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Hi, I'm Allyssa
and I'm Eric and you are watching Mission 360˚.
Mission 360˚ comes to you from the Office of Adventist Mission
at the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters.
Every week we focus on Mission stories and challenges all around us.
Today's program is a part of a miniseries about world religions;
our version of a world's religion 101. Today we're learning about Islam.
We hope you'll take this journey with us as we explore the life and faith of this religion.
Islam was founded in Arabia is based on the Teachings of a man named Mohammed.
A follower of Islam is called a Muslim. A practicing Muslim follows the teachings of the Koran,
described as the written revelation from Allah to Muhammad.
The Muslim population is estimated at more than one billion,
covering many different areas of the world. The majority of Muslims
live in Africa, the Middle East, and sections of
Asia and Europe. There are six million Muslims in the United States alone.
Islam, submission to God.
Today there are some 1.5 billion Muslims in the world divided into three main groups;
Suni, Shia, and Sufi. Islam is the religion of submission to the absolute will of Allah,
the master or Lord of the Worlds. His will is recorded in the Koran,
Muslim's holy book - His guidance to the straight path.
Muhammad the Prophet of Islam is considered the last of the line of prophets that goes back to Adam.
Islam focuses on the need for remembrance through the five pillars;
confession, affirmation, prayers, assistance, and fasting. The purpose of this study
is to present Islam in a clear and truthful way so viewers can better understand the
followers of one of the most misunderstood religions in the world.
Gary Krause: “My guest is Doctor Lester Merklin.
Doctor Merklin heads up the study center that helps
Seventh-day Adventists better understand Islam and Muslims, welcome Lester.
When we think of Islam,
when I compare it to Christianity, we have different denominations; we have protestants, we have Catholics,
are there those sorts of divisions within Islam?”
Lester Merklin: “Islam would like to present itself is as one unified
religion and I think it's best for us to consider that especially as we
get to know our Muslim friends. But there are differences between the Suni and the other different groups.
But it's not a big thing that should make a difference in relating to a Muslim.”
GK: “So the word Muslim itself, what does that mean?”
LM: Muslim comes from the Arabic roots of the idea of submission,
complete commitment and of course they use it, rightly so, as their stance before God.
Submitted to him in wanting to follow Him with what He asks them to follow."
GK: “So a Muslim is someone who is committed to God.
Give me a brief introduction to the fundamental beliefs of a Muslim.”
LM: “Okay, almost every Muslim would
list for you some very specific things that makes a Muslim a Muslim.
That would include of course that there is one God. That there are angels. That there are prophets.
Many different prophets are listed both in the Koran and by Muslims.
Including many that we as Seventh-day Adventists would recognize.
Almost the same lists with the addition of course of Mohammed,
the last prophet as they understand it.
They believe also in the books the revealed word of God that He has given
through the ages up through to Mohammed and the last days
when the resurrection will come, when the judgment will happen,
Jesus will come, and the end of this world in its current conflict will be over.”
GK: “So they accept the Bible as one of the books?”
LM: “Many Muslims that you talk to may not
stop to think of that, but yes it is very central to the Islamic understanding because the Koran
is very clear that God has spoken through the various prophets throughout the ages
and therefore is part of the revealed Word but climaxed in the Koran.”
GK: “What would their views be on the afterlife?”
LM: “The afterlife is called Paradise and I suspect that
just like with Seventh-day Adventists, each individual would
would describe it in the words that sounds like paradise to them.
Not a lot of specific theological discussions other than the fact it's
forever with God and without evil and Satan is gone.”
GK: “So what happens after death?”
LM: “After death, we’re in the grave until the resurrection. The soul, the spirit is kept
separate from the body in various ways depending on who you might ask but the idea though still is
that the judgment comes when Jesus comes when the last days come.
And at the time of judgment then the soul returns to the body and it's at that
time then the eternity is either hell or paradise.”
GK: “So there's a resurrection of the body. What about hell fire. Is it an eternal hellfire?”
LM: “Basically in their understanding.
However, the length of time any one person may be in hell depends on
how they've lived in this world.
So it may be shorter, it may be longer especially for Muslims.
You find many Muslims understanding that
every Muslim who has accepted the basic beliefs of Islam
and Mohammed is their prophet and Allah is their only God
will in the end find paradise. But they may have to go through
hellfires for a while because of the way they lived.”
GK: “So it's almost like a purgatory.” LM: “Yeah, in that kind of sense.”
GK: “What about the view of origins.
Creation versus evolution. How do they tend to look at that?”
LM: “The Koran is very clear and every Muslim would be clear that God is the Creator.
There's no question about that. In today's age
you will find some Muslims that understand that God used some kind of
evolutionary process but many others have a hard time
going that direction because the Koran is clear that God made Adam and Eve.”
GK: “But the Koran is the central guide for the Muslim.”
LM: “Yes the Koran is the Holy Book. It is what was given by God to Mohammed the prophet.
It is an exact Arabic copy of what is in heaven and therefore it is the Word of God.”
GK: “According to the Muslim. Well Lester I feel there is so much more I need to know. This has given me a good introduction
and thank you so much for sharing with us today.”
Our lesson on Islam will continue soon. But before we hear from Lester Merklin
let's travel to Serbia to watch one family's dream of a church come true.
When they were growing up, Cousins Magdolna and
Eva heard the grown-ups talk about their dream of having an Adventist Church in their town.
The two grew up in Bajmok now part of Serbia, not far from the Hungarian border.
“Auntie Helen dream was would we ever have a church in Bajmok where they were born.“
Magdolna moved to Australia but she never forgot Her hometown and her family's dream.
During a recent visit to by Bajmok, Magdolna and Eva
sat and sang together in their newly finished church and they remembered that dream.
“They all dreamed that one day we will not come together in
somebody's kitchen fact they will have a little church to come together.”
Magdolna remembers when her aunt died and left her some money.
She and other relatives asked Eva to not send money but to build a church.
And so the dream started to become a reality. Friends and family pitched in.
“Joseph, who was an elder for a long time,
and supported the church, who passed away already worked
tirelessly on this church building. He was not well himself but
we never paid him he would never take any money for it.”
And other people started helping too. Eva's husband was also supportive
even though he is not a member.
“He had his friends on lunch and he turned to one of them who was
a factory manager who builds furniture ‘What about you?’ And he said, ‘What about me?’
He said these people build the church.
Can’t you donate something? He said what can I do?
And then of course the man turned to Eva and myself and
we said well we need lots of things but amongst the lot of things we need a pulpit.”
Eva quickly ran to get a brochure and showed him a picture of a simple pulpit.
“He said something like that I can make. We asked him how much that would cost.
He said nothing. That will be my donation.
A man who had nothing to do with our church but a friend of Eva's husband.”
All the pews in the new church were also built by Eva’s husband’s friend
and though he charged for the materials he didn't charge
anything for the labor. Magdolna and her family haven't stopped dreaming.
Now their dream is that the church will grow.
“Joseph always said if this church is small we will push out that back wall
and will come toward this back building so we’ll build a bigger church. May God help us that
church will be made bigger. That there will be no room in this church
before Jesus comes, that it will be too full and that we have to make it bigger."
This is 'The Little Church That Is' here in Bajmok.
Please pray for Eva and for the small group of believers
and please pray for other small groups who are dreaming of a church
in their town or village. "I feel very happy that the dream of my ancestors came true."
After the break we'll continue learning about Islam.
One thing held in common by most cultures
is the pleasure found in sitting down to enjoy a warm bowl of soup.
Nancy Kyte has collected and taste tested recipes from more than 130 countries around the world.
In “A Taste of Travel” you will feast on the bounty of fruits,
vegetables, nuts, and grains that nourish us. If you live in North America
please call our toll-free number or visit our website and
ask for your free copy of A Taste of Travel.
Welcome back, today our program is focusing on Islam. So far we have learned about the Muslim
religion and its belief system.
Now let's continue our class as we learn how to find bridges of
understanding between Muslims and Christians. Let's welcome Rick McEdward and Lester Merklin.
Gary Krause: "Now welcome back Lester, and Rick - thanks for joining us.
Tell us a little bit about the Global Mission study centers of which Lester is a part."
Rick: "You know the study center has been around for
several years and their real role is to help Christians understand and relate
their faith in a positive way to people of other religions."
GK: "Good summary. Now Lester, when we look at Islam
and we look at Christianity, is there a huge divide between the two
or is there much in common?" LM: "There's no doubt there's much in common
but that doesn't mean that there aren't things that we would
look at differently as well. But the one God, our need to
be submitted to His will, living for Him rather than for ourselves.
The fact that there's going to be an end this earth,
and all things created new. These are things that are common between
many Christians and obviously very common between Muslims and Adventists."
GK: "I was gonna ask you, that was my next question specifically Adventists and Muslims. Rick?"
RM: "Well one of the most profound things about us is that we desire to be totally
committed to God. There's no secret about that.
So why not express that in spiritual tones when we talk to our Muslim friends.
There's nothing wrong with that, you know, and I think that's the starting place
for a spiritual relationship with a Muslim." GK: "Lester, what else?"
LM: "I would definitely echo what he has said that I have found many times and
relating with Muslims just the concept that we both are, from the heart, wanting to serve God.
And we may have some different ways of understanding that but what a place to start
a spiritual journey together, realizing that we both are looking for what God wants in our life."
RM: "I wouldn't want to leave it there because
Muslims and Adventists have a profound interest
in the second coming of Christ.
Adventists - that is how our movement started.
Muslims have a deep expectancy that there will be a judgment and that
Jesus the Messiah will return and be part of that great eschatological day.
And that is, I think, a link that that we haven't related with our Muslim friends enough."
LM: "And probably very important in a relationship with a Muslim, especially an Adventist,
is the understanding of what some of that lifestyle will be
as we prepare for judgment, as we submit ourselves to God.
You know, like unclean food. I find Muslim friends very surprised that Adventists understand God said
no to the pig and certain other foods and the absence of alcohol that is part of an Adventist's life and a Muslim's life.
It's exciting because they haven't always found that kind of relationship
especially as they've moved from their home countries to the west
and find some some kindred souls."
GK: "How do you think that most Muslims would look on Christians?"
RM: "Well, you know the perspective of Muslims toward Christians
is often tainted by several forms of media. Whether it's the Evening News with
political and foreign affairs from certain countries that have seemed aggressive to them.
Maybe the Crusades reenacted in the minds. Maybe it's Hollywood which
says it's from America, branded in America, so they think it's a Christian country.
But Hollywood doesn't carry the values of Christ.
So there's a perception there that Christians
equal what Hollywood presents and what
certain foreign affairs or political agendas.
And that creates a huge conflict in the minds of a Muslim toward a Christian."
LM: "And an immigrant Muslim to find a person
who's living in a non-western way, from their mindset, they appreciate that."
GK: "You said right at the beginning that it's important to find that common ground
that we are submitted to God too.
Now, would they think that we are Worshipping the same God?
Or would they think that we are worshipping a different God?"
LM: "Yes and no. It is true because some
would have an understanding that is different. Just like sometimes
Christians feel that they are a different God.
But I find in most relationships that is not an issue
because I think most average Muslims, most average Adventists,
realize there's one God. It's just that we get hung up on how you describe that sometimes."
GK: "Now, some studies have talked about how
well Christians connect with Muslims in North America and in Europe.
Can you share some the results of those studies Rick?"
RM: "Well, it's like eighty percent
of all Muslims living in North America and Europe
do not know even one Christian friend. And that is a shame on us because maybe people
identify with each other so there's a natural tendency to
communicate with other people like yourself but we have to be
responsible with the mission - the purpose that we live for."
GK: "Rick and Lester, time was too short. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Lester, to find out more information about your study center - how can viewers do that?"
LM: "One way would be AdventistMission.org and we will have many different kinds resources
to help a person know their neighbor a little bit better."
GK: "Fantastic thank you so much."
Nothing touches the heart more than music as we continue, lets watch
Estoy en Paz which is Spanish for I am at peace.
[Music]
I hope you've learned a lot from our guests today.
They're part of special Global Mission centers established to help build bridges of
understanding and friendship with people from major world religions.
These centers research and experiment with ways to more effectively
communicate with people from profoundly different world views.
They help us understand the beliefs and cultures and other world religions
and equip them with means, approaches, methods, and models on how to best relate to people.
We hope you enjoyed Islam 101. The ideas shared on here
encourage a mission with the wholistic up close and personal approach.
Remember to connect with people and treat them with love and care.
We're here on this planet together. Let's take time to make a difference.
We also ask you to pray for the hundreds of missionaries who have left the comfort of their homes
to share hope in Jesus Christ. If you want learn more about Adventist Mission
just visit our website at AdventistMission.org. There is a world of mission information right there.
Thanks for joining us today and I hope you can join us next week right here on Mission 360˚.