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Response to Misha'al Al-Kadhi: Was Christ a "Christian"?
A response to 5.14
Was Christ a "Christian"?
"What was the religion of Jesus?"
When you pose this question, remember that Christians
believe that Jesus is God. And that Jesus did not
come to be served, but rather to serve and to give
his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
"They would unhesitantly respond: Christianity."
This would be a general answer, but hopefully the person
would give a deeper explanation.
"Did Jesus himself ever use this word?".
Does it really
matter what "label" Jesus gave to his followers?
Did he ever call his religion 'Christianity' or call his
followers 'Christians'?"
Same comment. The term "christians"
was used to relate the people with the person of faith
(Jesus). Muslims could argue for the word "Jesusians"
if they want.
By the way, the Quran never says anywhere that
islam means "submission to God". This is a human
interpretation. Likewise, the word "muslim" does
not relate to anything or to anyone. If you say
"I am a muslim", the other person wouldn't know what
you are talking about. If you said, "I am christian",
and they have heard about Jesus, they might say, "then
you are a follower of Jesus Christ".
"Christian" is just a word to relate a follower to
his/her faith in Jesus.
On a humorous note, can you imagine Peter asking Jesus,
"Jesus, what shall we be called? We follow you but we
don't have any labels or titles".
"So what was the religion of Jesus"?
As a man, Jesus observed the religion that God revealed to
Moses. But as God, Jesus is that faith. The question
is ambiguous without recognizing Jesus as both God and
man.
"He fasted when they fasted".
This is Mr. Al-Kadhi's
opinion. We believe he fasted more.
"He prayed as they prayed".
Not true. The people prayed
for forgiveness of sins. Jesus was sinless.
"He observed the Sabbath as the Jews did".
Jesus said that
he is the Lord of the sabbath (Luke 6:5). God made the
sabbath. Jesus is Lord of the sabbath. Jesus equates himself
with God. Muslims always miss this point.
"He never in his life tasted pork".
The law forbidding
the eating of pork was given to the Jews only. It was
not given to any other people. Muhammad copied this
from the scriptures.
"Jesus ordered his followers to keep the commandments of
the God 'till heaven and earth pass' (Matthew 5:17-18)."
During the Last Supper, Jesus also told his disciples
"this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for
many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28).
Why does Mr. Al-Kadhi accept Christ's words in one verse
and then reject Jesus in another verse?
"... the true founder of Christianity was the Jew named
Saul of Tarsus. More popularly known as "Saint Paul."
The foundation for Christianity is Jesus Christ. It
can't be any clearer.
Saint Paul began his ministry much later than the
apostles. His teaching about Jesus agreed with
theirs (Acts 9:26-28, 11:25-30). Read it for yourself.
It doesn't get any clearer.
"Paul claimed that he was receiving divine "visions" from
Jesus' ghost ordering him to nullify that which Jesus
(pbuh) observed throughout his life ..."
Nowhere does Paul claim this. It is a complete fabrication
by the pen of Mr. Al-Kadhi. "Bring your proof if you are
truthful" (Quran 2:111). Or at least, exhibit the decency
to apologize.
"Was prophet Abraham a Jew?" The nation of Israel
did not exist at the time of Abraham.
"We would now ask was Adam, the first human, a Jew"?
The
nation of Israel did not exist at the time of Adam.
"Were all of the prophets of God Jews?" The Word of
God came through the Jews.
"Well then, did Moses ever call his religion 'Judaism'?"
It was not "his religion". It is God's. Does it really
matter what Moses called it?
"What was prophet Abraham's religion?" There was no
organized religion in Abraham's day as we know it. He
followed and obeyed God by faith and not by sight.
To sum it all up very plainly, Christianity should not be
viewed as a religion like muslims would think. Its a
relationship with God and a faith based on the death,
burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (God in human
flesh) to pay for the sins of mankind.
The Rebuttal to "What Did Jesus Really Say?"
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