The Name Game!

As the new year kicks off, we have already been confronted with the shocking images of acts of terrorism taking place around the world. It's not as though we haven't seen these acts perpetrated numerous times before on the world stage or the constant recital of the grievances that supposedly lead to these crimes being committed in the first place. The continuous onslaught of these images from every source of information has left the average citizen immune to the intended shock and unconcerned with the perpetrators end-game goals. Like a hard core alcoholic whose tolerance level requires the consumption of more and more alcohol to achieve the desired results, most people have been so inundated with shocking news, suspected conspiracies, or convoluted reasoning that making any sense out of what is happening on the world stage is a very difficult and confusing undertaking.

One area of interest to me in this deluge of  propaganda is how the definitions of certain words have taken on new meanings and are used to manipulate the masses to agree with movements or ideas that people have long held to be reprehensible. Opposition to tax increases makes one "greedy" or "insensitive," speaking out against homosexuals makes one "bigoted" or "homophobic," or objecting to "executive orders" makes one a "racist" or "unpatriotic." The use or redefining of a language can obviously lead to disastrous consequences with any genuine definition or meaning of words left to the discretion of the user!

While all this changing of word's definitions continues, there is one area in this quagmire that has even silenced the "church" and "press" and has left our country in a very dangerous predicament. The discussion of Islam and it's poisonous fruit has intimidated and subdued most criticism and has produced a plethora of new words and phrases which deflect the real source of the problem we face and create a mythical entity obfuscating the real problem. The recognizing of the real source of a problem is the first step in addressing and correcting the problem.

In our politically correct world today, it's not "radicalized Muslims," "Muslim terrorist," or "a radical group of Muslims" who have "high-jacked Islam" and is giving it its bad name. It's Islam itself and the teaching of the Quran and Hadiths that are the seedbed for the culture of death and subjugation we see all around us. Properly identifying it as such is the first step towards its containment and elimination.

While it is impossible to address all the historical nuances and atrocities of Islam's history, a few will suffice to illustrate my point. The following account is taken from the Hadith oral accounts that were used as a context for the Quran's background and formed the foundation for properly understanding the teachings of the Quran.

Narrated Abu Qilaba: Anas said, “Some people of ‘Ukl or ‘Uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not suit them. So the Prophet ordered them to go to the herd of (Milch) camels and to drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they went as directed and after they became healthy, they killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away all the camels. The news reached the Prophet early in the morning and he sent (men) in their pursuit and they were captured and brought at noon. He then ordered to cut their hands and feet (and it was done), and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron, They were put in ‘Al-Harra’ and when they asked for water, no water was given to them.” Abu Qilaba said, “Those people committed theft and murder, became infidels after embracing Islam and fought against Allah and His Apostle.” (Bukhari 1.4.234)

Or this golden nugget taken from the Quran itself:

Surat Mohammed (Chapter 47)

When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield,

strike off their heads, and,

when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly.

Then grant them their freedom or take ransom from them,

until War shall lay down her armor.

Thus shall you do.

Had God willed, He could Himself have punished them;

but He has ordained it thus that He might test you, the one by the other.

As for those who are slain in the cause of God,

He will not allow their works to perish.

He will vouchsafe them guidance and ennoble their state;

He will admit them to the Paradise He has made known to them.

Believers, if you help God, God will help you and make you strong.

But the unbelievers shall be consigned to perdition.

As Christians, we are at war with everything which seeks to supplant the knowledge of the true God Jesus Christ! We are not called to tolerate "other gods" or to "respect" them and allow their teachings to go unchallenged. It is obvious that Islam is not in the "toleration" and "respect" business nor for that matter is any other religion or ideology. There is always an opponent that must be destroyed!  Like Elijah of old, we are called to confront these false gods with disdain, ridicule, the truth of the scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit!  The Apostle Paul said,

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

We are called to disciple nations about the one true God. To allow ourselves to tolerate "other gods" and their teachings or to be seduced by fine sounding arguments is an act of cowardice and total surrender. May God give us a spirit of revelation, courage, and power to confront and destroy every "false god" and its teachings. Failure to do so will only lead to more and more of what we currently see in our world today. The world needs Christ and the blessings he brings. He is the answer to the problems facing the world today, and no redefining, tolerating or accepting of new words, gods and ideologies will change that fact.

Stay Holy, My Friends!



Pastor Don