Follow the Truth

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Jul 23, 2007 at 01:18

Before this discussion deteriorates into a diatribe of whose Christianity is better, or becomes an exploration into ecumenical perceptions of how to express our faith in the face of the truth, there seems to be an offense taken in how this reader's expresses faith in Jesus Christ, and yet without full knowledge of the basis of this faith.

Before ‘radical ideologies' of Islam appeared to gain momentum outside of the Middle East, before ‘Fox News' exposes on Islamic terrorism, before evangelicals even realized any perceived threats to Christianity outside of their own mission reports, this reader has had associations with ‘English' speaking Muslims and let this be explained. Starting in the early 1970's, from staunch Muslim Pakistanis working here and sending money home, radical Iranian Muslims in 1974, before the fall of the Shah, declaring that the Shah would be deposed in favor of an Islamic Republic, to Lebanese Muslim engineers decrying the interference of the United States and applauding the loss of U.S. Marines in Beirut, to so many other personal interactions with Muslims speaking ‘English' denouncements against Western societies, all here in these United States of America. What we hear and read today, whatever the source, is amplification of all those things said and done for the several decades of this reader's life and more.

There are some significant differences from then and now, especially in the publicity; and sure there are sources that are reporting from a decidedly conservative or Christian point of view, but that should hardly be unexpected. Under what circumstances do Christians expect the return of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, if not in the Biblically dictated turmoil found in unbelief of Who Jesus Christ is and how the world is expected to receive Him.

Ask any Muslim if he or she expects the al-Madhi anytime soon, in their own language, or ‘English.' Listen to the President of Iran and see if he has not made reference to just such a thing and that is what he says drives his efforts to make Iran pre-eminent in the Middle East under the ayatollahs. Listen to the reports coming from sources in and out of the United States that are not so conservatively aligned.

Now, if there is a perception that this reader has a staunch position of faith in the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and in His Word, well and good. Matthew is the Book of the King, eventually returning to take possession of the throne left behind some nineteen hundred and sixty or seventy years ago, and it is in Matthew where Jesus Christ explains the precursors of these times we are facing, right now. Since it is in Matthew we are told He has been given all authority, there will be no room for religious ambiguities when He does return.

The inference for tolerance in dealing with Muslims is found in the tone of the response to this reader's previous discussion, and for that, or for the dealing of any other belief other than Biblically based Christianity; Jesus Christ did not come with a message of tolerance, but with a message of forgiveness for unbelief. Out of His love He went to the cross to pay for that forgiveness, to pay for our sins of unbelief and rebellion to the Word. This message was extended to the unbelievers of that day, to believe in the LORD Jesus Christ to be saved, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, it is the same message today. That is the message this reader would share with any Muslim, or any other person for that matter, as has been the case for decades. Conversely, any challenge to Biblical based teachings requires taking a stance in support of the full truth found in Jesus Christ's teachings, in Matthew and elsewhere in His Word.

Belief or unbelief, not tolerance, is still the critical message. Tolerance as a theme for discussing Biblical truth is a compromise to the truth. It is like the serpent in the garden posing the question to Eve….'Did God really say?'

Now, one final mention remains. This reader, if the previous discussion was read carefully, did not say that we should act as the Muslim extremists, but in the final paragraph, the following:

"Here one finds the last bit of clarification, that the only way to escape this situation is to pray to the only One who offers salvation and freedom, Jesus Christ. Pray and ask Him for forgiveness of the sin of your unbelief, for all our sins, and to enter into your heart by the power of His love and His Holy Name. That is the lesson we need to learn from Jesus Christ, to remove the confusion, to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and seek His truth in freedom away from this worlds' confusion."

This is the position of this reader.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".