Introduction
Islam is on the march; globally and
here in America. This paper will examine the reasons for this development,
with a particular focus on the underlying theology, and the Muslim strategy
for advancement. Finally, I will briefly suggest an outline for a proper
and biblical response.
Reasons to Examine This Topic
The reasons to examine the expansion
of Islam in America are many; e.g. the effects of globalization, increasing
interaction between Islamic cultures and the West, our duty to protect
our children and pass along our faith to future generations, our responsibility
to protect our way of life (i.e. freedom of religion, freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, etc.), and our calling to
share the gospel with our neighbors.
Qualifications
There are a few things that this paper is not. 1st, it is not intended to be an introduction to, or overview of, Islam. 2nd, it does not provide a comparison between Islam and Christianity. For the sake of time, the focus will be much narrower. 3rd, this paper is not anti Muslim. Every effort has been made to avoid exaggeration or alarmism that could lead the reader, Christian or Muslim, to draw such a conclusion. However, this paper is, without apology, written out of Christian conviction, from a Christian perspective. The presupposition throughout is that Jesus Christ is Lord and his word, as revealed in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is truth and authoritative. Accordingly, the teachings of Islam, which contradict these truths, are false and those who hold them are in error. Yet, as Christians, we ought to hold no animosity toward those, including Muslims, who disagree. Rather, we ought to sincerely desire that they too would come to embrace the wonderful salvation found in Christ alone.
4th, the focus will not
be on Islamic extremism, “hijacked Islam,” terrorism, violent jihad,
anti Americanism, or the like. This threat is highly visible. The world
is largely united against it. A defense is in place and it is likely
that its long-term impact will be limited. It is also opposed by the
majority of Muslims. The real danger takes a far more “benign” form.
In fact, the potential impact for this threat is far greater, because
it is largely going beneath the radar and includes millions of well
meaning participants.
The danger we face
The gravity of the situation we are in ought to provide us with a sense of urgency. The danger we face is nothing less than a radical change to our way of life by way of Islamic domination of American thought and culture for generations to come. It is more than just a cultural, political, or intellectual danger. The spiritual implications are enormous. One does not need to look very hard to see what religious freedoms are available in countries that are dominated by Sharia. For an obvious example, just look at what Islamic rule has done to the once thriving cradle of the early church in the Middle East and North Africa.
This is not to suggest that Islamic
domination of America is a certain or settled matter. However, this
is the goal of the Islamic world, including Muslims in the US, and our
current cultural trajectory makes it increasingly likely. Therefore,
we would do well to understand more about the very real danger that
we face.
I. A Perfect Storm
There are a number of factors which
are setting the stage for the eventual dominance of Islam in America.
These include a prevailing “progressive” ideology, declining moral
values, seismic demographic shifts, the condition of the church, and
contemporary developments within Islam. I will take a few moments to
examine each one.
1. The Contribution of Progressivism
The loss of American self-confidence
is well documented. We are no longer convinced that we are a special
people who occupy a special land brought together to form a nation founded
for a special purpose. Instead, we teach our children about all the
crimes against the indigenous population carried out by our ancestors
who founded our nation and how America, up until the present, has failed
to live up to its own standard of decency. When looked at solely from
this perspective, it is difficult to find much about our way of life
that is worth defending.
Strangely enough, while we are never
short of criticism when it comes to America and her mistakes, we are
conditioned that we can never criticize other cultures. The average
student can tell you all about the alleged atrocities Columbus committed
against the Indians and all the moral failures of the founding fathers,
but they will look at you with a blank stare when asked what they know
about the oppressive dictators who rule many Islamic countries today.
Any attempts at retaining traditional
American culture and efforts to resist the increasing influence of foreign
cultures (including an Islamic culture) are instantly deemed, according
to progressive sensibilities, to be racist and xenophobic. But the progressive
response does not stop there. It not only refuses to check the advances
of Islamic culture in America, it goes out of its way to aid the advance
to “prove” just how open-minded we are. Even with recent advances,
Muslims still comprise only a small percentage of the total population
in the U.S. and yet we seem to be falling all over ourselves to make
accommodations. A case in point is government funded Islamic schools.
There are several schools across this country located on the grounds
of Islamic places of worship. They are run by Muslim clergy, where distinctly
Islamic instruction is provided. They are also funded by our tax dollars.
Oh, they will say “the Islamic services,” that are held immediately
before and after the academic instruction, “are purely voluntary.”
Yet somehow they always seem so well attended by students. How do you
think it would fly if a church tried this?
What has been the net result of this
approach? We have lost the ability or, worse, the willingness, to defend
ourselves. In fact, we are unable to even see ourselves, and the world
in which we live, in a balanced and truthful way.
2. A Morality Problem
Moral corruption is helping to pave
the way for Islamic dominance in this country. Conversion to Islam is
often related to the convert’s perception of high moral standards
on the part of Muslims and their complaints of moral decay in contemporary
American society. Whatever might be said about their assumptions related
to the morality of Muslims, the validity of their complaint against
the decay of our culture can hardly be denied.
In addition to the somewhat nebulous
issue of the prospective convert’s perception of our culture, the
decline in American morality has had some very concrete demonstrable
effects. Looking at one particular sin may help to illustrate this point.
Many of the rich and powerful in our
country are selling our national inheritance for a proverbial bowl of
soup. Greed, and corporate greed in particular, is a significant problem.
Unfortunately, in our materialistic society, it is often seen as a virtue
rather than the cancer it really is.
The relationship between greed and
Islamic advancement can be easily demonstrated looking at three examples.
The first comes from the entertainment industry. The filth coming out
of Hollywood on a daily basis seems to be growing worse and worse. Anyone
with a television in their home is aware of this decline, making it
an easy target for Muslim evangelists. They point to the strict standards
of decency proscribed in Islamic law and present it as a far superior
alternative. But what is driving this trend? Cleary it is economics.
We are told “sex sells,” as if that justifies it. Muslims are right
to lament this trend and the greed that drives it. We should as well.
Second, the immigration situation in
this country also clearly illustrates this problem. Our government refuses
to take reasonable steps to halt illegal immigration. Despite survey
after survey showing that the general public is in favor of sealing
our borders and deporting those who are here illegally, and despite
the obvious harm illegal immigration causes by way of the importation
of drugs and violence, little is done to stop it. Why? One answer is
that the business community influences politicians, via their lobbyists,
to ensure a continued supply of cheap labor. They argue that these immigrants
do the work that those who are here legally are unwilling to do. What
they really mean is that they are unwilling to do it at a price that
is “reasonable.” Much like in the days of slavery, a particular
sector of our economy may be benefiting, but there will be consequences
which will haunt us for generations to come. As a result of this practice,
we now have large numbers of “undocumented” individuals who operate
in largely closed communities across the country. Many communities populated
by Muslim immigrants, in particular, have failed to assimilate within
the larger society and are becoming increasingly isolated. This is partly
a result of factors intrinsic to the Islamic culture they have brought
with them and partly related to the large numbers of undocumented people
in those communities wanting to avoid detection.
Finally, the contribution of greed
to the advancement of Islam can be readily seen in the area of foreign
relations. The Saudi government is spending massive amounts of money
to propagate Islam in the United States. It officially operates a large
school in northern Virginia where an anti-Western, anti-Jewish, and
anti-Christian Wahhabi form of Islam is taught. This has been widely
reported, but continues unabated. The Saudis also provide large endowments
to establish Islamic studies departments in our universities. They have
funded the start-up of numerous Muslim student organizations. They also
fund organizations that provide input into the development of our public
school textbooks. It is obvious that they are specifically targeting
the educational structure of our society. In doing so, they wield a
tremendous influence over what is taught and learned regarding Islam.
Young hearts and minds are being made receptive to the Islamic message.
And what is the response to this aggressive
effort being undertaken by a foreign government to influence our nation
at such a fundamental level? It is one of silence. Our government says
nothing. How can this be? The answer is painfully obvious. You can follow
the trail - corrupt government officials, special interests lobbies,
foreign oil, and ultimately, greed. Jesus warned about the love of money.
It is high time we paid heed.
3. Demographic Shift
America seems to be following the pattern
of our European cousins. The childbirth rate in most Western European
nations is now well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per
woman. Europe, as a whole, has a birthrate of 1.6%. Many nations, such
as the Netherlands, Russia, and France, are now widely considered to
be in a demographic death spiral.
The average European is aging rapidly
and the next generation cannot support the heavy social burden of providing
for them. The reason for this seems to be related to the ascendency
of socialism. European children have been brought up in an age of entitlement.
They know nothing of the sacrifices their forefathers made to secure
their comfortable way of life. It is their expectation that the government
provide them with every comfort, from healthcare to paternal leave to
mandatory extravagant retirement packages. Marriage is increasingly
considered optional and children a burden.
At the same time the West is family
planning itself out of existence Muslims continue to reproduce at rates
over two times as great. In the Middle East the average birthrate is
3.7. It is also at 3.7 in Muslim-dominated North Africa. In South Central
Asia, which is the most populous Muslim region in the world, the rate
is only slightly less. Muslim migrants to Western nations also have
much higher birthrates than non-Muslims in those nations. (10)
The net result of all of this is a
changing face of the population of these nations. The recent uproar
over the Danish cartoons, and the voluntary self-censorship on the part
of the media, is an example of just how much influence Muslims now have.
In Russia, this trend is so significant that the government has officially
estimated that Islam will be the dominant religion by 2050 (7).
America is not far behind. Our birthrate
is 2.1 - right at the replacement rate. The trend, however, is downward
and as America falls increasingly under the sway of socialism, we can
expect to see further decline. (10)
4. Reciprocal Action
A distinct shift is taking place in
America today. Christianity is in decline and Islam is advancing.
According to the widely reported
2009 American Religious Identification Survey, the number of self-identifying
Christians has dropped by 11% within a generation (18 years). The number
of Americans reporting to have no religion went from 8% in 1990 to 15%
in 2008. At 33% Delaware has the 3rd highest rate of people
reporting no religion in the in the nation!
Survey after survey has identified
that the vast majority of professing Christians in this country do not
believe or even understand basic Christianity. To anyone who has been
engaged in the American “Christian” culture recently, this is no
surprise. The average “evangelical” cannot even clearly or
definitively tell you what the biblical gospel is.
After reading the following profile
of the average American convert to Islam, based on an analysis conducted
by Middle East Quarterly, we are better able to understand the relationship
between the churches decline and Islamic ascendancy:
According to a leading Muslim scholar,
Islam has begun a new mode of expansion. Muslims view immigration as
a pioneer movement (9). So, if they are pioneers, what new lands do
they hope to settle? With many churches no longer teaching basic Christian
doctrine or life-changing commitment and the ones who do being so poorly
attended, America has become prime real estate.
Getting an accurate picture of
the size of the Muslim population in the US is generally accepted as
a difficult task because of a reluctance on the part of many Muslims
to self-identify. However, many organizations have recently attempted
to do so. The findings have varied widely, depending on the organization
completing the survey. Numbers range from the approximately 2.5M reported
in the 2009 Pew Forum survey, “Mapping the Global Muslim Population”,
to the 6 – 7M estimated by the Council on American Islamic Relations
(CAIR).
A 2001 survey of all known mosques
in the U.S. may help to shed some additional light on recent Muslim
growth (5). Results from this study were compared to a similar study
conducted in 1994. The following are some of the findings:
Muslims in the US are becoming
increasingly bold. Some are even crying for opening of American madrassas,
or schools dedicated to the teaching of Islamic theology and religious
practice, similar as what have been established throughout the Muslim
world. They are decrying the lack of Islamic scholars, which they claim
presents a barrier to properly understanding Islam and its relationship
to modern American society. (8)
Additionally, there are some characteristics
intrinsic to Islam that make the flow between Islam and Christianity
a one way street. These are:
II.
Islamic Theology and Emphasis on Evangelism, the Driving Force
The Single Greatest Factor
While all the factors discussed above increase the likelihood of Muslim advances, their dedication to propagating their faith is the number one reason Islam is making such significant progress in the US today. This is not a criticism of Muslims. In fact, it is to our shame, not theirs, that Islam is making such great gains in our own backyard. If only we were as committed… We have the very word of God and the promised aid of the Holy Spirit. What would America look like if we lived like we believed this? Nevertheless, they are committed and their commitment is not random or aimless. It is informed and driven by their theology.
Islamic Eschatology
Muslims believe that one day Islam
will be the universal worldwide religion. The entire world will submit
to the one true God, embrace the Quran as the revealed will of God,
and confess Muhammad as His Prophet. Islam, in this regard, is similar
to Christianity, which teaches of a day when every knee will bow and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, when the kingdom of
the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. The
difference, as it always does, comes down to Jesus Christ.
Islam is for all Mankind
The universal acceptance of Islam by
all mankind comes out of the Muslim belief that the message was intended
for all men. This view is expressed in a quote from a contemporary Islamic
scholar:
“In fact, the message of Islam
is for the entire human race and the Prophet Mohammad is the messenger
for the whole of humankind. It is a way of life that transcends race
and ethnicity.” (1)
Three passages from the Koran express
this clearly: Suras 61:9, 48:28, and 9:33.
61:9 – “It is He Who has
sent His Apostle with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may
proclaim it over all religion, even though the pagans may detest (it).
(2)”
The following official translation,
approved by Al-Azhar University, the most prestigious university in
the Islamic world, makes the relationship between Islam and all other
religions even clearer:
“He it is Who has sent
His Messenger forth with guidance and the religion of truth, to make
it triumph over every other religion, even though the idolaters may
be averse.”
Based on this verse, it is clear that
Islam teaches that it will be victorious over all other religions.
It is also clear how all non-Muslims are viewed.
48:28 – “It is He has sent
His Apostle with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it
over all religion; and enough is God for a Witness. (2)”
The commentary by Yusuf Ali provides some helpful insight into how Muslims interpret this passage.
“The divine disposition of events
in the coming of Islam and its promulgation by the holy Prophet are
themselves evidence of the truth of Islam and its all reaching character;
for there is nothing that it has not influenced. (2)”
According to Yusuf Ali’s commentary,
the successful spread of Islam historically proves its truth. Muslims
today believe that its continued success also shows its truth. Thus,
there is quite a lot riding on the success or failure of the Muslim’s
efforts to spread Islam. The alternative is to accept that everything
they have believed has been a lie and that their life and the lives
of all their fathers have been wasted.
Islamic Superiority to Christianity
Muslims believe Islam is to be embraced
by all men because it is the greatest of all religions. Islam is the
great seal, the capstone or completion of the monotheistic religions.
Muslims believe in Judaism, God has revealed himself by his dealings
with Israel. They believe that in Christianity, he revealed himself
through the life of Jesus. It is only in Islam, that he has clearly,
perfectly, and finally reveals his will for all men by giving the Koran
to Mohammad, who gave it to the world. It is only in the latter that
the former two can be truly understood.
Muslims teach that both historical
Jews and Christians (people of the book) once knew and embraced the
truths of Islam, but their teachings have since become corrupt.
According to Islamic teaching, at the
end, Christ will return and declare the truth of Islam and break the
cross in a symbolic display of how wrong Christians are.
9:33 – “It is He Who hath
sent His Apostle with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim
it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).”
– Although this passage is nearly
identical to the one above, looking at it in context reveals a very
specific and clear emphasis.
30-33
– “The Jews call Uzair a son of God, and the Christians call Christ
the Son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but
imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. God’s truth be on
them; how they are deluded away from the truth! They take their priests
and their anchorities to be their lords in derogation of God, And (they
take as their Lord) Christ the Son of Mary; yet they were commanded
to worship but One God; there is no god but He. Praise and glory to
Him: (far is He) from having the partners they associate (With Him).
It is He Who hath sent His Apostle with Guidance and the Religion of
Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may
detest (it).”
Christianity is clearly in view as
the religion that will be overcome. The historical context of the verse
is also interesting. It was “given” to Muhammad during a period
of northward military expansion into Christian lands. By examining
the preceding verse we can see the aggressive military mood that accompanied
the prediction of universal success that we read in v. 33
29
– “Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold
that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor
acknowledge the Religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the people
of the Book, until they pay the Jizya, and feel themselves subdued.”
The point is this - Christianity, in particular, is the target of Islamic conquest, in whatever form it may take. It has been suggested that this is due, at least in part, to the fact that Christianity was the largest and most powerful religion of Muhammad’s day. I would contend it has to do with what is written in the 2nd Psalm. Islam, like all worldly philosophies, sets itself in opposition to the doctrine and government of Christ. Muhammad and his followers have been dedicated to this task, in longevity and intensity, perhaps like no one else in history.
Regardless of the reason, overthrowing
the Christian religion is the emphasis of the Koran and the conversion
of Christians is the great focus of modern Islamic teaching and resources.
Once we begin to understand this, we can begin to understand the trends
in our country a little better.
The Muslim Duty of DaWah (to Call)
The duty of each and every Muslim is
clear.
Dr. Muhammad Khazir Al-Majah of the
University of Jordan:
“Allah sent his messengers to every
tribe and nation in order to guide people to the straight path and to
show them how to worship Allah.”
He is pointing to the commission of
the prophets as a pattern for contemporary believers. He also says:
“Allah directs us to be a responsible
nation, and not to lay this responsibility on others; each one of us
must do what he can in order to let this message reach all people in
a clear and best form.” (1)
Here he makes it explicitly clear that
each Muslim is required to call unbelievers to Islam. He offers
the following verses from the Koran as justification: 41:33, 12:108,
and 3:104.
41:33 – “Who is better in
speech than one who calls (men) to God, works righteousness, and says,
‘I am of those who bow in Islam’?”
12:105-108
(Verses 105 – 107 are included because they help us to better understand
what is being said in verse 108)
105 – “And how many Signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn (their faces) away from them!”
106 – “And most of them believe not in God without associating (others as partners) with Him!”
107 – “Do they feel secure from the coming against them of the covering veil of the wrath of God, or the coming against them of the (final) hour all of a sudden while they perceive not?”
108 – “Say thou: ‘This is
my Way: I do invite unto God, on evidence as clear as the seeing with
one’s eyes, I and whoever will follow me. Glory to God! And never
will I join gods with God!’”
In this passage we see that Muslims
are commanded to call Christians to repentance.
Two reasons are attached:
3:104 (Again, the surrounding
verses provide us with the context)
102 – “O ye who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
103 – And hold fast all together, by the rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does God make his signs clear to you; that ye may be guided.
104 – Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.
105 – Be not like those who are divided among themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear Signs; For them is a dreadful penalty,
106 – On the Day when some faces
will be (lit up with) white, and some faces will be (in the gloom of)
black; to those whose faces will be black, (will be said); ‘did ye
reject the faith after accepting it? Tasting then the penalty for rejecting
Faith.’”
From this passage, we see that gratitude
and righteousness is attached to calling or inviting unbelievers to
Islam. (If we were to look a few verses prior, we would see that the
audience immediately in view is the People of the Book; i.e. Christians.)
Keep in mind that in Islam, one is saved on account of doing good deeds.
There are two additional reasons for inviting given here:
– This is intended to be
a great reward offered to those who call an unbeliever to Islam. According
to Yusuf Ali’s commentary on this passage, the idea expressed here
is the “attainment of desires; happiness, in this world and the next;
success; prosperity;” etc.
– According to Al-Majah,
there is a great reward for a Muslim who wins a convert; “By Allah,
if Allah guides a single person according to your call to him, then
it will be better to you than all the wealth in the world.”
– Of course, when such a
reward is offered for obedience, you can be certain there is an equally
great consequence for failing to obey. This is implied by the threat
given in the verse that immediately follows. The threat is described
by Yusuf Ali as including “failure; misery; punishment or penalty,
agony or anguish.” The reminder of their prior condition in verse
103 and the warning in verse 106 that they can return to this condition
serve to underscore this point.
To summarize, based on the teaching of the Koran, Muslims believe:
III. A
Strategy for Expansion
“Everything not forbidden must be
employed to achieve our final desire in this life: to have a real Muslim
society which distributes Islam as the excellent model for all mankind”
(1) These words are reminiscent of ones written by William Carey 200
years earlier. Carey, and the other pioneers of the great modern missions
movement, had a clear plan for advancing their cause; so do Muslims
today. Their plan can be broken down into two main parts; solidifying
the base and making the call.
Solidifying the Base
Muslims recognize that any lasting
movement must have a solid base. Their efforts to do this have
focused on four areas:
Making the Call
“Having this real look should give
Muslims confidence that their religion is right, and that they have
a responsibility for others; to bring them to Allah’s way and mercy.”
(1)
“The call should be in good sense
and style, in wise words, at a level suitable for the hearer, and at
the best time.” (1)
Muslims issuing the call in America
issue a different call to different audiences. The message to African
Americans highlights historical and present systemic injustices committed
against their people by “Christians.” While these charges may be
false, or at least exaggerated, it is difficult to avoid the failure
of the church to address the real physical suffering experienced by
many black families. At the same time Muslims are developing vibrant
social service outreaches, addressing issues such as inner-city housing,
education, employment, and prison reentry. However, the message to prospective
white converts is quite different. They attempt to exploit their dissatisfaction
with materialism by presenting an Islamic ideal of simple pietism. In
response to the growing dissatisfaction with the shallowness of contemporary
Evangelicalism, Muslims offer the stability of a historically grounded
belief system that emphasizes rationality and reasoning.
2. Selecting the Right Person to Make the Call
Muslims believe in reaching out
to a people by someone who is native to that people, who speaks their
language well. They know that people are far more likely to be receptive
to a message if the one delivering it looks like his audience. This
helps to explain the desire to build Madrassas here in America. This
means you can expect to see more Muslims who look just like you and
me making the call in the future.
Muslims endeavor to have a connection
to every nation and society for this very reason; to ensure there is
always someone able to effectively call. When attempting to make inroads
into a particular community, Muslims make an effort to carefully study
them and attain a “deep” and “well established view.” (1)
As was stated previously, the danger
we face is extraordinarily great due in large part to its subtlety.
Because this greatly enhances the successfulness of their efforts, a
little extra time will be taken to examine it.
This exploitation of our ignorance
is not accidental or unintentional. In fact, Muslims are permitted to
deceive non-believers, if doing so advances the causes of Islam. Our
refusal to criticize anyone or anything Muslim makes us willing accomplices.
As we have already seen, the goal
of Islam is nothing short of world domination and faithful Muslims are
working toward this end. We often hear Muslims say things like, “we
simply want recognition and the freedom to practice our own beliefs.”
If a Muslim makes this claim, they are either uninformed about their
own faith or they are just being dishonest.
A glaring example of Muslim disingenuousness
can be seen by looking at a recent document produced by numerous Islamic
scholars from around the world entitled “A Common Word Between Us
and You.” The pretext for the publication of this document was the
development of a mutual understanding and peace between adherents of
the world’s two largest religions. Many Christians rushed to offer
favorable responses to this invitation and enthusiastically agreed to
work toward these ends. These objectives sound noble enough, but based
on what we know, we should have some warning bells going off.
A careful read of this document
will prove this suspicion is well-founded. The name of the document
itself is taken from Surah 3:64, which is foundational to the offer
extended and is quoted repeatedly throughout.
3:64
– “Say: ‘O people of the Book! Come to common terms as between
us and you; that we worship none but God; that we associate no partners
with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, lords and patrons
other than God.’ If then they turn back, say ye: ‘Bear witness that
we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to God’s will).’”
Even in this foundational verse,
we can recognize what appears to be a denial of the deity of Christ.
A reading of the next several verses will remove any doubt about the
meaning of this “common word”
65 – “Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye no understanding?
66 – Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (even) in matters of which ye had some knowledge! But why dispute ye in matters in which ye have no knowledge? It is God who knows and ye who know not!”
67 – Abraham was not a Jew Nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to God’s, (which is Islam), and he joined not gods with God.
68 – Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who follow him, as are also the Apostle and those who believe; and God is the protector of those who have faith.
69 – It is a wish of a section of the People of the Book to lead you astray. But they shall lead astray (not you), but themselves, and they do not perceive!
70 – Ye People of the Book! Why reject ye the Signs of God, of which ye are (yourselves) witnesses?
71 – Ye People of the Book!
Why do you clothe truth with falsehood, and conceal the truth while
you have knowledge?”
There are several other passages
from the Koran discussed in the “Common Word,” but looking at just
one more should suffice to illustrate the point.
16:125
– “Invite (all) to the Way of the Lord with wisdom and beautiful
preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious;
for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive
guidance.”
This seems innocuous enough when
read alone, but again, if we read it in context, we will see what is
really intended.
123 – “So We have taught thee
the inspired (message), ‘follow the ways of Abraham, the truth in
Faith, and he joined not gods with God.’”
Here we see that one of the verses
Muslim scholars use to issue the invitation to a common word is in reality
a direct assault on the Trinity, or at least the doctrine of the Trinity
as mischaracterized by Islam.
To add insult to injury, in the
“Common Word” Jesus himself is portrayed as being in perfect agreement
with the teachings of Islam. He is repeatedly shown to be calling all
of us to true submission; a.k.a. Islam. For example, Jesus’ recitation
of Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is
one,” is offered as an equivalent to, or at least a confirmation of,
a passage in the Koran that explicitly denies the Trinity.
This is no partnership! It is no
call to mutual understanding. It is the DaWah being sounded loud and
clear. The peace that is being offered is the peace that a victorious
nation offers to their conquered foe.
The call to a “common word”
is a call to Islam, which unequivocally involves a denial of Christianity.
In case any doubt remains, the following quote from the document itself
should make the matter clear:
“Finally, as Muslims, and in
obedience to the Holy Qur’an, we ask Christians to come together with
us on the common essentials of the two religions… that we shall
worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him,
and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God…
(Aal ‘Imran, 3:64). Let this common ground be the basis of all
future interfaith dialogue between us, for our common ground on which
hangs all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:40).”
“Muslims should not fear the
others. We should not put obstacles between us and them, even if they
are disbelievers. If we do put such obstacles, then who will convey
our message to them? And, how can they even have confidence to hear
us or believe us?” (1) What this means is that even though they are
taught they should not have unbelievers as friends, they must willingly
engage and associate with unbelievers to ensure their message goes out.
They should not let their separation be a barrier. Association for the
purpose of advancing Islam is permissible and even encouraged.
“…Muslims should call for Islam;
this is a duty on every Muslim. On the other hand, if there are any
difficulties or obstacles which hinder the movement of Islam, then this
obstacle must be removed, even by fighting.” (1) The implications
of this teaching are clear. Muslims are obliged to remove any barriers,
be they political, social, intellectual, religious, or otherwise, to
the spread of Islam.
The presence of Islam is increasingly being felt in every institution in this country; from the military, where Muslim chaplains are now commonplace, to local school boards, to the halls of Congress, and even to the White House of both the current and previous administrations.
The infiltration into the American
structure is not a unique phenomenon. In fact, Sultan Knish of FrontPage
Magazine, by studying developments in European countries, provided the
following analysis of how the progression typically occurs.
“The process begins with more
and more institutions adapting to Muslim customs and laws.”
(Are we not already seeing this with the police, schools, airports,
banks, etc.?) We will see official recognition of Muslim holidays. Muslim
political prominence will rise. Distinct
Muslim communities will form and then limited self-government, at least
at first, will be permitted. Everything will be kept in house. There
will be a black hole of crime (outsiders will never know). Eventually,
there will be a state within a state. Self governing, autonomous, Muslim
zones will be recognized.
IV.
A Biblical Response
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus
gave us his blueprint for the future of his church and its relationship
to the world:
“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We should endeavor to learn more
about our Muslim neighbors; embracing, not withdrawing from, them. We
should take full advantage of their willingness to engage, with the
supreme confidence that greater is He who is in us than he who is in
the world.
The church needs to re-engage in
positive outreach ministries. Jesus ministered in both word and deed
and has called us to do the same (Jn. 20:21). Our message of salvation
by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, is made credible by our practical
ministry to our neighbors, including our Muslim neighbors, in need.
And so this is the plan I propose:
In closing, let us remember that we
can accomplish none of this in our own strength. Let us cast ourselves
and our efforts upon the mercy of our Lord and make these things a matter
of regular, private and corporate, prayer.
Solus Christus
Jeremy McEntire
Grace Fellowship Church
Dover, DE
November 2009
References