One can only respect Muslims in the sense of deference to their rights or privileges of their chosen belief, and to acknowledge them with proper acceptance and courtesy. The same that would be extended to any human being regardless of belief, race, condition, etc. However, respect must be appropriately defined in this sensitive circumstance within a limited scope, not inclusive of respect in the sense of esteem or honor. As Christians we must never lose sight of or water down our belief that anything contrary to the Bible is completely of the evil one. Thus it would be synonymous to "respect" Muslims within the context of their belief as to extend respect to the evil one. There is no compromise on this.

Many Christians have forgotten total depravity. All people, without God's grace, are destined for destruction because of the sin nature inside them. It is God's grace in Christ that can reverse that destiny. Whether God chooses to save a person without explicit faith or not, it is only by Christ's work, not in a person's belief in monotheism. If not for saving souls, we proclaim the grace of Christ because God's grace is a cause of celebration. We say to the muslim, the atheist, etc "You are invited to a party!"

I believe it's all about semantics. As a born-again Christian I respect ALL people and their religious belief systems, but I do not accept all beliefs as truth. In other words, I respect the people but do not accept their beliefs. As the saying goes, "Love the sinner, but hate the sin." I love Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, but do not accept their beliefs as truth and therefore reject their religious system of belief.

It is quite unfortunate that a Christian teacher and author like Albert does not fully understand the word of God and Christian principles. Christ said: Before ever Abraham was, I am. This means that He pre-dated Abraham, and so have been in existence from creation to the call of Abraham, the O.T. In the N.T. the word was made flesh and dwelt among us as the fullness of Divine Revelation. He remains the principle of unity among Christians, Jews and Muslims, because in each of these religions there exists the unchanging Word of God.

This is an issue that has been on my mind for a very long time. Not everyone would be spiritually mature enough to love even though there is a difference in belief. As a Christian, we know that the only way to salvation is through Christ. Therefore, all is lost if the belief is in another. We all have to love as God loves because he sent his Son to redeem a wretched people, all because of love.

Thanks for your insight and guidance.

"First, we have the spectacle of a Pope being received as a head of state. This is wrong on so many counts."

The Pope *is* a head of state, for Vatican City, which is pretty well known for being the smallest sovereign nation on Earth, both in size and population.

If Albert Mohler is ignorant of something that should be common knowledge for someone who claims to be qualified to comment on religious matters, it's really hard to take him seriously on other matters.

Offending somebody´s faith is a very strange method to express "respect" and "love" !

The reason we respect people is to show then the love of Christ. Respect denotes love. Only by showing them the love of Christ can we hope to have them listen to the Gospel of Christ. Do I care that I am respected? No, only that the message of the gospel is heard and understood.

An excellent article. The modern notion that to attack the sin is to attack the sinner is ridiculous, much the same in regard to respect. I can respect a person as a fellow human being created in God's Image, but not respect the person's worldview.

Religious Pluralism and it's progenitor Relativism are simply foolishness, nothing more than a self-refuting philosophy forged by those stumbling around in the dark.

Yeah, I don't respect Islam. I don't respect Scientology either. Fake religions are a dime a dozen.

"We are called to love and respect Muslims, not Islam."

A very strange idea.

If you love people you must also respect THEM!

And if you respect people you must also respect THEIR faith !

Only then you have the full right to demand from other people the respect for YOU - and YOUR faith.

Let me ask you

How could it be that God created man when

1. Jesus was born 2000 years ago in Israel but we all are to believe that GOD created the heavens and the earth, which was 600 billion years ago and therefore man and woman.
And the first humans evolved 100,000 years ago.

2. If Jesus was born in Israel, then he would have been a jew, meaning the holy father would have to been jewish as well.
Which was the supposed religion in that region.
But then Jesus decided to change the beliefs of the religion and create his own, which defied GOD's commandment thou shalt not idol anything other than him.


What was the first religion?

As a practical matter early hominids probably tried to explain the unexplainable by imagining invisible oogly booglies (or ascribing special powers to visible objects) and attempted to placate them with rituals and sacrifices.
Archaeological digs indicate rituals (like burials) by Neanderthals that may have had a religious component.
Evidence of ritual behavior in Africa has been found as far back as 70,000 years.
Cave paintings that go back 20 to 50 thousand years look very much like some sort of attempt to manipulate supernatural forces.

But the first recorded religion was 6000 years ago in Mesopotamia.
The first religion involved the Mother Earth Goddess or the Venus Figurines, associated with prehistoric cultures.
People started writing about 5500 years ago or 3500 BC.

The Mesopotamians & Ancient Egyptians were the first known to have written.

Interesting how that is now IRAQ
http://askville.amazon.com/religion-established-recorded-history/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=8488245