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can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 4:31:52 AM
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RJR_fan
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Sorry about the misleading title on the last post. I wanted to discuss the extent to which our worship is shaped by (or perhaps slavishly imitates) popular culture formats. The mosque visit was just a handy "for example."
Let's look at the mosque question, though. What do you all think?
- Can Christians visit mosques with a good conscience?
- Does it do any harm to silently "go through the motions?"
- When is such a visit justified?
Let the conversation begin! Extra points for personal testimonies!
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 5:38:18 AM
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keithyhuntington
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i think so... i can go through the motions and still praise jesus. if it gets a mosquer to come to church... whatever works.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 9:21:27 AM
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rcjames
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I would not visit a voodoo ritual.
I would not go to a Santanic worship service.
I would not attend a Wicca service.
And I would not visit a mosque.
Thanks
RC
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Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 9:49:48 AM
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ta_mosquito
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
I would not visit a voodoo ritual.
I would not go to a Santanic worship service.
I would not attend a Wicca service.
And I would not visit a mosque.
Thanks
RC
Same here.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 11:05:23 AM
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sue244
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I would not go to any false religions worship service. Why would I want to give the impression that there is any validity to false religions and lead people farther astray?
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Equal rights for all, special privileges for none.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 11:28:26 AM
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doinkdom
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I would not visit a mosque for a worship service.
However, I would visit a mosque to admire the architecture of the structure...most of them are beautiful.
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Rest assured, dear friends, that where your pleasure is, there your heart is.
- Charles Spurgeon
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 11:36:48 AM
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RJR_fan
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quote:
However, I would visit a mosque to admire the architecture of the structure...most of them are beautiful.
The mosque in Washington, DC is a jewel of a building.
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Meet my beloved mentor, RJR
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 11:46:09 AM
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Eutychus
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I visited the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in the Citadel of Cairo in Egypt in 1976.
I guess if there were any demons or hoo-doo spirits around, I was protected by being a blood-bought, Holy Spirit indwelt believer and disciple of Jesus Christ.
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Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." -John 6:29
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 12:23:52 PM
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Johnny_
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I don't see anything wrong with Christians visiting a mosque or any other religious building and temples. I have visited many different Buddhist and Hindu temples in the past. I visited these religious shrines to see their art and culture. As a part of my research paper, I also attended a Sikh Worship Service to compare and contrast Sikhism with Christianity. I think its a good experience to get in contact with other religions to learn about why and how they behave and worship. This experience can actually strengthen your own faith.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 1:18:57 PM
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MrFribbles
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I personally would have no problem with attending as an observer. I would not go through the motions, though, lest I give the impression that I believe there are multiple paths to God. Such a visit could be easily justified, since it has been my experience that if you respect another person's religious beliefs by really, truly listening to them, they're more likely to be open to listening to you share the love of Christ.
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-G. K. Chesterton
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 1:19:30 PM
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ironsharpensiron
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quote:
I would not visit a mosque for a worship service.
However, I would visit a mosque to admire the architecture of the structure...most of them are beautiful.
That is my answer as well.
I have Muslim friends, and if they ever asked me to join them for 'service' I would graciously decline, and they would be understanding. Life would go on...
Matthew
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 1:32:55 PM
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CitationSquirrel
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I might go to a mosque to see the building, but I would never attend or participate in a service at a mosque.
They just opened one of the largest Hindu temples in the country close to where I live. If the youth group were studying cults, it might make for a good field trip.
I remember a missionary from Japan requesting that if you ever visited Japan as a tourist and you stopped at a temple, you should never light any insense because through your actions you would be seen as participating in their worship. I believe that this missionary will take short-term missionaries to local temples and leave them there for a while so that they actually see with their own eyes that people do still worship idols, literally.
I don't know if any of you have seen that movie where they take a "Christian" from Kentucky and have him live as a muslim in Detroit for month. It was done by the guy who did the movie "Supersize Me." I had to watch it as part of my diversity training at my old employer. Anyway, during the whole movie, they keep trying to get this guy to pray with them at the mosque. And, of course, the prayer that he has to say states that "there is no other god but allah and mohammed is his prophet." He held out for most of the movie, but in the end he finally gave in and prayed. I almost literally got sick. As Christians today, we often talk about having idols (money, cars, etc.). We no longer think of it as praying to little statues or other gods. But this guy was actually praying to another god. It made me very sad. The movie had a real effect on me (not the one I think my company expected).
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 5:02:14 PM
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djm1973
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I had no problem visiting the one I had to for the world religions class at my Christian college. THe people there were very nice, and didn't look down on us for not praying with them durring their call to prayer.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 5:10:39 PM
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Eliana
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I cannot answer for all Christians, but I would not participate in a Muslim worship ceremony.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 7:36:00 PM
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Johnny_
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Eliana, I think there is a difference between participation and observation. Like you said, I would never participate in a Muslim worship service. However, we as Christians are allowed to observe a worship ceremony. I attended a Sikh Worship Service for a research project and I sat down for nearly 2.5 hours observing their style of worship, chants, and prayers. Obviously this was a one-time observation but this experience made me a stronger person. I realized their were many lost souls in that Sikh congregation but I did get the opportunity to briefly share my Christian faith with two people.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 7:42:12 PM
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ctpruitt
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quote:
ORIGINAL: doinkdom
I would not visit a mosque for a worship service.
However, I would visit a mosque to admire the architecture of the structure...most of them are beautiful.
Excellent response. Most mosques were marvels of architecture. I love to see some of the older ones. There is nothing in Scripture that forbids you from admiring buildings, just worshiping false gods. I have a Moslem friend (who is converted now) who told that his father, while studying architecture in Saudia Arabia decades ago, went to Europe to tour the great Cathedrals in order to study their design.
Another thing: mosques predate any "pop" culture by centuries.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/17/2009 9:41:55 PM
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bolt.
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I would consider it a moral act, both to visit and to 'go through the motions' -- as long as I knew who I was worshiping.
I also belive that converted Muslims are free to continue to go to their mosque services, redirecting their acts of worship to the true God, including Son and Spirit. Also, being aware enough to compare and contrast the false teaching with the truth. I would expect the believers who attended the same mosque to meet with one another some other time to share true Scripture and affirm what must be rejected from the false teaching that week.
Perhaps they would eventually form the equivalent of 'messianic' mosques, using that form of worship, but all of them converted by the truth of the gospel.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/22/2009 4:00:38 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Why hang around in the darkness when you can bask in the Light?
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/22/2009 4:17:21 PM
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Eutychus
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Covaan_Meshuga
Why hang around in the darkness when you can bask in the Light?
True, but in addition to visiting the mosque I mentioned, I also visited the wailing wall in Jerusalem. Both peoples were in darkness.
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Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." -John 6:29
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/22/2009 4:21:55 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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Hi, Euty!
I should not have been so trite. My intention was that I would not "worship" with them. But I'll admit that I cannot wait for the day when I visit the Wall! Just as you were there, many other true believers will be there. I am constantly amazed at the number of Israelis and Jewish people who are turning to Messiah. For them, Isaiah 53 is very convincing to those who are interested in the actual Hebrew words!
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/22/2009 6:53:56 PM
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bolt.
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quote:
Why hang around in the darkness when you can bask in the Light? Because it is not the person who is well that needs a doctor.
(And there's nothing about a mosque that keeps Jesus' light out anyways.)
_____________________________
Are you having trouble getting your daily dose of the life changing Word of God?
Let my friend Brian at Daily Audio Bible help you too.
>>audio link<<
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/24/2009 6:45:09 PM
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Cornhusker00
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To be honest, the premise of your questions are based in religion. There’s nothing in the bible that says you can’t go into a mosque or that you shouldn’t. What it DOES say is that you should work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Frankly, the issue is not, nor has it ever been, what buildings you go into or what services you attend. The true concern you should have is where your heart is with God. Do you have a revelation and understanding of His grace? Do you understand what he has done for you? Do you truly love him and cherish his word? If so, then I don’t see why it matters if you go into a mosque or not, nor do I see what impact it has on your salvation and your standing with God. You need to understand that attending a service and worshipping the god it is dedicated to are two totally disconnected and unrelated things… Heck, there are plenty of “christians” who demonstrate that principle on a weekly basis in churches everywhere in America. Now, do I think it is a good idea for you to go weekly to a service there? No. But I don’t think going to one service is an issue so long as you are firmly rooted in God and His word. If you plan to attend a service, I would caution you to get before God and work out between you and Him if you should expose yourself to it or not. The reason being is that it is a different belief system, and if you aren’t completely clear in your conscience that you are firm in your belief and that it would be safe, then you would not just sear your own conscience but open yourself up to something you’re not ready for. Just make sure to guard your relationship with Christ and your heart. Remember, the most important thing in your life is to love God. If you feel for a moment that this would hinder your ability to do that, then throw it out and don’t even consider it.
But again, that’s something only you and God can work out together. That’s about the best advice any man can offer you.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/24/2009 10:36:41 PM
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iluvatar
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
I would not visit a voodoo ritual.
I would not go to a Santanic worship service.
I would not attend a Wicca service.
And I would not visit a mosque.
Thanks
RC
Would you visit a synagogue?
Our satellite church plant holds its services in the basement of a synagogue.
-Dan.
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Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/25/2009 9:18:56 AM
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rcjames
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quote:
ORIGINAL: iluvatar
Would you visit a synagogue?
No.
quote:
Our satellite church plant holds its services in the basement of a synagogue.
That's nice, I hope you teach Jesus there.
I used to rent Sunday Schol space from a synagogue that was on the same block as our Church when planting a Church in Texas.
Thanks
RC
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Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: can/should a Christian visit a mosque? - 7/26/2009 3:47:32 PM
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Eliana
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
quote:
ORIGINAL: iluvatar
Would you visit a synagogue?
No.
I wouldn't have a problem participating in the service at a synagogue. At least they worship Yahweh. Muslims worship someone (or something) completely different.
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