I thoroughly enjoyed going to the mosque. Seeing first hand how the prayer works and hearing our "guide" Atah(?) overview the different things we've been learning be as well as expand on different ideas.
One thing that he said really stuck out to me. (not word for word but the gist...)
"The five prayers a day keep us from sinning, at least the big sins because we know that we are going to be going before Allah in a couple of hours."
This made me think. They have schedule prayers each day while we do not have schedules prayers we are called to "pray continuously" (1 Thes. 5:17) and to approach the throne with confidence (Heb 4:16)...but do we? We scoff at their five schedule prayers a day yet do we even in our liberty go to the Father about everything every part of every day? Do we even go to Him everyday? And I don't mean just before meals. Do we?Then what of this idea of keeping from sinning? They realize they will be going before Allah and so they try not to sin yet we who are to come before Christ all the time and are no longer slaves to sin (Rom. 6:5-7) because of Christ, I think are all too flippant with knowing of God's grace.
Now I'm not saying this is true of all but I know this is true of myself at times. These are things that we need to be evaluating. Not judging the differences of Islam and Christ Followers, yes see the differences, but do not forget that these people are just as important to Christ as we so to simply judge, what love are we showing?
The difference is that they do not truly know Jesus Christ, the Savior. That's got to rattle us.
2 comments:
Well you could also look just within the Christian community at the difference between leagalism and license where there should be a balance with freedom and liberty in Christ. What I mean is that when me mandate that rules and regulations for ourselves it is so difficult to keep them from becoming leagalistic. ( having a mindset to judge others based on our actions, and considering that our actions are adding to our merit before God. Then there is the other side where we dont seem to care at all what we do.
But I do think that when God tells us that we should pray, and when He gives us the incredible opportunity to pour out our lives and His world and people before the throne of grace where Christ is our mediator and high priest who is blessed forever amen. Dont let the sin in your life and the choices that we make hinder our prayers. We are warned about this. But rejoice for he who we call upon always has an open ear, and is faithful and just. Oh that we might take more seriously our lives here on earth and how we live them day in and day out.
hey allison and i are at liberty right now and we were just reading your journal...i think it's really wierd that we look down on that culture so much when we should be taking thier example and praying more continuously. it's something to think about and be able to put into practice
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