Approximately four months ago we began this series on Islam and Christianity with the first installment entitled: ‘Christians, Muslims, and the Undecided.’ The intent of the series was to inform and present both sides, i.e. Christianity and religious Islam, democracy and political Islam. This series was written and published within the guidelines of the first amendment which states in part:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”
The first amendment allows varied religions the freedom to exercise their beliefs within this great nation. That includes both Christianity and Islam. What it does not allow is for any political system to present itself as a religion and then use our First Amendment freedoms to rise up with the intent of abolishing the very constitution that provides such freedom. Islam presents their religion as inseparable from their political ideology and sharia law.
As Islam has been examined in the previous weeks much care was given to rely on Islamic teachings and documentation. While we have compared major tenets of religious Islam with the Bible we have used caution to limit commentary and not attempt to interpret their intent.
Recall the Muslim Brotherhood, i.e. the largest Islamic organization in the world. Supporting the inseparability of their religion and political ideology, they openly state:
“The Muslim Brotherhood must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within…so that it is eliminated…”
“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”
Remember also CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations). CAIR is regarded as America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. One of their primary tactics is to categorize anti-Islamic statements and/or policies as civil rights violations or hate crimes which would subsequently be in violation of their First Amendment rights.
Very recently SQ 755 limiting the application of Islamic sharia law in Oklahoma passed with a 70% margin. The people’s voice was immediately challenged on constitutional grounds. The man who initiated the lawsuit, Muneer O. Awad, is the executive director of the Oklahoma Chapter of CAIR. It appears that Mr. Awad has won the initial round.
Our own president and his administration have co-sponsored UN resolutions that would make it a hate crime to make statements about Islam that might offend them, even if such statements are true.
The American democratic system and political Islam are totally irreconcilable regardless of what Mr. Obama claims in his addresses to the Muslim world.
“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims…based upon mutual interest and mutual respect…based upon the truth that America and Islam…share common principles…”
“So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America…and I believe that…all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security…”
“I made it clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam.”
“Islam is not part of the problem…it is an important part of promoting peace.”
Both presidents Obama and Bush 43 repeatedly emphasized that the United States was/is not at war with Islam, but we have our heads in the sand if we think that Islam is not war with the United States. Which is more disturbing, recognizing the openly self-proclaimed agenda of Islam, or the political correctness which ignores it? Jesus warned of apathy.
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth…” Revelation 3:15-17
Christianity and religious Islam are likewise irreconcilable; however, the Church and Christians are to love the individual Muslim. Islam’s political ideology is an outgrowth of their religious origins. Their religious beliefs include Mohammed superseded Jesus as the final prophet of Allah. They further claim the Bible has been corrupted and is no longer reliable. They deny the deity of Christ and the historical facts that He was crucified and resurrected. They deny the doctrine of grace and cling to retaliatory sharia.
Americans have the right to reject any political ideology that attempts to replace (either by stealth or by sword) the constitution, culture, and way of life. Similarly, Christians not only have the right, but the responsibility to reject any religion that is anti-Biblical or anti-Christ. President Obama has voiced his stance on Christianity in America:
“Although…we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.”
Two years ago I wrote a column entitled: ‘Recognizing Freedom’s Threats.’ The column ended with these words:
“Apathy, or indifference, leads to apostasy, or abandonment, which opens the door to replacement which will lead to loss of freedoms. We need to be passionately aware of our freedoms as well as be aware of the foundations on which they stand. The threats to our freedoms are very real and present. We need to cherish and defend these freedoms instead of giving them away.”
There are two important lessons we can learn from Islam, firstly to be more zealous about our religion and secondly to open our eyes to that which threatens us. The ‘supreme ideologue’ of the Muslim Brotherhood, Sayyid Qutb, stated:
“…the Muslim Brotherhood must ‘open people’s eyes’ to the danger, the threat, that modernity and western culture…posed to Islam.”
We should do no less.
It’s time to take a stand!
Merry Christmas and God bless America!