FAQ’s

God created us with the ability to think, evaluate, choose and decide. He revealed Himself to people in the whole course of history and gave us written information. Loving God with our mind means to get information, read, study, evaluate and decide with a humble heart. But collecting knowledge alone will not do. The Messiah Jesus said: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own”, (Jn 7.17). If we believe and obey what He said, we will find out the truth.
God is most interested to reveal His Messiah to us. Jesus said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him”, (Jn 6.44). If you are honest in your motives, then start searching for God, read His Word and ask him to reveal Himself to you.

This depends on the religion you change to… If you decide to follow Jesus the Messiah then you have to give him ownership about your possessions. Jesus told one rich man to sell all his belongings and give it to the poor. People may dispossess you from your land or properties. You cannot be a follower of Jesus if you are not willing to give up your life for Him. There is no organization who would offer you money for believing in Jesus. Even if there were one – it would not be worth it. But you will find new brothers and sisters of God’s family who will show God’s love to you
God has a special plan for each person who follows the Messiah. So their lives may look very different from each other. If you follow Jesus you will experience peace of heart, joy and concrete answers to prayer. You may see how God blesses your family, you may experience God’s miraculous works in your life. But Jesus clearly foretold that all his followers will experience some sort of persecution for the sake of following him. People can disown you, put you in prison, torture and even kill your body. Jesus said: “Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. Fear God who after the killing of the body has power to throw you into hell, (Luke 12:5).
Proselytizing people means using force or manipulation to change their outward adherence to another religion. We strongly disapprove of such practices. There should be no force in religion. Each person needs to have the freedom to choose the way he/she wants to follow. We strongly support the UN Declaration of Human Rights. We believe that only God can change human hearts by his Holy Spirit.

You may have become a Muslim by birth or nationality. But every person is personally responsible before God for his/her own decisions, not for the family or nation into which he/she was born into. On the judgment day nobody can blame other people for his or her religion or belief.
God promised to reveal Himself and show the true way to people who honestly search for him. As he spoke to the prophets long ago he can speak into your heart. When you hear His voice then follow Him with all your heart, no matter what the cost may be.

If we study about Jesus both in the Qur’an and the Bible we learn that He is the most unique person who ever lived in this world.
*His birth was unique, Su 3:47, Mathews 1:18
*He was led by the Holy Spirit, Su 2:253
*He had a sinless nature, Su 19:17+10, Hebrews 4:15; 7:28
*He did miracles, Su 2:87, John 3:2
*He knew the future, Su 43:61+63, Mathews 24:29-31
*He is the Word of God, Su 3:45, John 1:1
*His death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, Su 3:55, Philippians 2:8, 1.Corinthians 15:36, Ephesians 1:19-20
*He will come again to this world, Su 43:61, Acts 1:10-11

In the past Christianity has been associated with tradition and practices of the Western World. But actually the Christian faith is rooted in Middle Eastern cultures and ways of life:
The Garden of Eden was located somewhere in Persia, (today’s Iraq/Iran). All the prophets lived in Western Asia. The Messiah Jesus and his disciples were Hebrews from Semitic origin in Asia. The Christian faith spread from the beginning into Asia, Africa and Europe.
Today it is estimated that 80% of the followers of Jesus are non Westerners. In China, for example, believers of Jesus are growing in a dynamic way and changing their society from within.

We must distinguish between people who adhere to a Christian religion and people who experienced a changed heart. Being born into a Christian family or brought up in a Western society does not make people followers of Jesus. Jesus said: whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother, (Mark 3.35)

When a religious scholar asked Jesus this question, he replied: Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself, (Luke 10.27)

Real love does not count, real love gives without measure. God offers forgiveness and the new life for free. Nobody deserves it. Nobody could ever pay him back. Nobody will go to heaven because of his good deeds. People only will enter heaven because Jesus died on the cross for their sins. But People who have experienced God’s love can give it freely to others. People who experienced forgiveness can forgive others.

Let’s have a look into what the Qur’an says about the former books:
Su Jonah 10:94 says: And if you (Mohamed) are in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto you, then question those who read the Scripture (that was) before you. Verily the Truth from they Lord hath come unto you. So be not of the wavers.
Whoever disbelieves in Allah’s Scriptures has wandered far astray, (Su the Woman 4:136). There is nothing that can change God’s words (Su the cattle 6:115-116). The former revealed books are a roadmap for blessings and eternal life, (Su Table Spread 5:65-66).
Search for the truth. Study the books yourself. Jesus promised his followers:”You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32.

I love my country, my culture, our habits and traditions.
 There is not such a thing as a divinely chosen nation, culture or language. Each culture in its diversity shows aspects of God’s greatness. God appreciates and enjoys the unique features of Dhivehi songs or ways of life. These elements should be used to praise God. Parts of society which bring dishonor to God need to be changed. God loves the Dhivehi people! And he will enjoy Dhivehi worship in heaven!
The whole world is developing into a global village. Multimedia and Internet have crossed national borders for years. Maldives has made good experience with hundred thousands of tourists and foreign workers without problems regarding religion. Many Maldivian students went to universities abroad without being threatened in their religion. Maldives depends on people and aid from outside. In today’s world we have to learn to live peacefully in multicultural settings. Separation and isolation will be no long-term solution. Countries like Singapore have a successful history of integration.

Christians do not offer a new formula, procedure, medicine or therapy. These things can be of great help and should be used in the right way. But believers of Jesus can offer a radically different solution. The answer is not in a formula but in a person – in the Messiah Jesus. He came to heal the sick and broken hearted and to serve the least people in society. He offers forgiveness to the guilty, God’s acceptance to the people with inferiority problems, love to the unloved and worthiness to the abused. He deals with people’s past and gives them new hope. Many people worldwide have experienced healing by trusting Jesus.

Yes, there are Dhivehi followers of Jesus. They discovered Jesus in different ways. Some had dreams or visions, others studied God’s Word or saw a difference in the life of believers in Jesus. But in the end it is God’s Spirit who revealed the truth to them and gave them the courage to put their trust in Jesus.

This is not a new phenomenon! Even Jesus had the most problems with the religious scholars of his time. He called them hypocrites and gave strong warnings: “you are full of greed and wickedness,…you neglect justice and the love of God,… you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them,… Luke 11.39-52. God is different from self-righteous religious people. Beware of them! And search for God!

Taqiyya, (intentionally concealing faith by means of deception), is a concept that is totally opposed to the character of God. God is holy and clearly described as like light, truth. He is completely trustworthy. He does not lie, cheat or change. In the life of Jesus the Messiah we see these qualities displayed. Courage and boldness to follow Jesus’ example without denying their faith or pretending differently comes from the Spirit of God. Jesus said: “For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels”. (Luk 9:26) and “I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God”, (Luk 12:8).