I won't debate the issue with him since he tore down the American Flag I had taped to my office window.
Your son's disgust with the U.S. Government is not uncommon, even for non-muslims...I too, share the view that the U.S. has no business meddling into the affairs of countries who are not our staunchest allies...However, I do not accept the thought that the Flag represents the U.S. gov't...I have a flag flying in my back yare which can be seen above the roof of the house...If I thought for a second that it represented the federal gov't, I'd take it down...
The Flag represents the free people of these great States...That flag and that freedom is what allows your son to practice his religion in this country...
If he does not respect our flag, whether it be cloth or paper, I say he is willingly giving up his freedom to worship as he sees fit...And you can tell him I said so...
I won't debate the issue with him since he tore down the American Flag I had taped to my office window.
Insofar as he will allow you to "talk" to him, then you must debate the issue with him. Of course, no one can "make" someone else "talk with you." HOWEVER, there has to be a normal "two-way street" here. If someone desires to say something to you -- then it is also incumbent upon them to listen, likewise, to you saying something to them.
To the extent that he won't allow you to talk to him (if that's the case, on this issue), then you must stop him dead in his tracks if he attempts the same thing back to you -- on this topic. Even though he's older, you must teach him respect for that two-way type of conversation (that is, if he expects you to hear something from him -- and then you can listen to him and challenge him on what he says...).
ON THE OTHER MATTER, of tearing down the American Flag, no matter whether it's a flag or not (or any other thing) that shows a lot of disrespect towards you to tear that down. If this is something that you have a right to do (which I presume that it is, whatever you want to put up), then no one else has a right to tear it down. So, that must stop immediately -- if he's doing that.
I would teach him another area of "respect" in that regard. You've got a "long road ahead of you" in these things, but you must start to do that.
The only way you can combat this kind of thing is in TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
And you will get objections on both counts -- with "truth" and with "righteousness". But on both counts, Christians have it "hands down".
Pontius Pilate said to Jesus, "What is truth?" That's a common phrase these days, too. The answer to that is what all Christians know already -- the words from Jesus, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but through me." [NASB] This is the truth -- the full revelation of Jesus Christ.
Then, with "righteousness", that comes only from Salvation in Jesus Christ. It's with His righteousness that God imputes that to us, individually (because of our faith in Him and our acceptance of what He has done for us). That's the only way.
That's the answer to the two objections -- for "truth" and for "righteousness". And on that basis you can go forward.
We see in Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Paul was saying this, and it applies to us all (whoever is in Christ). He's pointing out that these things are not (at the heart of the issue) being fought against "flesh and blood". What he is saying is that there is truly something more going on than is on the surface of just people and their own desires and wishes. There are powers and spiritual forces of darkness at work here. You have someone in your own family who is in the "power of darkness" and that's just the way it is. And if they are to get out of that, it requires exactly what Paul said here.
With Islam, it is even more clear that we fight "not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
If one doesn't fight this battle exactly like the Apostle Paul says, then one will lose.