PBS.org: Muslims believe that God had previously revealed Himself to the earlier prophets of the Jews and Christians, such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims therefore accept the teachings of both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Gospels. They believe that Islam is the perfection of the religion revealed first to Abraham (who is considered the first Muslim) and later to other prophets. Muslims believe that Jews and Christians have strayed from God's true faith but hold them in higher esteem than pagans and unbelievers. They call Jews and Christians the "People of the Book" and allow them to practice their own religions. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the "seal of the prophecy," by which they mean that he is the last in the series of prophets God sent to mankind. Muslims abhor the followers of later prophets. This attitude serves to explain the extreme Muslim animosity toward Bahais, followers of a nineteenth-century prophet, who in the Muslim mind is false.
So, from this description, "Muslim extremists" almost sounds like an oxymoron.
Violence has erupted in the Near East because of a video produced in the US that went viral on You Tube. The actors in the film said they were deceived...by the so-called "Christian" producers of it.
This breaks my heart.
Evangelism should never involve deceit. It should never involve denigration of someones belief system or in most cases, cultural practices.
I work as a manager in a high tech supplier firm. I've seen my share of diversity in cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions (including Islam). I've never made anyone feel uncomfortable for practicing their faiths. Proselytizing at work is prohibited. That should come with wisdom and the right moment - away from work.
In closing, if our faith - Christianity, or "The Way" as it was once known - is attractive, let it be so on its own merits. No stunts, videos debasing others' faiths are necessary.
Matthew 10:16 NKJV - "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:17 NKJV - "But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Matthew 10:18 NKJV - "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:19 NKJV - "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
Matthew 10:20 NKJV - "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Matthew 10:21 NKJV - "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father [his] child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Matthew 10:22 NKJV - "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:16 NKJV - "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:17 NKJV - "But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Matthew 10:18 NKJV - "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:19 NKJV - "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
Matthew 10:20 NKJV - "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Matthew 10:21 NKJV - "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father [his] child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Matthew 10:22 NKJV - "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
