Thursday, April 22, 2010

Want to Speak? Just Don't Speak the Truth about Islam

Unless your TV has been irreparably damaged for the past 5 years and you have had no access to the internet (how are you reading this?) you will certainly be aware of the shift taking place in our nation where the people at large pander to the sentiments of an increasingly sensitive Muslim minority. Some Muslim organizations (certainly not all but probably the most prominent) have gained a voice in the media which has instilled fear in various groups prohibiting them from speaking their mind about Islam. A detailed must-read article is David Wood's post from earlier today, tracing the recent trends of this phenomenon. In short, hundreds of innocents have lost their lives at the hands of belligerent Muslims because of free speech; yet, instead of defending our rights and pursuing the criminals, our society has tended towards conceding our rights to placate the criminals. This has shown the perpetrators they have a deathgrip over the first amendment through fear and intimidation, and they continue to use these tactics to actualize their ends.

With this background in mind, it should be no shock that simply speaking the truth about Islam is enough to ban the government from inviting you to their events. Rev. Franklin Graham had been invited to speak to the Pentagon on this year's National Day of Prayer. This invitation has recently been rescinded because of what Graham has said about Islam.

According to Reuters, Rev. Graham has said "true Islam" is too violent to be practiced in the United States. "You can't beat your wife. You cannot murder your children if you think they've committed adultery or something like that, which they do practice in these other countries... I don't agree with the teachings of Islam and I find it to be a very violent religion."

Col. Tom Collins, an Army spokesperson, provided an official reaction: "Once the Army leadership became aware that Reverand Graham was speaking at this event, we immediately recognized it as problematic... The bottom line here is that his presence would be inappropriate. His past statements are not consistent with the multi-faith emphasis and inclusiveness of this event."

"Inclusiveness" is valued more than truthfulness; "multi-faith awareness" is more important than an awareness of an imminent threat. When will this country realize it is sacrificing free speech on the altar of placating the overly-offended? The truths they stop us from speaking are truths which we need to hear to be awakened from our self-endangering slumber. This cycle needs to end.

10 comments:

hugh watt said...

Let me see if i got this right. Rev. F.Graham say's what the Quran say's, and when he say's what it say's, he is banned. The Quran say's some thing's, Rev. Graham say's those same thing,s that it say's, he's banned, but the Quran is not!
Say's to me you can not say what the Quran say's or saying those same thing's will say your saying Islamophobic saying's, unless your a Muslim. Then you can say what the Quran say's.
Say's to me we need to say only what the Quran say's!
Nabeel. For saying what you said, guess what...

Verumi said...

Hello, Nabeel.

Unfortunately, I just found out that this is not true for the media only, but for museums as well.

What I find heartbreaking about this situation is that it not only widens the rift between Muslims and non-Muslims by creating a sense of special treatment and exclusivity in favor of Muslims, but the rift itself also adds to negative images of religion and encourage people toward secularism.

I hope that Christians will refrain from responding to censorships such as this in anger and mockery.

yousefd said...

The Obama administration and his friends in government are unbelivable, blind and naive (maybe). I am very disappointed Rev. Graham was disinvited to this event. Yet, Louis Farrakhan was honored with a "living legnds" award. My goodness.

hugh watt said...

Verumi, i will take mockery, not anger against these people. The Quran / Muhammad mocks Muslims! Any right minded person will see that. The non- Muslims around here see it. Only those who are deceived and worship Muhammad can't see it. That man was the godfather of Arabia. If he were just starting out on his career he would be public enemy #1.

Verumi said...

Hello, Hugh.

If all these posts and discussions about Islam is meant not only to expose Muhammad's rejection of Christ, but also to invite and encourage Muslims to seek the Lord, mocking Islam and Muhammad serves only to antagonize and dissuade Muslims from listening our witness to the Truth.

The journey of conversion for a Muslim to Christianity is a long and hard road, as we all know. Islam is not only a religion but a way of life, a cultural and personal identity to Muslims. One cannot mock Islam and not mock a Muslim. How can we expect to succeed in calling them to the Lord's fold if we fail to create an understanding and sympathetic environment for them? How are they to feel that they have a safe refuge in our community?

I understand that this site is focused more on apologetics, but can we really separate apologetics and ministry? We say we love Muslims, but reject Islam. It is only right that we do both. I realize that to do that is easier said than done, but then again, we already know that.

I apologize if I come across as self-righteous. That is not my intention. I am simply afraid that if we do not watch what we say and how we say it, we will only end up serving ourselves and not Christ.

2 Timothy 2:22-26
22 - Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 - Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
24 - And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
25 - Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
26 - and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Verumi said...

Erratum:
If all these posts and discussions about Islam is meant not only to expose Muhammad's rejection of Christ, but also to invite and encourage Muslims to seek the Lord, mocking Islam and Muhammad serves only to antagonize and dissuade Muslims from listening to our witness of the Truth.

minoria said...

Hello Verumi:
I think you have a point,though we should still say Mohammed did wrong.I could be wrong but I THINK Muslim over-reaction is due to an INSECURITY COMPLEX.
Imagine mocking Buddha,no Buddhist,knowing he was a fine man,would kill anybody.That shows a CONFIDENCE in their teacher's character.It seems so to me at least.
Thanks for your constructive criticism and feedback.

aussie christian said...

Verumi, as wonderful as it would be to gently expouse muslims to leave their satanic sect and come unto Jesus Christ, there is a problem, its called muslims. when they practise islam you need to use simple hard language to get through to them due to the fact they are unable to understand several things. Truth, sence, logic, intellegent debate. rather they prefer taquia, adhomin attacks, abusing, illogical arguments aka circular reasoning, and defocusing arguments IE: instead of keeping on topic, they deliberatly go off topic so they can claim they win, no matter what.

Islam is dificult to debate with primarily because muslim apologetics refuse to tell the truth, its part of their training which they get from the quran and hadiths which basicaly say when your pushing islam lie.

hugh watt said...

Verumi, I can see how what i said could be misconstrued. When i say mockery i do not mean i mock them since as you said, that is not the way. However, Muhammad by his teachings mocks Muslims. I by pointing out what he said would be offensive to them no matter how i say it. If people, not Christians, object to Islam i would rather they use mockery than anger against them.

"If all these posts and discussions about Islam is meant not only to expose Muhammad's rejection of Christ, but also to invite and encourage Muslims to seek the Lord, mocking Islam and Muhammad serves only to antagonize and dissuade Muslims from listening our witness to the Truth."
This was worth repeating! I have read thing's from other sites (non- Christian) that can only make Muslims feel anger. We should watch what we say, but i say again no matter how you tell them Muhammad was a liar they will not like it.

Letitia (The Damsel) said...

Thank you for posting this insight, Nabeel. Christians indeed are being censored, whereas Muslims have near free-reign to say whatever they wish. It appears that the 'sin' of exclusivity in Truth is only tolerated if one is NOT a Christian.

This is the cross we bear as believers in Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God. May we bear it well and never stop proclaiming His salvation. We suffer verbal persecution. Our brothers and sisters in the world who are suffering physical persecution depend on us to be strong in the Lord even as they are stronger in their persecution.

The peace of the Lord be with you!