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Personal Choices - Choosing the Love of Jesus Christ over the Control of the CaliphateReader comment on item: Kenneth N. Waltz – The Stupidest Strategist? Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Jul 19, 2012 at 19:06 In passing, I'll not belabor recounting events in my past that may or may not be contributing factors in establishing a view on a global caliphate; for I have in the past given minor views of the Judeo-Christian influences that shaped my perspective and the issues of Islam and the Muslim way of life were not materially affected by such. What does bring significant influences on my world perspective of Islam and the Muslim community is the witness and declarations by Muslims and supporters of Islam such as you who have taken the position that say Jesus Christ is not the person you think that He is; and I have a witness that says Jesus Christ is exactly Who He says He is. I have many things that point to the circumstances of how a worldwide caliphate does not represent the collective belief systems of the world; and especially that of fundamental discipleship of Jesus Christ. It is not an emotional or traumatic view; for living in the United States, many if not most of the Muslim's I am acquainted with do not subscribe to the specific need of observing shari'a law in the democratic settings in my immediate environment. But in the parlance of the fundamentalist Muslim, these would be considered apostates in danger of imposition of the shari'a mandates of full compliance to the precepts dictated by the observances of the hadiths under the auspices of the Quran. I will digress and elaborate on the situation of never having any personal cause against Islam from my youth; what little I knew being derived from extemporaneous sources about the crusades, of Suleyman, of Salahdin, of the caliphates of the Ottomans, the regencies of the Khosroes; of the clashes the British had during Victoria's patronage of the Middle East. Then I learned in my later years of the antipathies of the Muslim realm against Israel that dates from the time of Abraham and how that interjects itself in the modern hatred that besets all of the sons of Ishmael. Then there is the photographic and other parole evidences of how the mullahs aligned with the Nationalist Socialists during the Second World War against the fleeing Jewish people that instilled a sense that all was not quite right with such hatred and that flew right in the face of Jesus Christ's admonition to love one another as Christ loved the church. It is not my past that should be of concerted concern; but the past that I would focus on is for any individual who will allow the words of Jesus Christ to be dishonored as many Muslims do and have it color their destiny for the approaching future. In Biblical references, it has been revealed that the significance of Islam was placed in conflict with Christianity (as the sons of Ishmael are in conflict with the sons of Isaac) to distill what was wrong with certain people who claimed to be Christian but did not honor the WORD of the LORD, thus allowing Islam to try changing it. It is the root conflict that now forms the basis of ecumenicalism beyond that which was employed by the Catholic Church, the attempt of merging belief systems that is doomed to fail as any fundamentalist Muslim will tell you. A true disciple of Jesus Christ has the power of the Holy Spirit to make the discernment that this is as wrong now as it was when the Islamic Prophet attempted to convince the Christians and Jewish people of his time that he had a new message. Thus, any true disciple of Jesus Christ will take the Biblical position of Jesus Christ and declare that trusting in anyone or anything such as a caliphate is a misplace of trust. When a Muslim tries to dismiss the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on the cross; and when a Muslim says that a global caliphate is the next step to bringing peace to an unbelieving world; and when it becomes apparent that those who do not rush to convert to Islam will be put to death, then the message of love proclaimed by Jesus Christ will take on a different meaning, now won't it? Choosing to believe in Jesus Christ is an act of the free will and choice that eventually leads to eternal life, something that choosing Islam does not provide – you have said so yourself. So in the light of that difference, I'll offer the difference – freely choosing salvation through Jesus Christ and asking His forgiveness in prayer: or waiting for the caliphate to come into power and being forced to say no to the love of Jesus Christ. For me, I've already chosen the love of Jesus Christ and have sworn fealty to Him only, something that I would never have been allowed to do under shari'a law. In the final analysis, that is the choice every one must face and deal with prior to the return of Jesus Christ: to be part of His love and grace before the tribulation (the Battle for the control of Jerusalem); or face the same choice under the quite different circumstances during the Tribulation. The choice is yours – but you have already told us your choice, now haven't you. 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". Reader comments (89) on this item
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