Terrorism and Religion

I want to wade into this minefield especially as our nerves are still raw from a recent terrorist attack.

It is interesting, as many have noted, how there is an outpouring or assurance from all and sundry how that Islam is not the source or reason for terrorism.

Why are people so quick to dissociate Islam with terrorism after a terror attack yet all terrorists are Muslims? Why do we behave foolishly just for political correctness?

Let me agree with this statement. All Muslims are not terrorists. But on the same breath are there any terrorists who are not Muslims especially these days?

All terrorists are Muslims; from ISIS to Boko Haram from Pakistan to France. They confess and are pursuing Islam unashamedly. And they are ardent readers of the Quran. They even die screaming verses of the Quran.

Show me any other holy book producing terrorists?

Why is reason unable to dissuade those radicals?

I dare suggest that terrorism is what the Quran teaches. After listening to a few radical imams, their arguments are very simple; they are pursuing Quranic doctrine and tradition. And their arguments are more fluid than those arguing for Islam as a religion of peace.

It is folly to deal with terrorism yet ignoring the Quran. We must argue away terrorism by understanding what the Quran teaches about the same. Otherwise, even if we dismissed those suicide bombers as misguided, how do we explain the rich Muslims who fund, shield and hide them? What do we do about the rich people who pour their wealth to support those ‘misguided’ youth? Who misguides them anyway?

They support terrorism with their wealth because they agree with the doctrines behind it. They are offering their wealth even as the youth are offering their lives and skills. Otherwise explain to me how the leader of the recent terrorists was able to live expensively yet he ran away from home years ago yet there is no record of him working anywhere.

It is a fallacy to think we can defeat terrorism yet ignore, even deny its driving force and doctrine.

We can only defeat terrorism by understanding what the Quran teaches. Do you realize that moderate Muslims are treated as compromised (what Christians would call backsliders), misguided and enemies of Islam by those ‘misguided’ ones?

But our Christian responsibility is sharing the Gospel of the risen Christ because that is the only solution to the mess the world is in. The disillusionment that leads many people to rush into Islam (which is radical in its truest form) can only be countered by the knowledge and true submission to the Lordship of Christ. It is only after being forgiven and adopted into God’s family that such folly can be defeated.

But the church is so full of self-interest that instead of looking at Islam as a harvest field full to overflowing with tares have started calling them brothers without caring to know what they teach and who they represent. Instead of planting the seed Christ sent us to sow, we start applauding the fruit they are producing, even saying that we are producing similar fruit.

That folly must cease.

Do you realize that nowhere does the Bible call Christianity a religion of peace? Christ said He came to bring the sword. Yet that sword is not the kind of sword we find in Islam. No Christian can take that verse to declare war as there is abundant explanation in the Bible about the kind of sword Christ was talking about.

Does it surprise you that no Islamic state, however wealthy, takes Muslim refugees that they must all flock to Christian nations?

But we do not want to open our eyes to reality. Like Paul said the god of this world has blinded the eyes of the unbelievers (those disconnected to the Vine, Christ) that we are unable to see the open strategy Islam has of taking over the world. (But assume you have not read this).

Let us read the Bible. It is the only book that offers hope beyond this mess. It is the only book that offers hope beyond this world to eternity and not those virgins as if heaven has nothing but sex orgies suicide bombers die to get.

Those who read the Bible and believe what it says know that Islam is the vehicle Ishmael found to ‘fulfill’ his prophesied mandate as recorded in the Bible.

And the driving force is trying to undo the reality that he was overlooked by Abraham as heir to his spiritual promise. It is from bitterness after being ejected from Abraham’s household; however justified Abraham was to do so as he had started to act that antagonism that early.

Or do you not wonder why Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac is rephrased to have Ishmael yet the same Quran says that it borrows from earlier books, even instructing Muslims to listen to those who had books (Christians and Jews) before it? Why falsify what those other books have recorded?

Terrorism is Ishmael’s personal war of reclaiming what he thinks was his being unfairly handed to his younger brother. Esau had the same problem and it is evident when we read the Bible. Remember Amalek?

And it becomes even bloodier because from Isaac came the Christ as the zenith of that inheritance. This of course makes his cause even more idiotic if not desperate. That is why he must spare no cost to discredit Christianity as it is a slap on his impositions and impersonation as Abraham’s spiritual heir.

Incidentally, only when Islam is the only religion will they be content. Of course, only then can they say, ‘See, I told you so’, and not earlier. That is why they kill in their territories. That is the whole purpose of Jihad – making the whole world Islamic by hook or crook. Once they overpower someone, he either converts or dies. That is what history has taught us.

Let us stop defending someone who will kill us at no provocation because that is what his faith teaches him.

But let me conclude by saying this. Terrorism is the product of our not living right. We have drifted from God. Again this is clear when we read the Bible. Consider Judges.

Ever realized that the churches are filled after major terror attacks? And why? Because we have realized that we are not right with God. We want to get right with God before the next attack because we fear we could be victims.

Sadly, after it becomes a distant memory, we forget our vows. We start living carelessly again. We start preaching idiotic messages, messages that itching ears want to hear.

We could therefore be speaking the truth calling Muslims our brothers because their father has started being our father like Jesus told the Jews in John 8.

We should not be surprised if the brother shows his true colours since we have accepted him as he is.

We must get back to God to get rid of terrorism. Only revival will kill terrorism completely as the light being shed will completely kill their darkness.

Let us reexamine our faith and doctrine to see whether it is the one encouraging terrorism in the spiritual realm. Otherwise we could be rearing an enemy in our house even as we are fighting him on the streets.

Personal revival is a must if we must tackle terrorism. Then we will enjoy God’s peace.

I close with Psalm 127: 1

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

I am sure someone is wondering what revival has to do with terrorism.

First, look at the Bible. Any time the nation of Israel turned to God, they prospered and were secure. They turn to idols and everything goes haywire.

Another thing any student of revival will tell you is that revival changed nations not because policing improved. On the contrary people changed in such a way that policing became unnecessary. Prisons were closed because crime died. Revival didn’t cause people to violently lock drinking joints and whorehouses. People changed until those businesses died of asphyxiation. And nobody needed to go to rehab or counseling as getting right with God is the end game of everything.

You see revival changes hearts. And changed hearts change society.

That is why we need to get back to God. That is the safest counter terrorism strategy ever because it comes from the King of kings Himself, and He surely must know what He is speaking about.

God, open our hearts to see as You see, in Jesus name.