Essay One

Average Muslims are caught in a very difficult predicament—they must be followers of Muhammad and attempt to do what he did in his lifetime, if they have any chance of entering paradise. A Muslim is required to live out a very rigorous commitment to the principles and practices of Islam.

The question, “What did Muhammad do during his lifetime?” therefore becomes a very large issue for Muslim people. The following is only a short list of those things that Muhammad did and highlights the most commonly known aspects of his life.

»       Once he began preaching Islam, he is not known to have earned a living other than through acquiring the spoils of conquest.

»       He forced people to convert to Islam or die, or, become enslaved to Muslims and submit to them.

»       He gained converts by force, some by persuasion.

»       He had at least twelve wives, plus concubines, and married at least one girl under the age of ten and did have sexual relations with her while she was under ten.

»       He wore a beard.

»       He ate only with his right hand.

»       He slept only upon his right side.

To be a true follower of Muhammad and live like he did—not easily imitated. How might a faithful Muslim then live?

To be a follower of Muhammad you would:

» Live off a welfare system. This is extremely common in Europe, for example, where those Muslims on welfare are, comparatively speaking, a very high percentage of the Muslim population. After all, how can a faithful Muslim be employed with the requirement to pray five times a day, and three of the prayers coming during normal business hours?

» View others who were not Muslims as infidels and who may then be treated in any manner necessary to secure their submission including murdering them whether man, woman, or child.

» _Use force of whatever kind necessary to secure the advancement of the religion. (Every day in our newspapers this fact is highlighted and the television news broad­casts are choked with the gory details most every evening.)

» _Satisfy your sexual needs as Muhammad did by having many wives, including children.

Note: Child brides are a staple in countries where Islam predominates. Very recently, in Gaza, the terrorist organization Hamas put on a large wedding celebration for 450 couples and the brides were all little girls under ten years of age. It must be pointed out that the usual cover-ups were made to a credulous Western population that such horrific behavior is only a cultural means of providing for poor families or suggesting there is no sex until at least puberty—none of which is close to the truth. No, it is pedophilia, which is sanctioned by the Muslim culture. There are estimates that there are 51 million child brides now living on the planet and almost all are in Muslim countries. Pedophilia was not only practiced by Muhammad but is also sanctioned by the Qur’an (see Surah 65:4).

The most famous Muslim cleric of the 20th Century, Ayatollah Khomeini, said that a man can have sexual pleasure from a child as young as a baby. However, the holy man said, he should not penetrate a female; rather, sodomizing a male child was permitted. The revered ayatollah further announced that a father who gives his child for such pleasure would earn a permanent place in paradise.

Yes, this is horrific, and I will stop here with descriptions. The Ayatollah wrote a book about his views on sex with infants, animals, and more. Here is the title of the book: Ayatollah Khomeini’s Book on Sex: For Shias, by LagoShia. The Ayatollah is the leading scholar and jurist for Shi’a Islam and therefore his word is law. A Wikipedia search on the subject will yield all one needs to know.

A Follower of Jesus?

Make a comparison between Jesus and Muhammad. Read one of the gospels for yourself and you will find the difference to be as different as darkness is from light, as hate is from love, and death is from life.

The Muslim, especially if born in countries with a Muslim majority, is trapped into something he or she is virtually unable to escape from. They are caught in a religious culture that, I am convinced, they would renounce if they could.

Closing Comment

Behind and beneath and within Islam lurks that which is evil. Wish it were not so, wish that Islam was actually simply another of the world’s great religions as it is so often portrayed.

Why is it that mostly only Biblically-oriented Christians understand the real nature of the religion? is a question to be pondered. It would seem that all the people of the earth would be alarmed at the core teachings and practices of Islam. And it is this fact that leads me to the conclusion that there is a hideous evil strength that runs through all of that which is claimed to be a religion and which demands proper respect and acceptance.

Response to the article, Exposing the NAR Conspiracy, by Daniel Kolenda

Daniel Kolenda would lump me in with the NAR conspiracy theorists, I suppose, demonstrated by my book, published in 2017 by Earthen Vessel Publishing: False Prophets Among Us: What is the New Apostolic Reformation and Why is it Dangerous?

Currently I am pastor of Miller Avenue Baptist Church in Mill Valley, CA (San Francisco Bay Area), now in my 38^th year there. I was a street evangelist in the Haight-Ashbury beginning in February 1967. A little more than a year later, though I was a fundamentalist Baptist type, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues. I am not a cessationist, nor a complementarian, and hold to a moderate Reformed theology. I yet pray for healings and am very active in deliverance ministry, mostly via Zoom these days.

In the late 1980s I attended both the beginning and advanced church growth seminars at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena and spent many hours talking with C. Peter Wagner and Charles Kraft about the moving of the Holy Spirit during the Jesus People Movement. I also attended sessions where John Wimber taught us how to lead worship by means of proper lighting, music, and talented worship leaders.

I have attended services at the Bethel Church in Redding and have close friends who have been very active there for many years. Many of the top names in the NAR I have heard there as well.

Conspiracy theorist?? This term cannot be applied to those who question what goes on in places like the Bethel Church in Redding. Plus, there are many of us who doubt that the anointed apostles and prophets who report being in the “throne room” in heaven, speaking directly with the Father and the Son, even sitting on the laps of Jesus and others, and given important messages to relay back on earth are speaking truthfully.

It went even wilder with the prophecies about Donald Trump being re-elected as president. I viewed the video where Kris Vallotton apologized for the false prophecies he gave out on this matter. Apparently 20% accuracy on “words from God” is acceptable at his School of the Supernatural there at Bethel.

Then there is “soaking prayer,” where people lay for hours in what looks like a trance state just slathering in the Spirit. It is a page right out of the Shaman’s or Wiccan’s handbook.

We are not talking conspiracy here; no, we must be aware that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8). Those of us who speak these “unpleasant to hear words” do so for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we view as playing with fire and that of the infernal kind.

Genesis 22:1–19

 Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture. Also read: Isaiah 6:1–13, 2 Chronicles 3:1, Galatians 2:15–18, Hebrews 11:17–19, and James 2:18–24.

           1.              Here now is one of the most important passages in all the Bible. It is often referred to as The Akkida, the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham, his father, and through whom must come the Messiah.

           2.              The passage then is very prophetic; it is a looking forward to the great sacrificial substitute, which lay more than two millennia away.             

           3.              God (Elohim in the Hebrew text) tests, not tempts, Abraham. He calls out to him and Abraham’s reply is “Here I am.” (Heneni in the Hebrew, and which is the corporate name for Jews for Jesus.)

           4.              Abraham is to take his young son Isaac to the land of Moriah  which means, the place of provision. This place is associated with Jerusalem. It would be here that Elohim would provide a substitute.

           5.              Two days travel from Beersheba, where Abraham was living at the time, just north of Egypt, the company arrives at Moriah.

           6.              Abraham and Isaac move off together, build an altar, but Isaac asks where the sacrificial animal is. His father replies, “God will provide.”

           7.              Then Isaac is bound (the Akkida) and laid atop the wood on the altar. Abraham raises the knife to kill his son when a messenger of the LORD (Yahweh) stops him. Abraham replies, “Here I am.”

           8.              There a ram, whose horns are caught in a thicket, is provided as the sacrifice, a substitutionary atonement as theologians like to refer to this event.

           9.              Abraham referred to this place as “The LORD will provide.” Mount Moriah, at Jerusalem, and where the temple would be built is the place where the LORD did provide.

           10.           Here is a prophetic event that looked forward to the day when Jesus Himself, the sacrificial Lamb, would be crucified. He would die rather than the Chosen of God.          

Any, all, or parts of the following essays may be used by anyone for whatever purpose, freely, without any consideration or money changing hands. If desired, references may be made without mentioning the articles or author.

The reader will notice differences in my orientation or feelings toward Islam in the essays. The tenth essay was written in late 2016, while the seventh is from 2002. I did not include the earliest essay, because when I wrote it I was quite angry toward Muslims and Islam in general. The more I learned about Islam and especially the more I engaged with Muslim people directly, my views softened, in that I realized Muslims were caught in the vice grip of an exceedingly unhealthy religious system.

The Islam of the extremists is purer, more traditional, and more radical than that practiced and understood by moderates. Only a small percentage of Muslims know much about their religion; the zealous Muslim knows much more about Islam and understands that if he or she has a chance of going to paradise rather than hellfire, it is necessary to move to a more fervent following of Islam.

Most Muslims want to live and let live. But their entire identity, their worldview, is Muslim. They cannot imagine being anything but Muslim. Outreach to Muslims is then dependent on the miracle working of God; the new birth is from above.

To be clear, I see Islam as wrongly oriented and founded. I no more accept Islam as a revelation from God than I do Hinduism, Buddhism, Shamanism, and the belief systems of many neo-pagan groups.

All organized religions are flawed, including Christianity. I am a Baptist pastor who understands that Baptists are flawed as well. Any and every institution with humans involved will be corrupt to some measure, some more than others. I definitely believe that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and that God sent His only Son to take our sin upon Himself—to die, be buried, and be resurrected. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. There is salvation in no one but Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

A challenge to the reader: Which essay would be appropriate to give to a Muslim and which would not? All the essays are written for Christians who have an interest in understanding Islam. Some are “softer” than others and may be used as a Gospel tract, so to speak, and given to Muslim people. Some are “harder” and would likely repel a Muslim reader. As Christians, we do not “pull punches.” At the same time, we are wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Our goal is to present the message of Jesus Christ to all people of the world including Muslims.

A note to readers who are feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point. There is so much to learn about Islam and all that goes with it. There is indeed a steep learning curve, and the journey up the initial curve is painful and frustrating. I not only have been there, but in many ways, I am yet struggling up the incline. It is little by little for sure. And I must confess that when I speak with Muslims, I find I really don’t have to know all that much about Islam; this is necessary only when dealing with the imams and scholars. A good grasp of the essentials of Biblical Christianity is what counts the most. We simply present the message of the person and work of Jesus Christ. That is it, the basic evangel. And you will be surprised how many Muslims are eager to hear it.

Kent Philpott

Some years ago, it was reported in Christianity Today that 52% of Christians in America do not attend any church. That number has risen, and rather sharply, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In response to that it occurred to me and our other pastors to welcome those without a church to be part of our Miller Avenue Baptist Church here in Mill Valley, California, in whatever way possible.

Following are ways to join us:

1. Sunday morning services (10:30 a.m. Pacific) are live streamed via Zoom. Here is the weekly link for that: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/974567942

• The Sunday morning service is also recorded, with the video of the services available on our website: milleravenuechurch.org.

• The Sunday sermon is also available (under “Miller Avenue Church”) as an audio podcast at:
  • Amazon Music/Audible
  • Gaana
  • Google Play Music
  • iHeartRadio
  • Audacy mobile app
  • Spotify
  • Libsyn Classic Feed

• Sunday evening service (6:00 p.m. Pacific) is in transition, currently local and showing episodes of “The Chosen” followed by discussion. When it is Zoomed, the link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81686492941

• Tuesday night studies (6:00 p.m. Pacific) are only via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81978901770?

pwd=ZDcwRUI4WkpHeHJPTkR1TWxJN3ZSUT09

We are currently working through Kent’s book, Christian Basics, which is as it sounds—a look at the basic lessons, debates, and conversations around historical Christianity. Here is a link to Kent’s author page at Amazom.com: Click Here

We are very active in producing Christian content videos:

• “The Bible Study”—verse by verse through books of the Bible
• “Why We Are Christians”—interviews with Christians of various backgrounds
• “Why Jesus and Not the Others”—includes four series so far: with an Imam, a Rabbi, a Shaman, and a Wiccan

These are all available at our website (milleravenuechurch.org/watch-our-tv-shows) and via our free app “Miller Avenue Church” at:

• iPhone App Store
• Android phone Play Store
• Roku
• YouTube TV
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• Fire TV
• Cross.TV
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miller.avenue.church.mill.valley

The Bible Study program is also available as audio-only podcast at:

• Spotify Podcasts
• iHeartRadio
• TuneIn Podcasts
• Google Play Podcasts

Kent says:

In August we began sending out certificates of membership to those who identify with us but lived in other parts of the country. The first batch was for fifteen old and new friends.

To be a member of CWC — A Church for those Without a Church — requires two things: One, to trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord, and two, to believe that the Bible is the written Word of God. This is simple, basic Christianity.

We also intend to offer pastoral ministry to those who live away from our Marin County and thus would have little or no opportunity to talk with one of our pastors. We have five pastors: Kent Philpott, Katie Philpott, Vernon Philpott, Jim Daley, and Doug Fairclough. For those wishing to contact one of our pastors, simply let us know by emailing: contact@churchwithoutchurch.online

To see much more, please go to our website, milleravenuechurch.org and browse around. If you would like to talk with me on the phone, call me at (415) 302-1199, or email me at kentphilpott@comcast.net. Again, you can see most of my books by going to Amazon.com and typing in my name or going to my author page:

Click Here

There is no requirement to send in tithes or offerings.

Genesis 12:1–20

 Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture. (Also look at Hebrews 11:8–16.)

1.       Here now is the beginning of all that is Israel. Abram means high or honored father, is directed by Yahweh to leave his home city, Ur, located in southern Babylonia, and travel to an as yet unknown destination. Abraham, whom Abram’s name will be changed to, means father of many nations.

2.       The reason for the calling of Abram is that through him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (And we know from two Gospel writers that Abraham is in Jesus’ genealogy.) This same promise and prophesy is given to Isaac, Abram’s son, and also to Jacob, Abram’s grandson.

3.       Abram’s wife Sarai (meaning princess) and Lot his nephew, along with hundreds of other members of the clan, set off for a land unknown. (Sarai’s name will be changed to Sarah which means “to rule.”)

4.       After arriving in Egypt, Abram fears that the Pharaoh, or king of Egypt, will take Sarai into his harem because she is so beautiful, and thus fears that he is in danger as a result. Therefore, he says that Sarai is his sister, thus not his wife. In fact, they have the same father, Terah, but she has a different mother than Abram.

5. Pharaoh does bring Sarai into his harem (whether they ever touched is unknown) and he “dealt well with Abram.”

6.       Yahweh, despite the half-truth Abram tells the Pharaoh,

afflicts Pharaoh “and his house with great plagues” whereupon  Pharaoh calls Abram to account. After Abram receives a severe tongue-lashing from the Pharaoh, he then sends Abram and company away.

7.       This is our introduction to Abraham the first of the great patriarchs from whose line will come the Messiah.

Genesis 11:1–9

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.           There is no similar story from the ancient world. The building of a “ziggurat,” which is what the “tower” was, was a common structure in the ancient middle eastern world. Made of fired clay blocks, structures could be built many stories high, and high meant moving close to deity.

2.           The world having one language, (at least in that geographic location) thus the capability to create such a monumental platform, and when the right place was found, likely Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the work began to raise up Babel, the “gate of God” or “highway to heaven.”

3.           Rulers in that area and era busied themselves in building such ziggurats in order to acquire fame and power.

4.           Yahweh was not impressed however and saw that the tower building would lead to extreme dangers.

5.           In a way that is unclear, Yahweh “dispersed” the workers, sending them away to other regions. The tower was left unfinished.” means, roughly, “gate of God” or “gateway to heaven.”

6.           The LORD “confused” the language, diversified it. The word “confused” is bubal in Hebrew, just one letter different from babel.

7.         The name of the city “Babylon” refers to the intent of humans to dethrone the Creator God and make His creation their own.

8.         This is precisely what the “pagan” world is yet attempting.

Genesis 6:9-22, 9:8–17; & Romans 8:18–25

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Noah, not sinless, but righteous and blameless, walked with God, thus had a personal relationship with God unlike any before him, with the exception of Enoch. (see Genesis 5:24)

2.         Violence had filled the earth at the time of Noah and God prepared to bring judgement upon the people in those days and destroy them on the earth.

3.         God establishes a “covenant” with Noah, assuring their safety and salvation.

4.         God instructed Noah to build an ark 450 feet long,  75 feet wide, and 45 feet high, which would displace about 43,000 tons of water and contain 1.4 million cubit feet for cargo (a cubit being about 18 inches), with 95,200 square feet of deck space.

5.         After a year, those on board the ark, plus all the animals, disembarked. Judgment had been delivered as well as salvation.

6.         Paul, in the first generation of the Christian era, also experienced suffering along with all those who identified as being followers of Jesus. These were already in the ark of safety and salvation.

7.         Indeed, the whole of creation has a shelf life; it is neither permanent nor perfect. But that which is coming is both permanent and perfect.

8.         Paul explains in Romans 8:24 that it is in this hope, the “redemption of our bodies” that we are saved. And for this “we wait for it with patience.”          

Genesis 6:1–8

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         Genesis 6 is one of the most debated passages in all the Bible, and there are any number of interpretations. The following attempt at gathering the chief points are presented by my favorite commentators.

2.         Point in time is some years, maybe 120, prior to the flood of Noah. Long years following the time of Adam and Eve now and an untold number of people populate the planet.

3.         The meaning of “the sons of God” is variously understood, but it likely refers to the line of Seth, the 3^rd born of Adam and Eve. These began interbreeding with those of the line of Cain, which grieved the Creator God, Yahweh, who declared judgment on these via the flood of Noah.

4.         The “Nephilim” of verse 4 is also variously understood. The name likely means “the fallen ones,” again probably those of the line of Cain, the murderer of his brother Abel, and are thought to be mighty murderous warriors. The author is making the case that violence was filling the earth.

5.         Indeed, corruption was great in the earth, even the thoughts and intents of the inner human core was focused on evil continually. And Yahweh, grieved and sorrowful for this, would bring devastation upon all with the exception of Noah who had found favor, or given grace by the LORD.

6.         Here now is the introduction of that means by which God will blot out our sin. This section is indeed prophetic.

Genesis 5:1–32

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.         This passage is titled “The book of the generations of Adam” and prepares us for the days of Noah and the Flood.

2.         Some commentators refer to our passage as a 3^rd creation account while others see it as a conclusion to a seamless account of the creation story beginning chapter one. Christians will disagree on some points, which are not crucial to the core Gospel message.

3.         Our passage asserts that God (Elohim in Hebrew) created men and women “in the likeness of God.” No other creature is so made, and the idea is that humans are capable of having a direct and personal relationship with their creator.

4.         In the previous chapter, the line of Cain came to ruin, but the third son of Adam, is Seth who was created in the likeness of Adam, thus in the likeness of God.

5.         The line of descent then moves, after Seth, to the birth of Noah, which came seven generations later. This number indicates completion. The stage is set now for the great Flood.

6.         At the core of the Bible’s message is the prediction/prophecies of the events related to the first coming of Messiah Jesus and then to His second coming. And these revelations can also be seen in our passage here.