Contrasting Spirits: From Above - From Below (Parte Quatro)

From a distance, all things seem typical...
It is when we zoom in that we see...
what has been 'hidden' there the entire time...
waiting to bring you into the continuation of life after death.

Continued from Parte Tres (Parte Uno, Parte Dos)...

This is a critical part of this article series which discusses the primary sources of so-called Abrahamic religions, and the language may be a bit difficult for those who are apt to believe legend over scholarship and history.

I write 'so-called Abraham religions' because when going into further detail, religion is the concept any person holds in their minds as an explanation of themselves, the world, and their relation to the world (including / excluding concepts of God).

Twins having grown up in the same house with exact conditions and experiences may hold two very different views (or slightly different) of themselves and the world around them, even when professing to wholeheartedly agree about every single thing.

How much more does Truth's understanding differ in the hearts of those who do not agree on more than a single thing and had different upbringings.

Yet when the Truth speaks to one's heart, although difficult to explain in human terms, it is very well 'known' and causes a peace that transcends all understanding.

This article series should not be understood as an attack or dismissal of particular ideologies, but a sure critique of the low manners of mankind towards their fellow man.

It is an exploration into how some people may justify violence and point to their religion as a source of inspiration.

But in the light of Messiah and what Messiah's definition means, could such carnal excuses even be entertained?

Although messages shared throughout time may differ in delivery and terminology, there can be reconciling ideas that point to agreement.

Are we able to agree that there is never a justification for violence against another human being?

If so, we may be speaking the same language from our hearts despite using different words and even language to express ourselves.

It is by exploring the sources of things we consider inspired by God (or considered honest) that we find out exactly not only 'where' certain ideas come from, but if they are in fact from God (or true).

In contrasting carnal ideas with spiritual, we will delve into the evidence and difference of such attitudes that are found softened in the news while being propagated (and justified) on the internet regarding certain religious ideas.

We witness ancient manners reminiscent of what previous parts of this article series mentions, how the law of Moses demanded injury for injury done (eye for an eye retribution...a death spiral).

We then read how such hostilities were fulfilled / retired / completed / replaced in Yeshua as Messiah.

This was expected by the Jews, and is realized by the Jews (and Gentiles) who have come to believe in Yeshua and follow His teachings, actions and manners.

The realization is firstly spiritual (internal) and sometimes considered ephemeral, like the fleeting satisfaction of a tasty meal or the momentary sense of serenity after a cleansing hot bath.

However, we see the presence of peace and love still alive Today throughout the world in those who have submitted themselves to God's trust and His timing of events, even one's timing and manner of death regardless of the method that death comes.

For these, there is never a justification for violence, or returning injury for injury done, but blessing for curse, love for hate, peace for strife.

These manners are a matter of faith; faith in God.

Such external evidence was the manner and attitude of those who came to believe in and follow Messiah (both Jews and Gentiles).

Although we do read about peace and reconciliation of a type in Muhammad's poetry (the Quran), we also read directives for fighting, war, exacting justice and other such things very much absent the New Testament.

We understand the explanations and logical explanations to not be misunderstood, but simply following carnal rationality...and faith in God's protection and will is vacant.

Is violence and fighting and war incorrect interpretations regarding the origins of Islam?

Since Islam followed the revealing of Messiah by over six hundred years, and Messiah's message is for all of mankind and is a message of reconciliation, peace in the face of violence and love in the face of hate, did Islam somehow not receive the clear message of faith?

Violence is witnessed throughout the Old Testament, yet in very unique circumstances does one read violence being commanded by God.

Aside from the law's application of violence in return for breech of the law's bounds, one can further explore why was violence commanded by God in the Old Testament (which is not the scope of this series).

What needs to be acknowledged is the clear and explicit establishment of peace on earth through the Messiah Yeshua.

This peaceful establishment was expected by the Jews, and this expectation was correct.

This event came to pass.

Yet this acknowledgement (and its obedience) is also by faith.

To acknowledge the presence of peace on earth and clear interpretation of such peace in the source material (Gospel and letters), how one may comprehend literature, is possible.

It is the revealing if the human actually believes it.

It is the gift of such faith that allows the human to transcend from a worldly perspective of Christ to a faithful view.

This peace is a gift from Above . . . unattainable by human effort, by knowledge, but doing certain things...but only by belief and obedience in such faith.

This gift was promised since ancient times when we consider the accounts from the Old Testament.

God has a place in His heart for those who existed outside of ancient Israel, and this was made more evident in later times through the Gospel's message to the Gentiles throughout the world.

The origins of Islam arose from Arabia, and the Arabs are distant cousins of the Hebrews; both being descendants of Shem, thus both (and others in the region) are Semites.

God's love and redemption is extended to them.

Those who claim to be descendants of Ishmael, son of Abraham and step-brother of Isaac, were given an eternal blessing at the time Isaac was granted his unique blessing.

The prophetic message concerning Ishmael's mother Hagar, how God also sees even those not participating in a particular covenant, and the cultural manners that are still realized Today in the descendants of Ishmael, are mention in Genesis 16.

We see love, grace and purposed distinction...the unbiased order of 'first for the Jew then for the Gentile', and also hope for redemption when included in the sign of the covenant done in the flesh (inclusion into the eventual promises and consequences of the law) in Genesis 17.

God continuing to be with Ishmael, although Ishmael not participating in the covenant revealed through Isaac, is evidenced in Genesis 21...and we can read how God has continued to sustain Ishmael's descendants, again for a greater purpose than most people understand.

When God in Spirit was gifted to the Apostles of Messiah in Acts 2, Arabs were also present and heard the mystery of the Gospel in a miraculous way...and they also received the gift of the Spirit of God and carried its message back to Arabia with them.

Considering these realities explained in the Word of God, consider also the following testimony and how the most influential worker of the Gospel went FIRST to his Arabian cousins to bring them the good news of eternal Salvation revealed in Messiah's arrival:

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Yeshua Christ. 

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were Apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. 

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other Apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 

Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. 

- Galatians 1: 10-24

And how did Paul and the other Apostles proclaim the message of Messiah?

By force?

By violence?

By threats of death at the hands of men if people didn't accept them or turned away from the faith?

What was the attitude for those who proclaimed Yeshua as the Lord thy God when they were persecuted, abused and even threatened with death?

Did they fight back?

Did they defend themselves with force?

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also. 

- 2 Corinthians 6: 3-13

A lot of polemic accusations against Paul exist from a variety of ideologies, one being within Islam regarding the shift in religious rituals from Judaism to what became the wide spectrum of Christianity.

Considering Paul's efforts guided by God's hand to his Arab cousins and the message found in the letters to the surrounding churches, one can see why darkness desires to discredit Paul as something besides the saint and proclaimer of Truth he was.

The Apostle Peter testifies in defense of such polemic accusations against Paul here:

Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 

- 2 Peter 3: 15-16

There is evidence in Islamic theology that contain certain ideas are not originating in the Gospel and letters, but having originated from other sources.

There is elements of heretical ideas in Muhammad's poetry regarding official Christian doctrines, yet such ideas originated from rebellious pockets of so-called 'Christians' living in the general region of Arabia and beyond.

These heretical ideas have been used as polemic weapons against the Gospel and letters and factual Christian doctrine.

Somehow, certain aspects of heretical ideas were misunderstood by Muhammad's poetry as honest Christian teachings and ideas.

An exploration of Docetism, Collyridianism, and a long list of external ideas show how far certain people strayed from the Gospel and letters.

It is then understandable why there exists so many accusations against Christ, the message, and Christians in general...but what needs to be understood is these strange ideas are not Christian doctrine, but again, heretical and rejected ideas.

Yet somehow Muhammad's poetry argues against them and such arguments are believed to be the Christian's stance, and this is a misguided and misplaced accusation...causing confusion.

Despite the hostilities that have been prevalent among Ishmael's descendants and the extended tribes of Semites and beyond, and later hostilities against actual Christians from confused Muslims, God's grace and calling them to salvation is further prevalent.

We read evidence of this in the poetry of Muhammad (the Quran), where Yeshua (Isa in Arabic) is called the 'Word of God' and the 'Spirit of God' and the miraculous conception is clearly testified to...which beckons the question: who is Yeshua's Father?

As the previous portions of this article series reveal, the definition of Messiah - according to Scripture - is KEY to understanding 'who' and 'what' Yeshua / Isa means to mankind...and how salvation is realized and understood universally.

The manner Yeshua is described in Islam is beyond uniqueness; it is a grand precedent.

Despite the confusion and misguided accusations, Yeshua's uniqueness stands out.

Muhammad's poetry, I dare declare, proclaims Yeshua as something supernatural and beyond the definition of mere human...Muhammad's poetry giving praise to Yeshua above all others.

It is the later ideas that have interpreted Muhammad's poetry and have agreed to effort a diminishing of Yeshua's eternal preeminence in favor for someone closer to home.

Since Yeshua is the Word of God and also the Spirit of God, has God ever been without Word or Spirit?

These are questions that need to be pondered in one's heart, especially in the hearts of those who view themselves as Muslims.

It is the answers to these questions that may clear much confusion, Inshallah (God willing).

We see this in almost every tribe, ideology, people, heritage, etc.... all throughout the world's histories...even Judaism when reflecting on Yeshua.

It is quite interesting that a world full of Christians, the majority not of typical Jewish ancestry, desire to give honor, praise and glory to Yeshua...who was born a Hebrew / Jew.

Typically, an Englishman / Turk / Ethiopian / Canadian / Japanese / Mexican / Navajo / Salvadoran / Arab / Persian / Libyan / Zambian / Nigerian / (all the peoples of the world's nations) would consider someone of their kind / kin / tribe / people superior to others.

Yet when the testimony about Yeshua Christ is considered, who else was Perfect in word and deed?

In the final part, we will examine the places where violence is mentioned in the primary source that inspires Islamic thinking and contrast it with Messiah's message.

What is seemingly clear is a falling away from the grace, peace, love and salvation that God has already provided the people of the world.

This salvation promised also to those who identify with Islam and claim to be at peace and in full submission to God.

Continued in Parte Cinco...