I'm reading an old book about a pastor who had to flee many places during the genocide of the Armenians in ottoman Turkey. I thought his explanation of the difference between Christianity and Islam was very interesting, plus the story is very heartwarming - especially for such a time when so much death and destruction was going on everywhere. Oh, yeah, I do read other books and a lot of history.
“I shall not die” – Nerses Sarinian SBN 551 00003 1
“It was on March 20, 1920 that our guards while probing the enemy positions, captured five Turks and brought them into town. They were unarmed and had come from Bourgachli some fifteen miles from Hassan-Beyli to Cholakli to grind their wheat. We were able to get important information from them about the strength and strategy of the Turkish irregulars surrounding us. Some of our number wanted to kill them in short order, but I was able to prevent this and imprisoned them instead in one of the school-rooms. The Turks themselves felt sure they were doomed to death. They were trembling and their eyes were filled with tears. However, I assured them that they would not be harmed.
The following Sunday I preached on II Kings 6:21-22 especially the words, “Thou shalt not smite those who thou has taken captive with thy sword and with they bow? Set bread and water before them that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.” I told my people that we should show these Turks the excellency of our faith, and that God had given us a great opportunity to make his truth known. Each day I visited the prisoners, and gradually the fear of imminent danger left them, and they became assured that we had no intention of putting them to death.
It was now my opportunity to point out to them the tremendous differences between Christianity and Mohammedanism. I showed them that in its essence Christianity is not a religion, but a supernatural revelation centring round the person of Christ. While Islam had been propagated by the sword and an appeal to the gratification of the lusts of men, Christianity had progressed under persecution and an emphasis upon holiness of heart and life. There were two main objections that Mohammedans raise against Christianity, I told them. First, they claim that Bible is not genuine, and secondly, they deny the deity of Jesus Christ. Yet it can be proved from the Koran itself and from the Ahadith, or Moslem traditions, that the Scriptures that were in circulation in Mohammed’s time were uncorrupted. Also the Koran accords to Jesus a distinction not given to other prophets. He is the only prophet born of a virgin, the only one who did not sin; divine titles are ascribed to Jesus, and the Koran recognizes that He had divine power and wrought miracles, and according to the Koran Christ is alive for ever, while Mohammed is dead and buried. I pointed out that Mohammedanism has no plan of salvation, for as the way of Islam is a broad and easy way, they have no need of atonement; and from there I went on to proclaim salvation through Christ alone.
I especially emphasized that the religion of Mohammed failed to teach love towards one’s enemies, that indeed to kill Christians is regarded as a sacred duty for Moslems. A Moslem in Istanbul on becoming a Christian was asked why he was converted to Chrsitianity and he replied, ‘The forgiving spirit of the Christians persuaded me to become a Christian.’ So I gave them some living examples known personally to me.”
Eventually, due to circumstances of the ongoing war, they released their prisoners and sent them on their way with fattened horses and sacs of flour. As they were leaving, they turned around and shouted – “Long live the pastor.” A few months later, due to the retreating French forces leaving the Armenians with no cover, they had to flee yet again and along the way came under fire by Turkish irregulars. One of the former prisoners had been made leader of one of the forces of irregulars and had his men positioned to open fire on the fleeing Armenians. But as the pastor came out of the clearing and into the open, the leader told his men to put their files down. He ordered his men to let the group pass in safety.