I was wondering if anyone could help me. I am a Christian woman married to an Egyptian man. He was raised in a Catholic/Coptic home in Egypt, but he does have family members and many friends who are Muslim. He is a wonderful man. He believes in God and believes in Jesus but he is extremely confused between Islam and Christianity. I do not have enough "expertise" to answer some of his questions and be a good witness to him. In fact, we always end up in screaming matches over the issue and I feel like a terrible Christian because of it. I have went so far as to tell him I'm giving up on him and I don't want to do that. I don't want to give up on my husband, I love him too much and worry for his soul. I want our marriage to be happy and strong, especially because we are planning to move to Egypt in 4 years. Here are the points I have trouble addressing:

1. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? I have told him that Jesus' death opened the door between humans and God. That Jesus' death was an atonement for our sins. I have explained that Jesus was the "Lamb of God." He wants to know WHY, if God is all-powerful, did he need a "pathway" between us and him? He thinks it makes more sense that we can just worship God directly and God didn't need Jesus to die for us. He thinks it makes more sense that God replaced Judas with Jesus on the cross and Judas is the one who was killed, not Jesus. I can answer the "how" but I can't answer the "why."

2. Why do Christians refer to Jesus as the "Son of God?" I have told him that it is figurative, that God is not literally his father, that he did not literally come down and copulate with Mary. That Jesus was half God and half man. He understands that and believes it but he doesn't think it is right that Christians refer to Jesus as his "son." That God can't literally have a "son" and that if Jesus is the Son of God, then we should all be sons of God. I have tried quoting Bible passages to no avail. I need a good strong answer to him.

3. How is it possible that all we have to do is confess our sins and say we accept Jesus and we are saved? He thinks it is too easy, that people must work to get into Heaven. He doesn't understand the concept that someone like me "who is good and doesn't do anything wrong" can compare myself to murderers and thieves and cheaters and we are all equal in the eyes of God. I have tried to explain that we are all sinners and when we measure ourselves next to the perfection of God, every single one of us looks absolutely filthy. He doesn't agree and doesn't "get it." He gets mad at me when I say I am 100% sure I am going to heaven because I am "born again." He learned from a young age about "outside in," doing good on the outside to change the inside. I have tried to tell him about "inside out," changing the way you think and act on the inside to change the outside. He thinks what I say is good but he can't quite grasp it.

4. The Trinity. I have tried to explain the Trinity to him. That Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. That God is Jesus and Jesus is God. He gets very upset by this, saying that we should not put Jesus on the level with God. I have explained to him that just as he is a father and a son and a husband, that God is a Father and a Son. He sees the 3 in the Trinity as separate. He also gets mad when I pray to Jesus and listen to songs about Jesus being God, saying that I am wrong to do that. He doesn't understand how Jesus could have been a man as well as God. He thinks that Jesus was a prophet, just like Moses and Mohammed, and that God is God.

5. How can we be sure that the Bible hasn't been corrupted in translation? I have tried to tell him about biblical translation and that the Bible has been translated from original texts and not from other translations. I have tried to tell him statistics (the Bible against other texts, such as texts written by the ancient Greeks, etc.) He doesn't believe it. He thinks the Bible has been corrupted in some way. I don't have enough background in this to be effective.

6. How can we be sure the Koran is wrong? I have done a little study into this matter and have told him about my research and he got extremely upset with me. I don't have a lot of background in this but I have read part of the Koran and found many contradictions which I have told him about and he just shrugs me off. I think it is personal with him because his beloved grandfather was Muslim and a very good man (he passed away) and he can't admit that maybe his grandfather was wrong.

7. "If Christianity is right, and the only way to get into Heaven is through Jesus, then all my Muslim family and friends who have died are burning in hell?" And what of all the people who have never heard of Jesus before they died, like people in the jungles; are they burning in hell too? I don't know what to say because I don't know.

8. One last point. He says, "I am not an atheist. I am not a Buddhist. I believe in God and Jesus just as well as you do. I do my best in life and love God and pray and try to do the right things. I am doing the best I can and that's enough. I am going to heaven too with you." I have told him he must accept Jesus as his Savior, and he says he has but he doesn't believe he died on the cross. I just don't know how else to respond to that without him thinking I think he's a bad person and taking it personally and ending up in an argument.

Please, someone with anything to offer, help us. We have an excellent marriage, a beautiful son, and a bright future ahead of us. I want to be able to move to Egypt and witness to the people there, as I believe God is calling me to do, without it ruining our marriage. I would love if he would be alongside me, witnessing next to me, to his own people. He has told me flat out he doesn't want me going over there "offending people" with my talking about Christianity.

Thanks for any help.

There are a number of web resources you can go to for answers to these questions as well as books you can get that perhaps you can study together. One website that comes to mind is GotQuestions.org (Chad has put a link to this site on our home page). You might Google "Bible Study". That should open up lots of information sources.

Books I would suggest include "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel's works exploring various facets of Christianity. Josh McDowell's website (joshmcdowell.org) can point you toward some of his writings, as well. He is a well known Christian apologist.

SLE

Hi Vena, it seems that your husband is clinging to what he knows about Jesus (Isa) from the Quran, as he believes that God substituted Judas for Jesus on the cross. This was taken from a concept that was going around circa AD 300. As was the piece about Jesus making a live bird from clay.
It will be very hard work, and much prayer to bring him to Jesus. Arguing will never convince him, only patience and prayer.
If you can get him to read Johns gospel from this, [link removed: please read the forum rules]
It's from an Islamic site, just leave him to read it himself and pray God will open his heart to Jesus.
I will pray for you and your husband as well.
God bless you!

Please check out this thread I've posted a while back

Islam

You have a MUCH more serious problem than you know?

If you move to Egypt , You might be killed , even your children and husband!

Islam has no mercy on any outside of its self and even on its self!

His family will turn on you and your family. You will not be allowed in Egypt to disagree with your husband and He is will forced to follow islam or die?

Your in a very dangerous way?
Hopefully, the rapture will take place before then!

I got a testimony from a guy who was an iman in Egypt.might be to big to post here?

Spirit1st,

There is no need to worry. I have been to Egypt. There are many Christians and many Christian churches there and the people are very lovely. It's not an Islamic state. Women aren't required to cover their hair and they have rights. In fact, my sister in law is a feisty news reporter who dresses and acts however she wants. There are many Americans who live there and a huge American Embassy. Plus, my husband loves me and wouldn't let anything happen to me. I was terrified the first time I flew to Egypt. I thought for sure I was going to die or be kidnapped or something because of all the stuff you see on TV. It wasn't like that at all. I had a wonderful time and everyone (including the Muslims) were very hospitable and kind. Believe me, I wouldn't be moving there unless I had done my research and had first-hand experience.

Hi Vena,

I just came upon this thread and prayed for the both of you.

I think that I read that this thread is from August. How are things going now?

I will keep on praying as the Lord leads for the two of you. And your son as well. :)

Lately I've been looking at the 'claims of Christ' which is his divinity, as spoken by him, or as seen by others. It would be good if your husband would do this research himself. Could Jesus be divine? Since Judas betrayed Jesus, then hung himself, how could he die on a cross?
I believe Muslims love their religion since it gives them all the sexual perversion they might want, plus sensualities unlimited. So, wouldn't it be good to do a study on the 'claims of Christ'?

Seeing God!

The Book of Job is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible, yet the
major biblical themes of redemption, resurrection, and the Second Coming
are clearly expressed. This is done in perfect harmony with all that
would be declared by prophets of God in the remaining pages of
Scripture over the next 1,600 years. Consider this powerful and pointed
declaration:

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this
body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and
mine eyes shall behold, and not another....(Job 19:25-27)

Here Job clearly declares that his physical body will be resurrected,
even after being eaten by worms in the grave. He also knows that the
Redeemer who will make this possible is an eternal Being who will one
day come to earth and that he (Job), in his resurrected body, will see
the infinite God for himself. So it must be for us also. This is an
awesome, even frightening, prospect, which, were it more real to us,
would transform our lives!

Prophets who lived after Job, in writing additional Scripture, added
detail upon detail but never contradicted what was said before or what
followed later. In many cases they contributed additional Scripture
without having seen what had previously been written-and still without
contradiction. By comparison, there are no prophecies at all in the
Qur'an, the Hindu Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita, sayings of Buddha or Confucius,
or in the scriptures of other religions, all of which contain many
internal contradictions.

Prophecy is unique to the Bible.

Everyone for your prayers and suggestions. This journey of helping my husband has actually helped me as well on my Christian walk. I am learning and growing like never before because of this huge challenge in my life. Right now, I am translating a book for him called "Letters from a Skeptic" into Arabic. I have also purchased him a book called "Jesus, Mohammed, and I" and found a New Testament in Arabic. Much of the problem is that he cannot read English very well but I found a translation program that will translate English to Arabic. It is a Godsend.

I think the thing that helped him the most is that he heard the testimony of a leading Imam who used to persecute Christians, then became a Christian himself!! God is amazing!!

He is at the point where he knows that Christianity is the right way and Islam is the wrong way. It is just a matter of him "making the jump" so to speak, letting go of his old life and coming to Christ in a personal way. It's all up to him now. I know it will come very soon, praise God!!