First Baptist Church Blog

I just want to recommend a book to the ladies of the church from our book table. It's like getting two wonderful books in one. It's called Free Grace and Dying Love, morning devotions by Susannah Spurgeon, and it includes The Life of Susannah Spurgeon. The first part of the book is a series of beautiful devotions written by Susannah, Charles Spurgeon's wife. The second part is a biography, focusing particular attention on her marriage and life alongside preacher and pastor Charles Spurgeon. The book paints a wonderfully human and inspiring picture of Susannah. It is delightful to read about the strong, loving relationship she shared with her husband, and how tenderly he cared for her. We have a number of copies on the book table, and I am also hoping to purchase a copy for the church library. I recommend it very highly. Thanks to Pam for selecting it for the book table! 

Apology for this writing

I would appear odd for a Bible believing Christian to undertake the task of reading the Qur'an. My interest for this was purely academic: Since 911, and in light of the present conflict between western civilization and Islamic terrorism, I’ve heard various people claim the Qur'an is filled from beginning to end with a call to war against “infidels,” and is generally demeaning to the female sex. So I read the Qur'an from cover to cover, looking for this violent imagery and the dozen virgins awaiting suicide bombers in paradise. What the text actually said wasn’t as sensational as it has been described.

It’s important to distinguish between a religions text and the actions of its members, so my commentary on this subject concerns the text only, and I leave it to the reader to judge the behavior of Moslems.

Overall observations

Repetition, bitterness and simplicity. These are three words to describe the Qur'an. As one chapter blurred into the next, the same things were stated over and over to the degree that it became hard to see anything unique anywhere. As for “bitterness,” it was clear the author was angry, or at least appeared frustrated that his religion was rejected by those around him. The frequency with which eternal damnation was mentioned for those who rejected Islamic faith became so unending it made the text difficult to take seriously: hardly any subject could be covered without a mention of “those who reject faith” who would be punished eternally with hellfire, it read like a bitter rant. As for simplicity, the theology outlined in the text was very simple, in fact there was little theology to speak of other than to fear God, give to the poor, hold regular prayers, fast and believe in the resurrection and judgment day.

Points of interest with citations

1. Jews and Christians

Interestingly Christians and Jews were not said to be specifically in danger of hell. While it was implied in many places, the Qur’an actually mentioned them to be recipients of God’s grace:

“To those who believe in the Qur’an, and those who follow the Jewish scriptures, and the Christians and the Sabians – any who believe in Allah, and the last day, and works of righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” – Surah 2: Section 8:62

It was difficult to understand the Qur’ans position regarding Christianity and Judaism. Moslems believe the Qur’an is the final fulfillment of all scripture, and everywhere it made reference to Biblical events, from Adam to Jesus. In fact, the author referred to Biblical events with such brevity and with such a lack of detail, that it became apparent he assumed the reader was familiar with the Bible.

Yet in the commentary, there was a mention that the Bible was not in its “pristine form” therefore the Qur’an to Moslems – like book of Mormon to Mormons – serves to “set the record straight.” Obviously the logical problems of this claim become apparent. How can one build on a faulty foundation without first correcting the foundation? Yet no corrections were ever made, nor did the language ever suggest a rewriting of the original Bible was needed. It might be argued by a Moslem that the Qur’an introduces new facts into the Biblical record as a way of correcting it. For instance, Goliath was the Philistine leader who seemed to lead in a defensive war against Israel, who went on the offensive against the Philistines due to their rejection of “the faith.” The Israelites were not afraid of Goliath according to the Bible, and David was simply a warrior among them who happened to slay Goliath during a full scale battle. Is it possible the author was “correcting” the Biblical record? If so, this is being very charitable. When you correct something, you state it as a correction. Jesus taught “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The Qur’an simply glides over the detailed accounts in scripture with a brief reminder of the event, but gets the facts, timing, and context wrong. It’s as if author had no real familiarity with the scriptures other than hearsay.  

So again, the Qur’ans position on Christian and Jewish theology is hard to nail down:

“And they say ‘none shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian’ Nay, whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good he will get his reward with his Lord” - Surah 2: Section 13:11 

Notice how this citation, and the one to follow states the Jews & Christians have “narrowed” the faith to include only themselves, and that Islam takes a broader approach to salvation.

“They say ‘become Jews or Christians if ye be guided to salvation’ Say thou ‘Nay! I would rather the religion of Abraham, the true’…Say ye ‘We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendents, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to all Prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them.’” - Surah 2 Section 16:135

See how the author puts Christianity and Judaism together? It is true to a degree but what practicing Jew would be heard saying “You can get to heaven by become a Jew or a Christian” or what Christian would be herd saying “You can get to heaven by becoming a Jew or a Christian”? Perhaps the authors was ignorant that Judaism and Christianity were fundamentally at odds, but he did find them together as a whole to be exclusionary. We are to believe a follower of Abraham is the same as a follower of Christ which is the same as a follower of Mohammed, but yet the followers of Christ and Abraham are wrong to believe in the exclusivity of their faith, but Moslems are not wrong to believe in the exclusivity of theirs? Yes, there are many places where Islam seems to work toward unifying the three big religions by making its theology broad, but there are exclusive statements in the Qur’an as well:

“If anyone desired a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah) Never will it be accepted by him, and in the hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost” - Surah 3 Section 5:85

In another place it’s written “Take not Jews and Christians as your friends, they are not your friends.” (Surah 5 Sec 8). The Qur’ans author was obsessed with the doctrine of Jesus’ divinity. I gave up tracking the frequency of the claim “no son did Allah beget.” This particular claim was ubiquitous. In summary, the Qur’ans position on Christianity and Judaism was perplexing. They (Christians and Jews) are not to be trusted, they doctored the Bible and lie often, but its practitioners may get to heaven, not for their theological beliefs per se, but insofar as they practice good religion in general. The Qur’an believes Abraham, Moses, Jesus, all the patriarchs, disciples and prophets were all Moslems, and practiced true Islam from the beginning.

2. Jihad

“Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war” - Surah 9:5

The text and the days in which they were written were saturated with war, and it shows. Nevertheless, the discovery of verses this overt in a call to arms was not as frequent as I expected, and it’s not as heinous if we include its context. According to the text, this mandate is appropriate under the following conditions: if Moslems enter into a formal peace treaty with a pagan nation, and that pagan nation violates their treaty, Moslems are not at liberty to fight back for a period of four months. During that time the Moslems are encouraged to win the peace through diplomacy. If after the four months the pagans remain violent, Moslems are at liberty to “fight and slay” as they will. Nevertheless, the verses to follow read “but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them.”   

So we have certain conditions for war, but yet there is restraint, and throughout the Qur’an, Moslems are taught to avoid provocation, and fight only those nations that either oppress them or work to convert their religion through force. There are many, many references calling Muslems to fight for the cause of Allah, which could account for the rhetoric describing Islam as a violent faith, and it may be Moslems themselves use them as justification for religious violence, however the context of 99% of these tempers this stigma by identifying these battle as defensive in nature

“Fight in the cause of Allah, those who fight you, but do not transgress limits…and fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression. But if they cease let there be no hostility except those who practice oppression” – Surah 2 Section 24:190

The one exception to this was one verse I found which warranted a call to arms without provocation:

“Fight those who believe not in the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of truth.” - Surah 9 Section 4:29

Since charity is a fundamental virtue in Islam, a willingness to part with ones life is considered the highest form of charity. Martyrdom is mentioned as a great selfless act, but is mentioned as an act of self defense. And the commentary condemned fighting and brawling.

3. Jesus

The Qur’an vehemently condemns the divinity of Jesus so often the author was clearly obsessed with the issue. But it does teach the virgin birth of Jesus (Surah 3: Section 5:47) and his resurrection from the dead (Surah 4 Section 22:158). Even Paul wrote if Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead his faith was a sham. Personally, if his resurrection and virgin birth don’t augment his divinity I can’t think of what else would. Certain Imams (messengers) are believed to be infallible, such as Mohammed, but none of them lie (according to Islamic teaching). So since Jesus was a messenger from God, a good Moslem would have to believe Jesus told the truth when he claimed divinity. 

4. Similarities and differences with Christianity

Similarities:

There were a number of similarities between the Qur’an’s theology and that of the Bible. Both encourage overlooking the weakness and faults of your fellow man and avoiding boasting of your works of charity before others (Surah 2 Section 36:263-264), God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. People are predestination and election by God alone for salvation (Surah 6 section 15:125), and salvation is by grace through faith (Surah 15:Section 3:40), with works as a logical component not to be ignored. Full assurance of salvation is granted to those who believe and who do good works (Surah 27:1-4). There is a literal resurrection and judgment day, where people will be judged by what they did and a new heaven and new Earth to follow (Surah 14: section 7:48).

Differences:

Of course there are also some stark differences. In the Qur’an, the fall of Satin resulted in his refusal to bow down and worship Adam and Eve after God created them. Apparently God ordered all the angels to prostrate themselves to man in worship, and when Satin refused, he was exiled from the Kingdom of God and promised God to make mischief with individuals who had no fear of God. (Surah 15, section 3). I had a good laugh at Surah 4:Section 6:34 where rules for husbands and wives were set down: “As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty or misconduct, admonish them (first), (next) refuse to share their beds, (and last) spank them (lightly). While forgiveness from sin is needed for salvation, the Moslem is not given a substitute which was provided for in the old Hebrew economy, and satisfied completely through Christ. In general, the Qur’ans teachings are very broad and open to interpretation. Even the law itself is pliable. For instance, the Moslem is prohibited from eating pork. However you are permitted to if “forced by necessity” or if it occurs apart from “willful disobedience” and you must not “transgress due limits” (Surah 2 Section 21:173). What is an example of “forced by necessity”? What exactly is a “due limit”? No insight is provided, and unlike the Biblical account which covers a detailed history of people who did good or evil in the eyes of God, the Qur’an has no historical account of its own for us to learn from, but recycles the Biblical account with such brevity it teaches a Moslem very little of what God expects. Indeed, you get an entirely different feel for the precision and detail of Gods law when reading Leviticus or Numbers.  I fear this nebulous approach opens the Moslem to a wide field of personal interpretation without anything solid, and may account for the chaotic religious climate they live in.

5: Hell

For every one time the Qur’an mentioned heaven, it mentions hell ten times. Hardly any topic was covered without it. The unending message of condemnation to unbelievers didn’t read much like an appeal to save souls, rather its prose appeared rather to give the Moslem comfort to envision his religious enemies being tortured. Note the graphic language:

“and thou will see the sinners that day bound together in fetters, their garments of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with fire” - Surah 14:Sec 7:49 “But those who deny their Lord, for them will be cut out a garment of fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as their skins. In addition there will be maces or iron to punish them” - Surah 22 Section 2:19-22

Summary

I’m glad to have finally read the Qur’an, and I’m even happier that I’m done – and no longer have to look at it. In my opinion, there’s very little theology, and it’s not very deep. From beginning to end it read like an angry rant repeating the same things over and over without offering any real insight into the religion. This book will not make it on the webmasters book list.   

Any study of our nation's history must include the Plymouth Plantation and the first brutal years lived by the early Pilgrims after they arrived on the western mainland in Cape Cod in time for their first winter. This written work of its second governor William Bradford is often referred to by historians, but because of it's cryptic language and inclusion of tedious details and plethora of written correspondence between the Plantation and her financier's in England, the book may not find itself with most book consumers.

To begin with, Bradford himself was a man who deserves great admiration. If we only knew of the personal hardships he overcame to arrive in Plymouth, that would be enough: Bradford’s father died when he was only a year old. When his mother remarried he was sent away to his grandfather. Two years later, his grandfather died and Bradford went back to his mother, and she died shortly after. He then lived with his fathers people, who, it is said, likely paid him little attention. Yet he grew to a great man with leadership qualities and showed faithfulness to God and his people, to include those who didn't share his theology. In short, he was quintessentially an American Patriarch.

The book itself was encouraging to read. American culture today has stigmatized the belief in a God who providentially controls all things, and in his place has enthroned man. Here we may at least take a vacation and read where the opposite was the norm. Interesting to note regarding the first political document in our nations history, the Mayflower Compact. Though it’s language is overtly God fearing, it was actually a compromise between the Separatists and the "Strangers" the later people not being in any way Puritanical. Today, any State document published “for the glorie of God” would have inflamed many of our citizens. So in all, the record of our American fathers is always a short holiday since our zeal for God has waned. A couple excerpts worth sharing with you:

Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm stable earth, their proper element.

And this:

What could now sustain them but the Spirit of God and His grace? May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: “Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity,” etc. “Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and His mercies endure forever."

Also interesting for those of us fortunate to live near Boston, where history is all around us, we can get to know some of the Indians who became household names: Samoset, the first Indian contact to the Pilgrims, Squanto who served as interpreter and guide, and Massasoit, called the “Indian King” by Bradford.

From a critical readers standpoint, the book did require more labor to complete. That old 1600's English made for interesting reading and is somewhat an acquired taste, but well worth the effort for its historical value and appreciation. But the language and the one person’s view of these events caused me to grab Nathanial Philbrick’s book Mayflower and follow along to get a fix on the context, because Philbrick took a grander and complete sweep of the events. Also, to be honest, I began skimming more in the later half of the book as it covered less interesting accounts only historians would be interested in. But it's a book I'm happy to recommend.

  

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Disclaimer: the opinions expressed on this, or any book review, does not, may not, and sometimes will not be the actual official opinion of First Baptist Church, its Pastor, its Elders, its Deacons or even some of the people who sit in the pews. It may not actually agree with the guy who wrote it depending on the day.

George Clasons' book The Richest Man in Babylon was recommended to me by a restaurant owner who told me the story behind it. According to the books own claim, five clay tablets were discovered during an excavation in and around the ancient ruins of  Babylon by a Professor Franklin Caldwell. Upon translating the text, it recorded an account by a man named Dabasir who made use of a very simple system for eliminating debt and acquiring wealth. As it happened, the British translator himself applied the system to his own life with great success.  

Whether the tablets themselves were actual findings I’m not certain, but the story of Dabasir along with many fictional short stories designed to propagate financial prudence were distributed as pamphlets by banks and insurance companies beginning in 1926, the most famous of which were eventually collected into a single book and published.

It was the story behind the story that most interested me, however upon completing the book I must confess it a fantastic read, entertaining, motivational and practical. While many of the themes and circumstances surrounding the stories were pagan, there were many financial principles gleaned from the text which underscored biblical teachings on money; among them patience, hard work, paying your debtors not running from them, honesty, action – not luck, determination, prudence, self control, responsible investing and stewardship. Also mentioned was domestic happiness, meaning to take care of ones wife was to remain a significant consideration of one mans budget.  

The formula is very simple. One tenth of everything earned is saved. Two tenths are paid to creditors (unless you don’t have debt), and the remainder is to be divided up for living expenses within a budget. But what if our living expenses already consume more than the 100 percent? That question was dealt with in the chapter titled “Seven cures for a lean purse.” where the Babylonian sage Arkad describes the “unusual truth about men. It is this: That what each of us calls our ‘necessary expenses’ will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary.” After this Arkad discussed living within a budget, however modest. A cursory description of the book reads like common sense, of course, but it’s brilliant common sense.

Although this book doesn't rise to the level to be placed on the Webmasters Book List (it's not even an appropriate genre for it!) I would recommend this book for what it is, a great tool for anyone needing to build a plan in this life. And in these days where many people struggle financially, comfort for a Christian of modest means entails keeping view of the future with a financial plan for this life, and a greater view of the larger investment awaiting us in eternity, where moth and rust do not destroy.  

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Disclaimer: the opinions expressed on this, or any book review, does not, may not, and sometimes will not be the actual official opinion of First Baptist Church, its Pastor, its Elders, its Deacons or even some of the people who sit in the pews. It may not actually agree with the guy who wrote it depending on the day.

As facilitated by Heritage Bible Chapel in Priceton, the trip to Guatemala in 2008 will be underway soon. Members who have not been before will be asked to join the Yahoo Group linked below so we can post information more easily to all the members at once.

If you are planning on going to Guatemala this year, please email Dan Ervin @ chandlerervin@yahoo.com or you can just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HBC_Guatemala_Team/ Sign in and add yourself to the group. People interested may also ask Pastor Larson, Mike Gallaugher or Dave Bodanza for more information.

Please join us for a viewing of the movie “The Hiding Place”

The truly inspiring story of the ten Boom family’s experience during the Second World War Betsie and Corrie ten Boom, our sisters in Christ, were imprisoned in three different concentration camps, the last of which was the infamous Ravensbruck.

Their faith was tested, and they triumphed in Christ! If you have never seen this moving movie, or if it has been a while since you have, please join us! You will be so blessed! 

Saturday. May 17th 11:00am to 2:30 (movie starting at noon) light refreshments served

@ Barbara Brauksieck’s home   

45 Bruce St. Leominster

 

Take Pleasant St.,  left to Lisa St., right to Bruce-ends in her driveway

978-534-2902

 

Hostesses: Barbara Brauksieck and Linda Galassi
We will have a play area set up for little ones.
Please invite family, neighbors, friends to experience this with us 

The First Baptist Church blog is now active and will allow any member to create their own user login, and post articles, create categories, leave comments, and use this interface as a way to communicate anything. People can insert sermon notes, news items, updates, publish events, or anything the congregation will find useful. 

Here's a quick tutorial on the steps (you can print this out and have it handy while getting set up):

1. Click "Admin" on the sidebar to the right and log in as a general user (to receive the username and password, please email me at michael@agapecreative.com).

2. When in the dashboard (the first screen) click to the right of the word "login" onto the Blogs title: "First Baptist Church Blog"

3. By default you'll be directed to "New Post" to write a post. However, you'll want to create your own user ID before posting anything. So click on "Administration at the top, then under "Users" click on "Create User". 

4. Now you can enter your real name, user name, password, etc. DO NOT use any capital letters for the user name you, or you'll get an error. Be certain not to miss the "Blog" field near the bottom. This is where you assign your user ID to the actual blog. Click "Select" to the right of that field, and choose the "First Baptist Church Blog" (the only choice). 

5. For permissions, just check ALL the boxes.

6. After you Click "add" at the bottom you're set. You can then log out, and log back in using your new credentials and start publishing.

Blogs are fun, easy to use once you're comfortable with them, and can be very useful. Call me if you have any questions. (978) 516-0496 .

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• Book recommendation
• My reading of the Qur'an
• Webmasters Book Review: Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford
• Webmasters Book Review: The Richest Man in Babylon
• Guatemala 2008
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