Many, many believers around our world suffer persecution for the sake of their belief in Jesus, for “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12 This is a radical message in our pluralistic world. In a follow-up post after a high school Sunday School class comparing the belief system of Muslims to that of Biblical Christianity, I wrote the following:
The Cost of Following Jesus Instead of Mohammed
Danny Kam commented on my post, “You are asking a Muslim then to choose between a future hell and a hell on earth where they are rejected by their families. Furthermore, where are these muslims to worship? Can they continue to worship in the Mosque, or is the ‘true God’ not found in the mosques? Can they pray in the mosques’ but change out the word Allah for Jesus? What about their cultural Muslim traditions like Ramadan where they will be ostracized by their communities for eating during the time of fasting?”
Danny, you are asking some great questions! Jesus never promised that it would be easy to follow Him. In fact, He said we should count the cost of being a disciple. There will be radical change in our lives when Jesus is our Lord and Savior. All the issues of tradition and culture are not easy. I suppose a Muslim could follow Jesus secretly (like Nicodemas…coming to Jesus at night and keeping his day job) but I would think that would be extremely difficult given the vast differences between Islam and a true, biblical faith.
Where to worship and pray? The woman at the well asked a similar question….and Jesus’ response was “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” So could a Muslim attend a Mosque, and actually worship the One, True God instead of Allah? I suppose that is a matter of the heart. God is not restricted by any physical buildings. But WHY would a true believer in the One, True God go to worship with those who do NOT believe in Him, but in a false god? What gain is there, except for outward acceptance by one’s cultural community?
Jesus told us to expect suffering and persecution. We will experience trials and hardships as a result of our faith. In fact 2 Tim 3:12 says, “Indeed, ALL who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL be persecuted,” and John 15:18-21 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. and Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Is there a painful, heart-wrenching choice to be made? Will there be tears? Yes. Will a decisions be made lightly? No. But the Apostle Paul tells us that there is no comparison between our temporary, light “hell on earth” and the eternal joy we will experience with Jesus! I’m banking on Jesus to be with me through whatever I face here, and enjoy HIM forever!
May I suggest another John Piper article? Obstacles to the Eternal Life of Muslims
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 