What is there to fear?

    I had a friend stop by for a surprise visit yesterday. It was a really pleasant surprise and stirred up fun conversation. Yet, out of all the things we talked about one thing set a stirring in my heart. It was only one little thing they said, but it really struck me. "I'm really concerned with the level of fear people have over Muslims. I don't like where the public dialogue is going."

I don't either.

    The members of the extremists groups are doing an excellent job at terrorizing all around them. The governments are chasing shadows and people are now afraid and distrusting of anyone different.The religion of Islam is diverse and varied, much like any religion and the majority have no desire to hurt others or take over the world, etc.  Yet, in the public sphere, all those of the Muslim faith are either terrorists or not being true to their religion. What's disconcerting about that is that the terrorists believe this too. ISIS and other extremists groups believe themselves to be the only true followers of Islam and relish in killing anyone they consider to be apostates. That includes other Muslims. 

Here are some interesting facts: 

1) The majority of terrorists come from Arab nations... But less than 15% of Muslims are Arab or live in the Arab countries.  Asia has more Muslims than the Arab countries. 

This is important to pay attention to because the majority of the terrorists are coming from the nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Sudan. (The Syrian refugee crises is another conversation for another time, perhaps)

2) The Muslim majority are appalled by the terrorists. Terrorism cannot be justified under any valid interpretation of the Islamic faith. The entire Qur'an, taken as a complete text, gives a message of hope, faith, and peace to a faith community of one billion people. The overwhelming message is that peace is to be found through faith in "God", and justice among fellow human beings. Muslim leaders and scholars do speak out against terrorism in all its forms, and offer explanations of misinterpreted or twisted teachings. 

This is important to really think about because there have been many, in Christian past, who have twisted scripture to justify brutal acts of terrorism. It would be extremely foolish of us to behave as if the Crusades were some how not really terrorism or not really the same as now etc. Okay, that's true, it's not as bad as now... if we are at least allowing that people could readily identify a crusader whereas we can't readily identify a terrorist. But, many more were tortured, killed and had forced conversions by those claiming to be fighting on behalf of Christ than our current situation. We must keep that in mind. We must never forget that humbling fact.

3) Muslims are taught that Jews and Christians still worship the same God. While we know that to be wrong, it's important to keep it in mind when figuring out how to think about Muslims and how we can approach them with the truth in love. Throughout the Qur'an, Muslims are reminded that they are not the only ones who worship God. Jews and Christians are called "People of the Book," meaning people who have received previous revelations from the One Almighty God that we all worship. The Qur'an also commands Muslims to protect from harm not only mosques, but also monasteries, synagogues, and churches -- because "God is worshiped therein.

 - Yes, in their end times their "savior" will show the Jews and Christians as wrong and destroy them.. BUT, the Qur'an teaches that it's that "saviors" job, not the Muslims of the current time. I know that sounds like I'm just making insignificant distinctions, but they are considered important distinctions to your average Muslim. 

4) Many believe that Muslim is the fastest growing religion out there today. Not true, Christianity is. Praise be to God for that.


Why do I say all of this?

Let me start with what I'm not trying to do first.

1) I am not trying to defend Islam as being a viable religion that will see you enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There is only one way to do that and that is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and being redeemed by his saving Grace.

2) I am not trying to lull people into a false sense of comfort "oh don't worry, terrorists aren't that big a deal." etc. NO. The terror cells are a huge concern, and rightfully so. 


Here is what I AM trying to say.

How can we reach the lost if we are afraid of them, so afraid of them that we will no longer allow ourselves to get close to them or them to us?

How can we reach the lost if we are so afraid by a few that we turn our backs to the larger number; that we are willing to label all as suspect because of a rotten few?

How can we have proper dialogue on how to solve the terrorist problems if we decide to give them what we want and say they are Muslim or that they are proper representations of the religion... Especially when statistics and evidence shows the exact opposite?

How can we properly pray for a lost community if we pray as if all of them have possible desires to kill us? Especially when the reality is that these extremists are very happy to kill their own (who aren't living up to their standards). Muslims are being terrorized by these extremists just as much as we are (if not more).

Will we allow these current events to shape our feelings and views on those different from us or will we continue to reach out to God, reach out to His Word for help? Will we allow ourselves to be victimized by these terrorists or will we joyfully pronounce that God's victory is already won and live lives of joy and not lives of fear?


These are the stirrings of my heart lately.