KWANINI NI MUHIMU KWA MKRISTO KUNENA KWA LUGHA - NDIMI?

Kunena katika ndimi. Matendo ya Mitume 2:

Wakati mtu anaponena kwa lugha, akili na ufahamu hupumzika.

Roho Mtakatifu anatumia kinywa cha mtu tu, sio bongo au akili ya mtu.

Usemi ni ya kiroho

Kuna aina nyingi za kunena kwa lugha. ( Lugha mbali mbali )

UNAJUA KUSUDI LA KUNENA KWA LUGHA?

1. Ni dhihirisho ya kiroho ya kubatizwa katika Roho Mtakatifu ( Matendo ya Mitume 10:46)

Ili mwanadamu aweze kuwasiliana na Mungu Kiroho. ( 1 Wakorintho 14: 2 )

Ili waumini wamtukuze Mungu. ( Matendo ya Mitume 10:46)

Ili itubariki sisi wenye. ( 1 Wakorintho 14:39)

Ili itubariki katika nyimbo katika Roho. ( Wakolosai 3:16)

Ili roho zetu, mbali na mawaso yetu, iweze kuomba. ( 1 Wakorintho 14:14)

Kwamba pamoja na kutafsiriwa kwa lugha, kanisa iweze kuinuliwa. ( 1 Wakorintho 14:12,13,5,26.)

Ndimi ni kama ishara kwa wale wasio amini. ( 1 Wakorintho 14:22)

KUTASFIRI LUGHA-NDIMI

Kutafsiri lugha ni katika hali ya kiroho, usemi wa kiajabu.

Inahusika hasa na kunena kwa lugha.

Kuna mashauri machache kuhusu maswali ambayo mara kwa mara inaulizwa:

Kutafsiri ndimi sio sawa na kutafsiri lugha moja hadi lingine. Kutafsiri lugha fulani ni kutafsiri neno kwa neno bali kutafsiri ndimi ni kutoa maana.

Kutafsiri ndimi yaweza kuwa kupitia picha, maelezo ama kinaganaga.

2. Asili, vipawa vya kiasili, na elimu na pia utaifa wa mwenye kutafsiri ita adhiri utafsiri bali kipawa sio kwa ajili hiyo ila kwa miujiza.

Wale ambao hunena kwa ndimi ni bora waombe kwa ajili ya kipawa hiki cha kutafsiri. ( 1 Wakorinto 14:13)

Mtu asitafsiri. ( 1 Wakorinto 14:27)

Kutoa ujumbe kwa lugha mengine na kujitafsiria yaweza kujizoeza.

Andiko yatueleza tusitoe zaidi ya ujumbe tatu katika mkutano moja. ( 1 Wakorinto 14:27 )

Shalom

Max Shimba mtumwa wa Yesu Kristo Mungu Mkuu na Mwokozi wetu. Tito 2:13

UNAMJUA MNYAMA NA NABII WA UONGO ALIYE TABIRIWA KWENYE UFUNUO?

Nabii wa uongo wa nyakati za mwisho ameelezwa katika Ufunuo 13: 11-15. Yeye pia hujulikana kama "mnyama wa pili" (Ufunuo 16:13, 19:20, 20:10).

Ufunuo 13,11-17 - Kisha nikaona mnyama mwingine akipanda juu kutoka katika nchi alikuwa na pembe mbili kama mwana-kondoo lakini aliongea kama joka. Hubeba nguvu zote za mnyama wa kwanza mbele yake na kuwa nchi na watu wake kuabudu mnyama wa kwanza, ambaye jeraha la kifo lililokuwa limepona. Anafanya maajabu makubwa, ina hata mbele ya watu moto ukashuka kutoka mbinguni na duniani. Mambo haya ya ajabu, ilikuwa ni kutokana na kuchukua mbele ya mnyama, zidanganyazo wale wanaoishi duniani. Anasema wakazi wa nchi na kuunda sanamu ya mnyama, aliyekuwa na jeraha la upanga, lakini akafufuka.

Hali ya mnyama - nguvu Hii ni kikubwa tofauti na mnyama kutoka baharini. Siyo wa dini sana. Ibada si kwa madhumuni yake (Ufunuo 13,12.15). Kinyume chake, inaelezwa kama nguvu ya kiuchumi - huathiri kununua na kuuza (Ufunuo 13.17), na nguvu ya kisiasa - inaweza kuuwa (Ufunuo 13.15).

Hivyo basi, Mnyama na Nabii wa uongo watauongoza mfumo wa mwisho wa kidini-na-kiselikali wenye nguvu ulioonyeshwa kwenye Ufunuo 17 na 18, ambao Kristo ataupondaponda na kuchukua mahala pake katika Kurudi Kwake. Ufunuo 16:13-14 huelezea roho za mashetani kama zikiwa na nguvu ya “kufanya miujiza” kupitia mfumo huu. Mnyama akiwa ndiye kiungo kikuu cha mfumo huu, atakuwa mtu mkuu atawalaye ulimwengu.

Kazi za Nabii wa uongo ni zipi?

Nabii wa uongo naye, ataongoza ulimwengu kumwabudu mnyama kama Mungu (Ufunuo 16:2; 19:20)! Udanganyifu huu utaenea sana (18:3)—kwa ukamilifu—kiasi kwamba watawadanganya wanadamu wote kufikia kupigana na Kristo katika Kuja Kwake Mara ya Pili (16:9, 13-16; 17:13-14)!

UTHIBITISHO:

Sasa angalia 2 Wathesalonike 2:3-4 na 8. Fungu la 3 humrejelea yule anayeitwa “mtu wa kuasi” na “mwana wa uharibifu; yule mpingamizi, ajiinuaye nafsi yake juu ya kila kiitwacho Mungu ama kuabudiwa; hata yeye mwenyewe kuketi katika hekalu la Mungu, akijionyesha nafsi yake kana kwamba yeye ndiye Mungu.” Nabii wa uongo naye pia hudai kwamba ni Mungu.

UTHIBITISHO:

Linganisha hiki na Ezekieli 28:2 na kielelezo cha “mfalme wa Tiro”—mwanadamu. Ezekieli aliandika kwamba “mfalme” huyu husema “Mimi ni Mungu, naketi katika kiti cha Mungu,” 2 Wathesalonike 2:8 humwelezea huyu “mtu wa kuasi” kama “[yule] mwovu” ambaye “atafunuliwa” namna vile alivyo wakati Kristo anaporudi na kumwangamiza pamoja na mnyama katika ziwa la moto (Ufu. 19:20). Isaya 14:4 humrejelea nabii wa uongo kama “Mfalme wa Babeli.” Huyu ndiye yule yule “Mfalme wa Tiro,”

Ukiendelea katika 2 Wathesalonike 2, fungu la 9 hutoa kauli ya kushangaza juu ya nabii wa uongo. Inasema kwamba “kuja kwake ni kwa mfano wa kutenda kwake Shetani, kwa uwezo wote, na ishara na ajabu za uongo.” Fungu la kumi huonyesha kwamba anaweza kumdanganya kila mmoja “asiyependa kweli.” Fungu la 11 hufunua kwamba Mungu ataleta “nguvu ya upotevu” kwa wote ambao kwa utashi wao huamini uongo wake.

Viongozi wa mfumo huu mkuu wa uongo watakuwa wamepagawa moja kwa moja na shetani! Hali hii itampatia nabii wa uongo nguvu nyingi sana za kudanganya na kutenda miujiza. Shetani, ambaye wakati wote ametamani kumpindua Mungu na kuchukua mahali pake, atanena kupitia mtu huyu ambaye ni kiongozi wa kidini na kuutangazia ulimwengu wote kwamba, hakika yeye ni, MUNGU! Onyo hili la Biblia halina utata. Miujiza atakayotenda itawadanganya walio wengi sana miongoni mwa watu!

Ufunuo 19:20 Yule mnyama akakamatwa, na yule nabii wa uongo pamoja naye, yeye aliyezifanya hizo ishara mbele yake, ambazo kwa hizo aliwadanganya watu wale walioipokea ile chapa ya huyo mnyama, nao walioisujudia sanamu yake; hao wawili wakatupwa wangali hai katika lile ziwa la moto liwakalo kwa kiberiti;

Shalom,

Max Shimba Mtumwa wa Yesu Kristo Mungu Mkuu na mwokozi wetu. Tito 2:13

KWANINI MUNGU ALIMRUHUSU LUCIFER/SHETANI KUTENDA DHAMBI?

Hili ni swali la kutatanisha na kutetemesha akili.

Shetani Alitoka Wapi? Lakini je wakati wote amekuwa shetani? Wakati wote amekuwa yule mwovu, muuaji, mwongo, mkuu wa giza mharabu? Je aliumbwa jinsi hiyo?

Maswali haya yanahitaji ufafanuzi. Yale ambayo utayasoma yatakusaidia uione picha kamili.

Mwanzoni Mungu aliumba Makerubi watatu: Lusifa au Nyota ya Alfajiri (aliyegeuka kuwa Shetani), Mikaeli na Gabrieli. Kila mmoja alitawala theluthi ya mamia ya mamilioni ya malaika (Ufunuo 5:11). Nyota ya Alfajiri na theluthi yake walitawala ulimwengu uliokuwa kabla ya Adamu. Yeye, pamoja na Malaika zake, waliasi serikali ya Mungu, na leo anawaongoza malaika hawa walioanguka, au mapepo, kama mungu wa dunia hii.

Nyota ya alfajiri (Lucifer) alikuwa ni kiumbe mwenye akili sana—“malaika wa nuru,” kama walivyo “watumishi wake” (2 Korintho 11:13-15). Jina Nyota ya alfajiri lina maana ya “mwenye kuleta nuru.” Kiumbe huyu aliyekuwa mkamilifu hapo awali alileta nuru ing’arayo kwa wote waliokuwa wakimzunguka. Lakini aliasi na kutenda dhambi—na hivyo kuwa “mkuu wa giza.” Uasi wake ukamgeuza kuwa kiumbe aliyepinda, aliyepotoka. Japokuwa ni mwenye akili nyingi, kwa hakika amekuwa malaika kichaa aliyeanguka, asiyejua kutofautisha jema na baya!

Je, Mungu Aliumba Shetani? na:

“Mungu alimweka kerubi mkuu, Nyota ya alfajiri, lakini Nyota ya alfajiri yaani Lucifer alikataa kutekeleza mapenzi ya Mungu, amri za Mungu, serikali ya Mungu. Alitaka kuibadili na iwe yakwake mwenyewe. Hivyo akajiondolea sifa yeye mwenyewe.

Wakati Biblia haitoi maelezo mengi kuhusu uasi wa Shetani na malaika walioanguka, inaonekana kwamba Lucifer kama Kerubi wa malaika (Ezekieli 28:12-18 ) - katika kiburi aliamua kuasi dhidi ya Mungu ili kutafuta kuwa mungu wake mwenyewe. Shetani (Ibilisi) hakutaka kuabudu au kumtii Mungu; alitaka kuwa Mungu (Isaya 14:12-14). Ufunuo 12:4 inaeleweka kuwa maelezo ya kimfano ya thuluthi moja ya malaika kuchagua kufuata shetani katika maasi yake, kuwa malaika walioanguka - mapepo.

Tofauti na binadamu, hata hivyo, uchaguzi malaika waliamuwa na kumfuata Shetani au kubaki waaminifu kwa Mungu ni uchaguzi wa milele. Biblia haitoi nafasi kwa malaika walioanguka ya kutubu na kusamehewa. Wala Biblia haionyeshi kwamba kuna uwezekano zaidi wa malaika kutenda dhambi. Malaika ambao hubaki waaminifu kwa Mungu wameelezwa kuwa "malaika wateule" (1 Timotheo 5:21). Shetani na malaika walioanguka walimjua Mungu katika utukufu wake wote. Wao kuasi, licha yao kujua kuhusu Mungu, ulikuwa uovu mkubwa. Matokeo yake, Mungu hawapi Shetani na malaika wengine walioanguka nafasi ya kutubu. Zaidi ya hayo, Biblia haitupi sababu kuwa wengeamini na kutubu hata kama Mungu angewapa nafasi (1 Petro 5:8). Mungu aliwapa Shetani na malaika uchaguzi huo aliowapa Adamu na Hawa, wa kumtii au kuasi. Malaika walikuwa na uhuru wa uchaguzi wa kufanya; Mungu hakuwalazimisha kwa nguvu au kuhimiza malaika yeyote kutenda dhambi. Shetani na malaika walioanguka walitenda dhambini kwa hiari yao wenyewe na kwa hiyo wanastahili hasira ya Mungu wa milele katika ziwa la moto.

Kwa nini Mungu alimpa malaika uchaguzi huu, wakati Yeye alijua matokeo yake itakuwa namna?

Mungu alijua kwamba theluthi moja ya Malaika wataasi na kwa hiyo kulaaniwa kwa moto wa milele. Pia Mungu alijua kwamba Shetani atazidisha uasi wake zaidi na kumjaribu binadamu katika dhambi. Kwa hivyo, ni kwa nini Mungu alirumhusu? Biblia inatuambia kuwa Mungu ametupa uhuru wa kuchagua. Mwandishi wa Zaburi anatuambia, "Kama kwa Mungu, njia yake ni kamilifu" (Zaburi 18:30). Kama njia za Mungu ni "kamili," basi tunaweza kuamini kwamba lolote afanyalo - na chochote Yeye anaruhusu - ni kamilifu pia. Hivyo mpango kamili kutoka kwa Mungu wetu mkamilifu ulikuwa wa kuruhusu uhuru wa kuchagua ambao Lucifer alichagua kutenda kinyume na mapenzi ya Mungui. Akili zetu si mawazo ya Mungu, wala ni njia zetu njia zake, kama Anavyotukumbusha katika Isaya 55:8-9.

Kwa hiyo Mungu HAKUUMBA ibilisi. Aliumba kerubi, Nyota ya alfajiri—mkamilifu katika njia zake, lakini akiwa na nguvu ya uchaguzi huru—na Nyota ya alfajiri alijigeuza mwenyewe akawa shetani kwa kuasi Serikali ya Mungu!

Shalom,

Max Shimba mtumwa wa Yesu Kristo Mungu Mkuu na Mwokozi wetu. Tito 2:13

Photos: Nigerian Muslim Lady Gives Birth To A Lizard At Omoku Market In Rivers State

Several reports on Facebook have it that a particular woman allegedly gave birth to a reptile in a town’s market in Rivers state after two years of carrying the pregnancy.

Some Facebook users have taken to the platform to share, with photos, how a lady was who has been pregnant for two years gave birth to a lizard at Omoku market, Rivers state.

A user, Ahamuefuna Ijeoma Darlintina, who shared the most photos, wrote,

speechless….God forbid….a woman after two years of pregnant…giving birth to a lizard… in market omoku ….it was a shocked to me

Another user, Festus Emeka wrote,

This is life in omoku market a woman deliver lizard people are wicket in this Word

Jenni Blink wrote,

what a tragedy a woman with 2 years pregnancy finally delivered a live lizard in omoku market today

Brown Johnson,

Hmmmm i really dnt know wat dis world is turning into. see wat a woman given birth to in omoku market after 2years pregnancy..i just tire

Photos below:

Muslim Teacher From Islamic Almajiri School Mercilessly Beats Up Little Boy With Knife, His 2 Hands Just Got Amputated

A yet to be identified young boy has landed in a hospital after he was allegedly injured by his teacher in an Islamic school in Gombe state.

It was reported that the boy was brutally flogged on both hands – which got him seriously injured in the process.

The boy’s hand which was badly infected had to be amputated by doctors.

It was also gathered that the teacher who allegedly committed the act has been arrested.

See more pictures below;

This is coming after a video which went viral earlier this year, showed students of Government Science Secondary School, Nassarawa-Eggon being flogged mercilessly by the school teachers.

The video reportedly led to suspension of the school teachers and the principal.

Nigerian Father Cuts Off Muslim Man’s Leg For Defiling His 6-Month-Old Baby In Edo State (Photos)

An aggrieved father has been arrested for chopping the leg of a 36-year-old Muslim man who allegedly defiled his 6-month-old baby in Benin, Edo State.

According to activist Prince Gwamnishu, the dad allegedly caught the suspect while inserting his finger in his baby’s private part. He was, however, arrested for taking laws into his hand, while the suspect is receiving treatment at the hospital.

When visited, the dad revealed that he attacked the suspect out of annoyance and pleaded that charge of defilement filed against the suspect, be withdrawn, so that he can also regain his freedom. Mr. Gwamnishu is, however opposed to the idea.

see some reactions below;

Adedayo Sarumi That’s cowardice and inhumane of the victim’s father… Firstly, you go with a baton to the head to make him unconscious,, then you take machete and cut of his fingers and toes then you draw map of Nigeria with cutlass on his face then you electrocute him to death.. #lobatan

Preshous Nwafor D girls Father is Very very Wicked..hOw cAn hE cut Off One Leq instEad Of d bOth..Godforbid..

Oko Nna I don’t think people that indulge in this act are normal.There must be a compelling reason for doing this evil act.How does a full grown man penetrate an infant? Even a grown woman who is a virgin a work if its own to break her let alone an infant.I think ritual always leads to this.People willingly enslave both their body and soul all because of material things.Quite unfortunate!!

Mamanso Sanka 6 month old baby ? Pure witch he deserves worse. But Daddy should’ve cute his manhood instead of his legs

.

UN Urges Nigeria To Legalise Marijuana

The United Nations on Monday urged the Nigerian government to relax laws on consumption of cannabis in future, saying it has approved the use of the drug for medical purposes.

The UN is also insisting on decriminalization of drug users in parts of the world, especially sick people who used the drug for treatment, care and rehabilitation.

The global body’s position on the drug was revealed by the Project Officer of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes in Nigeria, Harsheth Kaur Virk, during her presentation at a one day public hearing on the need to check menace of pharmaceutical drugs abuse among youths in Nigeria.

The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Health.

Virk said cannabis is a miracle drug allowed for medical purposes by UN but not for recreational purposes.

She said: “The Drugs and Crime Office of the UN sees addictive drugs users as people who are sick and in need of treatment, care and rehabilitation.”

Imam hated Christians until Jesus raised him from the dead

By Mark Ellis —

Imam leads Friday prayers at Faisal mosque

He not only hated Christians, he directed his followers at the mosque to attack them. But after he died and was being prepared for burial, he stunned his family by returning to life with a new message of salvation.

Munaf Ali*, 45, was an influential imam as well as scholar and preacher of Islam in a Middle Eastern country.

One day a team from Bibles4Mideast approached the imam and they entered into a vigorous discussion about the authority of Jesus and the Bible. Munaf denied the divinity of Jesus Christ and the credibility of the Bible.

Pastor Paul offered him a copy of the New Testament but he refused to receive it. Visibly upset, the imam cursed the pastor and his team.

That night the imam incited a mob to attack the place where Pastor Paul and his team had been staying with shouts of “Allahu Akbar.”

But the Holy Spirit directed them to leave that location a few hours earlier, narrowly escaping the attackers before they arrived, according to Bibles4Mideast.

A few days later, following Friday prayers, Munaf was returning home when he suddenly felt dizzy, fell to the ground, lost consciousness and died.

After his physical body expired, he was aware of demons coming for his soul.

“Get lost, you cursed demons of Allah. You have no right to take my soul!” the imam asserted.

“No. It’s our right to take your life,” one of the demons replied. “And you will be with us,” as he forcefully grabbed the imam and began to depart.

But suddenly, Jesus Christ appeared before the imam with a large retinue of angels and the demons quickly fled in terror.

Then Jesus spoke to his heart: Listen, my son. First Adam disobeyed God and sinned against Him under Satan’s influence.

I am the second Adam, the Word of God and the Messiah Jesus, Son of the Most High. I was born of the virgin Mary, as a sinless Son of Man to redeem Adam and all of his descendants including you from sin and death.

 I was crucified and died as a ransom for all your sins to make you a child of God and citizen of heaven.

 I was raised from the dead and opened the gates of heaven to bring you back to eternal glory. Have faith in me and be my witness. I give your life back, for I have the authority of giving life.

When Munaf’s soul returned to his body, his sons and other family members were trying to lay his body on a table for washing and preparation for burial. Many other people were also in the room.

His family and friends were astonished and some began to shriek when Munaf opened his eyes and sat up on the washing table. Many were frightened and backed away, as if they saw a ghost.

“I was dead and demons tried to take my soul but Messiah Jesus came and gave my life back,” he began haltingly, and then proceeded to describe his experience.

Some believed his report, but others refused to believe and began to ridicule him. One said Munaf must have hit his head and lost his senses. “He speaks meaningless words,” a man said.

“He is possessed by an evil spirit,” someone charged.

Munaf became a bold witness for Jesus Christ, telling his family and anyone who visited him about his remarkable experience. His immediate family believed what he said about Jesus and accepted Him as their Savior and Lord.

As a result of his witness, he was dismissed from the mosque and told to see a psychiatrist. The community began to persecute them.

A short time later, facing serious threats, Munaf and his family left their home and their native country.

Pastor Paul asks for prayers for Munaf and his family, that God would protect them and provide for them as they minister in the region.

*name changed for security reasons

If you want to know more about following Jesus, go here

• TAGS
• Bibles for Mideast
• former imam testimony
• Imam became Christian
• imam finds Jesus
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Muslim Imam accepts Jesus Christ after studying the Koran

In the 14-minute video shown below, Mario Joseph, a former Muslim Imam shares how he became a believer in Jesus Christ by reading the Koran.

Mario was born into a Muslim family and raised as a devoted Muslim, eventually becoming an Imam. One day while he was teaching in the mosque, one of his students asked, “Who is Jesus?”

Mario did not have a good answer, so he read the entire Koran once again, all 6,666 verses, to find what it says about Jesus. He found in chapter 3:45-55 the Koran identifies Jesus as the Word of God, the Spirit of God, the Messiah, the Christ, born to a virgin named Mary, conceived in her womb by the decree, the spoken word of God. In addition, it says Jesus created a bird from the dust, healed the blind and the leprous, raised the dead, was put to death by the will of God, was then resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will one day return. Verse 3:55 says God (Allah) will cause those who follow Jesus to be above those who do not believe in Him.

Based on the Koran, Mario compared Jesus with Muhammad and realized these facts:

• It says Jesus was the Word of God, but it never says Muhammad was the Word of God.
• It says Jesus was the Spirit of God, but it never says Muhammad was the Spirit of God.
• It says Jesus had power to create life from dust, but it never says Muhammad did anything like that.
• It says Jesus performed miracles of healing, but it never says Muhammad did any miracles.
• It says Jesus was raised from the dead and is now alive, but it never says Muhammad was raised from the dead. He still remains in his grave.
• It says Jesus ascended into heaven, but it never reveals Muhammad’s eternal fate, so Muslims cannot be sure whether or not he made it to heaven.
• It says Jesus will return, but it never says Muhammad will return.
• The Koran only mentions Muhammad 4 times, but it mentions Jesus 25 times.
• The Koran never mentions Muhammad’s mother’s name or the name of any other woman, except Mary, the mother of Jesus.

So, Mario concluded Jesus Christ is greater than Muhammad and became a follower of Jesus. The complete passage from the Koran is shown here.

[3.45] When the angels said: O Marium (Mary), surely Allah gives you good news with a Word from Him (of one) whose name is the ‘Messiah (Christ), Isa (Jesus) son of Marium (Mary), worthy of regard in this world and the hereafter and of those who are made near (to Allah).
[3.46] And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and (he shall be) one of the good ones.
[3.47] She said: My Lord! When shall there be a son (born) to me, and man has not touched me? He said: Even so, Allah creates what He pleases; when He has decreed a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is.
[3.48] And He will teach him the Book and the wisdom and the Tavrat and the Injeel (the Bible).
[3.49] And (make him) an apostle to the children of Israel: That I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I determine for you out of dust like the form of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird with Allah’s permission and I heal the blind and the leprous, and bring the dead to life with Allah’s permission and I inform you of what you should eat and what you should store in your houses; most surely there is a sign in this for you, if you are believers.
[3.50] And a verifier of that which is before me of the Torah and that I may allow you part of that which has been forbidden to you, and I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. Therefore be careful of (your duty to) Allah and obey me.
[3.51] Surely Allah is my Lord and your Lord, therefore serve Him; this is the right path.
[3.52] But when Isa (Jesus) perceived unbelief on their part, he said, “Who will be my helpers in Allah’s way?” The disciples said: We are helpers (in the way) of Allah: We believe in Allah and bear witness that we are submitting ones (Muslims).
[3.53] Our Lord! we believe in what Thou hast revealed and we follow the apostle, so write us down with those who bear witness.
[3.54] And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners.
[3.55] And when Allah said: O Isa (Jesus), I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above those who disbelieve to the day of resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so I will decide between you concerning that in which you differed. (Koran 3:45-55)

After he became a Christian, Mario was severely persecuted by his own family. His father tried to murder him, but Jesus delivered him. He shares his amazing story in this video.

Author: James Bailey

James Bailey is an author, business owner, husband and father of two children. His vision is to broadcast the good news of Jesus Christ through blog sites and other media outlets.

© 2017, Z3 News. Full text of Z3 News articles may be shared online in exchange for a clickable link to our site. Please include the author name and do not make any changes to text or titles. No image files from our site may be shared because we don’t own them. For permission to use our content in other formats, please contact us.

Why some Muslim Syrian refugees are converting to Christianity

Abu Radwan enters a church on the outskirts of Beirut with his wife and two kids. His wife removes the black headscarf covering her hair. It was here, a year and a half ago, that they converted to Christianity.

“Of course it was a difficult decision,” Abu Radwan says. “I was born into a Muslim family.”

The family is from the city of Homs in Syria. They sought refuge in Lebanon at the beginning of the war. Then two years ago, Abu Radwan says Jesus appeared to him in a dream.

“I started going to the church,” he says. “I believed that Jesus was coming to help us, to save us.”

Seven months later, he decided to become a Christian.

“We accepted him as a member of the church and baptized him, together with his wife and children," says Bishop George Saliba. “And we take care of him.”

Saliba says he has baptized around 100 Muslim Syrian refugees since the start of the war in Syria in 2011.

“Because [of] the constitution of Lebanon, they have the right to change their religion [here],” Saliba says. “But in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, it is impossible.”

It’s illegal, or at least dangerous, for Muslims to convert in those Muslim-majority countries.

It’s hard to know how many Syrian refugees have converted to Christianity in Lebanon in the past few years, because Bishop Saliba isn’t the only one doing conversions here.

At another church in Beirut, Syrian refugees gather in a circle around a pastor. They read Bible passages while sitting on plastic chairs under bright fluorescent lights. Some of the women still wear hijabs as they discuss the text.

“The Lord said go and teach them. I’m leading them in the Bible,” the pastor says. “I’m teaching them Christian doctrines.”

The pastor doesn’t want to be identified, and the church asked us not to mention its name. They fear reprisal from radical Islamist groups like ISIS.

Related: How an Iraqi Christian teenager survived two years in the heart of the ISIS 'caliphate'

The pastor says his church doesn’t push anyone to convert or offer anything in exchange for becoming Christian, though, like many churches, they do provide food and assistance to those in need.

The pastor won’t say how many refugees his evangelical church has converted, but he says there are dozens of Bible study groups for refugees in Lebanon.

“The ones that accept the Lord, we put them in groups,” he says. “We teach them about the Bible and the Lord so they will grow in faith.”

But others raise questions about that faith. Even some Christian leaders and other Syrian Christian refugees say they think the converts are just looking for assistance and help to immigrate to Western countries. Bishop Saliba denies this and insists that he questions potential converts to ensure their faith is genuine.

“When I see a person wishes to be Christian, I don’t stop him,” he says, “but we try to test him.”

Abu Radwan, the convert, says he does get assistance from the church — about $200 a month. And he believes that being Christian will help his family get resettled in a Western country. 

“Of course it will be easier,” he tells me.

Related: Americans in Lebanon say they're on a mission from God to teach Syrian refugee kids

The United Nations does resettlement based on vulnerability criteria — essentially, how much an individual or family is at risk. In the past, the US has used the same criteria. It hasn’t given preference to Christians, though President Donald Trump has said it’s a priority for his administration. Few Western countries do put Christians at the head of the line, though some have church sponsorship programs for refugees.

In 2016 nearly all the Syrian refugees accepted by the US were Muslim; fewer than 1 percent were Christian. (Around 10 percent of the Syrian population is Christian.) Yet, many refugees like Abu Radwan believe that being Christian will give them a leg up.

“I want to get out of Lebanon,” he says. “I want to emigrate. I’ve tried all ways.”

In the meantime, the conversion has put Abu Radwan and his family at greater risk here in Lebanon.

He pulls up his shirt to reveal a bandage on his torso. Last week, he says, he was stabbed on the street.

“I was coming from church,” he says.

Abu Radwan says the attackers were Syrians from his tribe; they don’t accept his conversion. It’s why his wife still wears a hijab outside of church. It has also made going home to Syria almost impossible. His tribe, he says, has issued an order to kill him. But he doesn’t regret his conversion. 

“I was relieved when I was baptized,” he says. “If I die, now, here in front of the church, I will die in peace.”

Source www.pri.org