My Soap Box: Violence Is Not The Answer

Dear Friends:

I acknowledge right up front that the following writing is my opinion. It is as valid or invalid as the next guy's. With this in mind, I have pulled my Soap Box out of my garage! I constructed it some time ago for moments such as these. I even painted it red, white, and blue. Look here, I stuck up a picture of the American flag on it just for effects!

The reason for me pulling my massive soap box out of storage is because I am concerned that America is being deceived and put to sleep by ignorant people who do not take the threat of Islam seriously. Or when they do, they resort to hate and violence. Its like throwing gas on a fire. Violence is not the answer!

As I climb onto the first step of my box, let me say in a loud and clear voice,

"Islam is not a loving, peaceful, or tolerant religion! It is oppressive and violent and must be rejected!"

Over the last year or two, I have taken my pen in hand to defend the Gospel of Christ against several religions that I see as dangerous spiritually. Top of my list was Catholicism then it was Jehovah Witnesses, and at some point I tackled Mormonism as well. However, not one of these religions are as sinister as Islam. Not only is it a works based faith, that denies the deity of Christ Jesus and can give no assurance of salvation, but it also represents a national death. Islam does not separate between church and state. It imposes mandatory Islamic faith on those citizens that wish to participate in its society. If we do not stop ignoring the threat this religion represents, all of America could be living under Sharia law at some time in the near future. Seriously!

Please take a moment an listen to the first few seconds of the following video. While you are watching it I shall start climbing up to the next step on my soap box..... Any body have a ladder?!

There is no such a thing as Christian terrorism.

Proverbs 25:21 and 22: If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.

Even in the face of such a reality. We as Christians must not resort to hate crimes to prove a point. Unless a loved one's life is in danger, violence is never the answer, Jesus commanded that we love our enemies and that we pray for those who persecute us. I believe turning the other cheek is a bit more involved then just standing there and letting your enemy slap you, Jesus was asking us to love those who hate us. To show kindness in the face of hatred and hostility.

While I understand his frustration, I do not side with the likes of Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida. Who made headlines for promoting a "National Burn A Quran Day." His actions do not represent the Lord Jesus Christ. He disgraced himself and the church he represents as well as our country. Clearly, the man does not have the heart of Christ.

I like what the prophet Elisha did, after God blinded the Syrian army in 2 Kings 6. Instead of killing them with weapons of warfare. He lead them away and fed them. He killed them with kindness. He showed them respect and hospitality before sending them back to the Syrian King. How cool is that? The scripture says that because of this "the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel." Talk about coals of fire!

Ok hold on..... here I go, Step Three.... Jim! Thanks for the Ladder, it really helped!

One of the things that that really chaps my hide is when people compare Christianity with Islam. Stating that extreme or radical Christians are just as dangerous as the Muslim extremists who attacked America on 911. That just bunches my britches! For nothing can be further from the truth! There is no such a thing as Christian terrorism. Radical Christians are indeed outspoken and full of conviction but they are not violent. If they are modeling Christ Jesus, they are radical about showing the world the true heart of Christ through kindness and humility.

When men like Anders Behring Breivik, the Norway gunman who claimed to be apart of a Christian anti-Islam terrorist group in July of 2011, commits such terrible crimes against humanity in the name of Christ, the Christian communities across the world vehemently condemns their actions. True Christianity has no teachings that can justify such actions. Anyone who uses violence in the name of Jesus Christ has no idea of Him who's name they are sinning against. From the anti-abortionists who kill abortion doctors, to the polygamists who mentally and emotionally abuse woman. All are lost souls, who when standing before God, will be told that He never knew them.

Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Okay I am now moving to the top of my Soap Box. I will need to limit my time up there as I find that I am afraid of heights and get nose bleeds at high altitudes. Hang on one moment ......

OK, I am an Christian. Some have described me as radical, some have described me as devout, others have described me as an outspoken ultra conservative or as a extreme right winger with old fashion and irrelevant beliefs. Yes, I have even been described in ways I would rather not say. Call me what you want but you can not say that I do not take my faith seriously. I have found that I am not alone, Most of the Christian people that I associate with are as serious about there faith as I am. As a Christian am I dangerous to you or your society? You be the judge. In my radical zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ, I would never:

1. Force someone to believe as I do. This includes my children, If they chose to reject Christianity, I would continue to love them.

2. Allow or expect my government or any other government to combine Church and State. Effectively imposing my religious belief and convictions on others.

3. Burn, vandalize, physically attack, deface, or dismember any object of worship, objects used in worship, or persons of faith or lack of, who disagreed with me personally or the Christian Church corporately. This would be considered a grievous sin in the eyes of my God. If I were to willingly engage in such practices, I would be dishonoring Him, bringing shame to me and to His Church.

4. Preach a message of "hate" against any faith, person, race, or sexual orientation. However, I am not afraid to call sin, sin. I believe God hates sin, but loves the sinner.

5. Condone the building of a church or any other kind of worship center in a place where it is not wanted by the citizens of that community. I am just as happy meeting in my home, as I am in a church building.

6. Resort to violence because someone burned a church, bible or any other objects used in Christian worship. My faith is about how I act and what I believe, not about what others believe or do. I believe in the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech!

You may have noticed that my points were specifically designed to contrast the difference between Islam and Christianity. Islam is an oppressive, violent, and aggressive religion. There is nothing peaceful about it. While I agree that there are good people involved in it, I worry because if they truly believe what they are being taught, then our American way of life and my personal faith will be an affront to them. They do not, in practice, give freedom of religion, and they plan to take over the world.

As I begin my descent from my over used Soap Box, I leave you with this thought. If you take your Christianity seriously you must take the threat that Islam poses to our way life seriously. Not just in a spiritual sense, but in a physical and practical sense as well. It is not just another religion.

Remember the best way to deal with a Muslim is on a personal level. Go ahead, kill every one of them, but not with guns and knives but with kindness and respect. Show them the love of Christ, be quick to speak the truth, Show them the Jesus of the Bible. However on a national level, don't be naive! Reject the Muslim faith out right, tell your friends to reject it! Don't be ashamed to voice your opinion. Construct a massive Soap Box of your own. Paint what ever you want on it! make your thoughts known in a peaceful and respectable way. speak loud and clear for if you give Islam a single inch. They will take a mile.

Thanks for allowing me to stand on my soap box, It was fun.

Hey? Before you go? You think you guys can help me push this monstrosity back into the garage? Oh! Jim here's your Ladder back! Thanks

In Christ

ABR