Update. Some time last year or so, i was besieged by email folks to update my passwords. This led to me being shut out from them because I had forgotten the new words, and misplaced the paper on which they were recorded. Fortunately, it led to having shut out a great deal of strife. I do not have access to the e-zines that notified me of Christians persecuted around the world, or Muslim women and children who were in prison for being raped, or of any new atrocities of villages or churches being burned with bodies left out on the roads. Not that one forgets what he has already seen, but it was nice. It also led to missing a lot of voting mail. At the same time, when we had discontinued our home phone and replaced it with cells, we no longer received what is known as robocalls.

Although I had previously noted that my work on this blog had been dropped for quite a while, due to work on the subject in other venues, even that has come to an end. Well, a cease-fire. May I state that I have had a great deal of peace through this. I have also  nearly dropped checking Facebook. One doesn't feel compelled to respond to stupid or outrageous comments one doesn't read. It also enables one to interact with family whose opinions differ widely with his own views. Frankly, I have had a very peaceful year. More accurately, probably two or three. I rarely attend any of the writer's groups that were taking my time.

Our group finished going through three novels. I have introduced parts of my apologetic, but only a few pages. I have not dared to bring my devotional Bible studies nor my children's stories. I did take some of each to a couple of other meetings, but found that trying to splice in a few pages to the middle of a meeting with other people's efforts is nearly impossible. Without a complete view of a passage, or four or five pages, others cannot grasp the parameters of the work. So, yes, I will have to hire an editor or just get the stuff published. But right now, I am enjoying great freedom to keep my opinions to myself, and avoid strife.

At present I am occupied with taking care of my mother, an effort I share with one of my sisters. Then when I am at my own home, the necessities of what has been ignored, what needs to be done, or taking time to reconnect with my kids and grand-kids, or just enjoy my husband's company soaks up the rest of my time. With my mother, I sit for hours and read whatever I want: cookbooks, my Bible, books about prayer, or historical fiction. Sometimes I watch television but usually only after she goes to bed. (She doesn't like the noise, can't see well enough to tell what is happening, or hear to follow the words.)

Exploring subjects online, I probably could take time to post again, or keep up with emails. But it is freeing to detach from the world. Thought I would share that because these days, folks cannot function without looking at their phones all day. You truly do not need to know what everyone thinks about that picture of your dog, or to inform them what you cooked last night. You will have a lot more time for yourself, and to slow down, if you remember these things are mere tools. They should not control your life. I worry about kids these days, parents are only vaguely there, but with their heads down looking at their phones. (I noticed this a couple of times at the pool, where fortunately they have lifeguards who are watching.)

Not everyone has the luxury of taking care of an aging parent. You might think burden. No. She earned the attention raising several kids. Sometimes I feel like I am being self-indulgent, with an extended vacation. Yes, we could have sent her to a nursing home. I could stay home taking care of my own life. But every month, for two weeks at a time, I am shut away from those who would take up my time, who would make demands on me. I could not get away with sitting for hours to read and not be up doing something when I should be going somewhere, making something, etc. So, i have hours a day to cook, to read, to take a nap.

My mother sits and sleeps in her chair, and I give her my company. She wants something to drink, I get it for her. I put her up and down, change a diaper or two, and tell her repeatedly what time it is, what day, or whatever she inquires about. In exchange, we save the five thousand dollars a month we would have to pay for a nursing home. We have nurses and doctor's making home visits, which sadly the federal government pays for whether we need them or not. (I would prefer to call them when we needed something, and save on a lot of visits.)

And what else have I lost besides some time and sacrifice? Seventy-five pounds so far. Working on the Dr. Oz thing of two weeks on and two off for a diet. (It keeps one from plateau-ing, when your body thinks it is fasting and so won't burn calories.) And a lot of inches in my neck, arms, waist, legs, and just everywhere. After several months of weight loss, I had so many inches of drooping skin left hollow because fat was burnt up, that I had to start swimming and walking to tone up.

My sister and I had only one period of three hours where we could leave per week, but my mother had a relapse and they put her back on hospice. (They had kicked her off because she hadn't died quick enough.) Now we can get volunteer sitters to come in in addition to the one we pay, so I can exercise more. Not sure how much longer we have. My sister and I have been doing this for over two and a half years. But after my mother is gone, and I get my life back, then I will be free to pursue getting published. What does all this have to do with the Koran? Well, along with the fact that all my writing is about it, the Koran does give instruction that one should honor their mother. As does the Bible. That is one thing on which we agree.

where am I?

Wow, I have walked away from this for over a year, and I find that another 3000 folks have read this, or somehow reached it, whether they continued on to read it or not. The books and efforts described in past posts have been worked on and edited several times, yet they have not yet reached you. Even after several efforts at how to publish online and other types of books, the finish line has not been crossed. The previous post was based on having interactions with readers of articles on a website that allowed me to share my story and experiences. These sent private emails rather than post there. In the meanwhile, my own life has required me to devote considerable time to taking care of aging parents. One passed away in June, but I am still taking care of my mother. The reason I note this is that if you are visiting from year to year and wonder where I am, you should know I have not lessened my concern for these issues. Islam and its response to Christianity or to anyone not of its faith is of utmost importance. Recently a few ideas for future posts have presented themselves, so I promise to do a better job.

Letter to a reader

            Okay. Let’s make sure I understand. Your in-laws are devout Muslims, and try to continue to teach their beliefs to your nieces and nephews—that is, to their grandchildren. (Presumably, this is because they actually believe what their faith teaches.) For one reason, they want them to uphold godly values and not be pulled into the traps of worldliness around them that they think will degrade their quality of life. For another, they believe in a real heaven and hell and want their family members to go to the right place. A third reason is that they do not want them to dishonor the deity who deserves to receive honor and respect for His Creation, and thanks for what He provides.

            These are not unreasonable things to desire for those you love. I would concur with their values as for as wishing the best for their families and not wanting them to bring curses upon them for dishonoring them. (That is one reason why honor killings take place throughout the Muslim world—to prevent the person from further worldliness, etc.)

            Perhaps the discussions are not constant but periodic, over what is the modest, decent, or proper way to dress. They involve what are good shows to watch that do not glorify evil. Books, music, art, and movies all are affected by the values we have (whether we will watch them.) We are affected by listening to someone else’s opinions that are expressed in lyrics, sitcom plots, and so on. That is the reason they are included-to try to affect social opinion.

            Now, I have similar issues. My mate and I tried to set rules about the standards of our home. How we should dress and act. I sought to instill the values to work hard, study, get a good education, and love learning purely for itself as well as a way to acquire jobs skills. I did tell them they would have to work hard because I did not have enough money to support them while they played around. 

            You accuse me of being rigid. In fact, I was too tolerant, trusting that with patience, after my children had experimented with the world, they would settle down. Partly, this was out of guilt that they would have to grow up so soon, having to work their way through college with insufficient help from us.

            I had the same thoughts as your in-laws. I wanted my children to be moral, modest, and godly. I wanted them to reflect the training I had given them. And for the same reasons I listed for the other parents. There was an additional factor—I wanted my children to know and love the Lord. He not only loves them, He wants to have a relationship with them. No one will love them more, or take better care of them than Him. (I can’t watch over them 24/7, but He can.)

            Now you object to both sides taking this position—whether it is me (and your mother), or your in-laws. The thing that I notice is that you are ambivalent to religion. Having admitted to being an atheist, you find our beliefs antiquated and unreasonable. However, you also are strongly emotional, and devoted to your opinion. Those qualities you find objectionable in me, but not in yourself. 

            If you were consistent with your position that people should be tolerant of those who maintain different views, you would be at peace. We would not affect or offend you, because everyone is to be allowed to have their position. What you really mean is that everyone who agrees with you should be allowed that, and the freedom to express that. However, the rest of us should shut up. We should numb our emotions, as you instructed your mother. We should become robots because we are not worthy to express our thoughts. 

            Now let us suppose, twenty five or thirty years down the road, you have raised children. As they grew up you’ve taught them not to take sides (because religion isn’t actually important.) However, you did teach them values important to you. You taught them to care about animals that are abandoned, or that marriage is anything anybody wants it to be—in the name of tolerance.

            Then they go off to college, or move out. Suppose values have changed. The politically correct view becomes that the survival of the fittest demands animals make it on their own or die. Not only is homosexual marriage acceptable, along with the choice of polygamy, but marriage to children of the age of six up is fine for men even in their sixth decade, because the prophet did it. Or maybe they are showing scenes like that on TV, movies, tablets and computers, phones, or whatever the current technology becomes. (Just as they are starting to show programs now about polygamy, and homosexual couples raising kids.) Maybe these new shows will even present sex with animals, say a man and his donkey on weekly sitcoms.

            Old people are horrified because these scenes would never have been tolerated in their youth. (Except as crude jokes in decadent movies that no one took seriously.) But now it is determined that to be against this is to be narrow-minded.

            Who has the right to tell a child of six she cannot marry the grandfather next door? Why tell a boy of thirteen he cannot satisfy his urges with the German Shepherd pet? What right do you have to speak out against it? What about the fate of your grandchildren if their parents do not see the deterioration of the society, the forsaking of the heritage as an issue? 

            You are making strong value judgments now against me, and against your Muslim in-laws. But you are forgetting one thing. WE are the victims here, not you. You made choices, weighed pros and cons, and decided it was best to overturn everything. Let me say, before you get too upset here, I accept that you have suffered for your choices. Yes, you have faced rude treatment from others who had no right, and perhaps from those closer who at least were affected by your choices.

            But it is the rest of us, including the grand-kids, who have to make the best out of an awkward situation over which we had no control, no choice. We are tied up—pulled between our values (and loyalty to our God) and our love for our children and grandchildren. Or, as my grand-kids, between their love for their parents (and desire to fulfill what they have been taught is right) and the love to honor their grand-parents.

            Without consulting us or considering how it would affect us, you did what Archie Bunker used to say to his wife.(She was beaten down emotionally into doing whatever she was told. “Stifle it, Edith,” became his mantra.) That is what you told your mother and would recommend for your in-laws and me. 

            Apparently, you only have rights. This treatment sets up two standards—humans who have rights, and sub-humans, who do not. If nothing else, please let this speak to your heart to increase your patience with your in-laws.  Because while it may be possible to keep one’s opinions to himself for strangers, it is innate in us to want to preserve our heritage and our identities within our families.

            I will not bother to try to defend here why I think my position is correct theologically, or to defend against the accusation that I am hard-hearted. I will admit that though I have read literally hundreds of Christian books, and dozens of authors (C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, JRR Tolkien, Francis Schaeffer, Amy Carmichael, Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray, Hannah Hurnard, and the Thoene’s, to name only a few,) I do not believe I have ever read even one book by Billy Graham. My great aunt had several on her bookshelf, but somehow they never grabbed me. I did pick up on angels, but that was as close as I got.

            I can recommend one by his son, Franklin Graham. He was the black sheep of his family. Later he got his life straightened out and wrote Rebel with a Cause. He’s written other things since, but that is what I suggest. He ran Samaritan’s Purse, a practical ministry to help the poor and not merely preach to them. They have provided help during disasters for a couple of decades. He now runs the Billy Graham Evangelical Association as well. 

            Rather than respond “am not, are too” about being bossy (at times incontestable,) and explain the processes over the years that have humbled me, softened my heart, or whatever other analogy you prefer, I have tried to approach this on a logical basis with no animosity or defensiveness. I genuinely hope it will help.

            Let me add, thanks. I had not posted on my blog significantly for a couple of years. Really, I thought I’d covered most everything there was to say about the subject. I had wrestled with speaking the truth versus trying to be loving and gracious. Part of that was because there were many sweet Muslims who are precious to me whom I would never want to offend. 

           Of course, there are Christians who self-righteously talk down to me instructing me “that is not loving" or tell me to "write it this way. . . .” Most of them have their families intact. They talk to people at their offices or online. Some generously invest time telling others about Jesus. I am glad they do. But they really do not address what the Koran teaches. FOR IT IS THE MESSAGE THAT IS GIVEN THAT PROVOKES OUR OBSTINATE REBELLION AND ANGER. (I don’t remember what Sura and verse that is from, but it is crucial.) Even when the anger is dealt with, the knowledge of what it says produces stubbornness.Most of these have never read the Koran, and they have "no skin in the game." That means they have nothing at risk, in whatever their positions are.

 

            These folks don’t have to go among their peers humiliated, admitting that their children have denied the Lord of Glory. Neither do these parents have to pray for mercy to the One who died for their children. They don’t have to ask for prayer and discernment about how to straddle this impossible crevice; because their own heritage and lineage is not at stake. They are merely able to reach out to strangers and love them, some from their own comfort zones. Wish I were there with them, but I am not. Whether this changes your opinion of me or not, I hope it will enable you to be more merciful to those who are in your life. 

            Perhaps the other readers will also learn from this. Try to show patience with those who break our cultural norms, and maybe show some compassion for those of us who do struggle with these issues. The reason these norms exist is that it protects us from the pressures discussed here. That doesn't deal with the religious issues either, but maybe it will help.

Explanation and Defense of the preceding post

            A few months ago, I received an email from a young woman. She had read one of my articles about my daughter who married a Muslim and converted. Not at all sympathetic of my feelings or problems, she informed me I was hard-hearted and narrow-minded. She also questioned whether my conversations with my grandchildren were realistic. 

In the first response, I felt it necessary to assure her of the accuracy of my report. Answering those comments took too long, so I wrote another to enable her to understand those she considered her enemies. That included her parents as well as her in-laws, in addition to myself. Though my part is insignificant.

           The sender had also married a Muslim. She’d experienced what my ESL Training classes referred to as “culture bumps” from her interactions with her in-laws. She’d also told her parents to just deal with it. In her defense, I have to admit that she was receiving pressure from both sides. 

           All she really wanted to do was love her husband and be left alone. Apparently the religious issues were not too important to either of them. She wanted everyone to get over their zeal and learn to be more tolerant. That seems to be a key word these days, and sometimes we overuse it.

 

            It is a common sentiment, a supposed solution to learning how to get along. At the end of the letter, she told me I needed to stop reading Billy Graham. That made me laugh, but it was not at her. It was late and I wrote her a response that was not as gracious as I would have preferred. The longer piece I didn’t type up, meaning to follow through the next day or so. I did not and then I misplaced the notebook it was in. Since this is merely an introduction to the problem, I will also post the other, a more complete reply.

Kafar, kefir, kuffar, keffir. As I have written over the years it has been necessary to go back to find and replace the various spellings of these words. I felt strongly about it, then found other spellings. From Wikipedia I found a variety of definitions. Googling these led to multiple sources. A television or radio station, a drink using one of these for a name. A racist term to denote blacks and other people whose origin was usually from Africa and the times of oppression and selling one's opponents into slavery. Historic origins of those, with which person and book made the references in which century. Sharia definitions of types of kefir, with levels of how severely these people are classified in their quest to be heathen. There is also kafr music, and a song. Didn't follow that link, because I just wanted to know how to spell the word properly.
   
Here are the simple definitions. Kefir is an individual who is guilty of covering the truth of Islam. He rejects it. The sources indicate it is as though he knows it is true but rejects it. (I find it illogical to suggest someone will reject what he knows to be true.) Either way he is an infidel. Kuffar is plural for this. Kafar is the verb. I may have mentioned this in a post previously. But I have written so much in so many locations I no longer remember where I put things exactly. Sorry.

Keffir is the racist term used to describe the descendants of slaves, whether they are in India, South Africa, or anywhere where the folks who refused Islam were shipped off. The folks that assisted in the internal transport from the interior of Africa to the coasts were Muslims and conversos, Jews who pretended to convert to Christianity.  When the Jews were kicked out of Spain by Isabella and Phillip in 1492, along with the defeated Moors, they settled in Morocco and other places around North Africa, and farther down the coasts wherever the Portuguese had gone. (To see this follow the maps of Prince Henry the Navigator and his brothers.)

Now in case you think I include this to malign Moors or Jews, yes, I suppose. Whatever. (I know my original interest in the subject of 1492, etc. was to figure out, to wrestle with why Christians would persecute those they were clearly indebted to. But I have found it useless to try to debate with anyone who would rather insult one than argue points. So I will no longer attempt to disprove any allegations of racism or prejudice.) However, the book on the Transatlantic slave trade that I have mentioned previously, of over 800 pages of staggering sourcework, does not allow for ANY group to feel like they are clean. Royal houses all over Europe, rich families and those who would become so, all furthered themselves at the expense of these. (And yes, I wrestled with the guilt of western civilization, of America, of Christian culture, etc. until I tired of rolling in it. But it is good to address before the Almighty the guilt of one's society along with his own, when he calls for mercy on his land.)

 However, reading that tome had taken much time several years ago and had been duly filed and put aside. It predated much of my research on Islam. Reading the definitions brought it back freshly to mind. So ONE of the reasons that tribes had fought one another, why they had taken captives was that these folks refused to convert to Islam. Not sure that their descendants found much proof of Christian love or godliness, except much later from the Quakers, and from the Methodists who with William Wilberforce helped change those laws and sent out ships to patrol the coasts of Africa for slave trading ships. Too many accepted the use of cheap labor in order to prosper. 

I suppose the other reason for writing about this is that a few weeks ago I picked up a book on the history of the Jews. It examines various stages of discrimination over the centuries. I had already examined the 1492 period from a couple of books a few years back, and really was not looking for anything further. But when you find something for a dollar in the clearance section of Half Price Books, sometimes you just have to go with it. The thing I appreciated about it, and it was from a Jewish source, so it wasn't anti-Semitic, was that Cantor acknowledged that there may have been times when the cultures had legitimate objections other than mere prejudice.

For instance, in 1492 the Jews had helped Muslims keep foreign oppressors in charge for nearly 800 years (711-1492.) In Russia, there were massive amounts of Jewish influence within the Communist spheres, so someone fighting against communism might legitimately think that group was helping to destabilize their country. At times I fume against the influence of Hollywood to undermine the Judeo-Christian values of our society. And who holds a lot of power there? Again, not out of religious bigotry, but out of analyzing social behavior.

 Now anyone who knows me knows that I am strongly pro-Israeli, pro-Zionist, and give God's chosen people the benefit of the doubt most always. And I am strongly offended by the growth of anti-Jewish sentiment in Europe and around the world. But dammit folks, try to work with us. Stop trying to undermine our society and don't give us reason to complain. You need folks who defend you. Who'll say, damn right, send our troops to defend Israel and stand against those who want to obliterate it. But if you want our backing, then stand up and complain about the persecution of Christians in the world. Not everything is about you. Stand up for righteousness.

 And stop trying to help all these Muslim rebels. They may be oppressed. But when they get into power, it will not be any better for their people. Just one group against another. But for non-Muslims, whether atheists, homosexuals, Jews, Christians, or whatever, the results will be much worse. You are playing with fire while our societies disintegrate.

And that is the most I have said about political and social issues in a long time. Because the Muslims I know have greatly impressed me with their humility, with their attempts at godliness, their dedication, I try to limit myself to discussions about what the Scriptures (Bible vs. the Koran) debate. I have not watched much news, nor checked my ezines a lot. Didn't watch most of the Bengazi-gate stuff. Don't read most of my political sources of newsletters or emails. Haven't even watched much Fox News for months. Just been trying to work on my writing and stuff.

 In fact, I haven't kept up with a lot of folks lately. I am trying to make my contribution, and we'll see where that goes. I found reading and watching just keeps folks geared up. And I want to be able to love as well as discuss, not hate nor fume. No doubt, I will be labeled. I know people keep up with what is written and hold it over to refer back to it even years later. I doubt anyone will consider me important enough. And I think I balance things, but I have just gotten overwhelmed in the last few years with the increasing persecution of Christians around the world, with the media saying little or nothing about it. In fact, I have resigned myself at times to viewing this as the end times with the consequent falling apart of all things. The only thing that is left to say is "Come, Lord Jesus. Bring an end to this suffering."

Well, it happened again!

            After purchasing several children’s books, I had divided them up for distributing to each grandchild. The few that had not been assigned to a particular kid and bag remained in my vehicle. A week or so later while driving the girls around, the elder picked up Madeline in London, then another couple. After that she grabbed the one illustrating Away in a Manger. (In my defense, I have other grandchildren who are or will be allowed to know about Christmas. So purchasing it was acceptable.)

            As she read it, she came upon the music bars and asked if this were a song. I announced that it was, in fact, one of those Christmas tunes known as Carols. So I sang it to her and she loved it. We sang it several times. I hate to admit it was a bit off-key and not as melodious as it should have been for a first exposure to a treasured piece.

            I did reassure her it did not hold anything off-limits to her or contradictory to the Koran. Although “Christ the Lord” might seem extreme, it is clear that such a special gift from Allah should warrant strong praises and a higher name than for an ordinary child. I think it depends upon what your definition of lord is. I would guess that Muslim children would not assign the highest usage to Him.

            I wrestled with it later.  But a Koran study of Jesus, starting with what are the good things that book has to say of Him, if He is who those verses state, then surely it should be no crime to celebrate His birthday. At the very least, it should be okay to learn a couple of songs, or to read about the angels singing, the shepherds and wise men coming to pay honor, or to hear that there was no room at the inn.

            However, in fairness to both Scriptures, the differences would need to be discussed as well. Still I find that if the Koran records He was a gift from God, a Righteous one, full of the Spirit, and such similar statements, celebrating His birth by receiving a present seems harmless. And colored lights for decorations could hardly endanger their souls to celebrate the birth of one of your prophets.

            Therefore I have composed a list for your usage to clarify which ones are safe for your children to encounter. My criterion was if the verse called Him the Son of God, or Savior, or such then that would disagree with the Koran. For instance in God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, it says “God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day to save our souls from Satan’s power when we had gone astray. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!” The second and fifth verses are safe, but the first, third, and fourth are not.

            The Koran already informs you we believe He died on the cross for our sins. Mohammed was very clear in denying anyone could take another’s punishment. That is why he so repeatedly stated that no one can intercede for another. I suppose it might be safe then to hear these songs because the Koran already discusses the theology.

            The same could be said about the carols that name Him as the Son of God. Your book already records “And they say that Jesus, the son of Mary is Allah,” and denies God has a son. It does say, though, “If Allah Most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship Him.” If your children are at all familiar with the Koran, we offer no additional information. (I offer this to all Muslims who might read this, not merely the ones in my family.)

            Here is the list of acceptable carols: Away in a Manger, Silent Night-1^st verse, We Three Kings-1^st verse, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear-also 1^st verse. The First Noel is safe as well, though it claims Him as King of Israel. That teaching merely refers to him as such because it is approximately equal to the meaning of Messiah or Christ. While a Jewish parent might take great offense to that teaching, the Koran refers to Jesus as such. (Herod was the actual king at that time, under Roman supervision of course. The gospels reveal the title of King of Israel was tacked onto the cross under Roman authority. But that was at a later time.)

            The ones in the second list are Joy to the World, Silent Night-2^nd verse, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, God rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, And “Mary, Did You Know?” You might decide these are no longer dangerous since you already have that information and can use them as examples of our beliefs. Either way, you shall be well informed.

            Hark the Herald Angels Sing is definitely off-limits. In the 1^st verse, it explains why the angels announce what Scripture says is “peace on earth, good will to men.” They sing, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and men are reconciled.” The 2^nd verse is much worse. “Offspring of a virgin’s womb, veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the Incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.” (Emmanuel means God with us.)

            The third verse continues with your heresy (what you consider to be so.) “Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.”

            This requires a few explanations. No, we do not claim He had wings, though He rose in the air at the ascension. It just rhymes and the author took poetic license. Laying aside His glory refers to his humility as being God, setting aside the worship and glory He had to become a man. Having a halo or aura as He walked around would have lessened His ability to be treated as a normal person.

            The "second birth" was part of Jesus’ teaching. He instructed one of the learned men who came to him secretly. Nicodemus was a leader in the Sanhedrin. Asked “what must I do to be saved,” Jesus said we must be born again. The elder pondered, could I enter again into my mother’s womb? It wasn’t possible, so what did this man mean?

After chastising him for being a spiritual leader and not knowing this, Jesus explained that we had to be born a second time with a spiritual birth. (Our natural man was too corrupt and was not capable of pleasing God. Only by having His Spirit change us could we be acceptable to the Most High.) The words to this hymn were written by Charles Wesley, and the music was by Felix Mendelssohn.

            On reconsideration, Joy to the World, by Isaac Watts, music by George F. Handel does not seem dangerous. However you might not appreciate Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel. “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

            The second verse asks Him to “free thine own from Satan’s tyranny, from depths of hell Thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave.” The fourth verse asks Him to “open wide our heavenly home, make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path that leads to Misery.” Sometimes verse numbers change as different hymnals omit some stanzas and include others.

            Likewise you may not approve of Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, though it seems gentle enough. “Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie, above thy deep and dreamless sleep  the silent star goes by. Yet in that dark street shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." (The Gospel of John announces in its first chapter that besides being the Word of God, he is the light that gives life to men.)

            Several of our favorite hymns were music of Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. These were intentionally written as sacred music by those devout men. The most thorough, but difficult to suffer through except by the most devout is Handel’s Messiah, in which prophecies from our Scripture are sung in operatic form. Highly treasured, unbelievers (in Jesus) can find it takes way too long to get through even one verse because of the repetition. I love it, but it is an entire symphony gloriously composed of multiple songs, including a section reserved for Easter (discussing the death of Jesus, His resurrection, and ascension to heaven.)

            Good Christian Men Rejoice and Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Angels We have heard on High) are other carols I haven’t evaluated yet. Oh hear the Bells on Christmas Day seems harmless. Though Carol of the Bells cannot be listened to well without some thought of Hogwarts by Harry Potter fans. There are many more hymns of lesser renown.

            Some hymnals include songs from a variety of ages: 200 AD, 1100, 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th centuries as well as the more common ones written since then. Also, their fame varies from denomination and country. Some are more exclusively English, or German, or French. We are not writing a book here, so I must cease. This should have covered the most common to give you preparation of what you might allow. Hopefully it will also decrease worry over Christian relatives interacting with your children, or what the kids might encounter if they walk through a mall at the wrong time.

 

What the Angels Said

A few years ago I wrote a letter to my son-in-law explaining a children's book that I had read to his daughter. Don't believe I ever gave it to him, but then I have regularly written notes to my children and various others expressing something, and then spared them the tedium of having to endure my lecture. The book was a small inaccurate one (from the position of my faith) that failed to include the complete Biblical view of who the baby Jesus was. It had seemed a safe presentation of what was acceptable for a Muslim child to know, though. (It had not declared Jesus to be the Son of God, etc.) She loved it. After having been left in my care for a few days, I had read it to her at Christmas. When her parents returned, she was full of questions and got into trouble asking about it. I thought an explanation to be in order, as I had followed the limitations of what she was allowed to know.


You asked if this children’s account of Christmas book was based on truth, if it was accurate. Mostly it is, even if one is only considering the gospels as historical sources. It tells the story of the birth of a famous person, not of the Son of God, removing most of the supernatural elements. It includes elements that are in the gospel accounts, but leaves out what to Christians would be significant information. Like the hadith, they contain the accounts of the apostles and early disciples, companions who were there and recorded what happened. The discrepancy is that the book does not report what the gospels say the angels really said. One part of what the angels really said was

Unto you is born in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.
Since this was announced to shepherds in Israel, within their cultural context, they knew the savior was the expected Messiah. From the Psalms many of the details were already known. David was born in and lived in Bethlehem as a child, so that was known as the city of David. 

The Jews required every boy to be literate enough to read the Scriptures. In the Psalms a whole foundation is laid where the Messiah is called Lord, treated as God, not a mere man. And Isaiah (7:14) declared the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel. (Emmanuel meant god with us.)

Another part of Isaiah says for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Prophecies may sometimes seem to be taken out of context. I can only explain that even at Herod’s time, the verses were already interpreted to be prophecies. These verses were read in their synagogues, not just in the temple. So simple folks with more limited learning, and based on more oral culture still had access to them, just as do shepherds in Arab lands who depend on songs and readings to the masses who might not have their own copies of the Koran, or the time to devote to reading as some more wealthy might.

A verse said He shall be called a Nazarene. Another stated Galilee, of the Gentiles …(those who) sit in darkness have seen a great light. The Jews’ land was inherited and you weren’t supposed to go off from where you were born except on a trip. Normally if you were from Bethlehem or Nazareth, you’d remain there to live. Fulfilling all of these Scriptures took some doing. It wasn’t something that would normally happen. They were in Nazareth, but there arose a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. This meant everyone within the Roman empire. Since Joseph was of the line of David, he had to go to Bethlehem.

The book, I think mentions they were warned by an angel to leave, which they did, fleeing to Egypt. It may not, but I told your child about it as it is part of the story because the Bible relates this. There is another verse in the Old Testament saying I called my son out of Egypt. I am telling you this in case she asks about the bad soldiers who came to hurt the babies.

You see, when the wise men came from the east (Iran or somewhere,) they were experts in astrology and reading the stars.) They stopped and asked King Herod where the new king could be expected to be born. The men had followed the star. The king feigned friendliness, but he didn’t want to be replaced. He told them to come back and tell him about it, but they didn’t.

The experts told them Bethlehem was the expected place based on the various scriptures. Herod sent soldiers later, to kill all the babies two and under in Bethlehem, just to make sure they covered all the possible boys. An angel sent the young family away in time. But there was another scripture to prophesy the sorrow of this massacre, something that neither Joseph nor Mary could have arranged in order to fulfill it.

In fact, of all the prophecies that could have been arranged to “coincidentally” fulfill these conditions was taking a trip to Bethlehem. Or leaving and going to Egypt, but the timing of when to leave could not have been known. Instead, persons of other faiths (wise men), the corrupt King Herod, a Roman emperor, as well as Roman soldiers were moved around on a cosmic chess board. Though the shepherds might have been expected to know where the Christ was to be born, they could not have expected to know where exactly to find Him or when. A rational mind might discount the testimonies of those who claimed angelic visitations, but the coordination of things outside their control lends credence to their stories.

Much of this story is recorded in the gospel of Luke ( Lk.1:26-2:38, but also Matthew 1:18-2:23.) I believe you have access to a Bible which has a concordance. It should list various verses related to Jesus and his birth, as well as what prophecies were fulfilled from the Old Testament. Or you can get one used that will have it, or find the information online.

 
Now there were in the same country (Israel) shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people. For there shall be born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

The Gospel of Matthew contains the story of the wise men and Herod, as well as what Joseph was told. The Gospel of Luke tells of the shepherds, the annunciation to Mary, as well as John the Baptist’s birth. Mark starts with John the Baptist and Jesus as men. The Gospel of John begins with Jesus as the Word of God, the creator of the world, focusing on his deity, infinity, and power. This is interesting as he was Jesus’ best friend, and you might expect him to talk about his buddy. (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…) But that goes off on another study.

Of course, Joseph and Mary were both spoken to by angels. But the children’s book doesn’t go into those announcements, the explanation of the virgin birth, nor that He would be the Son of God, nor God-Emmanuel, or that He would save people from their sins. It merely presents the birth of a special baby whose arrival was announced by angels. In fact, lacking the data about the virgin birth, it is less dramatic than the Koran.

The purpose is merely to explain celebrating a baby’s birthday. She cannot get Christian dogma from this book, as the book omits it. If Jesus is one of your prophets why would you keep her from it? Ordinarily I would not have even purchased it since it presents a limited view of Him. But it does allow a Jesus about equal with your understanding of who He is.

　

This is for your understanding of what I said, what I left out, and what will give you a comprehensive study on the birth of Jesus. Since he is supposed to be one of your prophets, I see no harm in it. It should be as useful or more, as a study of Abu Bakr. More so because the Koran does not speak of Bakr as sinless, or conceived by a virgin, nor of His miracles and teachings.

Note to the reader:  One of the first premises of writing is to recycle. Since I had not used the work for the purpose as originally written, it seemed okay to use here, that is especially considering I was going to post the next item (above this one.)