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Islam is the second largest religion on earth. And these days it is the religion most likely to occupy the headlines. From ISIS and Al-Qaeda to burqas and immigration bans, some worry about a clash of civilizations. But Islam is not simply a religion of political and cultural controversy. It is also increasingly the religion of our neighbors, colleagues, and friends.
So how should we think about Islam? In this round table conversation, Drake De Long-Farmer (Editor-In-Chief of boldcupofcoffee.com) and Randal Rauser (writer, professor and apologist - randalrauser.com) sit down with Christian Apologist and the Canadian Director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Andy Bannister. We tackle the topic of Islam and ask the question: what a healthy response would look like with all the conflicting opinions circling Islam? Dr. Bannister has his PhD in Islamic Studies and lectures around the world on the question of Islam and Christianity. And we were delighted to have him share this very important conversation. Make sure to subscribe to YouTube.com/boldcupofcoffee to receive more content like this and be the first to know when our next video with Bannister and Rauser is out: "How Should We Respond to Atheism?" To find more content from Andy Bannister and RZIM, head to rzim.ca To find more content from Randal Rauser, head to randalrauser.com Want to send a shout out and thank you to Jon Tieh for all his hard work and help on this project. Check out his work at jonathantieh.com
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Islam is the second largest religion on earth. And these days it is the religion most likely to occupy the headlines. From ISIS and Al-Qaeda to burqas and immigration bans, some worry about a clash of civilizations. But Islam is not simply a religion of political and cultural controversy. It is also increasingly the religion of our neighbors, colleagues, and friends.
So how should we think about Islam? In this round table conversation, Drake De Long-Farmer (Editor-In-Chief of boldcupofcoffee.com) and Randal Rauser (writer, professor and apologist - randalrauser.com) sit down with Christian Apologist and the Canadian Director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Andy Bannister. We tackle the topic of Islam and ask the question: what a healthy response would look like with all the conflicting opinions circling Islam? Dr. Bannister has his PhD in Islamic Studies and lectures around the world on the question of Islam and Christianity. And we were delighted to have him share this very important conversation. Make sure to subscribe to YouTube.com/boldcupofcoffee to receive more content like this and be the first to know when our next video with Bannister and Rauser is out: "Are All Atheists Angry?" To find more content from Andy Bannister and RZIM, head to rzim.ca To find more content from Randal Rauser, head to randalrauser.com Want to send a shout out and thank you to Jon Tieh for all his hard work and help on this project. Check out his work at jonathantieh.com  original image Imagine a bird. It’s the most beautiful bird you’ve ever seen. It’s feathers are stunningly vibrant and it sings the most magnificent songs. This is such an amazing creature that you must have it. You want to capture it and keep it as a pet. You want it to sing for you. You love this bird so much that you talk about it constantly because you want everyone else to understand it’s significance. This bird is important to you. But then, the bird wants to stretch it’s wings so you put it in a cage to keep it safe. Then, it sings at night while you are trying to sleep so you put a blanket over it’s cage so it will stay quiet. You didn’t realize how much time it would take to take care of it so the cage becomes a mess. The bird quickly becomes a mockery of it’s former beauty. You become bored and disengaged but you feel obligated to keep it. You still love it, though, so you do, but it has to be on your terms. The bird has to obey your rules, after all, It's your bird. It longs to fly so you reluctantly bring it out of it’s cage but you hold on to it tight otherwise it will fly away. But that restricts the bird, it is not meant to be caged up or prevented from singing. The bird needs to be free. It needs to be able to fly around and interact with different birds and other people. You’re scared because you think the bird won't come back, that he will get hurt, or that the bird will come back, but changed in some way. That is terrifying. The bird is our faith. I believe that living a more authentic faith means releasing our white knuckled grip on certainty and holding our faith in an open hand. It can be scary but it’s also more honest. Scrutinize Everything Everything deserves to be scrutinized. That is the only way that we can be reasonably sure that what we believe is the truth. Like iron sharpens iron, questions sharpen our faith. If we are truly being honest, our faith is nothing more than a search for absolute truth and getting that right is arguably the most important thing. The Christian context can be particularly tricky to navigate. Every Christian group has a set of fundamental doctrines that define who is ‘in’ and who is ‘out’. These doctrines vary by denomination and tradition and usually involve some sort of secondary or tertiary doctrine. Stuff like soteriology and eschatology may have impacts on the way that we live our lives — and that is important — but, it doesn't define what it means to be a Christian. Faith is more than blindly assenting to specific doctrines to fit into a particular Christian community. It is important to me examine these beliefs. The core of Christian belief is a belief in Jesus Christ. It seems blasphemous but even that needs to questioned. What does that even mean? What does calling myself a Christian entail? How exactly am I supposed to follow Christ? Was Christ actually born of a virgin? Did He actually rise from the dead? Some might say these questions are dangerous but they shouldn’t be off limits, even for Christians. Dogma like the resurrection of Christ, or the trinity are usually integral to the Christian faith but need to be examined as well. Over the years Christian traditions have answered these questions in different ways but that's not the point, the point is that people are taking the time to wrestle with and answer them. Admit Ignorance We have to be willing to throw out anything that doesn't fit. If we wish to remain committed to the truth we must follow where the evidence points us. This is the only way that we can be confident that what we believe as truth is genuine. Part of openly questioning means being willing to admit when we have accepted a wrong answer in the past and moving beyond it in the future. I am reasonably convinced that Jesus lived, died, was resurrected, and that he is in some way part of God. I would, however, discard my belief in Jesus if I could be convinced otherwise. If not, then my faith in Him is predicated on stubborn wishful thinking in which I presuppose him to be truth and make everything else fit. To me, that is much less beautiful than being open about fear and doubt. The way of open faith ultimately leads to a more authentic way of experiencing faith because it fosters intellectual and spiritual integrity. (Convincing me against Jesus would be a really hard thing to do, but, I must be open to it if I want to be truly accountable). In practice, we expect others to hold their faith (or lack of) in an open hand. Apologetics and debates are predicated on the understanding that the other person should be open to new ideas. Every time we hand out a tract or “share the gospel” we are expecting that the person suspends their belief in some way to be open to what we are saying. We assume that other people should be willing to admit they are wrong, why should we be immune to that? We need to approach our faith like the scientific method. Science rarely has ulterior motives for deducing truth, it is impartial by design. For example darwinian evolution is often criticized by some creationists because it is assumed that scientists are trying to unequivocally prove that transmutation of species is a fact. The argument is made that the evolutionists are certain that they are right. This isn’t the case, science is a system that projects theories based on the best evidence at that time. If new evidence was identified that altered the theories of evolution (or anything else, for that matter) most of the scientific community would embrace it with open arms. The scientific method, by definition, admits that the hypothesis, methodology and conclusions could be wrong. As such, theories are always open to being changed or refined. Faith should also be open to being changed or refined. Ecclesia semper reformanda est is a latin motto that sprang up during the Protestant Reformation. It means “the church is always to be reformed”. The church, more than anyone, should be able to grasp this concept. Faith should constantly be reforming, not just when a handful of reformers get fed up with the status quo. Our faith could benefit from applying that ethos more. Faith, like science, can be explained as the best understanding of the evidence that we have at any given time. It should be open to new evidence. Embrace Doubt Faith is a vulnerable thing. It’s fine to doubt because it isn’t the opposite of faith. Consider the many people in the Bible that doubted and the ways that God still used them. If you have been in Christian community for any amount of time you probably already know the stories of Abraham doubting the promise that God made to him and taking matters into his own hands. Or the story of Thomas the doubter who had a hard time believing that Jesus had been resurrected despite doing ministry with Him for a long time. These stories are often used as an example of what not to do, but, doubt can be a useful human trait. If we can look to biblical examples as common human experience then It seems that doubt is perfectly reasonable for the believer. Sometimes, doubt may be necessary to cultivate a deeper faith. Doubt is simply a search for truth, as such, it is an important aspect of faith. Author Paul Tournier said “Where there is no longer any opportunity for doubt, there is no longer any opportunity for faith either.” I think what he meant is that faith loses its integral meaning when it is reduced to certainty. When faith is minimized to a group of propositional statements that must be intellectually accepted we have lost the wonder and mystical aspects of what it means to ponder an infinite God. Our words simply cannot define God so any attempts to do so will naturally bring up doubt. Doubt serves a greater purpose. Because doubt is an extension of critical thinking it can help separate the wheat from the chaff. I think it is important to doubt things because it tends to eliminate dead faith. This process of doubting and purging creates a simpler, more elegant belief system and we end up with a streamlined religion that is stronger than it was before. Vulnerability and Rarity Amplify Value We don’t value things that are common. We don’t attach significance to something If it can’t be broken or lost. Love means more because it can be lost. Our love is more authentic because we only truly love a few people in our lifetime and we can lose those people. We value those relationships because they aren’t common and we aren’t guaranteed to have them. We gain a better understanding of love after almost losing someone, we no longer take them for granted because we now realize the vulnerability of that love. There is a certain amount of vulnerable helplessness that contributes to the intensity of love. That's what makes it so special. Faith is the same. If we become complacent with the gift of faith and create an idol of certainty then we have lost much of the elegant simplicity of what it means to have faith. If we let our faith stretch it’s wings and it comes back to us (even if it's changed) it has a unique significance that might have been missing before. “If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn’t, then it was never meant to be.” At some point we have to admit that it’s possible that it was never meant to be. That maybe, we were living a counterfeit. We tend to hold on to aspects of faith for any number of reasons. Our intentions may be good but our faith is ultimately worthless when it is predicated solely on things like the faith of our parents or the current religion of our geography. That type of cultural Christianity doesn’t have any lasting significance because it masks the true heart of people's identities. There is no point pretending to have faith because it isn’t real. Accepting that elements of our faith can be lost means embracing the realness of what is left. It means having authentic beliefs. We no longer just believe something because that is what we want to believe or someone told us to believe, but because we actually do believe it. Admitting that it is possible that we might be living a spiritual lie (something we are just pretending to believe) is the first step in defining a genuine faith.  Steven McCurdy
I write about my story. The story about how I became a pro-life (womb to grave) liberal, confident arminian, reluctant charismatic, cautious progressive creationist, tentative conditionalist, utterly wretched without Christ, corporate complementarian (individually egalitarian), clueless pre-millenialist, and most importantly, a follower of Christ. I am a blue collar tradesman, I don't have any seminary or official religious training. I am a victim of post-modern society probably due to my secular upbringing I am married to a wonderful woman and have a son with another child on the way. They are the very best of me.  Hi my name is Jackson and I am a Charismatic Christian… Why do I hesitate to admit that to the internet? I think its cause I know there are a lot of well meaning, yet challenging to deal with people, who would introduce themselves with a similar sentence. I think that perhaps that phrase is associated at times with people who refuse to use their brain and throw out all logic, who ignore social cues and press their preachy agenda. I think i am hesitant because I have seen SO much weirdness associated with this “movement,” that numerous times I have felt the strong pull to disengage from it and disassociate with it. I think maybe because of the amount of hurt, pain, heartbreak, and misunderstandings that goes along with it all, is at times the elephant in the room. Thats why I hesitate to admit it. Here is why I will admit it. I admit it, and I won’t apologize for it, and I am comfortable in, and even confident in the stream in the body of Christ that I find myself in today. 1. I Don’t Feel Compelled to Change Anyones Mind. A number of weeks ago, I had coffee with a Franciscan monk, we had a great time of asking questions and getting to know better one another’s traditions. He didn't try to convert me to Catholicism, and I did not attempt to tell him that he “needed to be filled with the spirit!” I think it would be fair to say that we walked away from that time with a deeper mutual respect for one another, but also for ourselves and the traditions that we are both a part of. I feel compelled as a pastor to point people to Christ. I feel compelled as a pastor to encourage people to a life formed into the image of Christ. Challenging people to a life of prayer, a life of service, to be open to miracles and the supernatural are all a part of what I feel my job is. I feel compelled to pray for the sick, to lay hands and believe the Holy Spirit to fill lives, and change hearts and move powerfully. I feel compelled to these things because I read them in the scriptures, yes from my worldview, yes from my perspective. I will add this, I am totally okay with that, and I believe it is what I am called too. I will tell you why: 2. Disfunction Can be Found Anywhere. I know that there is disfunction in charismatic churches and among charismatic leaders. I know that there are issues of control, manipulation, bad character, and bad mindsets and just plain old evil stuff. Guess what, that happens in every denomination. The Orthodox Church, the Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, all of them, have places that they aren't very happy about, we all have as movements stories that we hope don't get out. I promise you that. The reason for this, is that human beings are involved, and none of us are perfect. Recently this Azusa Now, thing was blowing up my newsfeed, as perhaps it was yours. In case you didn't know the Pentecostal Movement, which classically has been identified with the Azusa Street Revival, is said to have been sparked by those meetings that began 110 years ago. I know all too well the criticisms of some of the leaders that I saw on the stage at Azusa Now. I know all too well know the unfortunate scenarios where people have been deeply hurt by some of “those” ministries and ministries like them. Theses Ministries you may love or you may hate, but I remind you, they are still brothers and sisters regardless of your or my hurt, pain or bitterness. I further believe that some people may need to walk away from some movements. Thats fine! What I want to know is, where are you finding community, where are you growing in your faith? Its sad to me when people walk away from one stream of the church, and never dip their toes in to find another, because of hurt. You will never heal if you stay in solitude exclusively, you need people around you that challenge you, and encourage you. If one stream after drinking from it has left a bitter taste in your mouth, I hope that you continue to search for a place that is Christ Centred where your thirst can be quenched. The beauty of the Azusa Meetings to me, is that racial barriers, religious barriers, cultural barriers where shattered in pursuit of encountering God. None of it mattered because the common hunger was for the presence of God. My prayer is that as there are more conversations had, probably more than ever before between different movements, that the scapegoat of criticism that really does just divide the church would stop. That, that scapegoating, would shrink to a dull roar, and we would unite in the love of God. That we could celebrate our common ground; Christ, and Him crucified. Grace and Peace.  Jackson is a passionate follower of Jesus. A husband, father of 3, church planter and pastor. He is passionate at pointing people to Jesus, and his life vision statement is; “To show and tell the world how beautiful, and how good Jesus Christ really is.” He is the lead pastor at ‘The Church at South Edmonton’ in Edmonton Alberta Canada.  original image by Breakaway You have probably heard the following verse read, many times. In church, in youth group, maybe at home. You may have even read it yourself. You’ve probably heard it preached on, taught on, explained over and again until you know what it means. “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light” Luke 8:16 Yea, I know. And I’m sorry - kind of. Oops sorry; I lied. I’m not sorry at all. You’ve seen this verse so many times and the meaning is so simple - we have a light, the good news of Jesus Christ, and we need to let it shine. We need to be unashamed of the gospel, to let people know that we are Christians, that we love Jesus, to let the gospelshine from us. We aren’t supposed to hide it, but to let it shine. After all, no one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed, but lets it shine for all to see. Right? At first glance, yes. We are supposed to shine the light of the gospel into the world for all to see. But there’s a little subtle thing we’re missing. We aren’t the one who lights the lamp. We aren’t the ones who set the light up on the lamp stand or under the bed.We are the lamp. We are the lamp that gets lit up. We are the lamp that is supposed to be on fire for our God. You see, in Matthew’s retelling of this very same parable, He says nearly the exact same thing - with one slight difference. Instead of ‘No one lights a lamp’, he starts it with “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) You are the light. You. “You may be the only bible some people read” - Anonymous This quote has been haunting me for some time. We are called, as believers of Christ, to follow Christ. To be His example to the world. To reveal Him to the world. But so often our message has become trapped inside our heart, and has been unable to reach the surface. So often our message has been diluted by our actions and is unable to reach people. So often our message has become diverted by our decisions; that we effectively douse the flame in our heart with water, allowing it to smother and die. “It’s super easy to light a light and leave it alone. All that means we have to behave for about an hour and a half as we add more fuel to the lamp - usually at church on Sundays.” But you see that’s not what Jesus intended. He never wanted us to smother and die - He wanted us to thrive and grow. He wanted the good news of His love for us to become an all consuming fire - to grow and spread through us; to create an excitement within us that makes us the light that reveals Him to the world - not just through our lips, but through our actions. Not just at church to a select few people, but to everybody we encounter. You see, it’s super easy to light a light and leave it alone. All that means we have to behave for a short period of time as we add more fuel to the lamp - usually at church on Sundays. Then we can go on our merry way and do whatever we want. And that’s the problem with so much of modern Christianity - we go to church on Sundays, and light our lamps for about an hour and a half. We stand by our lamp, tending our lamp, and making it burn brightly - and then, we leave our lamps at church and come back the next week to stoke the fire and make sure its re-fueled. We go back home, we go to work, we forget about our lamps, and we do whatever we want. We cheat on our spouses. We fight with our neighbors. We hurt people who did nothing to deserve it. We kill, cheat, steal and hate. And then we go back to church the next week and think ‘Oh good! My lamps still lit!’ We are not meant to be the light keepers of the lighthouse of the gospel - we are supposed to be the light! But that’s not what being a Christian truly means! We are not meant to be the light keepers of the lighthouse of the gospel - we are supposed to be the light! Our calling isn’t simply to light a lamp and leave it alone - but to allow God to use us as a light. God is the one who lights the lamp, and we are the lamp; meant to shine out to the world, to reveal God to the world in everything we do. But you see, we have a choice - we can let God set us on the lamp stand, shining for all the world to see, standing as an example for Christ in everything we do - or we can request that He cover us in a basket, hiding our light from the world. We can shine brightly, or we can fizzle out - but it’s our choice. Unlike normal lamps God doesn’t simply force us to go where He wants to put us - He lets us make the choice. So are you going to allow yourself to be placed on the lamp stand? Or are you going to choose to hide under the bed? Because those are the only options. You can stand fully as a light pointing to Christ all the time to all people, or you can hide your light and only let a few select people see it. You can either be a light unto the world, as you are called by Mathew, or you can be a light to only a few. But the choice ultimately is yours.  Breakaway is a movement determined to empower a community of spirit-filled believers live out their identity as Christ-followersIt's time to breakaway from Christian stigma and legalistic mindsets, and to realize the true nature of our loving Father. You can follow breakaway directly on tumblr and twitter.
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