Major Misconceptions
©FOUNDATION Magazine Editorial,
Sept-Oct 2001
The recent terrorist attack
against the United States by Muslim fundamentalists has unleashed a
myriad of misinformation that should be of concern to all who define
themselves as Bible-believing Christians. As is usually the case when
political and social events of such magnitude occur, everyone seems to
have an answer to what has happened and how we need to respond. Such
open dialogue and freedom of expression is a precious privilege and
right that we possess in this free society in which we live. Yet at the
same time, this freedom of speech and expression always subjects society
to misinformation, whether deliberately propagated or not. As a
Christian who knows what he believes and stands firmly upon God's
revelation to man, and as an American who believes in using his freedom
to think critically and express concerns publicly, I have noticed three
prevalent streams of thought that have made their way to the public
spectrum and have been quickly embraced by a majority of the American
public. Each of these bits of misinformation needs to be clarified and
understood by Christians and Americans everywhere.
First, despite what we are hearing from politicians and religious
leaders, Islam is not a religion of peace and tolerance. The very word
Islam means "submission." We should be thankful that most Muslims
here in the United States are people who desire peace in the world and
who respectfully tolerate other religions. They do not take their "holy
book" as literally as do Muslims in other areas of the world, and they
are not defined as "fundamentalists" because they do not strictly obey
what their religion teaches them. But while most Muslim people in the
Western world may be peaceful and tolerant, the religion of Islam itself
is neither peaceful nor tolerant. Throughout the Middle East, the Muslim
religion/culture is carried out to its natural end in nations such as
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
In these nations, no distinction exists between "mosque and state," and
those who convert to a religion other than Islam are often punished or
killed. Religious liberty is expressly forbidden. Proselytizers are not
allowed. Women are enslaved. Infidels (those who reject Islam) are
enemies of the religion and the state. Jihad (holy war) against
the infidels is the natural outcome of this religion. Their "holy book"
allows for this and actually encourages it in some places.
Second, despite what we are hearing from politicians and religious
leaders around the world, Christians and Muslims do not worship the same
God. Sadly, Christian leaders in the United States have become primary
disseminators of this blatant lie. A United Methodist News Service
report stated, " [Muslims] worship the same God of Abraham, Moses and
Jesus" (9-12-01). Roman Catholic and Muslim leaders in the U.S. issued a
statement in which they said, "We believe that the one God calls us to
be peoples of peace" (Zenit, 9-16-01). In a United Methodist News
Service commentary, the Rev. Bruce Robbins said, "So many Christians do
not realize the bonds between Christianity, Judaism and [Islam]. We all
worship the one and the same God of the Abrahamic tradition yet with
different perspectives and understandings" (9-17-01). Pope John Paul II
even declared that "Jews, Christians and Muslims adore the One God"
(Zenit, 9-30-01). No, Christians and Muslims do not worship the
same God. Christians worship a God who has declared Himself to mankind
through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh.
Muslims worship an impersonal god who is so transcendent that he is
unknowable. They adamantly reject the fact that Jesus Christ is God.
Christians worship a God who saves mankind by His grace through faith
alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Muslims worship a god who
requires them to perform a wide variety of works, rites and rituals in
order for them to even hope to experience a paradise in the life
hereafter. Christians worship a God who indwells them in the person of
the Holy Spirit and keeps them secure throughout their lives. Muslims
reject any God who indwells them and has such a personal relationship
with mankind. Christians worship a God who cannot lie nor act in any way
contrary to His divine nature. Therefore, He is always good, holy,
righteous and truthful. Muslims worship a god who is not limited by
anything, including his own nature. Therefore, he can change as he
wills. Clearly, the god of Islam is not the God of Christianity, and
Christians today must understand this important truth so they will not
find themselves in accord with those who reject Jesus Christ as God
manifest in the flesh. Christians and Muslims do not worship the same
God!
Finally, despite what we are hearing from politicians and religious
leaders around the world, Americans should not be denied their freedom
of speech in an effort to refrain from "offending" the followers of
Islam. Both Muslim and Christian leaders are now expressing their
"intolerance" of any who speak negatively of the Muslim religion. But
just as I would defend any individual's right to praise Allah and speak
of the greatness of Islam, so I will most certainly defend my own right,
and the right of others, to speak the truth concerning Islam as a
religion that exalts a false god and that is anything but "peaceful" and
"tolerant." Long before the attacks against the United States on
September 11, we warned about the spiritual dangers of the Muslim
religion. And now, long after the attacks, we will continue to do the
same. I value my American freedoms and will do everything in my power to
make sure that both Muslims and Christians have the right to speak out
concerning what they believe. We live in America, not Afghanistan,
Pakistan or Libya. Islamic nations throughout the world reject freedom
of speech and freedom of the press. The inhabitants of these nations are
held hostage, verbally speaking. They are only allowed to express
agreement with the religion of their culture or fear the repercussion.
In America, we enjoy the right to speak our minds, to disagree with our
government or the religion of others. As Christians, we should continue
to adamantly declare that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the
life and that no one can have a relationship with God the Father except
through Him. We must boldly proclaim that "neither is there salvation in
any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). When the leaders of the early
church were threatened to suppress their religious beliefs, they held
fast to their conviction and declared that they would obey God rather
than men and would continue proclaim the truth. We must have this same
conviction and attitude and defend our freedom to speak the truth in
love.
I certainly respect Muslim people, just as I respect
Roman Catholics,
Jews, Hindus or liberal Protestants. I have known Muslims and worked
with them in the past and have considered them to be good friends.
However, I am diametrically opposed to their religion, just as I am
opposed to Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, liberal Protestantism or any
other false religion that advances a false gospel and is sending people
to an eternity apart from Christ in a literal lake of fire. The Muslim
religion is a false religion that is blinding the eyes of billions of
people and keeping them from a relationship with God, the Creator of the
heavens and the earth. As Christians, we should desire to see these
precious people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and lovingly
declare to them how they can become children of the one, true God.
Let us not find ourselves slaves to "political correctness" and
believing the lies and misinformation that is bombarding us on every
hand. Let us purpose to stand firm on the truth of God's Word and boldly
refute the evil doctrines that are permeating the world and the Church
today. With God's help as we are indwelt and empowered by the Holy
Spirit, we can use these exciting days in which we live to bring glory
to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
