Great Minds - The Like Mindedness of two Religions

Questions asked by: Quill Wordsmith
Answered by: Pastor Dennis Freeman and Brother Farajii Muhammad

wordsmith@excapethematrix.com

It was a life changing interview and it couldn’t all be documented in one, not even two articles. Pastor Dennis Freeman of Lif’ Jesus Church and Bro. Farajii Muhammad, student in the ministry class of Muhammad Mosque #6, came together for not just a conversation and not just to share views, but to unite and express honestly that religion is a label, but a spiritual relationship with God is a vitality.
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What are at least 3 things you admire about the Muslim/Christian faith?

DF: Three things that I admire….well, there’s a lot of order to Islam. The teaching concerning family life, particularly the respect of the understood position a woman has for a man and not just wife for a husband, whether its kids or adults. They worship God. There are only so many theological ways but the fact is (as much as anyone knows) they are monotheistic in that sense.
What I was thinking about is (pause) are you a member of the Nation of Islam?

FM: Yes under Min. Farrakhan.

DF: I admire the order of Islam. There are some differences between Islam and the Nation of Islam. There are some things I don't agree with, but overall I respect the fact that they have a high standard for African American awareness and uplifting. They aren't trying to tear down black people but they are making people aware.

DF: I am hard against Christianity, black Christianity specifically. Be all the way live and raw with it.

FM: Min. Farrakhan said “to be a Christian means a person who is crystallized in the oneness of God”. What that speaks to me is, how I admire those individuals who are willing to walk the same path that Christ walked. I admire that. That's not an easy walk in 2007 modern day America. Any person that's willing to take that stand, walks the walk, and be committed about it. I have much love for that. The principles, the life, and to preach do and live, the way that Jesus has - - takes a lot.

When people talk about religion, there are 2 [religions] that comes to mind that have followers that are serious and devout about their belief: Christianity and Islam. Regardless where the individual may be in their development, it is Christianity. They may not go to church but they say they are a Christian. They may not do “A, B, or C” but they say they are Christian because deep down in their hearts they have a desire to be righteous. That's a beautiful thing.
The other thing I'll say that I admire about Christians: a good Christian that I see (and there are many different sects and ideologies about it) a Christian who is able to remove all the divisions and labels and really live their life in obedience to God, that's beyond admirable right there. I've come across a lot of Christian brothers & sisters who I can see as brother to brother as opposed to Christian to Muslim. Lastly, I always admire the knowledge that a Christian has about the bible. In Islam we are taught by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, that we must have a thorough knowledge about the Bible and the Holy Qur’an. However, the scripture of the Muslims, the Holy Qur’an is a book that black people in America are familiar with. It's the bible that our people are familiar with, he has always taught us how to look at that scripture and to see the good in that scripture and to teach from that scripture with truth. We believe in the truth of the bible but also we believe that it has been tampered with and that it must be reinterpreted so that mankind won't be snared by the falsehoods in it.

"I'm a student of the bible and the Holy Qur’an. When I see a brother or sister that knows the scripture and they are able to pull a scripture out and teach the truth of it, I’m like MAN! My grandmother was a Baptist, when I heard the reverend pull out a scripture and speak, those words were righteousness. It's a living word. I admire the Christians who know scripture."

DF: the ones who know it....

FM: yeah the ones who know it.

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If there’s anything you could suggest for bettering or improving the Muslim/Christian faith what would it be?

FM: (repeats the question) We don't believe in polytheism. We don't believe in the teaching of three entities representing one God. The idea of the trinity I would suggest looking at again. Christianity was something that was imposed on us by our slave masters in that, he used scripture, he came under the good name of the prophets, especially Jesus, and he manipulated us (black people). The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us the slave ship that brought us to America, was named Jesus. It's not by coincidence that he named the slave ship after the one who we love. But the piece is, that polytheistic teaching - - I would definitely change it. It doesn't serve purpose for the one God. And to me, what does that really mean? How do those three things connect? How can you have the father, then the son on the same level as the Father, and what does the Holy Spirit play. When mathematics tells us you can't put three into one. I've really thought about that, and that can really be confusing to the people. Scientifically that doesn't make sense - scientifically, mathematically, and spiritually.

The other part is the belief in heaven and hell. We're taught by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad that heaven and hell aren’t two different places, but two states of mind. Has anyone ever been there? There's no evidence that these two places exist. The mind state is what’s existent. You can have a heavenly state of mind when you're on one accord with God; you can have a hellish state of mind when you’re not in tuned with you’re the nature you’re created in. When the astronauts went beyond the atmosphere they didn't run into heaven. If you go to the core of the earth - no man can withstand that heat. So those are two points I would change and have our people think twice about. If they don't believe in the trinity they can still be Christian. If they don't believe in the physical heaven and hell, they can still be Christian. They are the founding elements of Christianity.

DF: Am I open for reply?

FM: Please talk to me brother!!

DF: I'm an all the way live follower of Christ. There's different ways and definitions to the word Christians. It's basically the following of the teaching and ways of Christ. One who was born again, but on the idea of the trinity, I picked that apart a long time ago. This is volume one of the series called Misunderstood Bible Passages: Biblical Answers for "Taboo" Questions. The Lord told me to bring my laptop for this reason. I will say that it is either THE biggest or it's one of the biggest. What we call being a totally born again Christian involves solely your belief in that trinity. If you believe in the trinity, why be in something - which you don't know about? You pointed out bruh, that thinking is what's necessary, understanding what the paper says is what's most important. That's one of the reasons I pull things apart as much as I do. I'm 31; I was born again when I was 7. I continue to grow and learn, and around the age of 12, I began teaching in church and even preaching here and there. I became an official licensed minister when I was 24. That tells you that I'm teaching and preaching but I'm not official until I'm 24. That goes to show you how you have to follow this guidelines but that still can't [provide] a biblical reason why I follow....

Yeah how does the trinity work? What I found out to make me say that I do believe, you go back to the original languages of the bible. Genesis 1:1 begins in Hebrew by opening the door to the possibility of the trinity being God. Once you understand you can't help but be enlightened. Gen. 1:1 “God made the heavens and earth”. God in Hebrew is Elohim and that form of Elohim, scholars say that it means Creator but also means God in the plural form. And I was like WOW why would God be addressed in the plural form? Further down as you read in Genesis 1 verse 26, according to the New International Version (I use that because scholars say that's one of the most accurate translations today. I don't use KJV because it’s Old English and some of the meanings are completely different.) God says "Let Us...." I looked at the Us, Image, and Likeness Image and Likeness are synonymous but different also. When you look in the New Testament we are being conformed through that new birth process to the likeness of God. To be conformed to that likeness that's what you're going to. That's what you were originally made for. Mind Body Spirit!!! Father Son Holy Ghost - - see what's synonymous about Body spirit, being; the image comparison from humanity to God. God is the Mind. The Son beside the body. The holy spirit beside the human spirit.

FM: So what you're really talking about is - - well I don't know how many Christians look at it like that.

DF: Less than 10% probably.

FM: You have a better understanding about the reality of God from hearing you talk. Do you believe God is a man?

DF: I believe God is not only a man.

FM: So you believe God can come in the form of a man?

DF: Certainly, he's all powerful, omnipotent.

FM: In Islam we believe God has always represented himself in the form of man. Not to say that he's constrained. But it wouldn't make sense for him to be physical and then go back to the nonmaterial. It doesn't make sense. That right there - - can show us if we look back throughout history and scripture we can see why Abraham in the bible said he saw three men approach him and his wife. One of those men was God himself, and two of them were the angels next to him. His wife entertained God, can I get you some water or something to eat. People don't understand that.

DF: No, people don't pick up on that. Media has done so many things to blind us, you just don't get it.

FM: I was looking in Revelation and the dragon brought down 3/4 of the stars. Look at the growth of Satan in Genesis when he was just a snake, and now in Revelations he's a dragon with international power. It's good dialogue to talk about the scripture with someone who is spiritually conscious and that is able to give you a little more insight. What the people need today from (both religions) is for the scriptures to be made relevant for today's time. In both sides Christianity prosperity teaching - - Islam high [venerated] teaching. The people aren't there yet. That's why people are going insane trying to understand religion because they don't have any real root in what they believe. Jesus is all the way over there. Mohammad is so high up he's out of reach. Is Abraham the only friend of God? None of these men wanted to be worshipped. Jesus said, I am the door and if you're talking about a door - - it's only an opening to a larger room.

DF: There are too many people at the door.

FM: If Jesus is saying I'm the door, the purpose of the door is to be opened. Open to what? Open to a greater understanding of who God is. When Jesus came, he really redefined the religion of obedience to God. He was the embodiment of God. But, not only was he the embodiment of God but also he was an example and sign for us to show us the human possibility of becoming one with the creator.

DF: I ain't got nothing to say except AMEN! WE NEED A PART TWO. God has definitely taken me to some great places. I'm having a sit down discussion with Farajii Muhammad!

To be continued.***