Earlier this month, I saw a billboard advertising an Islamophobic lecture series on the end of the world. With this series beginning in a few days, I thought I might take stock of the blatant intolerance that has become more visible in our community in recent months. This lecture series is just one of many examples that I’ve noticed, and the rise in islamophobia in our community is unsettling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=443Vy3I0gJs
I have a Muslim friend who grew up in the Spokane area, and she has said lately there’s been a lot more of what she calls “those misguided peeps” telling her to go home. “I grew up in Spokane Valley” she says. Her words stick in my mind when I watch Coca-Cola’s “America is Beautiful” commercial aired during the Super Bowl or read the ‘misguided’ backlash against it. In spite of the overwhelming consensus of support for the Coke commercial there are still those who would seek to stamp out diversity in favor of an unified worldview that would turn my friend and I apart simply because we pray differently.
Another group plans to set up shop in Spokane with similar sentiments. The Salvation for Muslims Ministries will be coming to Spokane to “expose what Islam really is.” While this church zealously tries to evangelize to the non-believers, I can’t help but think about Christ and his gentle way of loving others where they were. If we’ve learned anything from the gospels, there is a difference between evangelism—sharing the good news—and excluding others from it.
Misguided theology and the absence of pastoral training aside, the most troubling aspect of this group coming to town is that their language towards people other than themselves is frightening:
“Another truth, that Muslims will be coming to the Post Falls, Coeur D’Alene, and Hayden and surrounding Idaho area as well. Muslims are in the Spokane Washington area now, and how many more years will be in our area — Coeur D’Alene, Post Falls, and Hayden: 2 years, 5 years, 7 years, and 10 years?
I remember 10 years ago, when I was working at another job. One guy who moved from Seattle, Washington said “Where are all the black people?” I replied, “Check NIC (North Idaho College).” He laughed.
That’s the thing, the Coeur D’Alene, Post Falls and Hayden area (along with our secularized world) has a bubble that needs to popped.”
I shudder to think what this means for our city. Maybe this is old news. Maybe I’m just waking up to see what has been here for a while. The fact remains that this type of behavior should not be permitted in our community. And we cannot afford to ignore it. With the efforts of thousands of people in the area, we were able to virtually eradicate the white supremacist enclaves in Northern Idaho. Our community has endured much in order to enjoy the fruits of inclusivity.
This is what makes us human. The ability to share a common humanity springs from our realities and understanding of the divine. As Karen Armstrong has said, “We must dethrone ourselves from the center of the world, and put another in our place.” Our actions hold the key to acknowledging and accepting another’s beliefs and creating a better tomorrow.
Again, I will be at Pastor Roosenberg’s talk on Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. I’ll also be reaching out to the leadership at Salvation for Muslims Ministries. Like I have said before, despite of all of the marketing towards the contrary, I hope to be proven wrong. I will happily apologize and thank God when that day comes. But I will be vocal on any perspective that insights violence, derision in my community, for if we don’t are we not silently consenting to these hurtful doctrines?
Thank you, Skyler, for bringing this to our attention.
From the links and info you provided, this counter-interfaith activity is certainly worth watching.
Contrast this frightful rise of intolerance with another story of Christians and Muslims together. John of Damascus, a philosopher, theologian, and poet of the Christian faith lived, worked, wrote and contributed to the growth and maturity of his faith while under the protection of the Muslim sultan in Syria. Some sources even say he worked as a clerical assistant to the Muslim caliph of Damascus before his ordination. We Lutherans sing several of his poems as hymns, especially at Easter.
A bright light of interfaith partnership, let us follow John’s lead and pray for peace among all the faithful in Spokane:
But today, among your own,
you appear, bestowing
your deep peace, which evermore
passes human knowing.
– St. John of Damascus
Skyler,
Thank you so much for sharing this – so well and so passionately. I think we can work together to share an inclusiveness that welcomes all people. We’ve done it before… We will have to do it again, it looks like!
Your paragraph in relationship to the Salvation for Muslims church in Spokane indicates to me that you’ve never even attended one service there. Have you? I have, and your description of what it is and is not is so completely off base that it would be laughable if it weren’t for the fact that you’re actually serious, and that other people who know nothing about it will believe you without ever finding out about it and the people there for themselves. Before you write any more, why don’t you actually attend the service there for a few weeks, starting with going onto their website and listening to tonight’s service. It was all about love, and was presented by two Arabic people.
I also attended The Church of Salvation this evening. I agree with Carol. The service was about God’s love for everyone.
Before you write about “Islamaphobia” why not read what the Quran actually has to say. Have you read the Quran? Frankly, perhaps the people whom are angry in Spokane have actually read what the Quran indicates should happen to the Unbeliever. Those people should not hate on Muslims but I can understand that fear and anger toward what they have read might be coming out in the wrong way. We are commanded to love.
I love Muslims, Jews, everyone. I am a Christian and I do not have Islamaphobia. I also do not see any love in the Quran. I see love from the Bible.
“Quran Excerpt K 2:190-191
Set 2, Count 3+4 [2.190] …fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you…[2.191] And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers.”
I could post 163 more verses about the slaying if the unbeliever, but I won’t.
I’ve have read the Quran. It’s apparent you haven’t. I don’t hate Muslims but please tell me how a Christian should feel about a political system that wishes to kill he/she. Please be informed before you post about things you obviously know nothing about.
I am not angry here. Just being real.
Peace to you.
Lyndse, I have read the Quran. Since I don’t read Arabic I have had to content myself with several versions, like reading the Mew testament in English. My favorite is Laleh Bakhtiar’s The Sublime Quran, although I will refer also to the traditional translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. The notes of both are most interesting, and explain the context and history. You seem to be subject to the Idolotry of literalism when you quote the Quran. It can’t be understood what God was saying to Mohammed, bless his name, without understanding the context, what God was talking to him about.
First, you use the term “Unbeliever” as if you knew who is being talked about. A believer was one who believed (as in professed and acted sincerely out of that profession, statement and action) in the One God of Abraham, and who took seriously the prophets of that god. That would include Jews and Christians, often referred to as “people of the book”. It was not alright to attack and kill these believers. But if attacked, and only in self defense or defense of people of the book, should a believer resist with violence? In many sections of the Quran Mohammed is being given practical and timely advice about problems he was currently facing. He had been told to serve peace, but opponents and people who wanted to kill off those who believed in the one god of Abraham were preparing to attack the Muslims. It was being suggested that Mohammed attack and kill off all the families, carrying out an extermination policy often attributed to YHWH when that god supposedly told the Jews to exterminate their opponents, including non-combatants, women, babies, and animals.
If you truly loved Muslims, or others with whom you disagree, I would think you would value them enough to listen to what they are really saying and be willing to forego your own self-pride in telling us how much you are full of love. Be careful, Just because you are full of something warm doesn’t mean it is love.
By the way, the way you cherry pick your scriptures and ignore comparable scriptures from the Bible makes me wonder if you have ever read and studied without prejudgment either.
Thank you for your post.
I have read the Qu’ran several times, and have even been working on reading it in Arabic, to better understand it. I encourage you to do the same. Someone as learned as yourself would agree that our sacred texts are difficult to translate, perhaps we misunderstand the cultural, historical, theological and anthropological truths that are often lost in translation…
As I understand it, the unbeliever (a term found in rudimentary translations of the Qu’ran), is a term used as someone who is not faithful to the teachings of God. This term does not necessarily apply to those of another faith (Christians and Jews are “Fellow People of the Book”, 3:199). It could be said to apply to those who claim to bring people together in the name of God, but actually drive them apart. When I hear things taken out of context in the Bible– what I often call “dirty laundry”, it makes me sad. I am sure you would agree.
I also appreciate your exhaustive texts below. I’ll be studying these passages in the original Arabic and consult with the local Imam at Spokane’s Islamic Center for further clarification. My rule of thumb when studying sacred texts is any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate. Perhaps you can help me with this as well. I welcome you to reread the passages you posted below, cross-referencing with at least three different translations. Perhaps your love for others will multiply.
Peace also to you, Lyndsey. 🙂
I truly love Muslims and fellowship with those whom love Muslims too. Obviously I’m about love. Islam isn’t a ethnicity. It’s a system of life. A system that states the unbelievers are Christians and Jews who don’t accept their view of God. A system that says I am to die if I don’t convert after specific steps layed out in their book. I want to worship my God in love. I do not want others to hate me but I can’t change that. I want people to be free to chose life. I found eternal life in Jesus and Jesus says for me to love my enemies. I don’t consider Muslims my enemies but if they chose to see me as one Ill love them anyway. I want love to prevail in truth.
I will respond to your comments with exact quotes from your book. I’m not against you. I’ll show my points are valid and yes I DO care and love. I don’t feel I need to defend my heart to you but I will defend my statements.
Christians and Jews were once called believers BEFORE Muhammad. After Muhammad we are simply called People of the Book and Unbelievers if we refuse to convert.
Surah Al-Baqarah
(CONTEXT OF VERSE REFERRING TO TIME OF MOSES BEFORE MUHAMMAD)
62. Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve .
63. And (O Children of Israel, remember) when We took your covenant and We raised above you the Mount (saying): “Hold fast to that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein so that you may become Al-Muttaqun”….
3. Surah Ale-Imran
(AFTER MUHAMMAD)
98. Say: “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you reject the Ayat of Allah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) while Allah is Witness to what you do?”
99. Say: “O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you stop those who have believed, from the Path of Allah, seeking to make it seem crooked, while you (yourselves) are witnesses [to Muhammad as a Messenger of Allah and Islam (Allah’s Religion, i.e. to worship none but Him Alone)]? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.”
100. O you who believe! If you obey a group of those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians), they would (indeed) render you disbelievers after you have believed!”…..
Here is some of the 9th book of the Quran. Here the command is initially written for then AND context is continued for all time until the last day, from creation until the end as the context shows. So this command is not a timely command, and in countries that practice Shariah it is absolutely upheld today, regarding the tax especially.
Surah At-Taubah (The Repentance)
1. Freedom from (all) obligations (is declared) from Allah and His Messenger () to those of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), with whom you made a treaty.
2. So travel freely (O Mushrikun – see V.2:105) for four months (as you will) throughout the land, but know that you cannot escape (from the Punishment of) Allah, and Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.
3. And a declaration from Allah and His Messenger to mankind on the greatest day (the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah – the 12th month of Islamic calendar) that Allah is free from (all) obligations to the Mushrikun (see V.2:105) and so is His Messenger. So if you (Mushrikun) repent, it is better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you cannot escape (from the Punishment of) Allah. And give tidings (O Muhammad ) of a painful torment to those who disbelieve.
4. Except those of the Mushrikun with whom you have a treaty, and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor have supported anyone against you. So fulfill their treaty to them to the end of their term. Surely Allah loves Al- Mattaqun (the pious – see V.2:2).
5. Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikun (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6. And if anyone of the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Qur’an), and then escort him to where he can be secure, that is because they are men who know not.
7. How can there be a covenant with Allah and with His Messenger for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) except those with whom you made a covenant near Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah)? So long, as they are true to you, stand you true to them. Verily, Allah loves Al-Muttaqun (the pious – see V.2:2).
8. How (can there be such a covenant with them) that when you are overpowered by them, they regard not the ties, either of kinship or of covenant with you? With (good words from) their mouths they please you, but their hearts are averse to you, and most of them are Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
9. They have purchased with the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah a little gain, and they hindered men from His Way; evil indeed is that which they used to do.
10. With regard to a believer, they respect not the ties, either of kinship or of covenant! It is they who are the transgressors.
11. But if they repent, perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, then they are your brethren in religion. (In this way) We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail for a people who know.
12. But if they violate their oaths after their covenant, and attack your religion with disapproval and criticism then fight (you) the leaders of disbelief (chiefs of Quraish – pagans of Makkah) – for surely their oaths are nothing to them – so that they may stop (evil actions).
13. Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths (pagans of Makkah) and intended to expel the Messenger, while they did attack you first? Do you fear them? Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are believers.
14. Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people,
15. And remove the anger of their (believers’) hearts. Allah accepts the repentance of whom He wills. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
16. Do you think that you shall be left alone while Allah has not yet tested those among you who have striven hard and fought and have not taken Walijah [(Batanah – helpers, advisors and consultants from disbelievers, pagans, etc.) giving openly to them their secrets] besides Allah and His Messenger, and the believers. Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.
17. It is not for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), to maintain the Mosques of Allah (i.e. to pray and worship Allah therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building, etc.), while they witness against their ownselves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide.
18. The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.
19. Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah? They are not equal before Allah. And Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).
20. Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) and emigrated and strove hard and fought in Allah’s Cause with their wealth and their lives are far higher in degree with Allah. They are the successful.
21. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a Mercy from Him, and that He is pleased (with them), and of Gardens (Paradise) for them wherein are everlasting delights.
22. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward.
23. O you who believe! Take not for Auliya’ (supporters and helpers) your fathers and your brothers if they prefer disbelief to Belief. And whoever of you does so, then he is one of the Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.).
24. Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight … are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause , then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah).
25. Truly Allah has given you victory on many battle fields, and on the Day of Hunain (battle) when you rejoiced at your great number but it availed you naught and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight.
26. Then Allah did send down His Sakinah (calmness, tranquillity and reassurance, etc.) on the Messenger (Muhammad ), and on the believers, and sent down forces (angels) which you saw not, and punished the disbelievers. Such is the recompense of disbelievers.
27. Then after that Allah will accept the repentance of whom He will. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
28. O you who believe (in Allah’s Oneness and in His Messenger (Muhammad )! Verily, the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and in the Message of Muhammad ) are Najasun (impure) . So let them not come near Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) after this year, and if you fear poverty, Allah will enrich you if He will, out of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
29. Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
30. And the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers of old. Allah’s Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!
31. They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) to worship none but One Ilah (God – Allah) La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) . Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him).”
32. They (the disbelievers, the Jews and the Christians) want to extinguish Allah’s Light (with which Muhammad has been sent – Islamic Monotheism) with their mouths, but Allah will not allow except that His Light should be perfected even though the Kafirun (disbelievers) hate (it).
33. It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad ) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it).
34. O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the Way of Allah (i.e. Allah’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism). And those who hoard up gold and silver [Al-Kanz: the money, the Zakat of which has not been paid], and spend it not in the Way of Allah, -announce unto them a painful torment.
35. On the Day when that (Al-Kanz: money, gold and silver, etc., the Zakat of which has not been paid) will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them):-“This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.”
36. Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) collectively , as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allah is with those who are Al-Muttaqun (the pious – see V.2:2).
37. The postponing (of a Sacred Month) is indeed an addition to disbelief: thereby the disbelievers are led astray, for they make it lawful one year and forbid it another year in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah, and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their deeds seems pleasing to them. And Allah guides not the people, who disbelieve.”….book continues
http://noblequran.com/translation/index.html
(just to respond to your comment on how “god supposedly told the Jews to exterminate their opponents, including non-combatants, women, babies, and animals” According to scripture the sons of God came down before and after the flood and perverted creation. These people were not people. They were half breeds. I know Islam talks of the fallen angels too. This command was toward a perversity going on. just fact. They were mostly half breeds. But I’ll stop there because its just a response to that comment. Jesus commands us to love everyone. This everyone is people, not fallen ones. Just a specification. anyway. I hope you don’t think I’m attacking you. I’m not 🙂
Goliath whom David slew, he was one of the half breed giants. These bones are now being found all over the world, people think it was a pre-adam civilization. Nope. Just the perversion that happened.
“Genesis 6:1-13 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, (2) That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. (3) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (4) There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (5) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (8) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (9) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (10) And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (11) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. (12) And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. (13) And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth”….. continues to the flood account)
(Son in Hebraic thought is after one’s own likeness. God never gave birth. Even Adam is referred to at creation as a son of God. God created Angels righteous as He Himself in righteous. Son is an expression not to be taken as how humans say son. As far as Jesus, God Himself being without bounds, put on the flesh of Man, not marrying or having relations with any woman. He became a seed and put Himself in Mary. Water has 3 properties. Ice, liquid and steam. It is all the same thing. This is how we Christians can try to describe the trinity. God never gave birth, He has always existed and He put on flesh and became a Man, fully God fully man. He also exists in the Holy Spirit whom lives within those who receive salvation from Jesus. We don’t believe in three Gods. God is one. The word for God in Hebrew is Elohim which means mighty ones, yet even Jews recited the prayer, Here or Israel, YHVH your Elohim, YHVH is one. It is a beautiful mystery. A plural unified Elohim. Just in case anyone was confused by what we believe or why angels are called Bene Elohim, sons of God.) <3
Autospell typo correction ^”Hear O’ Israel, YHVH your Elohim, YHVH is one.”
(I’d encourage anyone skeptical of Salvationformuslims.com ‘s love for Muslims to visit The Church of Salvation to experience the service and talk to Michael Paul. The entire reason for my replies in the first place was just to extend that sentiment. I am good friends with my Muslim friend Ibrahim who lives in Egypt. I promise no hate in any messages was my point. Peace and love to y’all<3
Lyndsey)
I appreciate your concern for, and willingness to speak out against hate in our community. However, there is a difference between hate and fear and a difference of belief. It seems that in the discourse of today, to disagree with someone’s point of view and believe that they are wrong, is to hate them. I disagree. I know of no one that I hate or fear, but there are many that I disagree with.
If you have not already done so, I would encourage you to reach out to Michael Paul and Salvation for Muslims. After all that Michael Paul (and Christians all over the Muslim world who live in a daily fear for their lives) has experienced at the hands of Muslims, it would be understandable if he hated and feared Muslims. As the pastor of the church where Salvation for Muslims is meeting each week, I have seen and heard nothing but a love and concern for his people.
Let me encourage you to come by Crestline Baptist Church at 3pm on Sunday, sit in on the service, and meet the people and Michael Paul. I believe that you will be lead to write an apology because you will experience something much different than Islamaphobia. Pastor Paul loves his people and will continue to love them, even if they never come to faith in Jesus Christ. God loves us where we are at, even if He does not like where we are at. He loved me when I was lost, in a different faith, and destroying my life with alcohol. He loves me with the same intensity now that I am saved. Michael Paul and I both love people, and we desire what God desires, that they would be saved. Come join us some Sunday.
Dear Pastor (A)ndy Myers,
Thank you for commenting. I appreciate the time you took to write back.
As you had pointed out, I think there are differences between fear and hatred, though they are inexplicably linked.
After spending exhaustive amounts of time on Salvationformuslims.org, I am still searching for anything that is not Islamophobic. We fear what we don’t understand, and it is then only a matter of time that we begin to hate what we fear. The purveyors of what is peddled on the website might not “hate” Muslims, but they certainly fear them, and the way they are going about “stopping the spread of Islam” is by converting it out of Muslims.
My great-grandfather spent time in a Nazi concentration camp for speaking out against xenophobic and anti-Semitism in Germany. He talked about the sermons he heard on Sundays at his church, extolling the Nazi party for ridding Germany of the Jews. He heard pastors preach about the “hidden agenda of the Jews” to take over Germany.
I thought a lot about him when I read through the site. Bringing people to Christ, as I am sure you know from being a minister, must be done with agape—without it, we have nothing. I wonder if this venture is agape-driven.
The Gospel of John word for word from the Bible. I love you all and I hope anyone interested in what Christians actually believe and what Jesus taught will watch this movie. You will find LOVE, Forgiveness and Mercy with a true follower of Jesus Christ. Shalom <3
http://youtu.be/wQ-xbrMecBc
Popping in to say, fear and hatred may be different, but can we agree people should NOT indulge in fear of each other, if they can possibly avoid it? That shouldn’t be the lens through which we see each other. My study of scripture teaches me that fear and faith are opposite, and fear leads us away from God.
Amen, Laura! 🙂
The final sentence of my last comment should be added to say, “And God is love.”
It’s disheartening to see such open displays of intolerance and misunderstanding in our communities, especially in spaces that should promote unity and respect. This post highlights the alarming rise in Islamophobic rhetoric, which alienates and targets individuals based solely on their faith. True evangelism, as shown by Christ, involves empathy, compassion, and loving others without prejudice. Spokane’s strength lies in its diversity, and it’s essential for us to support one another, fostering understanding over division.
For those seeking guidance and reflection, سورة الكهف مكتوبة serves as a source of inspiration and resilience in the face of challenges.