An Unsettling Experience

By:  Donna Martin

This is serious.  I don’t have the words to tell you how important this is.  My heart is burdened for our children and grandchildren and for all who may easily be deceived.  Please read this entire article and pray that parents and grandparents will be convicted of their responsibility to teach their children the truths of the Bible.

We were enjoying a beautiful day in the park in downtown Dallas one Sunday afternoon.  As we were leaving, a table on the corner across from the park caught our attention.  The table had a sign that said, “Everything on the table free.”   As we walked by the table one of the men standing by it approached us. 

“Would you like to know about Jesus in Islam?”  he asked, handing us a brochure.

And so began a 30 minute conversation about Jesus and what these Islamic men believed about him.  They were very friendly and polite, but misused and misquoted scripture trying to convince us that Jesus was not really God’s son.  They told us about how they visit different churches from time to time and tried to convince us that basically they believe the same thing about Jesus that we believe.  We shared our beliefs, they shared theirs, time ran out, so we took pictures of each other and left on friendly terms.

As I read the brochure on the way home, I became more disturbed.  The brochure was filled with untrue information about Jesus.  What disturbed me more than anything was the fact that many people could easily be fooled by this propaganda if they did read and study the Bible for themselves.

2 Timothy 3:12-17 states, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

So many people have been deceived because they have been influenced by people who misused the Bible to convince them to follow their false teachings.  The Bible warns us about false teachers in 2 Timothy 3:1-6 and Romans 16:17-18.  It is imperative that we read the Bible ourselves and to our children so that we and they are equipped to withstand false teachings. 

God has given us clear instructions to read the Bible and to teach its truths to our children and grandchildren (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4; Isaiah 54:13). In 2 Timothy Paul refers to what Timothy learned from his mother and grandmother.

Make it a priority in your parenting to read the Bible together as a family daily.  Make memorizing scripture fun (Psalms 119:11).  The Bible is God’s love letter to us.  It is our guide for life.  Equip your children to “stand against the devil’s schemes” by helping them “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.”   (Ephesians 6:10-18)

P.S.  Many Muslims across the world are coming to know Jesus as their savior because of dreams they are having about him.  Please pray that the men in the picture will have “Jesus Dreams”, and that they will come to know the truth.  Because the “truth will set them free” (John 8:32).

The Martins currently present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations.  To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.”  They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriages.com.

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