issues of faith (Jesus, salvation, beliefs, blood, attend)

[ayani]

hey guys ~

just kind of wanted to update you here...

there is a dear young man i'm involved with, who is a conservative Christian. i love him dearly, and i know he and his family would like very much for me to be a Christian.

i do have a number of logical doubts about the Christian faith, and i do believe that the Quran says some remarkably true and beautiful things about God, especially concerning Jewish-Christian rifts, which Christianity has been unable to answer for me. i have been working at a madras for a few months, and love the people there. i also feel close to the Christians in town, and i don't consider either communities' faiths to be invalid.

so, for his sake, i am reading the Bible, and listening to what he believes, as opposed to arguing. perhaps God would like me to be a Christian. though i really don't believe in the blood atonement, nor that God's salvation is limited to theologically conservative Christians.

the Quran says quite simply that anyone who submits his being unto God will have nothing to fear, and will be on the right track, Jew or Christian. i love the simple theology there. i'm trying to reconnect with God prayerfully, reading, studying. so we will see.

i don't want to lie to people, especially those Muslim brothers and sisters here. i do believe that God guides whom He will, and that He is not confined to any one creed or book- the Quran says as much, too.

[Wandered Off]

You have had quite the interesting journey. Thanks for making us a part of it!

[ayani]

thank you, Wandered. i'm blessed to be here, and able to share with you all.

[3.14]

think of it this way your not lieing your being polite, your faith is your problem not anyone elses so don't saddle them with the responsebilety of judging you

[Charity]

In reading your post I can see that you are leaning toward the Quran. If you read the Holy Bible and attend Christian church services, then it is you, who should come to the conclusion that you feel that this is what you want for your life. You can't do it because it would be pleasing to someone else.
Compromising your own beliefs and desires would not be the best thing to do, because you would most likely be miserable.
I can understand your mate's desire to have you worship with him, and share in his belief. Perhaps if given enough time, you will understand more about the Christian faith. Maybe you could attend a bible study and receive the answer to some of your questions. Just seek the truth, and hopefully you will find the peace and joy that will pass all understanding.

Blessings to you
Charity

[ayani]

Charity, thank you, and God bless you. i do have a lot of reading and asking to do. i do love this man, and i see that God blesses him and guides him, in his speech and life. i would like what he has, and to share his faith with him. so, we will see.

previously, i would have said "God willing", but in his words i'll try to say "God is willing and waiting, it's people who are stubborn".

[Halcyon]

Gracie, I know you're not the kind of person to change your beliefs for the sake of another, that would be compromising yourself, so any decision you make I know will be right for you.

Remember though, Prophet Muhammed worshipped alongside Christians and Jews without ever altering the practices of his own faith.
You and your friend are both "people of the book" according to the Qur'an, who worship the same God - so you could go along to Church and pray with him, even say Christian prayer if you're comfortable with it, without compromising your identity as a Muslim, if that's the place you feel most comfortable being.

[Alceste]

Maybe some kind of compromise could be struck? Perhaps a less extreme form of Christianity would turn out to be comfortable for you both?

If I were in your shoes, I would visit a few Christian churches alone, without the distraction and confusion of my feelings for the guy, and see if I was moved to worship. I would try other denominations though, as I don't feel the type of church you've described will give you an introduction to Christianity that is compatible with the gentle approach you've already adopted.

Don't convert for love unless your relationship with God is not as important to you as your relationship with a guy.

[ayani]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Gracie, I know you're not the kind of person to change your beliefs for the sake of another, that would be compromising yourself, so any decision you make I know will be right for you.

Remember though, Prophet Muhammed worshipped alongside Christians and Jews without ever altering the practices of his own faith.
You and your friend are both "people of the book" according to the Qur'an, who worship the same God - so you could go along to Church and pray with him, even say Christian prayer if you're comfortable with it, without compromising your identity as a Muslim, if that's the place you feel most comfortable being.

Paul, thank you. and i *have* been trying to do that now for some six or seven long months. "we can do the inter-faith thing! we both worship the same God, you just call Him Jesus." but he wasn't and isn't having it.

i didn't want to compromise, and i did love my identity as a Muslim. there's a lot within Islam and the Quran to respect and consider. i have been going to church and praying with him these past months, interestingly, and even leading the Our Father during services, and preaching a couple times. perhaps one of the few times a Muslim woman has preached at a Baptist-affiliated church.

i love this boy dearly, and i know he loves God more than anything else. it would seem, Paul, that God is leading me towards Christianity. i could write you more on that... this would be so much easier, for both of us. Alceste, i do actually feel more prayerful in Christian churches than in masjids... though i have felt peace and happiness while making salat, too.

let us see what God decides, as my friend would say. God bless you both for your kindness, and good advise. *thumbs up*

[Wandered Off]

The obvious sticking point is his hold on the exclusivity belief. All of the problems seem to arise for that. It's a sad microcosm of the religious intolerance we see all over. If he could release just that, it would make so much difference. Good luck!