In his book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi takes us on his personal journey from Islam to Christianity. He spends a portion of the book telling how his parents, Islam, and Islamic culture defined him. He peals back the layers as he comes face to face with Christianity through a Christian friend’s verbal engagement and intellectual argument, We see his quandary through study, research, and examining his Muslim beliefs and core aspects of Christian belief. Dreams and a vision impact him. From childhood up, he has been taught to disavow the merits of Christianity. He intends to disprove Christianity. However, doubts surface about his beliefs, and he pushes hard to find truth. This tension is the better part of the book. He realizes what is at stake should he become a Christ-follower, the loss of family and community. Eventually Qureshi comes to faith in Christ and in the process he finds peace, but it comes at personal cost. . .as he knew it would. This book unfolds at a slow pace since much goes into the telling of it. Lots of details, descriptions, and definitions make up the better part of this book. It is a bit of a stretch to wade through the many religious terms and information but there is also much to appreciate within the process. It is informative as much as it is thorough. I learned as I read. I was curious as to how Qureshi would silence his inner critic while discussing the claims of Christianity with his best friend. Qureshi’s discusses his thoughts and center of reference as you ponder along with him on his spiritual journey of five years. I enjoyed reading Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Side note: Here is a video of Nabeel giving his testimony. It’s well worth the listen. He has since passed on.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” -Ephesians 4:1
It’s about what we are “Called” to do
As Christians, we all have a calling. We go forth as lights and give as we would give to Jesus. No task is too small. We do all things for Christ. I think back to my teaching days and those trying times with difficult students. Hard-to-work-with students were my calling as much as the other students. Our calling goes with us everywhere we go.
I write from a spiritual perspective. My worldview influences everything I believe and do. God is love. He compels me to love others including those who disagree with me and hate my beliefs. Their insults hurt and are undeserved. They know not the truth so they speak in ignorance.
I speak the truth in love, as Christ tells me to. I choose my words carefully. I speak gently. But still, the haters hate and vilify the messenger and message (example below). A true believer, who lives out of love, wears armor that repels the drawn sword. God is our shield, rock, and defense.
Christ followers march to a different drummer. Our core essence is light–the light of Christ. We still stumble. We fail. We get it wrong, sometimes. We admit that we can’t do it without Christ. He is our Anchor and Keeper, the Author and Finisher of our resilient, living, audacious faith. Christ overcomes evil with love and truth.
An example of this
I saw a Twitter thread about the recent SCOTUS ruling on the repealing of Roe v. Wade. There it was staring at me. Should I engage or not? I left it and then came back. I had to say something. I already knew I would be slammed. I owed it to the invisible children whom have never seen the light of day. I needed to speak the truth. I voiced my opinion even though I was in the minority.
Original tweet:
“The hypocrisy is raging, but the harm is endless”: Speaker Pelosi compares Supreme Court’s decision on New York’s gun law to its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. (a video was posted with this tweet)
My reply to the tweet:
“Preborn humans are finally protected in the womb. Their right to live is what this is about, not women’s rights.”
4 out of 21 replies to my tweet:
“Forcing victims of rape and incest to gestate a fertilized embryo is evil and inhumane.”
“When life outside the womb gets the same level of protection and concern as your ilk only seem to provide while it’s in the womb, spare us the theocratic platitudes, @nlbrumbaugh”
“Yeah you are probably one of those females that can’t have a baby and want to adopt one! That makes you lower than snake shit! I hope you never get to adopt just like the rest of the scum that believe this is right! Down with the republican party!”
“Just wait until they come for you my dear…”
* * *
I don’t usually engage, but I do when I’m impressed that I should. However, I never spew hate when I disagree. I may circle back and explain my thinking, which I did to one of these. And, of course, the person replied with more venom.
We’re seed planters as Christians. Every day no matter where we go we are taking our Lord with us. This is our calling. Every angry person, every minute, we are following the great compelling which is Christ in us the hope of glory. We are offering cups of cool water throughout our daily encounters. We may be the only bible some people read. Our actions preach. Like Mother Teresa said,
No, I wouldn’t touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.
I leave you with a video which I listened to in the middle of the night. Peter Scazzero wrapped many of these thoughts into one bundle that says it well. His words prompted this post. By the way, he wrote the book I featured in my last book review, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. I often listen to him on YouTube when I can’t sleep.
