Debate Bulawayo 27 April 2014
Christianity vs Islam – Which is truth? PURPOSE OF THIS DEBATE? My intention is to introduce Christianity to you in a simple but clear way by focussing on the uniqueness of Christianity. I will then also compare it with Islam to see which is true. Sorry to say, but debating Jesus is second-hand; living with GOD, that is the thing! Question: "So what makes Christianity unique?" Answer: First, all other religions requires man to reach up to God and get hold of Him through their own efforts. Christianity is the only religion where God reaches down to man. In other religions people give their gods food, in Christianity our GOD lays a table before us. (Ref Psalm 23:5) Second, in other religions and especially in Islam, you have a list of boring do’s and don’ts to please God. Every day the same thing over and over. Christianity however is a real and exciting relationship with the only true God. Third, Christianity looks to the Bible as the singular source of Truth. Fourth and finally, Christianity is based upon the most amazing event in all of human history—the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 1 A system of works? In Islam you have to perform certain rituals like praying 5 times daily, going to Mosque on Friday etc. In short Islam is a system of works—those you should do and those you should avoid - which will make us “good enough” to please God and win His favour. Christianity, on the other hand, is based on the biblical principle that we can never be good enough to be in the presence of a righteous and holy God. The law of Moses was given to mankind to prove this. What the law does, is to show us that we are sinful and that our works will fail. We need a way out and GOD so loved the world that He sent Jesus as ransom that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16). By faith in Jesus and accepting His work on our behalf, we are justified and made righteous in GOD’s eyes. Our righteousness is not by our own effort but by grace and faith in what GOD provided for us. 2 We are in relationship Christianity is not a religious system, but a relationship with God, one that He initiated and maintains. Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but sin separates all men from Him (Romans 3:23,5:12). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross to restore the relationship that was broken by sin. After His death on the cross, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). I am literally adopted into the body, the family of GOD and hence I have a new identity. 1Co_1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints... This means the as Christians, we were made holy by Christ Jesus and are now identified as saints (saint means - physically pure, morally blameless, ceremonially consecrated, a Daisy Ministries – Debate between Sheikh Abdularahman and Jaco Pitzer Contact – jacopitzer777@gmail.com
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Debate Bulawayo 27 April 2014
most holy thing.). That means that as GOD’s legally adopted child, I can approach my FATHER GOD with full assurance that HE will receive me as HIS own. We have the papers to prove that we are legally part of GOD’s family, it is written in the Bible. And now all the benefits of being HIS child are available to me. No other religion, especially Islam, can make this bold statement. 3 The Bible, our source of information Another thing that makes Christianity unique our Bible. It is the source of information. All religions have some sort of basis of information that outlines its beliefs and practices, but none have one source of information that makes the claims Christianity does about the Bible—it is the written Word of God, and it is infallible and inerrant and all that is necessary for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16). Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that it’s teaching is the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Our Bible can stand on it’s own whilst Islam need the Hadith to explain the Quran. Though there are other religions that use prophecy, none are 100% accurate, as are those in the Bible, and none of them point to someone like Jesus who made incredible claims and performed incredible deeds. Unique among all books ever written, the Bible accurately foretells specific events - in detail - many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur. Approximately 2500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible of which at least 2000 have been fulfilled to the letter—no errors. That is unique! 4 The Resurrection of Christ Perhaps the most defining principle of Christianity that makes it truly unique is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection Christianity can not exist. After Jesus was crucified, the disciples ran and hid. But when they saw the risen Lord, they knew that all Jesus had said and done proved that He was indeed God in flesh. No other religious leader has died in full view of trained executioners, had a guarded tomb, and then rose three days later to appear to many people. The resurrection is proof of who Jesus is and that He did accomplish what He set out to do: and that is to provide the only means of redemption for mankind. Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Krishna are still dead, really dead, dead dead! Only in Christianity do we have Jesus who physically rose from the dead, who claimed to be God, performed signs and wonders to prove His claim of divinity and claimed that He alone is “the way the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him”. (John 14:6) Compare Jesus to Muhammad, seriously... Having made these claims, and considering that we are in a debate with Muslims, we obviously need to substantiate or defend our claims. 1&2 GOD is reaching out to man because of a love based relationship! The fact that our GOD interact with us is not a uniquely New Testament occurrence. There are many places in the OT of which we give a few in evidence. HE speaks to Jacob - Gen 28:13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying”. GOD is aware of our families and our needs. Daisy Ministries – Debate between Sheikh Abdularahman and Jaco Pitzer Contact – jacopitzer777@gmail.com
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Debate Bulawayo 27 April 2014
HE speak to the Israelites saying Deu 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Isa 41:13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
The New Testament obviously abounds with scripture explaining who we are because of Christ Jesus. Let us mention a few to make the point;
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Joh 14:16 Jesus speak and say “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever...” Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. By uniting Himself with the Father, Jesus united humanity to the Father forever!
The Bible, our source of information
We can prove that the Bible is the Word of GOD by looking at historical and prophetic facts. The Bible was written by 40 men over a period of about 1,600 years on three continents. Why am I telling you this? Because of the undeniable unity that exists between the two portions of God's word. The fact is that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Nearly 500 years between the two Testaments and yet, it flows into each other confirming GOD as the ultimate author of the Bible. Historically, there are verifiable hard copies of the Hebrew Bible (Targum in Aramaic, part of the Old Testament) available from as early as 1000 years BC. To me, the copies of Isaiah found around 150BC is most important as you find most Messianic prophesies in that book, 22 in fact. Some includes; Isa 7:14 - He will be born of a virgin. Isa 11:2; 42:1 - He will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, Isa 53:4-6, 10-12 - He will take on Himself the sins of the world and Isa 53:10, He will triumph over death. Other fulfilled prophesies with more detail are: Mic 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." We know the story where the Magi come looking for the King of the Jews asking Herod for advise. Herod’s scholars knew the scriptures and pointed them to Mica 5:2. Fulfilled Mat 2:4-6 etc. Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Fulfilled Mat 21:1-11; John 12:12-16.Question, How many people do you know that rides as a king into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey? (Note 3 details) Can we again work on 1 in 10,000? Zec 11:12, 13 says - I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. Zec 11:13 And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"--the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the LORD. Fulfilled Mat 26:14-16 & Mat 27:3-7. Mat 26:14 Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests Mat 26:15 and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. Mat 26:16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Mat 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. Mat 27:4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." Mat 27:5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Mat 27:6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, Daisy Ministries – Debate between Sheikh Abdularahman and Jaco Pitzer Contact – jacopitzer777@gmail.com
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Debate Bulawayo 27 April 2014
since it is blood money." Mat 27:7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. WOW! 5 Details fulfilled. What do you think the probability is for this to happen? I would say 1 in 100,000 would be fair? Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Fulfilled Mat 27:12 – 14 Isa 53:9 “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death”. Fulfilled (2 Details) We know that Jesus was crucified to die with robbers (Mat 27:38) one on the right and one on the left, and that He was buried In rich Joseph from Arimathea’s grave. Have you ever considered the prophetic probability that over 40 prophesies has been fulfilled in Jesus? What are the odds? The odds on the mentioned 8 only prophesies fulfilled is at best 1 in 1022. Mind blowing but it happened!!! Lets go to the New Testament; it was written within 70 years of the death of Christ. There are around 5600 copies available in universities and libraries across Europe and the USA. The internal consistency of the New Testament documents is about 99.5% textually pure. That is an amazing accuracy. In addition, there are over 19,000 copies in the Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Aramaic languages. The total number of manuscripts supporting the New Testament is over 24,000. YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS, BUT THE QURAN OFFERS PROOF THAT THE BIBLE (the Torah, the psalms and the Injeel) IS INDEED THE WORD of GOD! Muslims claim that the Bible is corrupted but can not offer a shred of proof. How funny it may sound, but the Quran confirms the books that we call, the Bible. Let us see what Allah say in the Quran about the Bible. Surah 10:94. If thou are in doubt as to what We have revealed unto you, then ask those who have been reading The Book from before you: The Truth has indeed come to you from the Lord: so be in no way of those in doubt. - Allah speaking to the Jews at the time of Mohammad. Surah 29:46. And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; our God and your God is One; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)." - This verse clearly states that the Muslims are not to argue with us as we, the Christians, have been given the Taurat (Torah), the Zabor (Psalms of David) and the Injeel (the Gospels). Surah 4:136. O ye who believe! Believe in God and His Apostle, and the scripture which He has sent to His Apostle and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Any who denies God, His angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the Day of Judgment, has gone far, far astray. - It is instructed that believers have to believe the scriptures and the apostles sent prior to the Quran. That includes the Bible and the Bible writers. If you do not you are far far astray! Surah 5:46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him The Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear God. 47. Let the People of the Gospel judge by what God hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel. Surah 5:68 Say: "O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless you stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord."
Daisy Ministries – Debate between Sheikh Abdularahman and Jaco Pitzer Contact – jacopitzer777@gmail.com
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Debate Bulawayo 27 April 2014
Even though as Christians we reject the Quran in totality, these scriptures from the Quran do instruct the Christians and people to go back to and respect their Book as well as their prophets. The Quran was given to the Prophet Mohammad by Allah. Question; DO THEY READ THE BIBLE? Unless Allah made a mistake and the Quran is wrong, the Bible must be part of the Muslim’s life. EVIDENCE AGAINST THE QURAN AND MUHAMMAD From a prophetic point of view, there is virtually no verifiable prophecy indicating Divine intervention or Divine purpose. A Holy book can be from one of three sources; from your own mind, from satan or from GOD. Following simple reasoning and using Muslim recourses, we can clearly show that the Quran is not Divine and that Muhammad could not have been a prophet. Let us consider the following reasons why I say this; 1. All the building blocks of Islam are found in the area around Mecca from where Muhammad came. There were Jewish monotheism in the area, there were various stories about Jesus and Mary circulating, the Sibeans bowed down and prayed 5 times daily, the way Muslims pray, the Persians believed that after death an eternity of pleasure awaits you with many virgins waiting for you. The pagans performed ablutions facing Mecca, they took the pilgrimage, they circled and kissed the Kaaba and they kissed the black stone. So, Islam does not look like something that came from heaven but rather a strange combination of Jewish, Christian and pagan beliefs and practises. 2. Muhammad's self serving revelations clearly point to revelations with a human origin. Surah 4:3 states that Muslims can marry up to 4 woman but Muhammad at one stage had at least eleven wives. Easy, he conveniently had a revelation Surah 33:50 which allowed him alone more wives. 3. What happens when Muhammad gets attracted to the wife of his adopted son Zayed? He received revelation that adoption is wrong and Surah 33:5 and 37 justifies his marriage to Zayed's now divorced wife. 4.
In Surah 66:1,2 Allah gives Muhammad permission to break his own oaths because his wives Aisha and Hafsa complained about him having sex with a slave girl. He vowed not to have sex with her again but then fortunately the mentioned revelation came and he could continue to have sex with the slave girl. This is a fraction of Muhammad's immoral teachings. He allowed his troops to hire prostitutes during military expeditions. He allowed troops to rape their female captives, even captives who were married. The Quran allows sex with prepubescent girls. Islam seems to be centred on satisfying man's desires, especially Muhammad's desires.
5. Virtually everything that Muhammad said about science is false. Surah 18:86 tells us that Dhul-Qarnayn (some Muslims say he was Alexander the Great) travelled so far west that he found the place where the sun sets in a pool of mud or mercy water. 6. Surah 67:5 and 37:6-10 tells us that stars are missiles that GOD uses to shoot demons that try to sneak into heaven. In Surah 86 we learn that semen is formed between the backbone and ribs. 7. He had definite demonic or satanic influence in his life. There are scripture hinting that Muhammad considered himself demon possessed when he began receiving revelations. There are verses where it is clear that he mistakenly listened to Satan and recorded the Daisy Ministries – Debate between Sheikh Abdularahman and Jaco Pitzer Contact – jacopitzer777@gmail.com
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Debate Bulawayo 27 April 2014
infamous satanic verses in the Quran. This is from Muslim sources, not from me. He committed shirk when he was telling his followers to pray to or through Alat, Alusa and Manat, three pagan goddesses. He then came back stating that satan tricked him. This clearly means that at some stages Muhammad could not differentiate between God's and Satan's voices. It just looks suspicious if the final prophet of Allah could be a victim of black magic. Talking about self serving revelations - Muhammad’s dinner guests. You are not going to believe this, but GOD gave Moh revelation for dinner guests. Why would this be? Remember, the Quran is the eternal, uncreated speech of Allah! The Quran is Allah speech, not human speech! Surah 33:53 Enter not into Muhammads houses unless permission is given to you for a meal, and then, not so early as to wait for it’s preparation. And when you enter and finished your meal, disperse, leave without sitting for a talk (no tea) because such behaviour annoys the Prophet and he is shy to ask you to go. Looking at this, and there are many, many more, do you think the Quran and Muhammad are real?
4 The Resurrection of Christ We can spend days on this, but suffice to say that the life, the death and resurrection is one of the historically most recorded events. This by his disciples and 500 other eye witnesses, Roman, Greek and Jewish historians etc. It is only Islam that goes so fat as to state that “IT IS NOT TRUE”. What can I say??? Apart from historical proof available on paper, the biggest proof of Jesus’s resurrection is Holy Spirit that was poured out and that is available for all believers. Because GOD is spirit, you can not know and love GOD but by the Spirit. Walking with GOD, you can not imagine it until you have walked it! GOD residing in us. That makes us a people of power, power over sin and sickness, that makes us a people of love and joy. That is proof that you as Muslims can see daily in the lives of true believers. Assurance of salvation Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we as Christians do not have to doubt whether we are going to heaven to be with GOD or not. We know we are going, again not because we are fancy, but because of the great love of GOD and the fact that we have been made righteous in HIS eye by Jesus. With respect, who of you here would regard yourself a better Muslim than Abu-Bakr, the first Calipha and Muhammad’s closest friend? Who of you here would regard yourself as a better Muslim than Mohammad? Why do I ask, because neither of them was sure where they were going to end up! Abu-Bakr was supposed to be of the best human beings after the prophets being guaranteed a place in paradise by Muhammad. Yet, Abu-Bakr did not trust Allah for a place in paradise. It is written that he said “By Allah! I would not rest assured and feel safe from the deception of Allah (la amanu limakr Allah), even if I had one foot in paradise.’” (Khalid Muhammad Khalid, Successors of the Messenger, translated by Muhammad Mahdi al-Sharif [Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah, Beirut Lebanon, 2005], Book One: Abu Bakr Has Come, p. 99; bold and italic emphasis ours). Quranic scriptures that further supports Abu-Bakr’s thought pattern is Surah 14:4, 33:13&14 etc. Daisy Ministries – Debate between Sheikh Abdularahman and Jaco Pitzer Contact – jacopitzer777@gmail.com
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Debate Bulawayo 27 April 2014
Similarly and according to the Quran, Muhammad was uncertain whether Allah would save him saying “I am not an innovation among the Messengers, and I know not what shall be done with me or with you. I only follow what is revealed to me; I am only a clear warner.” S. 46:8-9 Apart from the above proof that not even the top Muslim fathers are sure of salvation, all Muslims can be sure of one thing.... Let us read the following and you tell me how I should interpret these verses; Surah 19:67 Does not man remember that We created him before, when he was nothing? 19:68 So by thy Lord! We shall certainly gather them together and the devils, then shall We bring them around hell on their knees. 19:69 Then We shall draw forth from every sect those most rebellious against the Beneficent. 19:70 Again, We certainly know best those who deserve most to be burned therein. 19:71 And there is not one of you but shall come to it. This is an unavoidable decree of thy Lord. 19:72 And We shall deliver those who guard against evil, and leave the wrongdoers therein on their knees. This is clear that some will get out and some will remain in hell. Dear Muslim, not your Prophet, nor Abu-Bakr nor any of you can be sure of salvation. One thing is sure though, however harsh this may seem, the intention is to get you to look for an alternative and real GOD. The Jesus of the Bible is this afternoon knocking at the door of your heart calling you loud and clear. Jesus say to you Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. CLOSING In concluding my talk I can state the following based on the Islamic scriptures and the Bible; 1. Based on the Quran and referring to the lifestyle of the prophet Muhammad, it is clear that Islam is a false religion, 2. The Christian GOD reaches out to mankind wanting to be in a relationship with mankind. 3. The Bible is clearly the inspired Word of GOD. 4. The resurrected Jesus made it possible for us to be children of GOD and that 5. As Christians we have absolute assurance of salvation. This subject is very general and we would like to debate matters like the Deity of GOD and the Sinless / Sinfulness of the prophet Muhammad. Thank you
Daisy Ministries – Debate between Sheikh Abdularahman and Jaco Pitzer Contact – jacopitzer777@gmail.com
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