Islam vs. Christianity
    (Johnny Walker as a consequence of our failure)

What is a reasonable definition of "evil"? Although there are more obvious and inclusive definitions, couldn't it be anything that distances someone from the saving knowledge of the one true God? Anything that separates someone from eternity in heaven is the absolute worst kind of evil. Isn't this even more "evil" than terrorism and abuse of women, etc.?

Acts 4:12 tells us that all religions outside Christianity do just that. Islam, for more than one reason, therefore is an "evil" religion, no matter what politicians and political correctness tells us.

MSNBC had a show "The Mind of a Suicide Bomber" that played multiple times since September 11. The bombers interviewed were those who were caught, some after a partial malfunction of the bomb they were carrying. The theme that was most apparent to me was that these individuals were trapped. They made a covenant with Allah that they would give their lives as martyrs and yet they cannot fulfill their end of the deal since they are in prison. As abhorrent as killing other people can be to them, even if they were released they feel it necessary to finish their end of their contract to a false god. They struggle with the salvation of their family members who were to be saved by their martyrdom. They are probably largely 'nice' people who are wedged into an evil act or they lose salvation. All
religions that depend on "works" trap individuals to some degree or another. Each are therefore, "evil" by ruining their lives in addition to separating individuals from God.

There have been a great number of conversions to Islam since 9-11. What a tragedy. Considering why this may be, there are some sobering explanations for this
phenomenon.

First, and most unfortunately, it is an indictment on the church. Above all, Americans are subconsciously hungry for people who are so committed to a cause that they will do anything. We really are tired of the Clintonesque 'finger in the wind' way of approaching life. What is so disappointing is that the Christian church in America is still seen as compromisers to the non-believers. As misguided as it is, one of the favored
reasons people give for not going to worship services is because of the hypocrites in the church. Unbelievers have seen enough scripture to realize how badly we have failed, and worse, we don't look different from them (divorce rates, etc.). When we do not stand
strong it is rightly interpreted as if we really don't care and these things are simply optional. It just isn't that important to us. God will forgive us, right?

The Bible has some straight-forward, difficult  commands and directions which we have replaced with the message of what is effectively a cheap grace, discounting the rest of God's word. Christ did not come to take away the commandments but to fulfill. Even the
narrowed down version (Acts 15:20, etc.) for the Gentiles is weakened in our pulpits.

When interacting with people hungering for truth, if Christianity is watered down -compared to what is written in black and white and seen in the Bible, our witness is lost.  Again, this is why politics is approached in the way seen in these pages. What do non-believers see?

They simply see us having opinions that we particularly prefer (not as non-negotiable) when we embrace candidates who willingly compromise yet we say we are sold out to God. Our hand picked scriptures that condemn non-believers are seen as simply our opinion that opposes their way of life, as they see how we display our own lives. When we fail to embrace the whole scripture as our handbook and are not completely committed to God, we are perceived as weak and hypocritical and exemplify the hated traits seen in Western society that enrage the Muslims. Worse yet, our salvation is in jeopardy when we choose
not to follow His commands.

In contrast, Americans see the absolute commitment displayed by a harsh religion that invites only the committed to the great rewards after their great exhibition of belief by riding cowboy on jet airplanes. Seeing that kind of commitment, unlike anything they have seen in America before, there is a natural interest in seeking such a meaningful existence.

Why do people try to join elite organizations (such as Green Berets, etc.)? To fill the void of meaning in their lives. We all seek meaning. Meaning is best exhibited where people would give up absolutely anything in order to save whatever seems meaningful.

Although this is seen of the Christian church in China, Sudan, etc., commitment simply is not found in America. Now, where is Christianity growing in the world? Of course. Why haven't we shown our neighbors this side of Christianity, that which we pretend to embrace? We don't have a true fear of God to help keep us from sinning and to put God in His rightful position in our minds. We don't hear it from the pulpits. We have transformed the Almighty God into someone thought to be our 'friend' with the forgiving characteristics of a dog. How could we let this happen? Where is Jonathan Edwards, Whitefield, John Bunyan and others when we need them today?

This brings up an interesting point. There has been a great dichotomy between the Islamic religion in the Middle East and that practiced in America. The Palestinians are dancing in the street with huge posters of the first female suicide bomber in Israel during this intifada. She and other (criminal murderers) are considered great martyrs by many if not most Muslims in that part of the world.

Americanized Muslims have weakly condemned these same acts. They truly represent different groups. Those Americans who have joined this religion may well be quickly disenchanted by this weakness, after all, that is
what they are trying to escape. Unfortunately, this leaves a possible result that is unpalatable. These who choose this faith looking for commitment as displayed by the suicide bombers may well drive the Americanized Muslims into a more radical state. This
increases Christian's and our nations' vulnerability.

In addition, we have unwittingly embraced their terminology. We call this a Jihad, echoing their claim that this is a Holy War. Of course this is anything but Holy but we lend credence to this claim by our use of their 'spin'. This is not to say that it is not a spiritual
war and those who believe that are doomed to failure. We must understand the enemy and to pretend it is only a few hotheads that do not represent an evil religion is misguided and dangerous.

 

 

P.S.  As an example:

Lou Chibbaro, Jr. wrote in the Washington Blade (1/18/02, p16) that "Gay and straight news media outlets appear to be grappling over whether to report the news that the father of captured American Taliban fighter John Walker is gay and that Walker began embracing Islamic fundamentalism shortly after the father moved in with a male partner".

There was a debate over how or if a 'gay angle' to the John Walker story should be told surfaced Dec 18, when P.J.Corkery, a San Francisco Examiner columnist disclosed that Walker's father, Frank Lindh, is gay. The columnist reported that "friends and relatives of
the Walker family believe Lindh's decision to separate from his wife and move in with a male companion may have played a role in prompting John Walker to join forces with radical Islamic forces in Afghanistan....Walker was 16 when his parents' marriage ended. Lindh, who has declined to respond to reporters' questions about his sexual orientation,
stated in news media interviews last month that his son moved to Yemen in 1998 to continue studies of the Islamic faith and the Arabic language that he had begun in California several years earlier. Shortly after his parents' separation, Walker dropped his father's name of Lindh and adopted the name Walker, which is his mother's maiden name..."

The New York Daily News reported last month that "John Walker expressed anti-gay views in some of his Internet correspondence and postings between 1995 and 1998. According to the Daily News, Walker criticized Florida's Disney theme park for its decision to hold a 'gay day' event there. The Daily News said Walker also criticized an Internet posting calling for recognition of gay Muslims."

This information came from a Howard Phillips' newsletter and is a great synopsis.   John Walker never had a chance. His father blames everyone else.  The liberal community he grew up in was instrumental in fostering his confused state that now leads to a life in prison.  It also led to other people he likely killed as a Taliban soldier, even possibly to our own CIA agent's death. 

Homosexuality is condemned in both Christian and Muslim religions. Why did he choose Islam? He was looking for meaning. He saw this 'Christian nation' having compromised on a fundamental issue and that our belief system and our faith is weak. He sees Christians flocking to Disney World, etc. Worse of all, we failed to condemn his father's behavior (not his father, condemn his behavior), possibly leading to both father and son to be separated from God for eternity.

The poor kid was looking for meaning and couldn't find it here. His family failed him. The church failed him. He could not find commitment in the way we live our lives so he went overseas. He is, of course, somewhat of an exception. Not too many will choose this radical route. This begs the question, how many are needed to inflict harm on our nation.   On September 11, nineteen committed individuals managed to kill thousands. They have cost us billions of dollars. It doesn't take many. It is also true that it doesn't take many for God to work through to impact this world. I could only imagine what good a committed John Walker could have done had he learned of true Christianity. Sin and our failures to
our Lord cost dearly. The Israelites received this lesson during the exodus and it is still found today.

Those Americans who are currently joining Islam are looking for this kind of meaning. They should have found it in Christ's church. Instead, we will pay for our
compromise as more people choose Islam and choose to harm us.

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