Sam Shamoun: The Deification of Muhammad: Is Islam Itself Guilty of Shirk?

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Sam Shamoun, one of the main contributors to a prominent Web site dedicated to challenging the teachings of Islam called Answering Islam (www.answering-islam.org), will address the theme "The Deification of Muhammed: Is Islam Itself Guilty of Shirk?"

Co-hosting tonight's program is Pastor Jack Thomas of Massapequa Bible Ministries, Massapequa, Long Island, NY. Muslims identify the sin of idolatry or polytheism as "shirk". They wrongly believe followers of Jesus are guilty of this unforgivable sin because of the Christian doctrines of the Trinity and the Deity of Christ. But are Muslims themselves guilty of shirk in the way they view their greatest prophet, Muhammad?

Sam Shamoun was born in Kuwait to an Iraqi Assyrian Christian Family. Sam moved to the United States with his family at an early age. His family belong to the "Church of the East," also know as the Nestorian Church.Years later Shamoun's faith often came under fire. His Christian beliefs were frequently challenged by those who maintained Islam as the "one true religion." From these unsettling encounters, he began to dig deeply into the basics of the Christian faith he confessed but wanted to know more about. After a thorough and critical examination of the Scriptures, his ability to share the Gospel and his capacity to answer skeptics' questions -- specifically Muslim objections -- increased dramatically.

Today, Sam often lectures and engages in debates as an informed apologist refuting accusations and attacks leveled by proponents of Islam against Christianity. He comes highly recommended by James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries , and David Wood and Nabeel Qureshi of www.Acts17.net.

David Wood: The Islamic Dilemma

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David Wood, Evangelical Christian apologist to the Muslims, will address the theme: "The Islamic Dilemma".

David is a Teaching Fellow in Philosophy at Fordham University. A former atheist, David converted to Christianity based on the historical evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus. David now debates both atheists and Muslims and is co-director of Acts 17 Apologetics Ministries, an organization he founded with Nabeel Qureshi, a convert from Islam to Christianity. David also contributes to http://www.answering-islam.org/, which he considers to be the very best resource available anywhere, bar none, to discover and learn the true history and teachings of Islam. He personally operates the blog site http://www.answeringmuslims.com/.

David's ministry comes very highly recommended by frequent "Iron Sharpens Iron" guest, renowned Christian apologist and biblical scholar Dr. James R. White of Alpha & Omega Ministries. You can listen to other interviews with David Wood on "Iron Sharpens Iron" on free downloadable MP3 format by clicking here.

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Sam Shamoun: The Jesus of the Qur'an vs. the Jesus of the Bible

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Sam Shamoun, one of the main contributors to a prominent Web site dedicated to challenging the teachings of Islam called Answering Islam (www.answering-islam.org), will address the theme "The Jesus of the Qur'an vs. the Jesus of the Bible".

Co-hosting tonight's program is Pastor Jack Thomas of Massapequa Bible Ministries, Massapequa, Long Island, NY.

Sam Shamoun was born in Kuwait to an Iraqi Assyrian Christian Family. Sam moved to the United States with his family at an early age. His family belong to the "Church of the East," also know as the Nestorian Church.Years later Shamoun's faith often came under fire. His Christian beliefs were frequently challenged by those who maintained Islam as the "one true religion." From these unsettling encounters, he began to dig deeply into the basics of the Christian faith he confessed but wanted to know more about. After a thorough and critical examination of the Scriptures, his ability to share the Gospel and his capacity to answer skeptics' questions -- specifically Muslim objections -- increased dramatically.

Today, Sam often lectures and engages in debates as an informed apologist refuting accusations and attacks leveled by proponents of Islam against Christianity. He comes highly recommended by James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries , and David Wood and Nabeel Qureshi of www.Acts17.net.

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James R. White: The Qur'anic Test of Muhammad as a Prophet

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James R. White, founder & director of Alpha & Omega Ministries , a theologically Reformed Christian apologetics ministry based in Phoenix, AZ, will address the theme: "The Qur'anic Test of Muhammad as a Prophet."

The media makes much of the fact that there are some similarities between the two largest religions in the world, Christianity and Islam. It is true that both religions are Monotheistic. Both religions believe that Jesus actually did exist, and that he was born of the virgin Mary, that he performed miracles, that he will return in the future, and that he is the Messiah. Both religions believe that angels, devils and Satan exist. Both share many of the same rules of morality and conduct. Both believe there is an eternal afterlife for humans. A number of other similarities could be cited. But do these similarities confirm that Muhammed, believed by Muslims to be the greatest prophet of all, is truly a prophet of God? While Christians agree that Muhammed does not pass the biblical test for a prophet, does he even truly pass the Qur'anic test? Listen to tonight's fascinating interview to find out!

James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter's Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred moderated, public debates with leading proponents of Islam, Roman Catholicism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than twenty-eight years, and has two children, Joshua and Summer.

David W. Bailey: Roger Nicole Remembered (1915-2010)

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David W. Bailey, founding Pastor-Teacher of Reformation Baptist Church in Tavares, FL, and faculty mentor at Columbia Evangelical Seminary in Buckley, WA, will address the theme: "Roger Nicole Remembered (1915-2010)".

Dr. Bailey is also the author of the recently published book Speaking the Truth in Love: The Life and Legacy of Roger Nicole (Solid Ground Christian Books).

Here is an article written by Justin Taylor for The Gospel Coalition (http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/) on December 11 that will be very helpful to describe the brother we are commemorating tonight.

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Phil Johnson: The John Piper-Rick Warren Controversy Revisited

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Phil Johnson, Executive Director of "Grace To You," the radio, television & tape ministry of world-renowned radio & television Bible teacher, author & pastor, Dr. John MacArthur, will address the theme: "The John Piper-Rick Warren Controversy Revisited".

As many of you have heard, John Piper, highly sought after conference speaker, popular Reformed author, founder of the ministry Desiring God (see http://www.desiringgod.org/), and pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN (see http://www.hopeingod.org/), invited controversial Southern Baptist pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren to speak on the theme "The Battle for Your Mind", at the 2010 Desiring God National Conference , which was held October 1-3. Warren was on a speaking roster that included such powerful defenders of the Reformation as Al Mohler, R.C. Sproul, Thabiti Anyabwile and John Piper himself. Although Pastor Warren could not deliver his message in person at the conference due to a number of family emergencies, he spoke to the conference audience via a video message he submitted. You can view it here: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/the-battle-for-your-mind

This invitation to Rick Warren by John Piper came as a shock to many who greatly value Piper and his ministry, due to the fact that Warren has publicly taken positions on various important issues and has spearheaded activities that most folk in the Reformed/Sovereign Grace community consider to be antithetical to Reformational thinking. In addition to Warren's invitation to Barack Obama (then Senator), a militant pro-abortionist and pro-homosexual rights advocate, to speak at his church in December, 2006, for his Global Summit on AIDS, some of Warren's theological positions are disturbing to many who love and admire Piper.

As Michael Horton, cohost of " The White Horse Inn" radio broadcast and editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine , so aptly put it:"I admire Rick Warren’s zeal for reaching non-Christians and concern for global challenges. I respect him for giving away much of his income for charitable purposes."

At the same time, I believe that his message distorts the gospel and that he is contributing to the human-centered pragmatism that is eroding the proper ministry and mission of the church... While I applaud his concern for social justice, I am concerned that he confuses the law with the gospel and the work of Christians in their vocations (obeying the Great Commandment) with the work of Christ through his church in its ministry of Word and sacrament (the Great Commission)..."

...When USA Today asked him why Mormon and Jewish leaders are involved in his pastoral training programs, Rick Warren reportedly said, 'I’m not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won’t try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?' (USA Today, July 21, 2003). Rick Warren endorses a host of books, from New Age authors to Emergent writers to conservative evangelicals. So why not include Calvinists?..."

...We can be so proud of getting the gospel right while we don’t bother to get the gospel out to those who need it. Furthermore, we can be self-confident in our theological integrity while ignoring the Word of God when it impinges on questions of social concern.Yet the answer is not 'deeds over creeds,' but to be re-introduced to the creeds that generate the deeds that are the fruit of genuine faith. Getting the gospel right and getting the gospel out, as well as loving and serving our neighbors, comprise the callings of the church and of Christians in the world. However, confusing these is always disastrous for our message and mission." (Read entire article here: http://www.whitehorseinn.org/archives/425.html).

Tonight Phil Johnson will address the actual message delivered by Rick Warren, and the new controversy surrounding the next Desiring God National Conference scheduled to take place at the church where Rick Warren pastors, Saddleback Church in California.

In addition to his duties with John MacArthur and Grace to You Ministries, Phil Johnson maintains "The Spurgeon Archive", the largest collection of Charles Haddon Spurgeon resources on the world wide web, and his blog site, http://teampyro.blogspot.com/.

You can also listen to a two-part interview Phil conducted on "Iron Sharpens Iron" on this controversy April 6 & 7, before the 2010 Desiring God National Conference took place:
Part One: MP3 Available Here Part Two: MP3 Available Here

Rob Ventura: Part Three: A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ

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MP3 Available Here

Rob Ventura, pastor of Grace Community Baptist Church in Cumberland, Rhode Island (see http://gcbcri.org/), will address the theme of the new book he wrote with co-author Jeremy Walker, "A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ" (Part three) (see http://www.heritagebooks.org/products/A-Portrait-of-Paul%3A-Identifying-a-True-Minister-of-Christ.html).


Reformation Heritage Books' Description: What does a true pastor look like, and what constitutes a faithful ministry? How can we identify the life and labors of one called by God to serve in the church of Jesus Christ? To address these questions, Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker examine how the apostle Paul describes his pastoral relation to the people of God in Colossians 1:24–2:5. By discussing these essential attitudes, qualities, and characteristics of a faithful minister of Christ, A Portrait of Paul provides gospel ministers an example of what they should be, and demonstrates for churches the kind of pastors they will seek if they desire men after God’s own heart.

Chapters in Book:

1. The Joy of Paul’s Ministry

2. The Focus of Paul’s Ministry

3. The Hardships of Paul’s Ministry

4. The Origin of Paul’s Ministry

5. The Essence of Paul’s Ministry

6. The Subject of Paul’s Ministry

7. The Goal of Paul’s Ministry

8. The Strength of Paul’s Ministry

9. The Conflict of Paul’s Ministry

10. The Warnings of Paul’s Ministry
After graduating high school, Rob Ventura moved from Long Island to New York City. He attend Baruch College, part time, taking courses in business. He later went on to manage a music group professionally. He met his wife, Vanessa, in 1992 in New York City. After dating as unbelievers for about 3 months, God in mercy separated them, saved them, and four years later they were married in August of 1996. Rob has been pastoring 3 years full time.

See Paul Washer's review of A Portrait of Paul here: http://christianbooknotes.com/2010/paul-washer-et-al-on-a-portrait-of-paul-by-rob-ventura-and-jeremy-walker/

John Jefferson Davis:Worship and the Reality of God: An Evangelical Theology of Real Presence (Pat Two)

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MP3 Available Here

John Jefferson Davis, Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, will address the theme of his new book, Worship and the Reality of God: An Evangelical Theology of Real Presence (Part Two).

You can now listen to Part One of this interview which aired Saturday, December 4th: MP3 Available Here.

Whatever your personal theological background may be, tonight's program will undoubtedly, at times, invoke hearty "Amens!" from Christians in most traditions, denominations and fellowships, and, at other times, will undoubtedly instill apprehension, alarm, perhaps even anger, in those same Christians while we address the highly debated themes under the umbrella of worship that divide brethren, perhaps more than any other area of church life. Hopefully all of us, regardless of what tradition, denomination or fellowship we may belong to, will be seriously challenged by Dr. John Jefferson Davis' thorough study of the subject of worship in the Evangelical church, and will be compelled to reexamine this vital issue under the light of Holy Scripture.

As the publishers describe Dr. Davis' book:
"Is God missing from our worship? Obstacles to true worship are not about contemporary or traditional music, electronic gadgetry or seeker sensitivity. Rather it is the habits of mind and heart, conditioned by our surrounding culture, that hinder our faith in the real presence of the transcendent God among his people. Sensing a real need for renewal, John Jefferson Davis offers a theology of worship that uncovers the most fundamental barriers to our vital involvement in the worship of our holy God. His profound theological analysis leads to fresh and bracing recommendations that will be especially helpful to all those who lead worship or want to more fully and deeply encounter the glory and majesty of God...

"...Davis offers a vision that he calls Reformed in its soteriology, Trinitarian in its theology, doxological in seeing worship as the highest priority of the church, charismatic in its affirmation of the gifts and presence of the Spirit in the life of the congregation, and liturgical in its ancient-modern form of worship."

Dr. Davis has served at Gordon-Conwell South Hamilton, MA since 1975. An active member of both the local and broader community, he has taken leadership roles in various organizations relating to children and families. These leadership roles have included serving as chairman of the Board of Directors of Massachusetts Citizens for Life; as a founding member of the Board of Directors of Birthright of Greater Beverly, MA; as a member of the Board of Directors of the Value of Life Committee, and as the Massachusetts delegate to the White House Conference on Families.

Dr. Davis has also maintained an active role in professional and institutional organizations, lending his talents as former president to the Evangelical Philosophical Society and serving on the advisory board for the Presbyterians for Democracy and Religious Freedom. As a Gordon-Conwell faculty member, he serves as a faculty representative for the Anglican Studies Committee and the Institutional Review Board. He also currently chairs the Distributive Education Committee that addresses extension and distance education.

In addition, Dr. Davis is a frequent speaker at churches, conventions and workshops. He has made appearances regularly on radio and television talk shows, including The 700 Club, and his guest editorials have appeared in the Boston Herald, Newsday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Baltimore News American, the Washington Star and other newspapers.
Dr. Davis’ scholarly interests include the theology and practice of worship and liturgy, the relationship of Christian faith and modern science, Trinitarian theology and the theology of the Holy Spirit.

He is an ordained Presbyterian minister. He and his wife, Robin, have five children and live in Hamilton, MA.

Books by Dr. John Jefferson Davis' include:

Worship and the Reality of God: An Evangelical Theology of Real Presence (IVP Academic, 2010)
The Frontiers of Science and Faith: Examining Questions from the Big Bang to the End of the Universe (InterVarsity Press, 2002)
The Victory of Christ's Kingdom: An Introduction to Postmillennialism (Canon Press, 1996)
Sterilization Option: A Guide For Christians (Baker, 1995)
Evangelical Ethics: Issues Facing the Church Today (Presbyterian Reformed, 2006)
Christ's Victorious Kingdom: Postmillennialism Reconsidered (Baker, 1986)
The Christian’s Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Crossway Books, 1986)
Let the Bible Teach You Christian Doctrine (Paternoster, 1986)
Handbook of Basic Bible Texts: Every Key Passage for Study of Doctrine and Theology (Zondervan/Academie, 1984)
Abortion and the Christian: What Every Believer Should Know (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1984)
Foundations of Evangelical Theology (Baker, 1984)
Your Wealth in God's World: Does the Bible Support the Free Market? (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1984)
Theology Primer: Resources for the Theological Student (Baker, 1981, 1986)
The Necessity of Systematic Theology, editor (2nd ed. Baker, 1980)

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