When I was a child, growing up in the
sixties and seventies just a few blocks
away from the notorious Haight-Ashbury
district of San Francisco, I was
surrounded by the hippie movement. It
was a “turn on, tune in, drop out” age of
sexual freedom, cultural revolution and
social recklessness.
Happily, I was never
caught up in the hippie movement, but
being so close to it, I could not help but
observe its development. One thing I
clearly remember is how many hippies
were labeled “Jesus freaks.” As I surf my
childhood memories, nearly four decades
later, this euphemism strikes me as having
been decidedly peculiar. These hippies
were considered “Jesus freaks” because
they dressed as Jesus did, grew their hair
as he did, renounced materialism as he
did, and propagated devotion to God,
peace, charity and communal love.
Now,
many whom embarked upon this path fell
into hallucinogenic drug use and wanton
sexual proclivities—practices which are
far from the example of Jesus—but this is
not why these hippies were called Jesus
freaks. Rather, they were called Jesus
freaks for their long hair, loose clothing,
asceticism, communal unity and
passivism, all a result of their effort to live
like Jesus. The House of Love and Prayer,
located nearby in the avenues, was a
collecting point for many of these well-
meaning souls, and the title of the
institution reflected their focus in life.
Looking back, what seems strange to me
now is not that people would wish to
embody Jesus’ values, but that others
would criticize them for it. What seems
even stranger is that few Christians, in the
modern day, match this profile. Indeed,
what seemed most strange to me, prior to
my conversion to Islam, is that Muslims
seemed to embody Jesus’ values better
than Christians.
Now, that assertion
requires an explanation, and it goes like
this: To begin with, both Christianity and
Islam consider Jesus to have been a
prophet of their religion. However,
whereas Jesus’ teachings have been lost
from the creed and practices of most
Christians (see my article, Where is the
“Christ” in “Christianity?”), these same
teachings are respected and evident in
Islam.
Let us look at some examples.
Appearance
1. Jesus was bearded, as are
most Muslims, but only the rare
Christian.
2. Jesus dressed modestly. If we
close our eyes and form a mental picture,
we see flowing robes, from wrists to
ankles—much like the loose Arabian
thobes and the Indio-Pakistani shalwar
kameez, typical of the Muslims of those
areas. What we don’t imagine is the
revealing or seductive clothing so
ubiquitous in Christian cultures.
3. Jesus’
mother covered her hair, and this practice
was maintained among the Christian
women of the Holy Land up to the middle
of the twentieth century. Again, this is a
practice maintained among Muslims as
well as Orthodox Jews (of which Jesus
was one), but not among modern day
Christians.
Manners
1. Jesus focused upon
salvation and eschewed finery. How many
“righteous” Christians fit this “It’s not just
on Sundays” profile? Now how many “five
prayers a day, every day of the year”
Muslims?
2. Jesus spoke with humility and
kindness. He didn’t “showboat.” When we
think of his speeches, we don’t imagine
theatrics. He was a simple man known for
quality and truth. How many preachers
and how many evangelists follow this
example?
3. Jesus taught his disciples to
offer the greeting of “Peace” (Luke 10:5),
and then set the example: “Peace be with
you” (Luke 24:36, John 20:19, John 20:21,
John 20:26). Who continues this practice
to this day, Christians or Muslims? “Peace
be with you” is the meaning of the Muslim
greeting, “Assalam alaikum.” Interestingly
enough, we find this greeting in Judaism
as well (Genesis 43:23, Numbers 6:26,
Judges 6:23, I Samuel 1:17 and I Samuel
25:6).
Religious Practices
1. Jesus was
circumcised (Luke 2:21). Paul taught it
wasn’t necessary (Rom 4:11 and Gal 5:2).
Muslims believe it is.
2. Jesus didn’t eat
pork, in keeping with Old Testament law
(Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8).
Muslims also believe pork is forbidden.
Christians … well, you get the idea.
3.
Jesus didn’t give or take usury, in
compliance with the Old Testament
prohibition (Exodus 22:25). Usury is
forbidden in the Old Testament and the
Quran, as it was forbidden in the religion
of Jesus. The economies of most
Christian countries, however, are
structured upon usury.
4. Jesus didn’t
fornicate, and abstained from extramarital
contact with women. Now, this issue
extends to the least physical contact with
the opposite sex. With the exception of
performing religious rituals and helping
those in need, Jesus never even touched
a woman other than his mother. Strictly
practicing Orthodox Jews maintain this
practice to this day in observance of Old
Testament law. Likewise, practicing
Muslims don’t even shake hands between
the sexes. Can Christian “hug your
neighbor” and “kiss the bride”
congregations make the same claim?
.
Jesus focused upon salvation and
eschewed finery. How many “righteous”
Christians fit this “It’s not just on
Sundays” profile? Now how many “five
prayers a day, every day of the year”
Muslims?
2. Jesus spoke with humility and
kindness. He didn’t “showboat.” When we
think of his speeches, we don’t imagine
theatrics. He was a simple man known for
quality and truth. How many preachers
and how many evangelists follow this
example?
3. Jesus taught his disciples to
offer the greeting of “Peace” (Luke 10:5),
and then set the example: “Peace be with
you” (Luke 24:36, John 20:19, John 20:21,
John 20:26). Who continues this practice
to this day, Christians or Muslims? “Peace
be with you” is the meaning of the Muslim
greeting, “Assalam alaikum.” Interestingly
enough, we find this greeting in Judaism
as well (Genesis 43:23, Numbers 6:26,
Judges 6:23, I Samuel 1:17 and I Samuel
25:6).
Religious Practices
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