Dewayne Bryant's Blog, page 8

The Top Ten Passages in the Qur’an, Part 4

[image error]We’ve finally arrived at my number one verse in the Qur’an. There are a lot of juicy passages to choose from, but this one isn’t scandalous so much as it is theologically implosive for the Muslim faith. While other texts present a violent, misogynistic, radically intolerant perspective, this one undermines one of the most fundamental tenets of Islam (quotation taken from Quran.com).

#1 Don’t Make Me Repeat Myself

And recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord. There is no changer of His words, and never will you find in other than Him a refuge. (Sura 18:27)

According to the Qur’an, Allah guaranteed the preservation of his word (Sura 15:9). One of the greatest problems in Islam is that Muslim scholars cannot adequately reconcile the oft-repeated claim that the Qur’an is the eternally perfect word of God with the fact that numerous manuscripts with textual variations exist. One modern scholar has even devoted a YouTube channel to exposing the many variants of the Qur’an. Naturally, he has met significant pushback from Muslims, who have been brainwashed into thinking that the Qur’an is perfect in every way.

Denial of this belief—even if it happens to come from a devout scholar who professes Muslim faith—is met with swift reprisal. We see an example in the case of the late Dr. Nasr Abu Zayd, an internationally-respected professor at Cairo University who questioned the standard narrative about the Qur’an’s textual perfection. He also stated that passages requiring Jews and Christians to pay the jizyah (a tax allowing them to practice their religion in Islamic territory) and permitting Muslims to own sex slaves represented a backward step for humanity. For his work, a council declared Zayd an apostate and dissolved his marriage, forcing him to flee the country.

Added to this problem is that dozens of verses in the Qur’an have gone missing. We have references in the hadiths that refer to passages not found in modern copies of the Qur’an, meaning that this material was lost at some point. Muslim scholars today frequently claim that not a single word of the Qur’an has been altered in over fourteen centuries. These two positions cannot be reconciled, thus demonstrating it to be a flawed book.

We have a particularly interesting case in Sura 33, which is missing over half its original content. Originally, the chapter consisted of about 200 verses (as stated by a passage in the hadiths); currently, it has only 73. According to Muhammad’s wife `Aisha, a section of the Qur’an went missing when a sheep ate part of it when everyone was busy weeping over the Prophet’s death (Sunan Ibn Maja 3:9:1944)—which sounds about as believable as “the dog ate my homework.” Notably, this occurred after Allah said he would protect the Qur’an.

The missing material in Sura 33 originally prescribed a brilliant solution to ward off any inappropriate sexual activity between an unmarried couple behind closed doors: the woman simply needs to breastfeed the man ten times. You read that correctly: to prevent illicit sexual activity between a man and a woman, she needs to take off her shirt and press his face against her bare chest repeatedly. What could possibly go wrong?

This material seems to have “disappeared” by `Aisha’s design. I’m sure it had absolutely nothing to do with Muhammad requiring her to breastfeed strange men.

Another thorny problem for Islam is the assertion that no one can alter Allah’s words (Sura 6:115), but Muslims claim that Jews and Christians corrupted the biblical text. The Qur’an never says that the “People of the Book” ever corrupted the Bible—this claim is made by Muslim apologists. Yet the Qur’an states that Allah gave “the Torah and the Gospel” (Sura 3:3; 7:157)—elsewhere referred to as “the Scripture” (Sura 6:114)—as revelations to prophets other than Muhammad. So, which is it? Here Islam makes two mutually-exclusive claims (1) Allah revealed the Bible, and (2) his words cannot be altered.

There we have it—our top ten verses in the Qur’an. Sadly, many good-natured, well-meaning people in our world today consider it to be the fully authoritative, eternally perfect word of Allah. They have listened to biased imams and agenda-driven scholars who don’t know the meaning of the word “objective” and frequently make outrageous claims that cannot be supported by their religious texts and are even contradicted by history and archaeology.

Our Muslim neighbors need concern and prayer. That they are religious is without question. That they seek to do the will of the divine is clear. But they have pledged their spiritual allegiance to a divine pretender instead of the one true God. They are not the enemy – they are victims of the Enemy, who used a fanatical, warmongering, sex-obsessed false prophet 1400 years ago to dupe billions of people.

Image courtesy of Jawad Jawahir / Unsplash.com

The Top Ten Passages in the Qur’an, Part 3

[image error]We’re getting down to the most interesting passages in the Qur’an. It’s tough to decide because there are a lot of them—the Qur’an is about twenty percent shorter than the New Testament (all quotations are taken from Quran.com).

#4 No Paternity Tests for Allah

O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (Sura 4:171 )

One of the most important elements of Islamic theology is the denial of Jesus’ divinity. When Muslims hear Christians say that Jesus is the “Son of God,” they are taught to interpret this as, “God came down and had filthy, illicit sex with a human woman.” That’s not what the New Testament teaches, but it doesn’t matter since that is what Qur’anic scholars teach. And if it’s based on the Qur’an, it’s true—because the Qur’an is the eternally true and perfect word of Allah. Because it says it is. It’s a circular argument, but logic is just brain magic used by infidels, anyway.

The idea that Jesus is the Son of God is particularly offensive to Muslims, and many Christian apologists and evangelists wisely warn against using this phrase to refer to Jesus because of the unnecessary offense it could cause. Sadly, using one of the terms by which we know Jesus best is so offensive to Muslims that imams warn that even saying, “Merry Christmas”—the use of which is taken to imply that the birth story of Jesus in the Gospels is true—has been described as a crime worse than adultery, lying, murder, and every other major sin combined. I wonder what they would say about saying, “Happy holidays”?

On a final note, the unauthorized WSV of the Qur’an (Word on the Street Version) really gets to the heart of this passage. It paraphrases the verse as, “Allah ain’t nobody’s baby daddy.” So true.

#3 Allah Loves Revisionist History

And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. (Sura 4:157)

It seems Muhammad just couldn’t get his mind around the concept of the Trinity, meaning that he described it as a trio of deities rather the one God in three persons (his followers continue this practice today). With Jesus being demoted to the status of a fully human prophet, he couldn’t possibly be divine, even though he maintains a position of honor in the Muslim faith.

A second problem for Muslims is the fact that such an esteemed prophet of Allah couldn’t possibly have died as shameful a death as Roman crucifixion. Consequently, Muhammad denied the execution of Jesus, as well as ancient historical records stating the contrary. While the Qur’an states Jesus was never crucified, this claim is refuted by ancient history.

The Roman historian and senator Tacitus stated that “Christus” (a Latinized form of the Greek Christos) had “suffered the extreme penalty” at the hand of Pontius Pilatus during the reign of Tiberius (Annals 15.44). He does not mention the word “crucifixion” because the practice was so horrific that Roman writers avoided using it as a matter of practice—the famed orator Cicero once said that it shouldn’t even be mentioned. The basic chronological details Tacitus presents match what we find in the New Testament.

Suetonius, another Roman historian, wrote that Claudius expelled a group of Jews from Rome because of a figure named “Chrestus” (Claudius 25) Again, this name appears to be a variant form of the Greek title Christos (the difference between the i and e in the spellings is explained by the fact that some early references to believers appear variously as both Chrestians and Christians). This detail lines up perfectly with both a reference to Aquilla and Priscilla in the New Testament (Acts 18:2) and the general chronology of Paul’s ministry.

The Jewish Roman historian Josephus penned two references to Jesus (Antiquities 18.3.3; 20.9.1), that included other figures such as John the Baptist and James, the brother of Christ. The first passage, called the Testimonium Flavianum, has three small sections whose authenticity is rejected by virtually all scholars. However, the overwhelming majority of experts consider the reference itself to be authentically Josephan. This includes the statement that leading public figures leveled accusations against Jesus, resulting in Pilate condemning him to die by crucifixion. Again, these extrabiblical details line up with what we find in the biblical text.  Additional evidence for a crucified Jesus includes a reference made by the Greek satirist Lucian of Samosata (The Death of Peregrine 11) and the Alexamenos Graffito.

Muhammad simply could not accept a crucified Jesus. He rewrote the historical record to shape the figure of Jesus according to his designs. Middle Eastern caliphs and dictators have been rewriting history since forever. Why stop now?

#2 Know Your Role, Woman!

O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation dictate. And let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses – so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things. (Sura 2:282)

This is the longest verse in the Qur’an. However, it’s infamous for another reason: it teaches that the testimony of women is only half as valuable as that of men. It also fits in with other verses in the Qur’an and other passages attributed to the Prophet that describe women as deficient in both mental ability and religious devotion (Sahih al-Bukhari 1:6:304). It also states that their stupidity (and their monthly cycle) resulted from Eve’s sin in the Garden in Eden.

It’s almost impossible to imagine a more nakedly misogynistic viewpoint than this. Oh, and some of the aforementioned passages also indicate that hell will be populated mostly by women (Sahih al-Bukhari 4:54:464; Sahih Muslim 36:6597), in part because they are ungrateful to their husbands (Sahih al-Bukhari 1:2:28). Sorry ladies, but wanting to be treated as anything more than a bunch of cursed, hellbound idiots really is asking too much. At least, according to Muhammad.

Passages like this comprise a disgusting corpus of Islamic texts virtually sanctioning the poor treatment and even abuse of women. Although many in the West try to put a positive spin on the Islamic view of the feminine, it is impossible to do so and remain honest with the sacred text or with the hadiths (the recorded sayings of Muhammad considered authoritative). The Qur’an states that men are a degree above women in their rights (Sura 2:228), that daughters receive only half of the inheritance of a son (Sura 4:11), and allows men to marry pre-pubescent girls (Sura 65:4). The last point is particularly disturbing but stems from an incident involving Muhammad himself. He married a six-year-old girl named `Aisha, and they consummated the marriage when she was nine (Sahih al-Bukhari 5:63:3896). This practice still occurs in Islamic countries like Iran, where nine is the legal age for marriage for girls. The UNICEF 2007 Photo of the Year brought this practice to light when photographer Stephanie Sinclair photographed an engaged Afghani couple. The husband was forty but looked older. The bride was eleven.

We’ve got one more post to go. Next is our top verse in the Qur’an.

Image courtesy of Tayeb Mezahdia / Pexels.com

The Top Ten Passages in the Qur’an, Part 2

[image error]As we continue with our blog post series, I’d like to tell our readers that if you have had to read any of our top ten passages more than once, don’t worry. Many native Arabic speakers have difficulty reading it in the original language, mainly because Muhammad wasn’t a great writer. The disorganized syntax he used generates constant problems for translators. This is why anyone picking up three or four translations of the Qur’an may very well read just as many different interpretations of the text (all quotations are taken from Quran.com).

#7 – Allah Will Tell You What You Believe!

And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'” He will say, “Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. (Surah 5:116)

Some of the most problematic verses in the Qur’an are those in which Allah demonstrates dishonorable qualities. In this passage, Allah reveals his ignorance by incorrectly defining the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. He indicates that Christians worship a triad of three gods that included Jesus and Mary (cf. Surah 4:171; 5:73). While numerous Trinitarian and Christological heresies circulated in the early church, scholars don’t know of a single instance of any tritheists who worshiped the trio of God the Father, Jesus, and Mary. Allah makes a spectacular blunder here. Besides, even if someone, somewhere, did teach this—and there’s no evidence that they ever did—why choose a fringe example to illustrate the Trinity? It seems Allah never heard of a “straw man argument.”

#6 – Lots of Luck with the Ladies

O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her, [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. You, [O Muhammad], may put aside whom you will of them or take to yourself whom you will. And any that you desire of those [wives] from whom you had [temporarily] separated – there is no blame upon you [in returning her]. That is more suitable that they should be content and not grieve and that they should be satisfied with what you have given them – all of them. And Allah knows what is in your hearts. And ever is Allah Knowing and Forbearing. (Sura 33:50-51)

Muhammad used this passage to grant himself more sexual partners than anyone else. It flows naturally from Surah 4:3, which gives men the right to have up to four wives. The reason why should be obvious to any mature adult (and can probably be guessed by most teenaged boys). The real issue here seems to be that Muhammad used revelations like this to justify his apparent hedonism. Muslim sources reference the Prophet’s unparalleled sexual prowess several times (e.g., Sahih al-Bukhari 7:62:6, 142). One passage claims he had enough stamina to visit eleven wives in a single evening (Sahih al-Bukhari 1:5:268). This is just the tip of the iceberg regarding Muhammad’s preoccupation with sex. Muslims have long used numerous passages in the Qur’an (Sura 4:24) and the hadith (Sahih Muslim 8:3371) to justify rape, which was used to a great extent by members of ISIS. The Bible does speak frankly about the pleasures of human sexuality (cf. Proverbs 5:19; Song of Songs 7:3, 7). And it includes instances of characters using “locker-room talk” (e.g., 1 Kings 1:10), but we don’t see it used to glorify godly figures. Outside of Christianity, new religious movements and cults often allow leaders to have plenty of sugar time with the ladies, thus exposing their true motivations. Muhammad seems to have been no different.

#5 Convert, or Else

Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. (Surah 9:29)

In this verse, Allah commands Muslims to subjugate Jews and Christians violently. They can avoid a gruesome fate by paying the jizyah, a tax that permits them to continue to practice their religions in a state of humiliation as a dhimmi, or second-class human being. You know, nothing communicates benevolence and generosity like a good old-fashioned protection racket.

Passages like this explain the last 14 centuries of conflict in the Middle East. Earlier in this chapter, v. 5—often referred to as the “Verse of the Sword”—encourages Muslims to fight the polytheists (including Christians, see #7 above) until they are subjugated and pay the zakat (an obligatory religious tax). In other words, Allah is history’s greatest extortionist. Move over Don Carleone; there’s a new guy in town selling fire insurance.

It’s only going to get better from here in our Top 10 list of verses from the Qur’an. Our next post will feature #2-4. After that, we’ll have a blog post dedicated solely to our number one verse. I’m looking forward to exploring these with you as we continue our look at Islam’s sacred text. For more information, see the video What Every Christian Must Know About Islam.

For more information, see the video What Every Christian Must Know About Islam.

 Although Internet sources frequently indicate that the dhimmi was a person who enjoyed freedom at the cost of a special tax, it is evident from Islamic sources that the dhimmi was considered vastly inferior to Muslim believers, did not enjoy the same privileges, and could expect condescension if not contempt. In some places, the protected status of an entire city could be revoked if a single person offended a Muslim. Such cases appear in the Muslim conquest of Spain (Al-Andalus) during the Medieval Period in the badly misnamed “Andalusian Paradise.”

Image courtesy of Lexi T / Unsplash.com

The Top Ten Passages in the Qur’an, Part 1

[image error]Many Christians are unfamiliar with the Qur’an. They may know that it is the sacred text of the Muslim faith, but they probably know little else about it. I’ve chosen a list of ten passages from the Qur’an that give some insight into Islam and especially into its founder Muhammad. Below are the first three (all quotations are taken from Quran.com).

#10 Ladies, You’d Better Not Burn Dinner

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand. (Sura 4:34)

The Qur’an is infamous for its presentation of women as inferior to men. Some Muslim scholars have tried to minimize this particular verse by arguing that the beating is a light one; apologists have tended to dismiss it altogether as “misinterpretation.” However, the hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) make it clear that this kind of beating is painful (Sahih Muslim 4:2127; Sahih Bukhari 1:7:330) and violent (Sahih Bukhari 6:60:132; 8:82:828). Another hadith indicates that Muslim women suffered bruises from the beatings they received (Sahih Bukhari 7:6:715). One of the most heartbreaking facts about this practice is that it continues today, with many women in Muslim countries believing their husbands are justified in beating them. Some believe that it is appropriate for a man to beat his wife if she burns dinner.

#9 See You in Hell?

Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures. (Sura 98:6)

The “People of the Scripture” or “People of the Book” indicates Jews and Christians, whom Muhammad lumped into the same category as “polytheists” (pagans or idolaters). These are the worst of creatures, destined for eternal torment. This is a very different narrative than what we see from some Muslim apologists who try to paper over the differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—especially when trying to present Islam as peaceful and tolerant. Nevertheless, the Quran is clear that Jews are almost subhuman. This teaching is connected to Sura 2:65, which states that people—apparently Jews—who broke the Sabbath were turned into apes. Another passage features the same punishment for another group of people, who also seem to be Jews (Sura 7:163-166). This teaching continues today, with an American imam repeating the story in a lecture published in December 2019.

#8 No Adoptions in This House, Mister

Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way. Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers – then they are [still] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (Sura 33:4-5)

In Islamic belief, a family may raise or “sponsor” a child genetically unrelated to them, and may even be commended for doing so if the child is poor or an orphan (this practice is called kafala). However, the person is never considered a “true” child of the adoptive parents. The “adoption” does not create a relationship between the children and their new parents, nor does it entitle them to inherit anything. This peculiar law stems from a historical account in which Muhammad fancied Zaynab, the beautiful wife of his adopted son Zayd. After the couple divorced, Muhammad decided to marry Zaynab. However, Arab culture would have viewed such a relationship as thoroughly inappropriate—in fact, they considered a man marrying his former son’s wife to be an act of incest. Consequently, Muhammad soon received a conveniently-timed “revelation” from Allah abolishing adoption. Nothing says “Father of the Year” like unadopting your adopted son to add his wife to your harem.

We will examine passages #5-7 in the next post.

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The Difference Between Righteous and Sinful Anger

[image error]We live in an age of outrage. We understand some things deserve our anger. A senseless murder, a kidnapping, and the torture of another human being are just a few things that demand pure, righteous indignation. But today it seems that any offense, no matter how small, gets an explosive reaction.

The news has no shortage of examples. Several years ago, a Georgia restaurateur and her teenage daughter were beaten mercilessly after allegedly serving cold chicken to a couple of customers. A woman in Waco, TX, blocked a McDonald’s drive-thru lane and called 911 when she didn’t get her McNuggets quickly enough. Any Google search of “Customer Horror Stories” is a nearly bottomless pit of human idiocy, filled with cautionary tales of what happens when people let their temper get the best of them.

At one time, therapists believed that people should verbally express their displeasure, regardless of how others might receive it. Later research confirmed that this was terrible advice, as venting our anger has a habit of escalating situations, making us more comfortable expressing our outrage, increasing our stress level, and provoking other people. Psychologists now understand that expressing anger doesn’t get alleviate our feelings; it can deepen and reinforce them.

As the world’s best repository of knowledge and wisdom, the Bible is our guidebook for life. It says a great deal about expressing anger. We know that it’s a human emotion—an important one—and that even God demonstrates his wrath on occasion. So, how do we express ours in a righteous way that doesn’t cross over into sin?

First, we’ll take a look at the differences between righteous and sinful anger:

Righteous Anger
Sinful Anger


Reflective
Reactive


Controlled, contained

(Ecclesiastes 7:9; James 1:19-20)
Uncontrolled, violent, explosive

(Proverbs 29:11)


Points to an objective (or biblical) basis for anger
Emotionally-based

(James 4:1)


Able to let small things go

(Proverbs 19:11)
Every offense is worthy of swift reprisal

(Proverbs 12:16)


Able to use reason and logic

(Proverbs 14:29; 17:27; cf. Leviticus 19:17-18)
Foolish and unreasonable

(Proverbs 29:9; cf. Proverbs 20:3)


Seeks biblical justification

(“I am right to be angry because Scripture says it is an appropriate response to X”
Makes excuses

(“I’ve always been hot-headed,” “I just can’t control myself,” “You know how I am when you make me angry”)


Motivated to see justice done and good prevail; allows God to oversee matters of vengeance

(Romans 12:19)
Motivated by a desire for personal satisfaction; steadfastly refuses to forgive and seeks revenge for wrongdoing

I shudder to think of what would happen if God displayed his anger the way his creations do. If he were as childish, petty, and unforgiving as we often are, we’d have an earth-rending apocalypse every five minutes.

Here are a few things that should help us curb unhealthy anger in our lives:

Our anger should be like God’s, righteous and slow to build (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 7:11; 103:8). Do we allow ourselves to be provoked (I worded it that way deliberately) for the right reasons? And have we stopped to consider that we might be upset because we misunderstood someone else?
We must understand that inappropriate anger is unacceptable in the Christian life. The apostle Paul often groups it with heinous sins (Ephesians 4:31; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:8).
Allow patience to slow our anger (James 1:19-20). It may be that we need to reflect on it for a while – we might think that we’re mad at someone else when we’re really sad, hurt, or upset with ourselves. We also have to be careful in trusting our judgment when we’re angry.
Allow patience to control our responses so that we don’t provoke others (Proverbs 15:1, 18). Responding immediately to an offense may cause us to say things we can’t take back.
We can’t lie awake at night thinking about events that made us angry. We shouldn’t let it rob us of sleep (Ephesians 4:26-27). This only compounds the problem and hardens our already-negative feelings into something else, like bitterness or hatred.
Christians should not befriend people given to angry outbursts (Proverbs 22:24-25; cf. Proverbs 16:29). As Paul told the Corinthians, “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Although this may have been a bit of conventional wisdom the apostle passed along, it is no less true.

Anger is often a doorway to trouble (Psalm 37:8; Proverbs 14:17). It will also master us if we aren’t careful. Elizabeth Kenny, an Australian army nurse, once said, “He who angers you controls you.”

Aristotle once said, “anyone can get angry—that is easy … but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy.”[1] I think he was right – and he expressed things that we have already surmised from Scripture. In a world that lashes out at everyone, Christians must be known as a people of discipline, measured in our responses, slow to become angry, and quick to help.

See also: Defeating Sinful Anger on Youtube

[1] Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics 2.9. Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics, translated by David Ross (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), 36.

 

Working Toward Peace Through Understanding

[image error]As we all know, on May 25, George Floyd died while being restrained by a police officer named Derek Chauvin. Mr. Floyd was arrested after allegedly trying to use a counterfeit $20. He was detained and held down on the ground by the arresting officer who kept his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck. Three other officers and bystanders looked on while these events took place.

As you might expect, given the very divided nature of our nation, there are conflicting stories about the exact nature of Mr. Floyd’s arrest. Some stories say he resisted. Others claim that he did not resist. I want everyone to try to determine the facts of the case as accurately as possible without letting our emotions cloud our judgment. You and I, as Christians, have a responsibility to seek out the truth no matter what it is, regardless of whether it agrees without our point of view or not. Whatever the case may be, I hope that we all look to Scripture rather than to political pundits and volunteer moralists all crying out for our attention.

Those who live lives outside of Christ may or may not commit to the truth. A disturbing tendency I see in our culture is for people to use facts selectively in the effort to support their point of view. We see this in media venues of all kinds, from major news outlets down to memes posted by individual Facebook users. Knowing this, we must understand that some will try to manipulate us one way or another. That is why I say that you and I have to be people of truth. Friends, participating in creating or sharing propaganda is beneath us.

As I see it, the details that I have available to me show that Officer Chauvin’s actions led to Mr. Floyd’s death. I have seen some attempts made to absolve Officer Chauvin of Mr. Floyd’s demise by saying the exact cause of death had more to do with his underlying health conditions. And I understand that those may be contributing factors. But as I see it, Mr. Floyd would be alive today if his arrest had been conducted differently.

I don’t know how specific we can be when discussing the details of this particular case. I’ve seen parties on both sides make indefensible statements backed by no evidence whatsoever. In my opinion, this is throwing gasoline on the fire. This is why I say we must be people of truth. Cooler heads will always prevail. And an issue like race relations in America demands the highest level of attention, care, and concern.

The United States is an incredible country. We have the right to protest anything we want. And there is no shortage of wrongs in our society that need to be addressed. There is no doubt that many injustices exist in our nation. Many people are evaluated negatively by the color of their skin, the type of language they use, or the clothing they wear. This is not right. When we look at the Bible, we could cite dozens of passages in the Old and New Testaments that explicitly teach that every person is a treasured creation of God, that every person is worthy of hearing the gospel preached, and that every person has a right to God’s grace when they become a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

In the wake of Mr. Floyd’s death, you know—if you’ve seen the news—that there is rioting taking place. I believe, as Christians, we should all be able to peacefully protest, and be able to do so without consequence. But riots are a different matter. It involves the commission of sinful acts, the likes of which no Christian should ever be guilty. I’ve seen some Christians trying to defend the rioters and looters with the quote, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” And it is, in the city of man. But those of us who live in the city of God clearly cannot condone or defend these activities. To do so would be to renounce some of the most basic principles taught by Jesus in his time on earth.

At the same time, we must also condemn every act of inequality and every episode of injustice. You and I have to work as Christians to create a society where riots like these are not only unthinkable because they are wicked, but because the injustices that lead to them no longer exist. I realize that this is the ideal and that it is unattainable in this life. You can I cannot create a perfect society. But we can join hands to help create a better one, where discrimination, injustice, and unfairness are transparently seen for the evils that they are.

I ask that all of us pray for the good of our nation. James 5:16 says, “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” We can demonstrate our singular allegiance to Christ by lifting hands to pray rather than pillage.

I want to encourage everyone to resist the temptation to let our anger flare out of control, and instead model the measured, determined, and controlled anger that Jesus exhibited in his time on earth. Anger moved Cain to murder his brother. It drove kings to kill the prophets. These are examples unworthy of our imitation.

I want all of my brothers and sisters in Christ to remember that we are part of one body. It would be a shame for a moment of unchecked anger to add to the friction that already exists in our nation. I would hate to see anyone undermine their own efforts at a better tomorrow by sharing something unnecessarily insensitive or offensive in social media that would widen the divisions we are trying to heal. And I hope that none of God’s people would fall into the trap of adopting worldly ways of thinking or using secular solutions to repair spiritual problems. Because I can tell you, looking at the world right now, the devil is pleased.

The very first thing the devil did was to create division, first, between God and man. And second, between Adam and Eve. He has been creating division ever since. Nothing would be better than for us to work toward the peace and harmony that God honors, and that the devil despises.

The solution to the problems at hand begins with our hearts, seeing that injustice and inequality are symptoms of spiritual heart disease. It also means that we listen before we speak. It means that we refuse to stereotype other people, no matter who they are. Remember that Jesus loved people of many different ethnicities and from all walks of life. We also condemn every act of violence, no matter who commits it—whether they wear a badge during the day or a mask at night.

So we as Christians must do what we do best: imitate the character of Christ, peacefully speak out against injustices that we see in our world, and never stop working to shape our society so that every human being, regardless of gender, race, or creed is treated as they deserve: a beautifully unique and remarkable creation of God Almighty.

You can see a video version of this post here.

The Right Perspective

If we’re going to live happy, successful lives, we need the right perspective.

If you would like to see some of our other daily devotionals, please check out the YouTube channel for the New York Avenue church of Christ.

Is Coronavirus Exposing Your Spirit of Fear?

[image error]As the coronavirus has spread and churches have closed their doors, social media has been peppered with statements accusing other believers of cowardice. They beat their chests with all the theological machismo they can muster and tell the world that they aren’t afraid of a little sickness.  They also shame other believers for worshiping in their homes (like many early Christians did) rather than at a church building.

I think that the criticisms of other Christians are misguided. In looking at those who are the most vocal, I also see that they believe that the virus is part of a vast conspiracy to attack the church,  manipulate people, or undermine President Trump (some are using it to do that of course, but the same could be said of other crises that occurred during the terms of previous US Presidents).

By trying to protect elderly Christians, this is not a spirit of fear or lack of faith in God. The New Testament includes an instance where the early Christians suspended their regular order of worship in the face of threats. Saul spearheaded persecution against the church, throwing men and women in prison (Acts 8: 4). As a result, the early church scattered far and wide (Acts 8:1). These early believers took precautions to save their own lives. We might also look to the examples of other believers who worshiped in secret to avoid detection by Roman authorities. Should we accuse them of cowardice just because they changed their places of worship in response to mortal threats?

Some critics have made statements to shame other believers. Here are some of my favorite self-righteous comments made in response to COVID-19:

How we gonna have revival if all the church door’s are closed and all the preacher’s are hiding in there house’s … afraid? Not much to see here except a little ad hominem Oh, and by the way, revival might be at least a little easier with a better grasp of the English language.
The blood of Jesus is our shield. No virus or disease will come near your home. Trust the Lord for your protection. Try this one out on congregations in third world nations or in Africa that have had to deal with Ebola or malaria outbreaks. Not to mention the fact that it sounds just like the kinds of arguments health-and-wealth preachers use. By the way, do you have any Scripture references you can give me? Because you make it sound like the gospel virtually eliminates the need for doctors and hospitals.
I refuse to be a coward and bow down for corona. I appreciate your gospel-fueled temerity. Now, why don’t you go take up a career preaching in leper colonies or infectious disease wards, since Jesus told you to go take the gospel into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20)? Don’t they need the gospel, too? And leprosy is not nearly as infectious as the coronavirus, by the way.
How should we trust you now when you say we should, apply God’s Word onto our lives, yet you are terrified by an invisible virus? Another nice ad hominem argument here. Please let me know when you tell all your fellow Christians who have trouble attending worship because they have immunodeficiency disorders that they’re in sin because they’re terrified of invisible little viruses (if those things even exist, right?)
Do you think the 1st Century Christians canceled their worship due to persecution? (just sayin’). Actually, they did something almost exactly like Christians are doing now – Acts 8:1 makes this clear. Before we criticize others, we should try reading the Bible a little more. Or just avoid making claims that are directly refuted by Scripture.
Sad for those who missed worship out of fear. Fear of the possibility of having contracted the virus and unknowingly spreading it to the elderly or others with compromised immune systems? That’s not fear. Those of us who don’t need adulting classes call that “taking reasonable precautions.” You know, like not walking out into the street without looking both ways or refusing to give your Social Security number to some dude on the phone who claims to be a lottery winner in Nigeria.
Have you met anyone who was sick with the Coronavirus? So far it looks like the only people who are getting the virus are people we will never actually meet. So ignorance IS bliss? Just give it time. And for the record, do you also believe the earth is flat because you’ve never been to outer space?
Who u trust CDC or God?? This is what we call the fallacy of bifurcation. That is, asking a question and insisting upon one of only two answers when there are other possible solutions. But, we should never accuse people who post inflammatory memes on Facebook of using logic.

One preacher wrote that to be consistent, we would have to shutter churches during flu season. In other words, the flu is no different than coronavirus—except that we have vaccines for the flu, medicines to shorten its duration and alleviate its symptoms, and a long history of medical research. And according to earliest data available (upon which churches based their decisions), coronavirus is about 20 times deadlier, is more contagious, and had no known treatment at the time of its discovery. But why bother quibbling over irrelevant details? They’re basically the same, right?

To those who accuse their fellow Christians of sin, or who beat their chests and shout their righteousness for all the world to see, you sound like another guy I know who once said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people …” (Luke 18:11). You may want to look him up. It sounds like you two have a lot in common.

False Prophet Cures Coronavirus?

[image error]Everybody, it’s time to celebrate! A cure for COVID-19 has been found! Several days ago, prosperity gospel preacher Kenneth Copeland wanted us to know that he has used the power of God to defeat the virus. I’ll let him tell you in his own words (watch it here, starting around 29:00):

COVID-19 … (blowing/spitting) … I blow the wind of God on you. You are destroyed forever, and you’ll never be back.

Sounds great, except that COVID-19 is still here. Days after his pronouncement, it’s still killing thousands of people every day, including Christians. But wait, all hope is not lost! Copeland also practically spoke the vaccine into existence ex nihilo just a few days earlier:

In the name of Jesus, standing in the office of the prophet of God, I execute judgment on you, COVID-19! I execute judgment on you, Satan! You destroyer! You killer! You get out, you (mumbles) break your power, you get off this nation, I demand judgment on you! I demand, I demand, I demand a vaccination to come immediately! I call you done, I call you gone gone! … You will destroy through COVID-19 no more! It is finished! It is over! And the United States of America is healed and well again, saith the Mighty Spirit called Peace, who is also the Prince of War, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This quote came before he supposedly destroyed COVID-19 with the “wind of God” (which sounds like an awesome superpower in a video game). But here’s where I need a little clarification: if you can defeat COVID-19 with the breath of God, why do you need a vaccine? And since doctors still don’t have the vaccine yet—and probably won’t for at least several months—do they need to keep working on it if you have executed judgment on it (whatever that means)? This is the problem faced by every false prophet.

Copeland’s heretical views are well-known. He is one of many false prophets who have profited handsomely from gullible followers. But throughout Scripture, Christians are called to exercise discernment concerning biblical teaching (Ephesians 4:14). Leaders, preachers, and teachers are commanded to maintain sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Titus 1:9; 2:1). Of course, the Christian faith does not need modification (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jude 3).

History is replete with men and women who pervert the gospel. Many centuries before Christ’s birth, the Bible established the criterion for determining whether a prophet is true or false:

And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

This passage is especially relevant for a couple of reasons. First, Copeland has pronounced COVID-19 defeated. In truth, the peak in the United States has yet to hit. He is a false prophet on this count alone. But also, the biblical text says, “You need not be afraid of [the false prophet].” Copeland and other Word of Faith preachers have a long history of saying that they would kill their enemies, or at least watch them die. Consider the following from Hank Hanegraaff’s book Christianity in Crisis (p. 23):

Speaking “under the anointing of the Holy Spirit,” Benny Hinn once claimed, “The day is coming when [our critics] who attack us will drop dead … Hear this: today they mock us; tomorrow they will fear us.”
Paul Crouch, the founder of Trinity Broadcast Network, said that if God didn’t shoot his enemies, he would. (See some other examples here and here.)
Copeland himself said that his critics would meet untimely deaths from cancer, presumably as a punishment from God.

There is another passage in Deuteronomy that instructs God’s people in how to evaluate a prophet:

If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’ do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)

How does this apply to Copeland? Simply put, he preaches a different God and a different Christ. Hanegraaff quotes him as saying, “I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible actually is … The biggest one is God,” “Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross,” and Jesus went down into hell as an “emaciated, poured out, little wormy spirit” (p. 25). This is not the Almighty God of Scripture, nor is it the triumphant Christ presented in the Gospels. It’s a cheap knock-off from a spiritual snake oil salesman.

Copeland’s views are not only heretical; they are nonsensical. For instance, Copeland’s wife, Gloria, claims that her husband can control the weather. Kenneth Copeland and fellow Word of Faith prosperity preacher Jesse Duplantis claim that God gave them private jets because they can’t pray on commercial airliners—in fact, they couldn’t do 90% of their ministry unless they had personal planes, because they shouldn’t be bothered by other people Copeland calls “demons.” He later denied saying this, telling one interviewer, “don’t you say I ever did!” (Don’t worry, Kenneth. That’s what the magic of Youtube is for!)

Scripture warns about false prophets (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1). Not every false teacher will be as laughably misguided as Copeland and his cronies. Many will be far subtler and much more spiritually dangerous (cf. 2 John 9). After all, the devil himself knows how to twist Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11) and has enough restraint to mix in only as much deception as is necessary to be effective (Genesis 3:1-5). Sadly, there will be some who follow in their master’s footsteps.

Nursing the Old Self Back to Life

The old self would like us to coax it back to life. Let’s talk about how to avoid doing that.

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