The thoughts of many today are focussed on the nearness of Christmas. For children there is the ending of the school year and the prospect of a long period of holidays. Even more, for some, there is the anticipation of what might soon appear in their Christmas stocking (although not much of value for today's children will actually fit in a stocking!).

For grownups there is the increasing pressure of cards that have still to be sent, presents that have to be purchased and preparations that have to be made for family gatherings, family holidays, etc. One of the difficulties of celebrating Christmas in Australia is that it is caught up with the major summer holidays and end of year activities. Our minds are distracted by many things besides Christmas and its message.

But today is of special significance to two other groups of people who do not celebrate Christmas. Two groups that are fundamentally opposed to each other. For the Jews it is the seventh day of the feast of Hanukkah. This annual 8-day celebration, associated with the lighting of candles and the giving of presents, commemorates the cleansing of the Temple and the liberation of the Jews from pagan domination by Judas Maccabeus in 165BC. It is the celebration of an event that was closely tied to the Jews' commitment to religious independence, the very attitude that has preserved their identity, but brought persecution upon them for two thousand years.

The other celebration today is the end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting and prayer. The Muslim faith has come under heavy criticism since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, because the terrorists claimed to be acting in the name of Allah and in accordance with the tenets of their faith. This has been strongly repudiated by many moderate Muslims around the world, who profess to be peace loving and tolerant.

From what I have read myself of the Koran, there are some parts that do seem to encourage an aggressive attitude towards those who are not of the faith. But the same could be said of some parts of the Bible. It must be remembered that the Crusades were seen to be a proper expression of the Christian faith, as were the burning of witches and heretics in later times.

One thing is plain in this month of Ramadan, most Muslims take their faith more seriously than many who call themselves 'Christian'. There are not many Christians today prepared to practise self-denial to such a degree and even fewer who are prepared to lay down their lives for their belief, at least, in the Western world.

Islam began as a reaction to a decadent Christianity. The Christian church originally showed with a strong commitment to sacrificial living. For the first couple of centuries there were many Christians martyred for their faith, but the church flourished during that time. As it was said: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church". However, by the fifth Century Christianity was legal, the Church had become acceptable, and moral corruption had set in.

Part of Muhammed's great appeal, as he proclaimed the messages that became the Koran, was calling people back to a simple life of moral purity. Even today, Muslims condemn the "Christian" world for its moral decadence, especially in the flaunting of the female body and the prevalence of alcohol.

Nevertheless, the fact is that Islam is based on falsehood. While it acknowledges some parts of the Bible, and recognises Jesus as a 'prophet', it does not accept that He is "the way, the truth and the life"; or that He is the only Saviour from our sin. Furthermore, there are many teachings of Islam, and especially their exercise of Shariah law, that fall short of the grace of God. And thus both miss out.

We are called to love both Jew and Muslim, as God does. We cannot accept their religion, we must accept them as those for whom Christ died. Certainly, there are some among them who have a genuine desire for a relationship with God. I read this week of a Muslim Imam (pastor) who was invited to a prayer gathering in England following September 11th. His comment afterwards was: "I feel different. I feel something I've never felt before. I feel so uplifted in this meeting."

Oh that more of our church gatherings had such an effect on outsiders! Oh that more Christians were living pure and holy lives and exhibiting that love that Jesus has shown to us! After all, isn't that what Christmas is meant to be all about?

Rev. John Davies
16 December 2001