Frequently Asked Questions
This isn't a comprehensive list of questions or answers to those questions, but it's hopefully a start if you're interested in finding out more about the way of peace. Please feel free to message us if your particular question isn't here.
Who are you?
We are followers of Jesus the Messiah from different backgrounds who have been blessed by him, and we want to make his teachings and blessings known to all kinds of people, whatever their background. This includes people from a Sylheti background as much as anybody else. Have you ever heard his teaching?
Are you Muslim?
Are we people who want to submit our lives to God? Yes, absolutely, although we fail repeatedly and so need God’s forgiveness and help. God points us to Jesus the Messiah and his words, so that our lives should be built on his teaching.
So, are you Muslim?
“Muslim” means someone who is submitting to God. We are wanting to submit our lives to God, but we may not be “Muslim” in the way that you mean. We are wanting, with God’s help, to build our lives on Jesus the Messiah’s teaching. Have you ever read his words? You can do so here, or watch this.
So, you're Christian aren't you?
We are seeking to follow Jesus the Messiah’s teaching and build our lives on this, as it fulfils the previous prophets like David and Moses. When people first started doing this 2,000 years ago, they came from all different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds and were called “Christians” because they were following the Christ and no one knew what else to call them. (“Christ” is Greek and “Messiah” is Hebrew for Anointed- or Specially-Chosen-One, who is Jesus the Christ/Messiah.) We are happy to be called “Christian” in this sense.
However, as with most names and labels, this name has been misused by many people in many ways. It doesn’t mean “Western” or “Crusader” or “immoral” or whatever else someone may think. It means someone who follows Jesus the Christ’s way. In this video, Jesus helps explain what this looks like.
Why do you speak and write in Sylheti not Bangla?
God is the God of the whole world and wants all kinds of people to know him, whatever their background, including whatever language they speak. It has long been discussed whether Sylheti is a dialect of Bangla or its own language. The majority of linguists would argue that it is its own language, spoken by over 10 million people across the world. Until recently it had its own script, but this has largely been forgotten. We think that Sylheti people have as much right to hear and respond to God in their own mother tongue as Bangla-speakers, or any other language-speakers. The first followers of the Messiah, his companions, gave their very first sermon about Jesus the Messiah in multiple languages so that as many people as possible could hear and understand the good news about the Messiah. We want to follow in their footsteps. For more information on Sylheti as a language, visit here.
Why do you call Jesus or Isa the Son of God?
We do call him this, but maybe not in the way that you think. The Holy Scriptures call Adam a “son of God” because he represents God on earth (Injil Luke 3:38 & Taurat Genesis 1:26-28). The Taurat also calls the whole of God's people Israel “his firstborn son” because they are in a special relationship with God (Taurat Exodus 4:22-23). And, the kings of Israel are called “sons of God” because they rule on behalf of God (Zabur Psalm 2 & Prophets 2 Samuel 7:12-16). These "sons of God" point forward to Jesus the Messiah the true and better son of God, who perfectly represents God on earth, is in perfect relationship with the holy God at all times, and rules perfectly for God. That’s one reason why we call Jesus the Son of God.
Further, as we come to understand more about Jesus the Messiah, we come to realise that he is not simply a human. From the eyewitness evidence in the Injil, it seems that Jesus is the Son of God in a divine sense. For example, as Jesus calms a terrifying storm on a lake with just a word, his disciples cry out in a wonder, “What kind of man is this? Who can still the wind and waves?” (Injil Mark 5:35-41). They know that only God can do such things (as shown in Zabur Psalm 65:7). Consistently, Jesus the Messiah does things which only God can do. Consistently, he also calls himself the Son who does his heavenly Father’s will on earth (Injil John 5). If you’d like to find out more about what this means and how it is wonderfully true, please message us. Or, why don't you read more here or watch more here.
But, why would God have son?
It is not that God needed a son, nor that God had sex with Mary and out popped Jesus. We certainly do not believe these awful things. Nor do we believe that because Jesus was born of a virgin that in some way makes him a son of God. No, the one true and unique God has always been Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus makes it clear that he has the same kind of eternal and self-existent life that his Father has and that he has been with God the Father from eternity (Injil John 5:26, John 1:1-3). The three divine persons show that God is and always been a relational God, marked by love.
This love begins to explain why God the Son should come to earth. The Son was sent by the Father into this dark world. Out of an amazing and unwarranted love for the world, the Father sent his Son to walk the dust of Palestine to bring light by teaching people what the true God was like and how to enter his kingdom. Out of love, he sent his Son on a rescue mission to bring life to those who were in darkness by dying on their behalf. This is the meaning behind the wonderful verse: “God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believers in him should not die but have eternal life” (Injil, John 3:16). And, we know that the Son's rescue mission was a success because he was raised to life and so can give life to anyone who believes in him. As the Risen One, he will also return to judge the living and the dead. If you would like to know more, please read more here or watch more here.
If Jesus is so special, why don't you put 'pbuh' after Jesus?
We do seek to honour Jesus the Messiah. We aim to do so by putting into practice his wonderful teaching. His teaching is clear that he is the one who brings peace to others. We cannot bring him peace. He lived a perfect life, died on behalf of people, was raised to life, and is now seated with God in heaven. He continues to give peace and blessings to his people. We can only give him our hearts and praise, as we wait for his return.
So, who is Jesus?
We cannot possibly do justice to this question in a few sentences, but here are some headlines: He is the one who the whole Law and the Prophets point to, who Moses wrote about, Abraham looked forward to, and David sang about. He is the Christ or Messiah, that is the long-promised king who will defeat God’s enemies. The worst enemies are Satan and sin, and Jesus has destroyed the power of these. When he returns as Judge, he will destroy them completely. Jesus is the one in whom we can be forgiven all of our wrongs. Through his death he took the punishment we deserve. Through his resurrection he was vindicated and can give new life to people. He is the mediator between the Holy God and sinful humanity that we dearly need. Why don’t you watch this or read this to find out more. If you would like to have a guided read through of his life and teaching, please message us.
You talk about Jesus’ death and resurrection, but he didn’t die, did he?
When our Creator made Adam and Eve, he gave them a command: “Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or you will die.” (Taurat Genesis 2:15-17). When Adam and Eve disobeyed their Creator and ate the fruit they died spiritually and eventually died physically. Because of their sin, death entered the world. Death was the punishment for sin. However, our loving Creator provided a way for sin to be taken away – through the death of another, so that the punishment for sin was paid (death), but that punishment took it away from the guilty (bringing life).
Initially, God commanded that animal sacrifices should be made, such as lambs or goats or bulls but these were always pointing to a greater, more appropriate sacrifice (Taurat Genesis 22 and Leviticus 16). Animals are not like people, and so the most appropriate substitute for sinful people but was an innocent person. God promised that he would send such a person (Prophet Isaiah 52:13-53:12). The Prophet John called Jesus the Messiah “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Injil John 1:29).
When Jesus died on the cross, he was seen by many people whose eyes were not deceiving them. His death was not an accident or a mistake, but fulfilling God’s plans. He was the perfect substitute: dying the death we deserve. Through his death, people can have their sins taken away and can enter paradise (Injil, Luke 23:32-43). And, wonderfully, it did not end there. Jesus was raised from the grave after three days. His tomb was verifiably empty, as both his friends and enemies agreed. He was raised to life so that he could give people new life, and to show that he is Lord and Judge of all (Injil, Acts 2:22-36, 17:24-31).
Jesus’ death and resurrection is an example for his followers of selfless service. It is a symbol of what it means to follow him, as we metaphorically put to death our own self-centredness. It is empowering as it gives his followers a new righteous life. His death and resurrection were promised by God, seen by eyewitnesses and is the good news believed by billions of people across the world for 2,000 years. If you would like to read more about the background to Jesus’ death and resurrection, click here.
Do you believe in three gods? What is the Trinity?
No, certainly not. There is only one God (Taurat, Deuteronomy 6:4). The word “one” means “one of a kind”, or “in a class of their own”, or “unique” – like we might say “there's only one Liverpool FC” as an expression of uniqueness and praise. God is not like any other gods. He alone creates and sustains, and He alone reveals and rescues (Taurat, Deuteronomy 4:32-39, Prophets Isaiah 40:25-31, 44:6-23). This one God walks with his people in the Garden of Eden (Taurat, Genesis 3:8), appears to Abraham (Taurat Genesis 18), appears to Moses in a burning bush (Taurat, Exodus 3) and to others throughout the previous Scriptures and Prophets. If that could happen, it is no surprise that God the Son should be able to take on flesh and reveal more of God to us. It is no surprise that he should do miracles of creation and sustaining life. It is no surprise that he could rescue. And it is no surprise that the Trinity should be God the Father, God and the Son and God the Holy Spirit, because God’s Spirit was active in creation (Taurat Genesis 1:1-2), nor that Jesus as the Son of God in human form should reveal that the one true God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Injil John 13-17). Or, why don't you read more here or watch more here.
Why do you call God 'Father'?
Jesus the Messiah taught his followers to call God “Father” (Injil Matthew 6:9-15, 25-34). People who follow Jesus have been brought into God’s spiritual family. They have been completely forgiven of their sins and have been given peace with God, now and forever. Therefore, they are able to approach God in a relational and intimate way – the way Jesus the Messiah taught. And so, we can call God “our Father in heaven”. Jesus told a story about a rebellious boy who came back to his home in repentance (Injil Luke 15:11-32). Wonderfully his father accepted him, despite having brought much shame on the family. If we listen to Jesus the Messiah’s teaching and turn back to God, we can be wonderfully welcomed like that boy was. If you would like to see a modern version of that story, click here.
But, hasn't the Injil been changed?
No, where do you get that idea from? The Injil is in keeping with the previous Prophets and Scriptures and in fact fulfils them. It is full of prophecies being fulfilled. It is also full of agreement with history that we know outside of the Injil. If you want to think more about this, read/watch this.
Is there enough scriptural evidence that people are sinners by nature?
Yes. Adam, the first father of mankind was created perfect in the image of Allah, but he chose to disobey Allah’s command and was expelled from paradise. We all similarly sin and do not live in paradise. (Taurat Genesis 1:27, 3:23,24) (Qur`an Shorif, Surah At-Tin 95:4 F. Malik, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Al-Baqarah Foot note 53) (Injil Shorif, Romans 5:12, 1 John 1:8).
How has the most merciful Allah always been forgiving people’s sins?
The most merciful Allah has always been forgiving people’s sins through confession and atoning sacrifice. (Torat Shorif, Exodus 29:36, 30:10) (Qur`an Shorif, Surah Al-A`raf 7:23) (Injil Shorif 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 9:22).
Why then do the followers of Isa Al-Masih not offer atoning sacrifice as the Muslims do on Eid Al-Adha?
Because Isa Al-Masih has offered his own life as atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins of his followers (Injil Shorif, John 1:29, 1 John 2:2, 4:10).
Do you follow Muhammad?
Jesus the Messiah taught people that they should build their lives on him and his teaching (Injil Matthew 7:24-29). Or else, when the flood of God’s judgement comes, we will be washed away. Jesus the Messiah also taught people that he fulfils the Law of Moses, the previous prophets, the Psalms of David and the promises of God (Injil Luke 24:44-49). Therefore, we aim to build our lives on Jesus and not anyone else. We need nothing more.
What do you think of the Qur'an?
The Qur’an says some true things about Jesus. It calls him ‘the Messiah’. The Qur’an also says that God chose Mary above all women. This suggests that Jesus is chosen above all men too. However, the Qur’an also says that Jesus is not the Son of God. Like everything else in this world, the Qur’an is part of our created and fallen world. It reflects some of God’s truth, but it distorts God’s truth too. The Qur’an is not a wholly truthful revelation of who Jesus truly is. Reading it alongside the Holy Bible, history and its many versions, we are also not convinced that it is eternal, sent down by God, complete and unchanged. Rather than listen to its teaching, we urge you to sit at the feet of the Messiah and listen to his voice, as he fulfils the previous Scriptures and Prophets. If you would like to read more of Jesus’ teaching and listen to his voice, please read Matthew 5.
What is Christmas?
Christmas is the celebration of the miraculous birth of Isa Al-Masih.
What is Easter?
Easter is the celebration of victory, freedom, and eternal life through the death and resurrection of Isa Al-Masih.
But, isn't Christianity Western?
Jesus the Christ was a Jewish man living in Palestine. He said that he came for people of every nation, language and background. He was not Western and following the Christ is not a Western thing. Jesus came to call and challenge people from every culture with his teaching. His teaching comes from God and so does not fit within any one culture, but challenges us all, whatever our culture. Sadly, people in the past and the present have used religions, including Christianity, to make an ideology in their own image. Western Christians have sometimes taught that wearing certain clothes, or speaking a certain way, or promoting capitalism or democracy is Christian, when in fact they are part of Western culture. Those people were wrong, and should go back to Jesus’ teaching. Jesus calls all people to follow him, not to follow a particular part of the world’s culture. So, anyone from any background can follow Jesus. His teaching will challenge and comfort you, as he speaks to your heart. If you would like to hear some of this teaching, please read his words in Matthew 5. If you would like to read through this teaching with someone, please message us.
What community do I join?
Jesus calls people to follow him. As they do so, they become part of two communities: the community they were born into and the community of Jesus’ followers. Being in Jesus’ community does not mean we have to reject the culture and community of our birth. Rather, it means following the Messiah’s ways within our birth community. The fellowship of believers is based on the three foundational principles; (i) true peace, (ii) sincere love, and (iii) real forgiveness. These three principles flow from the life and teachings of Isa Al-Masih. These are the principles believers should live by within the community of their birth.
What does it mean to follow Jesus? Is it just for Sundays?
Sundays are the first day of the week and followers of Jesus have met to hear his teaching, serve one another, sing praises to God and pray to their heavenly Father on Sundays since he ascended to heaven. Sunday was the day that he rose again to new life and so it is appropriate to meet together on a Sunday as a symbol of that new life. However, followers don’t have to meet on that day, nor is it the only day they are to follow Jesus and obey his teaching. Jesus calls people to follow him every day, loving their neighbour as themselves and loving God with all of their being.
The Apostle Paul agrees with this teaching as he was inspired by God to tell followers of Jesus’ to offer themselves as living sacrifices to God being transformed each day by God’s grace (Injil Romans 12:1-2). The Apostle Peter says something similar, as he urges followers of Jesus to live good lives among all people so that God might be praised (Injil 1 Peter 2:9-12). Following Jesus is not just for Sundays, but every day of the week, and involves saying “no” to sinful ways and “yes” to living a holy life, as we keep listening to Jesus’ teaching. If you would like to know some specific ways that this might impact your life, read the rest of 1 Peter.
How do I receive life?
Jesus tells people to come to him for rest, peace and forgiveness. We can receive it from no one else. To do so, however, you will need to recognise that you have turned away from God and his ways, and so deserve his judgement. As proud humans, we find that hard to do. Ask God to help you see your sinful heart, desires, words and actions. Then, you will need to recognise that Jesus has died to take the punishment that sinners deserve and has risen as Lord and Judge. So, ask God for his forgiveness because Jesus has died for your sin, and ask him to help you put Jesus first in your life as Lord and Judge. If you would like to know more about receiving life and what this life should look like, please message us.
