Dr. L. Wesley Jones has served as the KNLS Director of Follow Up Teaching since the late 1980's.  Dr. Jones brings a great deal of experience to his ministry, having served for many years as a Christian evangelist throughout the United States and Canada.  He also served extensively as an overseas missionary, most notably in the world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia.  Following the September 11 attacks on the United States by Islamic militants, Mr. Jones began writing a series of messages that are designed to promote greater understanding and respect between Muslims and Christians.

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• A New Beginning
• A Common Golden Rule
• Tradition Or Revelation?
• Religious Sectarianism
• Distorting Sacred Writings
• The Question Of Conversion
• Hypocrisy And Extremism
• What Place Mercy?
• Sin And Salvation
• John The Baptist
• Biblical Prophecy For Mohammed?

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A New Beginning

Greetings to Muslim friends around the world from KNLS. In my copy of the Qur’an, Surah II, Ayat (verse) 190, I read:

And fight in the way of God with those who fight with you, but aggress not: God loves not the aggressors.

Of course, I must read from an English translation of the Qur’an and I apologize to any Muslim who is offended by this. Or, to my many Muslim friends in Indonesia, I may humbly read the same reference in Qur’an in bahasa Indonesian:

Dan perangilah dijalan Allah orang orang yang memerangi kamu, jaganla kamu melampaui batas, karena sesungguhnya Allah tidak menjukai orang orang yang melampaui batas.

These teachings of the Qur’an that a Muslim is not to be an aggressor are not read to instruct you, my Muslim friends, nor to scold you. These verses are read so that you may know that we understand the difference between Islam as taught in the Qur’an and the perversions of Islam sometimes practiced in the world.

We understand that Islam means surrender and that Islam is a way of peace. We pray for those who pervert Islam as well as we pray for those who pervert Christianity. There are those who twist the words of the Bible, just as there are those who twist the words of the Qur’an. As an example from the Bible, here is a statement from the Apostle Peter regarding the writings of the Apostle Paul:

His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

My message today is simply this: Let us make honest, sincere attempts to understand each other.

My impressions of Islam must not be based on the cruel, hypocritical actions of a few who call themselves Muslims. I pray your impressions of Christianity will not be based upon the dishonest and hypocritical actions of some who call themselves Christians.

So, neither Christian nor Muslim is to be an aggressor, but each is taught to walk with God, to walk with Allah. Each is taught to be kind. Each is taught to be a good neighbor. For the glory of God, for the glory of Allah, let us be kind to one another.

If you want to write me about this message or others, please write to

KNLS, Anchor Point, AL 99556 USA

Salam Aliakum

A Common Golden Rule

Greetings to Muslim friends around the world from KNLS. In the Qur’an, Surah 83, ayat (verses) 1 and 2, we have this reading:

Woe to those who deal in fraud, those who when they have to receive by measure, from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men give less than due.

There are those in all nations who are unfair to others. They do not treat others as they want to be treated, in business or in relationships. They are overcome with selfishness and greed. The Qur’an says they will be brought into the judgement.

These verses teach the same lesson as the Bible teaches, reading Matthew 7:12:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

These lessons as found in the Bible and in the Qur’an are called "the golden rule." If the human race begins to practice this golden rule, the world will become an amazing place of peace and goodwill. There would be no stealing among humans; there would be no lying or cheating; murder and warfare would disappear; families would be strong because marriage vows would be honored. No Muslim would be unkind to a Christian because he wishes to be treated kindly himself. Every Christian would treat every Muslim the way he himself wants to be treated.

These principles apply even to those points of teaching in which Christians and Muslims disagree. When I, as a Christian, speak of the teachings of Islam, even of those teachings with which I disagree, I will speak of them respectfully. I will not pervert the teaching of the Qur’an or anything which Muslims teach because I want them to speak honestly about Christianity and those points with which they disagree. If we each study what the other believes with respect and open minds we will learn so much more than if we are ready to destroy each other.

Muhammad Ashraf of Pakistan has made this comment concerning the golden rule and the way we treat each other, with which we close today’s comment. He wrote:

"With what face can a man ask for Mercy or Love from God when he is unwilling to give it to his fellow man."

Amen.

I am L. Wesley Jones, Director of Follow-up Teaching for KNLS.  If you want to write me about this message or others, please write to:

KNLS, Anchor Point, AL 99556 USA

Salam Aliakum

Tradition Or Revelation?

When it is said to them, Follow what God has revealed; they say Nay, we shall follow the ways of our fathers. What! Even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance?!

Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'

And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me.

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God...

Religious Sectarianism

Greetings to our Muslim friends around the world from KNLS. Our subject today is Religion. Many of you to whom we speak on these broadcasts live in the East. We are speaking to you from the West, from North America, in fact. It is sad to say, but some speak of Eastern Religion and some of Western Religion with great pride. It is along these geographical and historical lines that religion is divided.

But religion is divided in other ways, too. There are sects or sectarian groups among Christians and among Muslims. Notice what the Qur’an says about such divisions:

As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou has no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah; he will in the end tell them the truth of all they did. This is Surah 7:ayat (verse) 159.

Again, I apologize if it is offensive to any of you that I am reading from a translation of the Qur’an. I think it will be clear to all that the message of the Qur’an is, that religious division is wrong.

The Bible certainly teaches the same lesson:

1 Cor 1:10: I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

And yet, the reality is this: There are sectarian groups among both Christians and Muslims. We are not only divided by East and West, but also by doctrines and interpretations. Perhaps you would agree with me that much of this is a problem of attitude. Both the Bible and the Qur’an teach humility. If humility is truly practiced we would be listening to one another, learning from one another, and much less likely to divide. If you think this is right, I would like to hear from you. If you have other suggestions about unity in religion, I would like to hear from you, too.

Before I close let me return to the East-West division in religion. I hope it will not sound defensive when I say to you, Christianity is not a Western Religion. Christianity did not begin or grow at first in the West. Christianity is named for Jesus Christ who was born in the East, in what is now called Palestine. Bible writers were eastern men. Christians should be thankful for that Eastern history and heritage, and we must cleanse our hearts of pride in that which is Western.

Thank you for listening. I am L. Wesley Jones, Director of Follow-up Teaching for KNLS.  If you want to write me about this message or others, please write to:

KNLS, Anchor Point, AL 99556 USA

Salam Aliakum

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Distorting Sacred Writings

In my copy of the Qur’an, Surah II, ayat (verse) 190; I read:

Of course, I must read from an English translation of the Qur’an and I apologize to any Muslim who is offended by this. Or, to my many Muslim friends in Indonesia, I may humble read the same reference in the Qur’an in bahasa Indonesian:

Dan perangilah jalan Allah orang orang yang memerangi kamu, jangalanla kamu melampui bata, karena sesungguhnya Allah tidak menjukai orang orang yang melampui batas.

These teachings of the Qur’an that a Muslim is not to be an aggressor are not read to instruct you, my Muslim friends, nor to scold you. These verse are read so that you may know that we understand the difference between Islam as taught in the Qur’an and the perversions of Islam sometimes practiced in the world.

We understand that Islam means surrender and that Islam is a way of peace. We pray for those who pervert Islam as well as we pray for those Christians who pervert Christianity. There are those who twist the world of the Bible, just as there are those who twist the word of the Qur’an. As an example from the Bible, here is a statement from the Apostle Peter regarding the writings of the Apostle Paul:

My message today is simple this: Let us make honest, sincere attempts to understand each other.

Let us not make assumptions about each other based on hearsay and rumor. Let us together realize there are those who pervert the Scriptures we each consider sacred. Together we can make a contribution to community peace, to family peace and world peace. But we can do much more – we can together know the will of God more clearly and give praise to Allah is so doing.

Thank you for listening. I am L. Wesley Jones, Director of Follow-up Teaching for KNLS.  If you want to write me about this message or others, please write to:

KNLS, Anchor Point, AL 99556 USA

Salam Aliakum

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The Question Of Conversion

Muslims and Christians throughout the world are now looking at Christian and Muslim teachings through the prism of international events. The worst result of this close look at each other is that some called Christians have hatred in their hearts for the Muslim; and some called Muslim have hatred in their hearts for Christians. The best result is that each is studying the content of the faith of the other.

Some fear that Christians will become Muslims and some fear that Muslims will become Christians. This concern introduces the subject of conversion. Should Christians try to convert Muslims? Should Muslims try to convert Christians? This message is our response to those concerns.

Above all, let us acknowledge that true conversion is the work of God, not the work of human beings. Let us honor Allah by leaving the work of conversion to him. Now what does that mean? God has spoken to the human race. He has revealed himself to us. Christians and Muslims do not agree on the content of the revelation, but they agree that God has spoken to us.

If the Qur’an is God’s revelation, then let it be studied. If it is the voice and power of God, then those who read it will be directed to do Allah’s will. If the Bible is God’s message to man, let it be studied and God’s powerful voice will be heard and lives will be changed. There is little use for a war of words, which may belittle each other or create ill will.

We must not play games of pretense. Let us not pretend that Muslims do not expect Christians to be converted. Let us not pretend that Christians do not expect Muslims to be converted. The fact is that each has expectations of the other. Those expectations need not create an atmosphere of bitterness in Muslim Christian relationships. Such bitterness would be totally contrary to the teachings to which each, Muslim and Christian, has pledged loyalty.

The Qur’an clearly declares the desire for Christians to become Muslims. Let’s read Surah 5 ayat (verse) 85,86:

Strongest among men in enmity To the Believers wilt thou find the the Jews and the Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the Believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians"; because among these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant. And when they listen to the revelation received by the Apostle [Muhammad], thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth...

Now let us note what the Bible says about the Christian mission in the world:

The Gospel of Luke 24:44-47

He [Jesus] said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Christian and Muslim may address the message each believes to be from God, to each other, and trust that Allah will bring about his will. In such an arrangement there is no excuse for either Muslim or Christian to become hateful or vengeful. Whether you agree with me or not I would like to hear from you. 

Thank you for listening. I am L. Wesley Jones, Director of Follow-up Teaching for KNLS.  If you want to write me about this message or others, please write to:

KNLS, Anchor Point, AL 99556 USA

Salam Aliakum

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