One Nation....Under Different Gods?

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.

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."

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."

A sticky wicket.

Yes, indeed. How do we identify the enemy who proclaims a "Holy War" for Islam and yet seperate these from peaceable followers?

As a Christian, I'm glad I'm not held accountable for the murders that have been committed in the name of Christianity by those who clearly did not know God!!!!!!!!!!!!

How does he know that since there were no Muslims on the planet in Christ's time.

But there were...beginning with Ishmael, the son of Abraham. And though not specifically named, Christ came to save all the world---everyone---none excluded, which I believe is what the author is addressing.

Thank you. Another book for my ever-growing list (if I can ever pry myself away from FR!.) Who needs to eat, wear clean clothes, etc. anyway!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL,LGE and

As always, God RICHLY bless you.

but any Jew living in the Holy Roman Empire a few centuries ago would not be able to agree with you. Because they would be dead.

I understand your sentiment, but your history is in error. Perhaps you are referring to the Spanish Inquisition? I believe less than 35 people were killed. That is a far cry from "any Jew living in the HRE."

You could not be more wrong, KB.

Good job there, wideawake. In a modern world where we ridicule old wives' tales and superstition, the myth of a bloody European Christianity still thrives. Any educated person who still believes this should be ashamed.

Hi, Mom. Faithfulpilgrim says that Ishmael was the father of the Arab people. Abraham was very wrong to follow Sarah's advice and have a child by Hagar to try to "help God" fulfill His promise to Abraham and Sarah for a son (which turned out to be Isaac). Not trusting God's promise and taking matters into their own hands was a big mistake.

Lots of people define "the will of God" lots of different ways.

The will of God is the will of God regardless of how it may be defined by the average unqualified pundit. Owning a paint brush does not make one an artist, having a camera does not make one a photographer and posting an opinion does not qualify one as a theologian. There are absolutes and the Islamic terrorists ignore them. Historical Christianity does not.

That says very little about religion, and a great deal about human nature.

Thank God, He is not human.

To the Church: "Nevertheless, I have something against you, because you have left your first love....repent, and do the first works" (Revelation 2:4-5)

"First, seek the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness." (Matthew 6:33)

First, the disclaimer. I am in no way an authority on Islam, and, truthfully, haven't studied it much at all.

Secondly, any work in tracing just who is descended from who, Biblically, is prone to subject one to charges (which may be valid) of racism. Suffice it to say that all of those branches that did not result in the 12 sons of Israel (Jacob), necessarily led to the creation of peoples who share a similar genetic nature and who inhabit the same region.

As to Islamic writings specifying that it was Ishmael who submitted to possible sacrifice at the hands of Abraham, this makes sense. Of course any counterfeit substitute for the Bible is going to make outlandish claims. I would assign the Koran the same validity as I do the Book of Mormon, and for the same reasons. Both books share a common authorship, and both attempt to deflect attention from the revelation from God that is contained in the Bible. Both are "another Gospel" (Galatians 1:8).

(Arabic, like Hebrew, is a Semitic language; "salaam" and "shalom" are pretty clearly cognate--talk about irony...)

I was reading a thread about 'Jihad', when I noticed that the Arabic jahada appeared to be extremely similar to Yehuda. Hmmm?

JIHAD is an Arabic word the root of which is Jahada, which means to strive for

The will of God:

For all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9}
To not be conformed to this world...to prove what is the good, and acceptable and perfect..(Romans 12:2)
To be not unwise (Ephesians 5:17)
To come to the knowledge of truth (Hebrews 4:12)
To know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3)

....among others.

Thank you. Another book for my ever-growing list (if I can ever pry myself away from FR!.) Who needs to eat, wear clean clothes, etc. anyway!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL!!! Know exactly what you mean, LGE. In fact, I need to pry myself away from my computer and go do some chores, like buy some groceries for my family. Just a little necessity.

God's grace and blessings to you, LGE!!!

Thanks for the reference. Good discussion. I personally chose the following quote as how I understand God's will:

"How can we follow Christ—even at a distance—while fighting and killing? Calvin gives us an indication by pointing out that Christ’s pacific nature (his willingness to suffer violence at the hands of Jewish and Roman authorities) is grounded in the priestly office of reconciliation and intercession that is reserved for him alone. Christ’s pacific nature is thus inextricably tied to his role as redeemer and cannot be intended as a model for Christian behavior. No Christian can or should try to act as a redeemer, but all can and should follow Christ in obeying the commands of the Father. And the Father commands the just use of force."

Not trusting God's promise and taking matters into their own hands was a big mistake.

Wood ,hay and stubble (our own plans)...always feed a fire...You are right!

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