Whitewashing Islam

There is a storm coming

9/22/10 Wednesday
ABC is running a series on Islam that promises to be a whitewash. The first words out of the Muslim being interviewed is that Islam is a religion of mercy. History and present day practices around the world show otherwise. I know that, just like in Christianity, there are a wide range of beliefs and practices within the religion of Islam. Both religions are based and driven by their individual holy books, the Quran for Islam and the Bible for Christianity. In Christianity we find an incredible variety of interpretations and belief systems all stemming from the same book, and the same can be said for Islam. With both religions there are those who are stricter in their beliefs and practices and those who water it down, picking and choosing what parts they want to accept. Terms like conservative, moderate, fundamentalist, and extremist are used in both religions to identify these various factions and belief systems. When all is said and done it boils down to what the holy books say.

It is the way of man to compromise, to find, justify, and excuse various behaviors, and take the easy road that allows them to do what is more pleasurable or profitable. Throughout history this corruption of core beliefs is seen as that which was once forbidden becomes practiced. In both religions we see “revivals” where charismatic leaders generate movements returning the adherents back to the roots of their faith. As a Christian I very much see this corruption in my faith, those who excuse, and even accept, drunkenness, adultery, sexual perversion, greed, lying, gossip, and a wide variety of what is clearly identified as sin in the bible. I hope to return God’s people to the truth of their faith, to help them see their compromise and understand the path they are on.

When it gets down to brass tacks, the core of belief and what is espoused in both the Quran and Bible there are fundamental and dramatic differences. I suspect this will not be talked about in the ABC program in Islam, that they won’t delve into the truth of what is found in the Quran. This appears to be just another of the “Tolerance” lets all be nice and get along type of lets tell people how to think mainstream media thrusts.

With Christianity the core belief is Love. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And you should love your neighbor as yourself” are what Jesus identified as the two greatest commandments. Jesus talked about turning the other cheek and forgiving (Luke 17:3 If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him.) There is an evolution, so to speak, of thought in the Bible from the old testament to the new, where grace comes into the picture in a bigger way, though grace was always present. The death of Jesus to pay the price for all sin is the turning point, the culmination of it all.

There is an evolution of thought in the Quran as well, but it goes in a very different direction. Mohamed’s earlier writings were more peaceful and tolerant but in the end turn quite violent and demanding. Their doctrine teaches that the later writings override the earlier ones so what is in the end has precedence. Mercy I don’t find there, but death and deception I do. It is encouraged to lie in order to advance the cause of Allah so presenting a false image to hide the cold reality of that religion is a central doctrine. My friend, Ron Charles, spends extensive time in the Mid East and sees firsthand what Islam does. People are killed, tongues cut out, hands and feet cut off, and all kinds of ugliness are an everyday part of life. They say we need to be tolerant but they tolerate nothing that doesn’t bow to their belief. Wolves in sheep’s clothing is an apt way to describe what Islam is trying to do. It’s presented as a religion of love but the truth is they want to destroy and subjugate us. Americans are happily skipping along the sidewalk of ignorance, entranced with their childlike vision of lollipops and life is all fun and games, all the while blind to the death that is skipping along beside them in children’s cloths.

Truth, that which is revealed when light is shined in darkness, truth needs to be exposed regarding Islam, and for that matter everything else. Jesus said, in John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

I know someone who runs from the truth, who refuses to face up to his actions and hides from me, running and avoiding all contact. When I sent him a Facebook message saying I was praying for him his response was to make his page unavailable to me. He’d already unfriended me but I could still see his information but now that’s been blocked.

For him I put this scripture up found in Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.