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One Nation....Under Different Gods?
Crosswalk ^ | September 19, 2001 | Janet Chismar

Posted on 09/24/2001 9:07:47 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade

In his role as president of the United States, George W. Bush publicly defended Muslim-Americans while visiting the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. last Monday. Bush strongly condemned the victimization of Arab-Americans that has followed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and underscored an Islamic group's reports of a widespread backlash.

At a press conference [last] Monday, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) claimed to have received reports of more than 350 attacks against Arab Americans around the country, ranging from verbal harassment to physical assaults. They also received reports of dozens of mosques firebombed or vandalized.

Attorney General John D. Ashcroft said the FBI had initiated 40 hate crimes investigations involving reported attacks on Arab American citizens and institutions. Among them is the case of a Pakistani Muslim store owner who was shot and killed in Dallas Saturday evening.

Imam Hassan Qazwini, religious leader of Islamic Center of America in Detroit, echoed these concerns, saying, "I know Arab-Americans are loyal citizens to this country, and they are saddened and shocked for what happened to their fellow Americans in New York and Washington. I don't want to see Arabs and Muslims in America being accused or viewed with suspicion."

In his remarks, Bush said, "Both Americans and Muslims ... were just appalled and could not believe what we saw on our TV screens. These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. And it's important for my fellow Americans to understand that."

Bush added, "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war."

But one leader of a ministry that serves the persecuted church in the Islamic world disagrees. Speaking only under condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivities associated with his position, he explained: "Islam does not mean peace; Islam means submission." Many American Muslims "are in complete ignorance of what their faith really teaches," as some Christians are about theirs.

He pointed to a verse in the Koran that says, "When war becomes inevitable, it must be pursued with vigor, the fighting may take the form of a slaughter, or capture ... or ambush or other stratagems." That is not "peaceful."

Yet this minister also emphasized that Christians should pray God will show Muslims that Jesus is the lamb of God.

This, perhaps, is one of the most troubling aspects of the attack on America ... this undercurrent of "Holy War." Not to mention grappling with the seeming contradictions of Islam. And how do Christians reconcile righteous indignation over the attack with the command to love even their Muslim neighbors? Hate the sin but love the sinners? Certainly, there are no easy answers.

Understanding the Dichotomy

According to The Barnabas Fund, a ministry that serves the suffering church in the Muslim world, Mohammed, the founder of Islam, was a complex character whose attitudes and opinions changed and evolved during his lifetime in response to events around him. It is not surprising, then, to find that Islam is a complex faith, and cannot be pigeon-holed as peaceful or violent or under any simple heading.

"Islam" means "peace" we are often told by Muslim and non-Muslim alike, says The Barnabas Fund News. "Even before Tuesday, some newspapers and TV broadcasts tended to paint a glowing picture of Islam as a religion of peace, modesty, morality, self-discipline and family values, sadly tainted by the violence of a few fundamentalists. Muslim minorities nevertheless continued to complain of Islamophobia, and felt themselves unjustly portrayed in the media as terrorists."

The truth falls not so much in the middle between these two extremes of peace and violence, says The Barnabas Fund News, but manages to embrace both extremes at the same time.

"It is true that many individual Muslims are peace-loving and law-abiding," agrees The Barnabas Fund News. "But it is not true that peace is the main characteristic of Islam. It is not even true that the word 'Islam' means 'peace.' In fact it means 'submission.' Islam as a faith emphasizes submission of Muslims to God and, by a logical extension, the submission of non-Muslims to Muslims."

Joseph P. Gudel, writing in the Winter/Spring 1990 issue of the Christian Research Journal, said, "The Muslim world view does not compartmentalize and dichotomize the various areas of life. It is holistic: its beliefs are incorporated into every area of daily living.

"This is evidenced by the all-encompassing Islamic rules which regulate all aspects of daily life," Gudel continued, "including how one should dress, bathe, eat, and so on. The devout Muslim is called to prayer five times each day, an obligation assiduously obeyed. In sum, no part of the Muslim's daily life is separate from his Islamic beliefs. Even the word 'Muslim' means 'one who submits' (to Allah)."

And what about "Allah?" some may wonder. Isn't that simply another name for God? Lee Strobel interviewed Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias about such questions in his book, "A Case for Faith."

"Some people say that when you strip away everything," Strobel said to Zacharias, "all the world religions are essentially teaching the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of humankind. That would mean all the world's faith systems are equally valid."

According to Strobel, Zacharias shook his head, his face registering dismay. "Only someone who doesn't understand the world religions would claim they basically teach the same thing. Islam ... and Christianity are distinct and mutually exclusive doctrines."

In addressing the charge of "intolerance" when Christians assert that Jesus is the only way to heaven, Zacharias explained, "Muslims also radically claim exclusivity - not just theologically, but linguistically. Muslims believe that the sole, sufficient and consummate miracle of Islam is the Koran."

He added, "I know of no Christianized country where your life is in danger because you are from another faith. But today there are many countries in the world - such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran - where to become a follower of Christ is to put your life and your family at risk."

Christian commentator Cal Thomas noted: "While it is important not to condemn all Muslims because of [the] terrorist attack, it is also crucial to understand the mindset and intentions of those who hate us.

"America's enemies know us better than we know them," Thomas said. "They take their faith in a false god more seriously than we take our faith in the true one. Be careful with what you see and hear."

Compassion Without Compromise

Jerry Rose, president of Total Living Network, and author of "Deep Faith for Dark Valleys," tries to strike a balance without compromising: "Yes, we need to bring these people to justice, but we do not need to marginalize the rest of the Muslim world," he told Religion Today.

He pointed out that both the terrorist attack and the immediate backlash against Muslim Americans are "unscriptural, illegal and immoral."

Our anger needs to be directed toward those responsible, says Rose, not the people in our neighborhoods who often moved to the United States to get away from the more radical countries.

Regarding Islamic theology, Rose says it is wrong. "But Christ sees Muslims as lost and it is our responsibility as His followers to reach out sensitively without compromising our own faith. We need to remember the church is an organization that exists primarily to take care of nonmembers."

Rose cautions that, above all, Christians should not blame God for this horrendous act of terrorism. "There is sin in the world and sin destroys. We are told in Romans that 'The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.' If mankind chooses sin, then death will inevitably follow. If we choose His gift, then salvation follows, along with the blessing that comes with following His plan for us."

Brother Andrew of Open Doors said in his book, "For the Love of My Brothers" - "I cannot stress strongly enough my sense of urgency that we reach out to as many Muslim and Arab groups as possible while they are still reachable, because anyone who is reachable is also winnable. We've seen that there is a startling openness to the gospel among some of these people. But unless we go to them now in love and influence them in a Christian direction, the ongoing cycle of violence and revenge will force them to take hard-line, extremist positions. Then they will come to us - the Christian West - in judgment."


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"America's enemies know us better than we know them...

It is not even true that the word 'Islam' means 'peace.' In fact it means 'submission...Islam is a complex faith, and cannot be pigeon-holed as peaceful or violent or under any simple heading. "

But unless we go to them now in love and influence them in a Christian direction, the ongoing cycle of violence and revenge will force them to ... come to us - the Christian West - in judgment."

God help us to understand and do His will.

1 posted on 09/24/2001 9:07:47 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: dead culture watch,RnMomof7,Anonymous2,Patriot76,Just another Joe,ChaseR,PatiPie,George W. Bush,Mo1
Ping
2 posted on 09/24/2001 9:08:57 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: 185JHP,Otterpond,Mudboy Slim,DreamWeaver,esoteric,BeforeISleep,abner,chuck allen,W1Mom,2sheep
Ping
3 posted on 09/24/2001 9:09:44 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: LoneGreenEyeshade
BTTT
4 posted on 09/24/2001 9:10:21 AM PDT by Fiddlstix
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To: SamAdams76,PatrioticTeen,Dare To Be Free,MissAmericanPie,JeffersonAdams,LibertyGirl77,Illbay,damian5
Ping
5 posted on 09/24/2001 9:10:34 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: Arthur Wildfire! March,or the Declaration,babylonian,True Believer9,sirgawain,Bill Rice,Philman_36
Ping
6 posted on 09/24/2001 9:11:22 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: Aloha Ronnie,Thinkin 'gal,Nobodysfool,Keyesfor President,Dataman,gabz,BiggRed
Ping
7 posted on 09/24/2001 9:12:18 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: LoneGreenEyeshade

AMOS

Father John T. Myler
The Wanderer Press

"Never will I forget a thing they have done" (from Amos).
"Lift up holy hands, without anger or argument" (from 1
7imothy).
"You cannot serve both God and mammon" (from the
Gospel According to St. Luke).

Scripture scholars tell us that the mission of the prophet Amos lasted perhaps only one year.  His message to Israel was so unrelenting and so forceful that a paucity of words sufficed:
 
"Fallen, no more to rise, maiden Israel; forsaken on her land, with no one to raise her up."
 
Yet Israel was not lacking in money or in power during Amos' time (around 760 B.C.) The Chosen People were at the height of wealth and influence. Nevertheless, Amos' message was that "they have rejected the law of the Lord and have not kept His statutes." Israel was a kingdom full of injustice.

Amos spoke boldly to the rich and mighty: "Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy  the poor  of the land!"
 
They would often "display their wheat on the Sabbath. ...Diminish the ephah, add to the shekel. .. fix their scales for cheating!" Amos uncovered the darkness of their injustices -"buying the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals." In their hearts, and in their actions, they plotted: "Even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!"
 
Amos confronted the corporate greed of his time:
 "The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done!"

In a very short time, the words of Amos -- who had been a humble shepherd - -came to pass. Earthquakes, political divisions, the destruction of the northern kingdom -all these were presaged by the herald of Israel's injustice.
When the Messiah came, He announced: 'No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.
"You cannot serve both God and mammon."
Then and now.

===========================

Was Amos a prophet or just unpatriotic?

8 posted on 09/24/2001 9:12:51 AM PDT by ex-snook
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To: American Soldier,MHGinTN,Nuke'm Glowing,JohnHuang2,Dan Day,LarryLied
Ping
9 posted on 09/24/2001 9:13:41 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: First_Salute,Kattracks,PJ-Comix,ResistorSister,YaYal23,Ted,HogFixer,AuntToots,EternalVigilance
Ping
10 posted on 09/24/2001 9:15:35 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: LoneGreenEyeshade
He added, "I know of no Christianized country where your life is in danger because you are from another faith.

Leave it to Ravi to find the crystal-clear truth.

11 posted on 09/24/2001 9:22:09 AM PDT by Dataman
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To: LoneGreenEyeshade
I'm a Christian . . . How do I go about getting 70 virgins ??? :-))
12 posted on 09/24/2001 9:22:13 AM PDT by GeekDejure
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To: Buggman
Ravi is mentioned in this article.
13 posted on 09/24/2001 9:23:07 AM PDT by Dataman
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To: ex-snook
Having money and loving money are two different things.

But, I cannot judge the hearts of individual men and women and children, and God commands that I do not:

"You are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges, for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judges does the same things.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things." Romans 2:1-2

14 posted on 09/24/2001 9:26:14 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: GeekDejure
Sorry, the New Testament did away with that particular part of the Old story. In the New, adultery is condemned and "Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the Church" and then, "wives submit to your husbands."

LOL,LGE

15 posted on 09/24/2001 9:28:52 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: LoneGreenEyeshade
"Islam does not mean peace; Islam means submission."

Yes...submission to the will of God. How you can find fault with that is beyond me.

16 posted on 09/24/2001 9:29:12 AM PDT by Illbay
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To: Dataman
He added, "I know of no Christianized country where your life is in danger because you are from another faith.

"Leave it to Ravi to find the crystal-clear truth"

AMEN

"You are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges, for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judges does the same things.

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things." Romans 2:1-2

17 posted on 09/24/2001 9:33:06 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: Illbay
"Islam does not mean peace; Islam means submission."

Yes...submission to the will of God. How you can find fault with that is beyond me.

I have a BIG problem with it if one of the Islamic mass-murderers is defining the will of God.

18 posted on 09/24/2001 9:38:31 AM PDT by Dataman
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To: Illbay
"Islam does not mean peace; Islam means submission."

Yes...submission to the will of God. How you can find fault with that is beyond me.

Guess the fault could be how one interprets "submission" and to which "God." True submission to Jehovah could be nothing else but peace and love for one another.

Funny how people, of all religions, pick and choose specific religious guidance, take it out of the context of "the big picture" of the message, to justify their selfish actions.

Religion, rather than love of God, could kill us all!!!!!!!!!!!

19 posted on 09/24/2001 9:40:00 AM PDT by LoneGreenEyeshade
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To: LoneGreenEyeshade
islam is a war religion to the same extent that christianiaty is an imperialist religion.
20 posted on 09/24/2001 9:41:18 AM PDT by gfactor
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