Venabambina
Member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2006
- Messages
- 4
I was wondering if anyone could help me. I am a Christian woman married to an Egyptian man. He was raised in a Catholic/Coptic home in Egypt, but he does have family members and many friends who are Muslim. He is a wonderful man. He believes in God and believes in Jesus but he is extremely confused between Islam and Christianity. I do not have enough "expertise" to answer some of his questions and be a good witness to him. In fact, we always end up in screaming matches over the issue and I feel like a terrible Christian because of it. I have went so far as to tell him I'm giving up on him and I don't want to do that. I don't want to give up on my husband, I love him too much and worry for his soul. I want our marriage to be happy and strong, especially because we are planning to move to Egypt in 4 years. Here are the points I have trouble addressing:
1. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? I have told him that Jesus' death opened the door between humans and God. That Jesus' death was an atonement for our sins. I have explained that Jesus was the "Lamb of God." He wants to know WHY, if God is all-powerful, did he need a "pathway" between us and him? He thinks it makes more sense that we can just worship God directly and God didn't need Jesus to die for us. He thinks it makes more sense that God replaced Judas with Jesus on the cross and Judas is the one who was killed, not Jesus. I can answer the "how" but I can't answer the "why."
2. Why do Christians refer to Jesus as the "Son of God?" I have told him that it is figurative, that God is not literally his father, that he did not literally come down and copulate with Mary. That Jesus was half God and half man. He understands that and believes it but he doesn't think it is right that Christians refer to Jesus as his "son." That God can't literally have a "son" and that if Jesus is the Son of God, then we should all be sons of God. I have tried quoting Bible passages to no avail. I need a good strong answer to him.
3. How is it possible that all we have to do is confess our sins and say we accept Jesus and we are saved? He thinks it is too easy, that people must work to get into Heaven. He doesn't understand the concept that someone like me "who is good and doesn't do anything wrong" can compare myself to murderers and thieves and cheaters and we are all equal in the eyes of God. I have tried to explain that we are all sinners and when we measure ourselves next to the perfection of God, every single one of us looks absolutely filthy. He doesn't agree and doesn't "get it." He gets mad at me when I say I am 100% sure I am going to heaven because I am "born again." He learned from a young age about "outside in," doing good on the outside to change the inside. I have tried to tell him about "inside out," changing the way you think and act on the inside to change the outside. He thinks what I say is good but he can't quite grasp it.
4. The Trinity. I have tried to explain the Trinity to him. That Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. That God is Jesus and Jesus is God. He gets very upset by this, saying that we should not put Jesus on the level with God. I have explained to him that just as he is a father and a son and a husband, that God is a Father and a Son. He sees the 3 in the Trinity as separate. He also gets mad when I pray to Jesus and listen to songs about Jesus being God, saying that I am wrong to do that. He doesn't understand how Jesus could have been a man as well as God. He thinks that Jesus was a prophet, just like Moses and Mohammed, and that God is God.
5. How can we be sure that the Bible hasn't been corrupted in translation? I have tried to tell him about biblical translation and that the Bible has been translated from original texts and not from other translations. I have tried to tell him statistics (the Bible against other texts, such as texts written by the ancient Greeks, etc.) He doesn't believe it. He thinks the Bible has been corrupted in some way. I don't have enough background in this to be effective.
6. How can we be sure the Koran is wrong? I have done a little study into this matter and have told him about my research and he got extremely upset with me. I don't have a lot of background in this but I have read part of the Koran and found many contradictions which I have told him about and he just shrugs me off. I think it is personal with him because his beloved grandfather was Muslim and a very good man (he passed away) and he can't admit that maybe his grandfather was wrong.
7. "If Christianity is right, and the only way to get into Heaven is through Jesus, then all my Muslim family and friends who have died are burning in hell?" And what of all the people who have never heard of Jesus before they died, like people in the jungles; are they burning in hell too? I don't know what to say because I don't know.
8. One last point. He says, "I am not an atheist. I am not a Buddhist. I believe in God and Jesus just as well as you do. I do my best in life and love God and pray and try to do the right things. I am doing the best I can and that's enough. I am going to heaven too with you." I have told him he must accept Jesus as his Savior, and he says he has but he doesn't believe he died on the cross. I just don't know how else to respond to that without him thinking I think he's a bad person and taking it personally and ending up in an argument.
Please, someone with anything to offer, help us. We have an excellent marriage, a beautiful son, and a bright future ahead of us. I want to be able to move to Egypt and witness to the people there, as I believe God is calling me to do, without it ruining our marriage. I would love if he would be alongside me, witnessing next to me, to his own people. He has told me flat out he doesn't want me going over there "offending people" with my talking about Christianity.
Thanks for any help.
1. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? I have told him that Jesus' death opened the door between humans and God. That Jesus' death was an atonement for our sins. I have explained that Jesus was the "Lamb of God." He wants to know WHY, if God is all-powerful, did he need a "pathway" between us and him? He thinks it makes more sense that we can just worship God directly and God didn't need Jesus to die for us. He thinks it makes more sense that God replaced Judas with Jesus on the cross and Judas is the one who was killed, not Jesus. I can answer the "how" but I can't answer the "why."
2. Why do Christians refer to Jesus as the "Son of God?" I have told him that it is figurative, that God is not literally his father, that he did not literally come down and copulate with Mary. That Jesus was half God and half man. He understands that and believes it but he doesn't think it is right that Christians refer to Jesus as his "son." That God can't literally have a "son" and that if Jesus is the Son of God, then we should all be sons of God. I have tried quoting Bible passages to no avail. I need a good strong answer to him.
3. How is it possible that all we have to do is confess our sins and say we accept Jesus and we are saved? He thinks it is too easy, that people must work to get into Heaven. He doesn't understand the concept that someone like me "who is good and doesn't do anything wrong" can compare myself to murderers and thieves and cheaters and we are all equal in the eyes of God. I have tried to explain that we are all sinners and when we measure ourselves next to the perfection of God, every single one of us looks absolutely filthy. He doesn't agree and doesn't "get it." He gets mad at me when I say I am 100% sure I am going to heaven because I am "born again." He learned from a young age about "outside in," doing good on the outside to change the inside. I have tried to tell him about "inside out," changing the way you think and act on the inside to change the outside. He thinks what I say is good but he can't quite grasp it.
4. The Trinity. I have tried to explain the Trinity to him. That Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. That God is Jesus and Jesus is God. He gets very upset by this, saying that we should not put Jesus on the level with God. I have explained to him that just as he is a father and a son and a husband, that God is a Father and a Son. He sees the 3 in the Trinity as separate. He also gets mad when I pray to Jesus and listen to songs about Jesus being God, saying that I am wrong to do that. He doesn't understand how Jesus could have been a man as well as God. He thinks that Jesus was a prophet, just like Moses and Mohammed, and that God is God.
5. How can we be sure that the Bible hasn't been corrupted in translation? I have tried to tell him about biblical translation and that the Bible has been translated from original texts and not from other translations. I have tried to tell him statistics (the Bible against other texts, such as texts written by the ancient Greeks, etc.) He doesn't believe it. He thinks the Bible has been corrupted in some way. I don't have enough background in this to be effective.
6. How can we be sure the Koran is wrong? I have done a little study into this matter and have told him about my research and he got extremely upset with me. I don't have a lot of background in this but I have read part of the Koran and found many contradictions which I have told him about and he just shrugs me off. I think it is personal with him because his beloved grandfather was Muslim and a very good man (he passed away) and he can't admit that maybe his grandfather was wrong.
7. "If Christianity is right, and the only way to get into Heaven is through Jesus, then all my Muslim family and friends who have died are burning in hell?" And what of all the people who have never heard of Jesus before they died, like people in the jungles; are they burning in hell too? I don't know what to say because I don't know.
8. One last point. He says, "I am not an atheist. I am not a Buddhist. I believe in God and Jesus just as well as you do. I do my best in life and love God and pray and try to do the right things. I am doing the best I can and that's enough. I am going to heaven too with you." I have told him he must accept Jesus as his Savior, and he says he has but he doesn't believe he died on the cross. I just don't know how else to respond to that without him thinking I think he's a bad person and taking it personally and ending up in an argument.
Please, someone with anything to offer, help us. We have an excellent marriage, a beautiful son, and a bright future ahead of us. I want to be able to move to Egypt and witness to the people there, as I believe God is calling me to do, without it ruining our marriage. I would love if he would be alongside me, witnessing next to me, to his own people. He has told me flat out he doesn't want me going over there "offending people" with my talking about Christianity.
Thanks for any help.
