permeates the religions of men and their imagined differences.
By pure definition of these two words, I am a Muslim that is part of the Catholic ( universal ) church! A Catholic Muslim! I submit my will to the God of all creation while opening my heart to all people of the world, just as Yeshua has called me and you to do!
Let us see terms for what their original meanings were and let us not allow words separate us, as they so easily do today. Otherwise, you may find yourself hating and battling against your brother / sister and opposing and fearing those you were sent to love.
We see that men put forth many demands onto other men in order for them to be called by a certain term, as if a man can qualify another man in terms of faith and things unknown. The faith it takes to submit to God, to believe in His Way and follow that Way isn't a qualification earned at a university... nor can the things of faith, grace and the heart be measured by men. Instead of only following what men have to say about words and allowing ourselves to be divided by the words of men, why not go to the actual source to find out what was inspired and revealed by God?
While Yeshua was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is My mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
- Matthew 12:46-50
During the days of Yeshua's life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.
- Hebrews 5:7
We see Christ Yeshua was the very example of submission to God... and His message is one that is to embrace all people the world over.
Catholic / adjective / ˈkaTH(ə)lik / late Middle English ( sense 2 of the adjective ): from Old French catholique or late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos ‘universal,’ from kata ‘with respect to’ + holos ‘whole.’
1. ( especially of a person's tastes ) including a wide variety of things; all-embracing
2. of the Roman Catholic faith
a) of or including all Christians
b) of or relating to the historic doctrine and practice of the Western Church
I think we are very familiar with the second sense definition of the term catholic. I would like to bring attention to the first definition and also to the first sub definition (a) under the second definition. Some synonyms ( terms meaning the same thing ) are: universal, diverse, wide, broad, eclectic just to name a few. It is the broader definition I want to bring to your attention, not so much the manner the word has been used to classify and distinguish people ( what divides and separates ) for centuries.
Muslim / noun / məzləm,ˈmo͝ozləm /
1. a follower of the religion of Islam
We see the term "Muslim" is simply one who follows the religion of Islam... so what is Islam?
Islam / noun / isˈläm,izˈläm /
from Arabic 'islām ‘submission,’ from 'aslama ‘submit ( to God ).’
The term Muslim refers to the religion that developed from the 8th century. Yet, the term Muslim is previously derived from the term Islam, taken from the term "aslama" which literally means "submits to God."
How many are those throughout the world who live out what this term defines, aside from what they would call their specific religion?
How many are the terms which define any particular belief / faith / religion / point of view which defines people actually submitting themselves to God?
By the pure definition of the term, I am a Muslim, for I submit to God. Yet we know this word evokes a certain emotion and certain ideas in those who follow the religion called by the same name. This word also evokes a certain emotion and certain ideas in those who see that term as something to be feared. Instead of getting into the reasons to fear or not fear or the reasons to promote or not promote this or any such religion ( man's method of explaining the unexplainable ), let us realize and follow what the term actually means, shall we?
Much the same can be said about the term catholic. Didn't Christ start something that was to embrace all peoples from all walks of life? Isn't Yeshua's message of love universal and for all people in all times and in all places? Whether you align yourself with the term Protestant, Catholic, Methodist, Eastern Orthodox, etc.. or simply as a disciple of Christ, are you not part of the universal congregation which is only seen in the Spirit? None of us can accurately point out 'who' is righteous or who has the Spirit in them, because the kingdom of God is within and among us.
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Yeshua replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”
- Luke 17: 20-21
None of us knows the heart of any other person, so we cannot accurately judge who they are nor who they will be tomorrow, yet religions and their divisive techniques lead us to make such incorrect judgments. When looking at the term 'catholic' through its original meaning, I am also part of that universal / catholic church, because God's love permeates the religions of men and their imagined differences.
By pure definition of these two words, I am a Muslim that is part of the Catholic ( universal ) church! A Catholic Muslim! I submit my will to the God of all creation while opening my heart to all people of the world, just as Yeshua has called me and you to do!
Let us see terms for what their original meanings were and let us not allow words separate us, as they so easily do today. Otherwise, you may find yourself hating and battling against your brother / sister and opposing and fearing those you were sent to love.
We see that men put forth many demands onto other men in order for them to be called by a certain term, as if a man can qualify another man in terms of faith and things unknown. The faith it takes to submit to God, to believe in His Way and follow that Way isn't a qualification earned at a university... nor can the things of faith, grace and the heart be measured by men. Instead of only following what men have to say about words and allowing ourselves to be divided by the words of men, why not go to the actual source to find out what was inspired and revealed by God?
While Yeshua was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is My mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
- Matthew 12:46-50
During the days of Yeshua's life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.
- Hebrews 5:7
We see Christ Yeshua was the very example of submission to God... and His message is one that is to embrace all people the world over.
Comments