Missionaries Warn on Islam Criticism

AP via Lycos.com ^ | 01/17/2003

[GeneD]

A group of Southern Baptist missionaries working in Muslim countries has asked the U.S. leaders of their denomination to tone down their harsh criticism of Islam for safety reasons.

The missionaries said denigrating Islam puts them at risk as they work to spread Christianity under dangerous conditions overseas.

On Dec. 30, a suspected Islamic militant killed three workers at a Southern Baptist hospital in Yemen -- the latest in a series of attacks over the last year on American religious workers abroad.

"We are not sure if you are aware of the ramifications that comments that malign Islam and Muhammad have -- not only on the message of the gospel but also upon the lives of our families as we are living in the midst of already tense times," the missionaries said in the Jan. 10 letter.

The statement was signed by "a group of Southern Baptists serving in the Muslim world," who did not give their names. The two dozen missionaries were from 10 countries in the Mideast, North Africa, East Africa and South Asia.

Several Southern Baptist leaders have condemned Islam since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

The Rev. Jerry Vines, a former Southern Baptist president, has called the Prophet Muhammad a "demon-possessed pedophile." The Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, called Islam "a very evil and wicked religion."

The Rev. Jerry Falwell has said the religion promotes violence. His remark sparked rioting in India that led to confrontations between Muslims and Hindus which left five people dead. Falwell later apologized.

The missionaries work under the auspices of the Southern Baptist's International Mission Board in Richmond, which has about 5,500 missionaries around the world.

George Braswell Jr., the first Southern Baptist missionary in Iran and a professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., delivered the letter to the mission board after meeting with the workers overseas. He then made the statement public.

Reached Friday by The Associated Press, Braswell declined to elaborate.

The Rev. Jack Graham, president of the convention, was traveling Friday and could not be reached for comment, according to the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, where he serves as pastor.

The board released a short statement in response to the plea, saying that the missionaries simply wanted their fellow Baptists to focus on the positive side of their faith "rather than arguing Islam vs. Christianity."

"I believe what they were trying to say is that their concern is communicating the gospel to lost persons without having to defend what someone in America said about Islam," said Avery Willis Jr., senior vice president of the board's overseas operations office.

___

On the Net:

International Mission Board:

http://www.imb.org

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[HELLRAISER II]

Maybe they should have taken the hint on 9/11 that Muslims already hate us when they killed 1300 Americans. Anybody with half a brain would have realized that they needed to get the **** out of Dodge.

[Nachum]

These missionaries are correct.

We shouldn't, in public, say that the Al Qaeda are scumbags who deserve death . We shouldn't loudly state that we all believe radical islamists are morons and spread a cult of death. Finally, we shouldn't say that we are going to make the b*st*rds pay for every murderous deed they have done.

Nope, gonna keep quiet about it.

[niteowl77]

Ah, yes- the one-way filter as demanded by Islam. Enabled by Christians, for Christians (soon to become dead Christians or former Christians). By all means, lets play by Muslim rules so the Muslim can rule.

[Quix]

VALID POINT.

Should have thought of that.

Still, SOMEONE needs to be assertive about the truth of Islam.

But it would be better to have it be someone other than clearly Christian religious leaders.

[TLBSHOW]

Islam is a cult!

[swarthyguy]

Bring 'em back. Send them to safer places, like NYC.

Also, they could do an outreach program here in the US, in say, the Detroit or Jersey City areas. ;>

[Imal]

I have some cousins that worked as missionaries in Irian Jaya among practicing cannibals in the 1970's. While a few of their brethren were killed and eaten, most of them were fine.

It's interesting that modern missionaries find themselves facing greater danger from Muslims than from cannibals.

Why do you suppose these fine folks are not satisfied to merely pray that God protect them, like my cousins did? Maybe it's because preaching Christianity is punishable by death in most of the areas where they are working.

So I guess it's "ix-nay on the Istianity-Chray" and Mohammed wins again?

[Savage Beast]

"The Rev. Jerry Falwell has said the religion promotes violence. His remark sparked rioting in India that led to confrontations between Muslims and Hindus which left five people dead."

... ...? ...

Does anyone else see the irony?

[EaglesUpForever]

Islam is as Islam does...

[Samurai_Jack]

Does anyone else see the irony?
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hell yeah that is a most irony laden statement. It's well known that islam is very peaceful indeed unless 'provoked'. Well so is a wasp nest but that doesnt mean you leave the damn thing growing in your attic!!

[RaceBannon]

Technically, they are right.

The Gospel is to be brought to all men, to tell them of the love that God has for them in sending Jesu Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the world, and that he was resurrected 3 days later to show God's mercy to us in the promise of eternal life.

A person doesn't win converts by calling their religion by rude sounding names, but these people still need to know they are not believing in the truth.

A direct approach may be ok sometimes, in a friendly way, except that one side doesnt always want to be friendly it seems.

It is easy for us here to proclaim how much of a murder cult Islam is, and that Islam teaches these people to hate Jews and Christians, and that the Islam-based governments are rotten to the corps.

It is one thing to witness in a country that is at least tolerant of an opposing view, than a country that kills infidels. Volunteering to be a martyr is not what God wants.

[HHFi]

"Whatever you do, don't suggest that Muslims are violent, or they may kill us!"

Note to Muslims who keep complaining about people saying they are violent: Stop killing people who suggest you are violent, and maybe they'll stop saying it.

[Kuksool]

The best way to end terrorism is to convert the Muslims to Christianity.

[Savage Beast]

LOL! You're absolutely right.

[Savage Beast]

I notice that the name of the author of this article is not given. I guess they're afraid he'll be fatwaed.

[Michael2001]

I understand where these missionaries are coming from, but that doesn't mean our leaders have to lie or stay quiet when the subject of Islam comes up.

They know they are in danger when they go to these places.