CHRISTIAN MUSLIM RESPONSES
DEBATE ON TV
At the end of the debate - "Christianity and Islam" - which
appeared on the SABC-TV programme "CROSS (+) QUESTIONS" on Sunday
5th June 1983, the chairman, Mr Bill chalmers commented:
"I think it can be said from this descussion that there is, at
present, somewhat more accommodation on the Islamic side for the founder
of Christianity than is on the Christian side for the fonder of Islam.
What the significance of that is, we leave it to you, the viewers, to
determine, but I do think you will agree that it is a good thing that
we are talking together."
"BILL" as he is popularly addressed, without any formalities,
on all his programmes, by all his panelists, is extremely charming and
stupendous in his humility. He is a picture of what the Holy Quran portrays
of a good Christian:
"... AND NEAREST AMONG THEM IN LOVE
TO THE BELIEVERS WILT THOU FIND
THOSE WHO SAY, "WE ARE CHRISTIANS":
BECAUSE AMONG THESE ARE MEN DEVOTED TO LEARNING AND MEN WHO HAVE RENOUNCED
THE WORLD.
AND THEY ARE NOT ARROGANT."
{Holy Quran 5:58}
JESUS - HIS STATUS
Were the Muslims on the panel, trying to placate the viewers out of the
policy, deceit or diplomacy? Nothing of the kind! They were only articulating
what God Almighty had commanded them to say in the Holy Quran. As Muslims
they had no choice. they had said in so many words - "WE MUSLIMS BELIEVE,
THAT JESUS WAS ONE OF THE MIGHIEST MESSENGER OF GOD, THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST,
THAT HE WAS BORN MITACULOUSLY - WITHOUT ANY MALE INTERVENTION (which many
modern-day christians do not believe today), THAT HE GAVE LIFE TO THE
DEAD BY GOD'S PERMISSION IN FACT NO MUSLIM IS A MUSLIM IF HE DOES NOT
BELIEVE IN JESUS!"
PLEASANT SUPRISE
Over 90% of the people who witnessed this debate must have believed their
ears. They must have surmised that the Muslims were playing to the gallery
- that they were trying to curry favour with their fellow Christian countrymen;
that if the Muslims would say a few good words about Jesus, then in reciprocation
the Christians might say a few words about Muhummed (May the Peace and
the Blessings of God be upon all His rightious servants - Moses, Jesus,
Muhammed etc); that I scratch your back and you scratch my back - which
would be a sham or hypocrisy.
HATE CULTIVATED
We cannot blame the Christians for their scepticism. They have been so
programmed for centuries. They were trained to think the worst of the
man Muhummed (pubh) and his religion. How aptly did Thomas Carlye say
about his Chrisrians brethren over a hundered and fifty years ago - "THE
LIES WHICH WELL MEANING ZEAL HAS HEAPED ROUND THIS MAN (Muhummed) ARE
DISGRACEFUL TO OURSELVES ONLY." We muslims are partly responsible
for this staggering ingorance of the 1,200,000,000 Christians of the world.
We have not done anything substantial fo remove the cobwebs.
OCEAN OF CHRISTIANITY
South Africa is an ocean of Christianity. If Libya boasts the highest
percentage of Muslims on the continent of Africa, then the Republic of
Sauth Africa would also be entitled to boast the highest percentage of
Christians. In this ocean of Christianity - the R.S.A - the Muslim is
barely 2% of the total population. We are voteless minority - numerically,
we count for nothing; politically we count for nothing; and economically,
one white man, as Oppenheimer, could buy our the whole lot of us, lock,
stock and barrel.
So if we had feigned to appease, we might be excused. But no! We must
proclaim our Master's Will; we must declare the Truth, weather we like
it or not. In the words of Jesus (pbuh):
"Seek ye the truth, and the truth shall set you free" - (John 9:32).
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