One More Time--Islam Is No Religion of Peace
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 02:47PM 
Lets cut to the chase. Your next door Muslim neighbor is probably a meek and kindly person. So are the Muslims I encounter here in Orange County.
But when a noted Islamic academic in the UK contends that it is perfectly just to die for what you believe--even if you do so with a bomb with nails and ball-bearings strapped to your chest in a marketplace full of innocent civilians--then should be clear to all, Islam is a religion of conquest and violence.
So, suicide bombing is a legitimate method of engaging in Jihad? That's the view of Dr. Azzamm Tamimi, who reminded his audience of 8000 that they were not European Muslims, but Muslims who happen to live in Europe. No such thing as Muslims being assimilated by local culture. Click here: Firebrand Islamic academic: 'dying for your beliefs is just' | the Daily Mail.
Such brutality is thick in Islam's history and its current practice. If Islam is truly a religion of peace and Jihad is only the personal struggle of the faithful Muslim--as we keep hearing--why don't peaceful Muslims denounce the rabid comments of such men as Dr. Tamimi? Their silence is deafening and telling.
Tamimi is right about one thing. The war on terror is a war on radical Islam. It is a war (on a national level) that we had better be prepared to fight and win. It is war which will last a generation or more. If not, what will the consequences be? Oceans don't protect us from such a threat.
As for the churches of the Reformation, we had all better be learning about Islam, as well as ways to effectively preach the gospel to and engage in apologetic dialogue with our Muslim neighbors. Who would have ever thought that foreign missions meant sharing the gospel with your Muslim neighbor in your own hometown? The Mosque down the street from Christ Reformed has more people in attendance on Fridays than we do on Sundays.
The irony is that twenty years ago this threat was not even on the radar. Who would have thought that American evangelicalism would become so doctrinally wimpy as to be helpless against Islamic growth and ideology? Seeker-centered worship and vapid felt-need oriented preaching are quickly exposed for what they are in the face of a threat like Islamic expansion. Islam is growing and expanding in most communities in the United States, probably yours. And what are you doing about it?
There is much work to do. It starts with trusting in the power of God to convert the most fanatical Muslim through the means of the preached gospel. But surely it doesn't end there.
Kim Riddlebarger
Someone asked me a great question in regards to my post. What do Muslims want? Here, in part, is the answer.
Reader Comments (35)
Maybe we should just agree to disagree on this.
I have heard plenty of news coverage from the actual Lebanese neighborhoods in which innocent civilians have unexploded cluster munitions sitting in their backyards waiting to detonate once some kid steps on them (you won't hear this on CNN or Fox News, of course).
And last I heard, the death toll was about 1000 Lebanese killed to 75 Israelis (those "smart" weapons don't seem so smart to me).
I just notices that I said we should "agree to disagree" and then I went on disagreeing! Sorry about that....
Blessings,
Jason
I thought my brush was pretty direct and targeted. I'll accept criticisms of America from people that have a moral compass and some appreciation of history. The groups I mentioned have neither. For example, I won't listen to Noam Chomsky, but I will listen to Cal Thomas and people like him.
Your definition of terrorism is to broad, and could unintentionally include nation states at war. The definition needs to include the deliberate targeting of noncombatants (9/11, 7/7, Madrid) by subnational or clandestine groups (Al-Qaeda, Hizb'Allah). I think George S. Patton would have some choice words for that definition of terrorism.
Israel has all the power, they are backed by the strongest country in the entire world, and we supply them with all the advanced weaponry they need.
They have used that power to drop thousands of cluster bombs (which don't know the difference between civilians and soldiers) on hundreds of villages.
But if you insist that all my information is coming from anti-US, anti-semitic Hezbollah-run propoganda agencies, while all yours is coming from unfiltered and objective sources like CNN or Fox News, then any chance of an intelligent discussion is pretty much gone.
And sure, Israel has a right to defend itself. But after killing 1000 Lebanese, most of whom were civilians, I think they made their point, don't you?
I think we've both made our point, I'm going to just drop it. We could discuss this for some time and not convince each other. Good discussion though.
I thought you said we'd have to agree to disagree, and that you were done! That's OK, because I completely disagree with you on virtually every point you made (except about us being brothers in Christ) and since you re-opened this, you give me a chance to get in the last word before I wrap up! A couple of final points on my side.
1). No, I don't get all my news from FOX and CNN and you probably don't either. Media outlets are about ratings, plain and simple. They also are about as biased as they can be. But to say (or imply) that the UN, AI and HRW are objective about this stuff, while only the media is "biased," is about as ludicrous as arguing that Bill O'Reilly is not jealous of Rush Limbaugh.
Since you well understand the presuppositionalism taught us by our alama mater, you should know that half the battle is in identifying someone's presuppositions. Please try and do that with AI, the UN, and HRW. There is no such thing as a "brute fact" or a neutral political organization! Who funds these groups (AI and HRW)? These are all far left-wing and therefore, every bit as biased as a neo-con think tank. I don't care if you happen to agree with their agenda. But call it what it is, an agenda, not an "unbiased" neutral observation.
2). I am quite sure that Israel is not trying to "make a point" by killing more Lebanese than Israelis. IMHO, the Olmert government completely botched this. Israel should keep fighting until the two kidnapped soldiers are released from Hezbollah's custody, and until Hezbollah disarms and retreats north of the Litani River, as required by a prior UN mandate, which, by the way, Hezbollah has completely ignored since 2000. In fact, Hezbollah has openly defied this mandate and spent the last six years building a offensive capability on Israel's northern border. No nation can stand for that.
3). This whole matter is about Hezbollah serving as a proxy army for Iran and/or Syria. Why aren't the Sunni Egyptians, Jordanians, and Saudis screaming bloody murder about Israel's actions? They've been critical, but strangely hands-off. The reason? They know what Shia expansionism is all about. They see it in Lebanon, they see it in the slums of Baghdad, when Shia gunmen (once again, armed and funded by Iran) shoot and kill Sunnis.
4). And that brings me back to my original point. Islam is on the march. Certainly among the Shia and the Wahabbist Sunnis (from whence comes Al-Quaeda). The regional conflicts in Lebanon and Iraq stem from Shia money and weapons and instigation, flowing out of Iran. Iran seeks to gain an empire. Just read the stuff the comes from the mouth of their president. We may think he's a kook, most Iranians may think him a kook, but he believes it. And he's president!
5). Islam is not a religion of peace, it is a religion of subjgation and conquest. It is showing us its true colors. Those in the west who see their nice Muslim neighbors and think, "if only we'd just be nice to them," "not fight with them", "not say means things about them", they'd leave us alone, are only engaging in foolishness. Remember, 9-1-1 occured right about the time Bush went on record as the first American president in favor of a Palestinian state! The Islamic world should have taken notice of this, and saw this as a step toward peace. But no, Al-Quaeda kills 3000 innocent civilians, with Bin Laden preaching Fatwas about how civilians are now combatants because they are infidels.
The tension has arisen because Islam is spreading into the west, not because the west is oppressing the Islamic nations. And wherever Islam goes, Sharia law goes, along with the whole Muslim world and life view.
If he (or she) be consistent with the Koran, your Muslim neighbor will view themselves not as an American, who happens to be Muslim, but as a Muslim pilgrim, seeking to make your land an Islamic state.
Thank God, most of our nice Muslim neighbors don't think this way. But then, they are the Muslims living as "carnal Muslims" who are not yet living in victory and pursing the Jihad!
And that was my original point. This is not going away! In fact, this may be the greatest missions and evangelism opportunity many of us have ever had!
http://www.reformationtheology.com/2006/08/chinese_missionaries_to_islam.php
The other link was broken, this one should work. It is encouraging to know that there are Christians reaching those in bondage within those countries.
Fair enough... This was a good exchange, with plenty of listening and humility all around (I hope you agree).
You know, one thing I love about the two kingdoms doctrine we've been taught is that two guys who are (pretty much) on the exact same page theologically and ecclesiologically can completely disagree on political stuff.
As long as neither of pulls a "thus saith the Lord," then our disagreements are nothing but healthy challenges to both of us.
Blessings,
Jason
Thank you for the post and thanks to all the participants who have contributed. As a former Muslim, now a Christian of 12 years and a pastor, I'm distressed at the hysteria that grips many Christians at the very thought of Muslims in our neighborhoods and "potential terrorists."
Pastor Riddlebarger, you asked the correct question: what are we doing? One person tried to bring that question back to light in the conversation, but like the gospel and so many well-intentioned efforts, it's drowned in the background noise of politics and international strife. Our God raises up and pulls down kingdoms. I'm not concerned about what happens in geo-political squabbles. I'm concerned about pressing into the kingdom and getting the gospel to these very person who are perishing all around me!
Listen folks, as a former Muslim I have much to learn about witnessing to Muslims! I have no doubt that folks who've never had any substantial contact with either Muslims or Islamic literature have difficulty. But we may be missing the point: it's required of stewards that they be found faithful (1 cor. 4:1-2). Let's just be faithful with the gospel as best we can. Let's be faithful in extending the hand of hospilitality to strangers and neighbors as best we can. let's be faithful to confront our Muslim neighbors with the truth about the urgent, eternal, spiritual jeopardy they are in as they reject Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah). Let's "man up" and do the work of an evangelist and live like we believe our theology -- that a sovereign God has elected from the foundation of the world a people for himself from every ethnos and given us marching orders to make disciples.
Honestly, I find the exchange about politics and war besides the point and more than a little unhelpful. I pray we'd be faithful.
Grace and peace,
Thabiti
Thanks for getting us back on track. I think my problem is that I'm too comfortable with my current situation. I rarely, if ever suffer for my faith. I certainly never suffer on the scale of our brothers in the Sudan, northern Nigeria, or China. Compared to what they go through, my faith costs me nothing. I know I have it good here in America and don't want to see anything change. I think I may be typical of many Western Christians. Interestingly, your post resonates strongly with what Peggy said earlier. Thanks for telling us what we need to hear.
Also, we need the recognize the murderous tendencies among so many of this false religion. Regardless of the concessions made to this group they will continue with the violence, murder and conquest.
We as believers need to become involved in the spiritual warfare that is happening in the world. We must practice prayer and evangelism. We need to become more concerned with our service for the Lord and less concerned with our worldly comforts.
Frank
I am with you.
Although we can easily broadbrush any group, there's no denying that the history of Islam is riddled with much violence. It is integral to the religion as Muhammed himself was a warrior.
However, as reformation Christians, we have, believe and rest in a sovereign God who has raised up the Muslims for his good purposes, just like he did the Babylonians, Assyrians, and others before. I don't know what God's purposes are, but, we are certainly called to expand his kingdom even among them.
Let us not also forget the millions of our brothers and sisters who live among muslims in the middle east, in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine/Israel, Kuwait, Sudan, and elsewhere. Let's pray for and support them.
May God grant us wisdom and insight to carry out His perfect will among the muslims.
Albert
Some points coming from someone who has studied Islam and was raised in a Shia neighborhood in the Middle East:
1. The majority of Muslims are not radical fanatics like Osama. I would rather have a Muslim neighbor than a typical "American" neighbor. Why? Because they are generally law-abiding citizens who value hospitality, generosity, modesty, and other virtues we also value. In fact, if my whole neighborhood was Muslim, I would feel safer than I do now!
2. Despite my point in #1, the Qur'an specifically calls for the death of infidels in several suras (verses). However, it also has sections that contain "moderate" commands to be tollerant of the "people of the book" (meaning Jews and Christians). Although many youngsters are taught in school that Christians and Jews are without morals and are liars, any Muslim will respond positively when these verses of tolleration are brought up. So, "real" Islam (contrary to the "religion of peace preached by the media) actually is a religion that legitimizes its own propogation by the sword. If the infidels do not convert it is okay to kill them. Also, most Muslims will have some sympathy for the suicide bombers (which are called martyrs) no matter how "Westernized." This is because their feelings of solidarity lie primarily with their faith, as should ours. It is just that their faith is a lie.
3. The Qur'an speaks of two worlds, "dar al-Islam" and "dar al-Harb." Dar al-Islam is the world under Islamic rule. Dar al-Harb literally means "abode of war" (also known as dar al-kufr "abode of the infidels"). It is every Muslim's sacred duty to wage jihad until the entire globe is under dar al-Islam. American and Most of Europe under currently under dar al-Harb and are therefore legitimate places to wage jihad. Jihad, however, can be interpreted in two primary ways: external and internal. Moderate Muslims choose the latter while radical choose the former. An example of an internal jihad would be a Muslim struggling with his/her own evil choices (sin) and striving to be a better Muslim. External jihad is what we see expressed on 9-11 and by Hezbollah. This might help some to understand why Hezbollah sees no distinction between handing out humanitarian aid to Muslims and bombing the infidels... it is all a part of the struggle of jihad to them. All that to say that the word jihad means more than simply "blow up the Americans and Jews." It is also important to note that Muhammad himself, the exemplary Muslim, went on *several* military expeditions and sanctioned violence in the spread of Islam. I don't have the specific number in front of me, but Muhammad participated in something like between 10 and 20 military expeditions (including some not so pleasant ambushes on trading caravans) during his lifetime.
4. If you want further resources start with this site: http://answering-islam.org.uk/ from a Christian's perspective who lives and witnesses in England. Unfortunately he knows more about Islam than Christianity... in live debates he sometimes loses because his theological knowledge is not as comprehensive as his knowledge about/against Islam.
5. Our very best strategy is twofold: (A) be good neighbors--the more Muslims encounter people who are moral and modest and who care about them then less they will want to blow us up; (B) learn about Islam. Here is a challenge: how many of you with very strong opinions in this area have actually read the Qur'an??? The hadith?? I think we ought to be learning from the sources instead of only reading books by Western Christians about Islam.
Many times a Christian who has been a good neighbor to his Muslim brother receives this comment: "you are a better Muslim than I am!" It is because the only category that many Muslims have for good virtuous people is "Muslim." Let us show them that Christians are not licentious (sp) evil-doers but are kind, caring, modest, and hospitable. We are in a war, but this war will not be won on the battle-field. It will be won in the backyard and at the grocery store!
Hope this helps,
Danae P.
there are strong feelings, obviously, on these political and social questions. i am wary of those who imply they have all the answers wrapped up neatly, no matter what side they fall on.
also, stellman's post above about the 2 kingdom view needs to be heeded.
zrim
Thank you for your posts, I really appreciate your point of view and glad to see that like minded reformed people exist.
Thank you also for your exchange with Dr. Riddlebarger. I now have a better understanding of where Dr.R is coming from as I have often wondered about his Mid East perspective.
I will be checking your blog!
Thanks!