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Frontline
Newsletter: Uprooting Terrorism
It
is no accident that the most vicious terrorism originates
from the least evangelised area of the world. The Muslim
Middle East represents the most complex political challenge
and potentially an enormous military threat to the free
world. It is also the greatest missionary challenge to the
Christian Church.
Muslim
states are the most severe persecutors of Christians.
And radical Muslim extremists are the most vicious terrorists,
hijackers, kidnappers, suicide bombers and assassins. The
failure of the Christian Church to fulfill the Great Commission
in the Middle East continues to have far-reaching and disastrous
consequences.
Islam
is a challenge that we cannot ignore. Yet, very few Christians
understand Islam or know how to respond to it.
Terrorism’s
Missionary Vision
The
primary suspect for the multiple, co-ordinated terrorist
attacks on the United States, Osama Bin Laden, aside from
his extensive business and terrorist connections, is also
a major sponsor of Islamic missionary activity. Bin Laden
has been a financial contributor to the Islamic Propagation
Centre International, based in Durban, South Africa. I have
visited the IPCI on numerous occasions and debated these
Muslim extremists in the biggest Mosque in the Southern
Hemisphere. The IPCI credited Bin Laden with personally
financing the translation of the Qur’an into Zulu.
He has been known to make donations of up to $1,000,000
at a time to the IPCI.
Clearly
Bin Laden is a radical Islamicist with a broad strategy
and a world vision. His hatred for America is apparently
more religiously motivated than political. Although many
would see America as a secular country with a large number
of Christians, to radical Islamicists like Bin Laden, America
is the largest and strongest Christian nation on earth and
the primary supporter of Christian missions worldwide. By
striking at the financial centre of America, one of his
aims could have been to cause a drop in support for Christian
missions – even as he helps finance a massive continent
wide Islamic offensive to turn Africa into a Muslim continent.
A
Global Agenda
The
multi-national Al-Qa’ida organisation set up by Bin
Laden during the time he was based in Sudan (1991–1996)
seeks the "global radicalization of existing Islamic
groups and the creation of radical Islamic groups where
none existed. Al-Qa’ida supports Muslim fighters in
Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Somalia, Yemen
and now Kosovo. It also trains members of terrorist organisations
from ... Philippines, Algeria and Eritrea. Al-Qa’ida’s
goal is to unite all Muslims and to establish a government
which follows the rule of the Caliphas … by force …
to overthrow nearly all Muslim governments, which are …
corrupt, to drive Western influence from those countries,
and eventually to abolish state boundaries." (Al-Qa’ida,
FAS 17/9/01)
"Africa
For Islam"
In
October 1995 Muammar Gaddafi hosted a two-week conference
in Tripoli, which was attended by Muslim leaders from 80
countries. At this Muslim Leaders Conference, strategies
to transform Africa into an Islamic continent were discussed.
Participants
openly admitted that their goals were to make Arabic
the official language of the continent and Islam
the official religion. One South African member of Parliament,
Farouk Cassim declared: "It will probably be the biggest
revolution to sweep Africa." The head of the Islamic
Propagation Centre International (IPCI) at that time, Yousuf
Deedat, announced afterwards that South Africa was high
on the agenda of the Islamic offensive: "We are going
to turn South Africa into a Muslim state. We have the money
to do it," he said (Sunday Times, 22/10/95). At present,
less than 2% of South Africans are Muslims. About 40% of
the population of Africa are Muslims. 17 of the 55 countries
in Africa are officially Islamic states.
Understanding
Jihad
What
few Westerners understand is that Muslim leaders who call
for the overthrow of all governments and the establishment
of an Islamic superstate controlling all aspects of life,
for every person on earth, are not necessarily extremists
on the fringe of Islam. Jihad, the subjugation and forcible
conversion of all people to Islam and world domination are,
in fact, central tenants of Islam. Jihad is the sixth
pillar of Islam.
Jihad
was so important to Muhammad that he declared it to be the
second most important deed in Islam. "Allah’s
apostle was asked, ‘What is the best deed?’ He
replied, ‘To believe in Allah and his apostle.’
The questioner then asked, ‘What is the next (in goodness)?’
He replied, ‘To participate in Jihad (religious fighting)
in Allah’s cause.’ " – The Hadith, Al
Bukhari, Vol. 1 no 25.
Now,
of course, most Muslims are neither terrorists nor terrorist
sympathisers. While many Muslims publicly rejoiced over
the news of the horrific terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington D.C., most did not. We need to be careful not
to blame all Muslims for what certain individuals do in
the name of Islam. Of course, those peace-loving, law-abiding
Muslims are not being consistent with the Jihad teachings
of the Qur’an. They are probably more influenced by
the Christian ideal of loving your neighbour than the Islamic
doctrine of Jihad.
Quranic
Roots Of Jihad
In
fact, Muslims are often allies of Christians in the campaigns
against gambling, pornography, homosexuality, abortion,
evolutionism and atheism. Muslims and Christians also agree
that God is both the Creator and the eternal Judge of the
whole world and everyone in it. However, it is important
for us to recognise the Quranic roots which are quoted by
the Muslim terrorists to support their atrocities. If this
violent position does not represent Mainstream Islam, Muslim
leaders must clearly denounce the literal application of
these Jihad verses and declare apostate all Muslims who
resort to terrorism as murderers destined to an eternity
in hell.
The
Quran teaches that Muslims are superior to all others: "Ye
(Muslims) are the best of peoples evolved for mankind …"
Surah 3:110. Muslims are forbidden to befriend Jews or Christians.
"O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians
for your friends and protectors. They are but friends and
protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns
to them (for friendship) is one of them …" Surah
5:54
Islam
instructs its adherents to fight until all their opponents
submit. Christians and Jews may be spared if they pay "Jizya"
– a penalty tax – with willing submission. "Fight
those who believe not in God nor the last day … Nor
acknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they are) of
the people of the Book, until they pay Jizya (tribute taxes)
with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
Surah 9:29
"Fight
and slay the pagans wherever ye find them and seize them,
beleaguer them, and lie in wait (ambush) for them in every
strategem (of war)." Surah 9:5 (also 2:193)
"Therefore,
when ye meet the unbelievers (in fight), smite at their
necks; at length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them,
bind a bond firmly (on them); thereafter (is the time for)
either generosity or ransom: until the war lays down its
burdens, thus (are ye commanded)". Surah 47:4
For
those who resist Islam – execution or mutilation is
decreed: "The punishment of those who wage war against
Allah and his apostle, and strive with might and main for
mischief through the land is: execution or crucifixion,
or the cutting off the hands and feet from opposite sides
or exile from the land …" Surah 5:36
Now,
all of these texts appear to be contradicted by Surah 2:256,
which states: "Let there be no compulsion in religion."
But there seems a clear break between the early Muhammad,
and the later Muhammad. The early Muhammad was married to
only one wife, Khadeja, courageously spoke out against idolatry
and polytheism in Mecca and encouraged friendship with the
Christians. The later Muhammad, after the death of his first
wife and flight to Medina, accumulated at least 14 more
wives, including 9 year old Aisha, started raiding caravans,
massacred 600 Jews for failing to acknowledge him as the
prophet, and propagated the doctrine of Jihad. In a sense,
there are two Muhammad’s and two Qurans. The early
pre-Medina Surahs demonstrate tolerance and respect for
Christians, whereas the later Surahs unleashed Jihad.
The
Benefits Of Jihad
In
the Mishkat the rewards for participation in Jihad are spelled
out: "the Messenger of Allah said: To, whichever village
you go … its one fifth is for Allah and his Messenger
and the remainder is for you." (Mishkat II, page 412).
"
… the soldiers of Islam fought tooth and nail. They
would get Paradise in case of death in a holy war, and booties
in case of conquest, Jihad is therefore the best source
of all acquisitions." (Mishkat II, page 440).
"Jihad
is one of the chief meritorious acts in the eye of Islam
and it is the best source of earnings." (Mishkat II,
page 340).
"This
is the best method of earning both spiritual and temporal.
If victory is won, there is enormous booty and conquest
of a country, which cannot be equalled to any other source
of earning. If there is defeat or death, there is everlasting
Paradise and a great spiritual benefit. This sort of Jihad
is conditional upon pure motive, i.e. for establishing the
kingdom of Allah on earth." (Mishkat II, page 253).
In
the Hadith, Muhammad is quoted as decreeing that Muslims
may not be punished for killing a non-Muslim: "No Muslims
should be killed for killing a kafir (infidel)." (vol.
9:50)
Those
who die in holy war are guaranteed to go to Heaven. "The
person who participates in Jihad (Holy battles) in Allah’s
cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in
Allah and his apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either
with a reward or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted
to paradise (if he is killed)." (vol. 1:35)
Many
assume that the concept of Jihad, or holy war, is an aberration
not truly representative of Islam. Some leaders have stated
that "Islam teaches a God of love just like Christianity
and Judaism" and "no religion condones violence
or terrorism." Unfortunately that is not true. Islam
is no ordinary religion.
"There
is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads
to death." Proverbs 14:12
Sharia
And The House Of War
Islam
divides the world into two sectors: Dar-al-Islam (the House
of Islam) and Dar-al-Harb (The House of War). The only countries
considered to be at peace are those where Islamic law (the
Sharia) is enforced. All other countries, as part of Dar-al-Harb,
are considered legitimate targets.
It
is significant that the calendar of Islam does not begin
with the birth of Muhammad, nor the onset of his "revelations",
nor the assembling of the first Muslim community, nor the
flight of Muslim refugees to Abyssinia. The 12 years of
persecution in Mecca were not considered the start of their
new religion. The Muslim calendar only begins when Islam
became a political state, under Sharia Law, in Medina.
Islam
in Arabic means submission, surrender or subjugation. A
Muslim is one who submits. The Arabic word for peace is
Salam. Islam is the active form of Salam. Muslims see themselves
as a "peace-making force" using argument, intrigue,
commerce, threats, terrorism, warfare and every other means
possible to secure Islam as the only religion worldwide.
"And
fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression,
and there prevails justice and faith in Allah altogether
and everywhere." Surah 8:39
In
the light of these teachings, it should be no surprise to
learn that since 1948, the 21 Arab countries have suffered
30 wars, 63 successful revolutions, at least 75 unsuccessful
revolutions, and 36 heads of state were murdered. In the
Arab world, revolutions and assassinations have been the
most prevalent means of political expression and attaining
power. One out of every three barrels of oil sold by the
Mideast has gone to pay for weapons. (Muslim Misery in the
Middle East, www.frontline.org.za).
The
Many Faces Of Jihad
It
may be hard for Christians to understand the concept of
such a militant religion, but the primary aim of Islam is
not spiritual but political. (One exception to this would
be the Sufi’s – mystical Muslims who re-interpret
these Jihad passages to apply to a spiritual fight against
sin). The ultimate purpose of Islam is the establishment
by force of a worldwide Islamic state where Sharia law is
enforced on all. To achieve this is the goal of Jihad. Islamic
scholars identify a multitude of forms that Jihad can take:
There
is the Jihad of Words, using oratory, in a war of
nerves, to inspire their own side, and to undermine the
morale of the enemy; the Jihad of Deception to confuse
the enemy; the Jihad of the Sword to kill the enemy,
loot his possessions and take hostages for ransom; the
Jihad of Taxation on non-Muslims and Financial Reward
to provide incentives for converts to Islam; the Jihad
of Slavery as a weapon to subjugate non-Muslims and
as an economic incentive for the mujahadeens (or holy warriors);
the Jihad of Sharia Law which degrades non-Muslims
to a lower status, denied equal access to the law because
their testimony is not valid against a Muslim; the Jihad
of Polygamy which is designed to give Muslims a disproportionate
numerical advantage through having up to 4 wives at a time;
and the Jihad of the Spirits. (For more information
see Jihad - Islamic Holy War on FF’s website: www.frontline.org.za.)
Jihad
And "The Crusades"
Inevitably
when one deals with the contemporary problem of Islamic
Jihad, someone will bring up the historical issue of the
Christian Crusades. Of course, the word crusade does not
appear in the Bible nor is it commanded in Scripture. However,
Jihad is both commanded in the Quran and practised by numerous
Muslim groups and governments today.
To
put the Crusades in their proper context, one needs to study
the rapid expansion of Islam, by the sword, across North
Africa, into Spain, throughout Asia Minor and into the Balkans.
The Islamic Jihad of the seventh to the tenth centuries
wiped out more than half of the church worldwide. Prior
to this, Christianity was the predominant religion of North
Africa and the Middle East.
The
Crusades of the Middle Ages were a reaction to the Islamic
invasion of the Holy Lands (those places where our Lord
was born, lived and ministered, was crucified and raised
from the dead) and centuries of Islamic Jihad. The Saracens
(as the Muslim invaders were called) had desecrated Christian
places of worship and were severely persecuting Christians.
Pilgrims were being prevented from visiting those sites
sacred to their faith.
To
this day many Muslims continue their "holy war"
against Christians - for example in Sudan. Millions of Christians
have been slaughtered through the centuries by Islamic militants
– such as the over 1 500 000 Armenians murdered in
Turkey in 1915.
Jihad
And Colonialism
Others
have sought to justify the Islamic practise of Jihad because
they were "victims of colonialism"! This is quite
a bizarre argument because the Muslim Arabs have been, perhaps,
the most pervasive colonialists in history. Within the first
century after Muhammad’s death, the tribes of Arabia
under the Caliphas had conquered Egypt, Libya, Tunisia,
Algeria, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Persia, parts of Byzantia
and even parts of France.
The
Muslim conquerors then enforced Arabic as the official medium
of communication throughout North Africa and the Middle
East. Only Turkey and Persia resisted this policy of Arabisation
with any success. Over 3200 churches were destroyed or converted
into mosques during the first century of Islamic Jihad alone.
The Muslim argument that Jihad was only waged in self-defense
is therefore unconvincing. What were Arabians defending
in Spain?
The
Christian Blacks in Southern Sudan and the Nuba Mountains
describe their conflict as a war of de-colonialisation from
the Arab North.
Jihad
And Slavery
After
the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century the practice
of slavery declined throughout Europe. But the spread of
Islam in the 7th century led to a great revival of the institution
of slavery, especially in Africa. Great merchant camel caravans
travelled beyond the Sahara to the vast Savannah, which
the Arabs called the Sudan (or "the land of the Black
People"). These caravans brought back long lines of
Black slaves for the Arab households and palaces on the
Mediterranean. Male household servants were routinely castrated.
Most babies born to Black slaves in the harems were drowned
or killed at birth – to maintain Arab numerical superiority.
One Arab writer in the 9th century, justified this flourishing
trade: "the kings of the Blacks sell their own people
without justification or in consequence of war." (History
of Slavery, Susanne Everett, 1996).
The
horrors of the Islamic slave trade were well documented
by explorers like David Livingstone, Samuel Baker, and the
British Anti-Slavery Commissioner in East Africa, Sir John
Kirk. These men set thousands of slaves free. The Arab slave
market in Zanzibar sold an average of 200 to 300 slaves
every day, even as late as the 1870’s. At one time,
seven out of every eight Black people in Sudan were slaves.
The
British Governor, General Charles Gordon, crushed the slave
trade in Sudan, losing his life and being beheaded in the
process. In recent years slavery has resurfaced in Sudan
under the National Islamic Front government.
"Their
deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their
hands. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed
innocent blood … ruin and destruction mark their ways."
Isaiah 59: 6 –7
The
Sudan Connection
After
the bombing attacks on the United States Embassies in Nairobi
and Dar-es-Salaam on 7 August 1998 (which left over 260
dead and 5000 injured) the US bombed targets in Sudan and
Afghanistan, claiming that those governments supported Bin
Laden’s terrorist network. The US State Department’s
April 2001"Overview of State-sponsored Terrorism"
report states that "Sudan continued to be used as a
safe haven by members of various groups, including associates
of Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qa’ida organisation, …
Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Palestine Islamic Jihad and
Hamas."
"It
was in Sudan that Bin Laden built the framework for his
Al-Qa’ida terrorist group, which has branches around
the world and thousands of young warriors willing to die
in their Jihad against the United States and its allies.
The Sudanese regime really gave birth to Osama Bin Laden,
the terrorist." (National Post, Canada, 14/9/01).
"Most
drinks contain gum arabic … Much of it is produced
in Sudan by the Gum Arabic Company, in which Bin Laden …
has owned a large slice … he has already earned tens
of millions of pounds from the soft-drinks industry –
providing years of finance for his Islamic terrorists. ‘It
is possible that every time someone buys an American soft
drink, they are helping to fill Osama Bin Laden’s coffers
…’ " (The Sunday Telegraph, London, 16/4/01).
Despite
being forced by American pressure in 1996 to move his main
base of operations from Sudan (whose government remains
sympathetic to him) to Afghanistan, "Bin Laden continues
to control millions of dollars in businesses in Sudan. This
includes construction companies, farming, banking and oil
exploitation. Analysts say that he helped finance the oil
pipeline from Khartoum…" (National Post, Canada,
14/9/01).
The
terrorist inclinations of the National Islamic Front government
of Sudan, which hosted Bin Laden, is attested to by the
savage way in which they continue to wage war against the
Christian Blacks of Southern Sudan. "In addition to
the air attacks … male villagers were killed in mass
executions; women and children were nailed to trees with
iron spikes … soldiers slit the throats of children
and killed male prisoners who had been interrogated by hammering
nails into their foreheads. In Panyejie, last July, people
had been crushed by tanks and strafed by helicopter gunships."
("Sudan – The Human Price of Oil" by Amnesty
International, May 2000).
Governments
That Support Terrorism
If
the US government is really serious about targeting not
only the terrorists that struck New York and Washington
D.C., but all those who sponsor and support terrorism, then
that would have to include the National Islamic Front government
of Sudan. And as Freedom Quest pointed out: Talisman Energy,
China National Petroleum Corp., Petronas of Malaysia, Lundin
Oil of Sweden and OMV of Austria, by investing in Sudan
are not only fueling the Jihad against the Christian Black
South, but they are "partners with a regime that supports
world terrorism." (Sudaninfo, 17/9/01)
Many
of the governments which rushed to condemn the terrorist
attacks on the US were being less than consistent. Many
of those leaders condemning the "barbaric", "insane",
"slaughter of innocent civilians" themselves came
to power through terrorist bomb blasts, and random acts
of violence against civilians. Fidel Castro, for example,
not only came to power through terrorism – but he stays
in power by state terrorism. Castro has had 17 000 Cubans
executed and 100 000 imprisoned – for political reasons
alone. Not surprisingly, over 2 million Cubans have fled
from his "workers paradise." (The Black Book of
Communism, 1999)
One
politician, who at least was honest, was the African National
Congress (ANC) Premier of the Eastern Cape. Makhenkesi Stofile
questioned the term "terrorist" to describe the
hijackers and suicide bombers. Stofile referred to them
as "guerillas" saying: "Even us (ANC members)
when we fought in the struggle, we were called terrorists."
Stofile said that he was not personally shocked by the attacks.
The ANC officially distanced themselves from the Premier’s
views (Business Day, 14/9/01).
This
brings up an important point. Many of the governments with
which the US maintains friendly relations not only came
to power through terrorism, but maintain close relations
with terrorist regimes hostile to the United States. The
ANC government of South Africa has close ties with Fidel
Castro (Cuba), Muammar Gaddafi (Libya), Yassar Arafat (Palestine)
and General Al Bashir (Sudan). All of these men have been
welcomed and hosted as state guests of honour in South Africa.
If
the US President seriously wants to deal with all the sponsors
of terrorism, he would also have to look at the United Nations
(UN), the World Council of Churches (WCC) the Foreign Office
and the US State Department. It is a fact of history that,
despite the US Department of Defense listing the African
National Congress (ANC) as a terrorist organisation, even
as late as 1988, the US State Department worked hard to
bring the ANC to power in South Africa. And the UN and World
Council of Churches provided funds to support Marxist terrorist
groups in Southern Africa.
ZANU,
ZAPU, Frelimo, SWAPO, ANC and PAC were all beneficiaries
of US taxpayer funds, entrusted to the UN; and a portion
of US church-goers’ offerings went to the National
Council of Churches. And then on to the WCC who in turn
gave to Marxist terrorists, who murdered missionaries, burned
down churches, shot down civilian airliners, placed car
bombs in public streets, land mines on farm roads and burned
hundreds of people alive in the streets.
The
state-sponsored terrorism of President Robert Mugabe in
Zimbabwe is, in large measure, the fruit of UN, WCC, Commonwealth,
British Foreign Office and US State Department policies
in the 1970’s. However, having succeeded in forcing
Mugabe and his terrorist ZANU upon the people of Rhodesia
in 1980, the UN, WCC, Foreign Office and US State Department
have seemed loathe to acknowledge the disaster they helped
set in motion. Now, 21 years later, Mugabe continues to
incite his followers with vicious racist tirades against
all Whites and Jews, and to steal and loot farms and businesses,
terrorise Supreme Court justices, bomb opposition newspaper
offices, imprison critics and murder farmers and opposition
members. (Cry Zimbabwe, Peter Stiff, 2000)
Jihad
Against Christians
Fresh
violence erupted in Africa’s most populous nation,
Nigeria, on 11 September, as Muslim youths came onto the
streets of Jos, shouting "Allah Akbar" and celebrating
the news of the successful terror attacks against America.
Soon, hundreds were dead in vicious street fighting between
the Muslims and Christians. Many hundreds of churches have
been destroyed and thousands of Christians killed by Muslim
militants in Northern Nigeria. (The Citizen, 13/9/01)
In
the Philippines and Indonesia, Christians continue to be
beheaded and churches destroyed by Muslim terrorists. In
Sudan, churches, hospitals, schools and mission stations
have been subjected to repeated aerial bombardments by the
National Islamic Front government of Sudan.
A
Christian Response
So
what should be our response to the recent terror attacks
and the ongoing Jihad against so many Christians worldwide?
Firstly,
we need to recognise that this terrorism and anti-Christian
persecution is originating from the least evangelised area
of the world – the Middle East. The birthplace of the
Church is now the most needy mission field on earth. If
we truly want to uproot the support bases of such terrorism
and implode the regimes that persecute Christians, we need
to get really serious about the Great Commission of our
Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18 - 20).
This
will mean recognising that we are already in a spiritual
world war. And the only reason why the devil is so often
winning is because the Church is so seldom fighting! We
must not just retreat into our barracks to sing our battle
songs – we must attack strongholds. We must not only
talk about our spiritual weapons – we must use them.
We must not only praise our Commanding Officer – we
must obey Him. And the best form of defence is attack.
Now
civil government has a ministry of justice. Under
God they have a Biblical duty to protect their citizens,
by bearing "the sword" and being "an agent
of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." (Romans
13:4) That is their job.
Our
duty in the Christian Church is to be a ministry of grace.
We are to be "a house of prayer for all nations"
(Mark 11:17); preaching "repentance and forgiveness
of sins … to all nations" (Luke 24:47); making
disciples of all nations and teaching obedience to all things
that the Lord has commanded. (Matthew 28: 19-20).
We
have a unique opportunity at this time of crisis to effectively
proclaim the Gospel of Christ to Muslims all over the world.
Instead of reacting with anger or malice, let us seek God’s
grace to reach out to our Muslim neighbours in Christian
love. This is the time when we can openly and politely discuss
the differences between the Gospel and example of Christ
and the teachings and actions of Muhammad. We can share
our personal testimony and challenge Muslims to consider
the claims of Christ. We can obtain and give Christian literature
or Bibles to Muslims in our neighbourhood and we should
invest in Christian radio programmes specifically designed
to reach Muslims. Then we should wholeheartedly support
missionary work in Muslim countries.
If
Bin Laden can invest in translating the Quran into African
languages and finance massive print runs of Islamic literature
– then how much more should we as Christians invest
in Bible translations and Christian literature!
By
God’s grace, Frontline Fellowship has already distributed
over 200 000 Bibles and Christian books (much in Arabic)
throughout Southern Sudan and the Nuba Mountains. We must
do much more in future.
You
must also receive more specialised training in evangelism
and particularly Muslim Evangelism. Frontline Fellowship
has designed a Muslim Evangelism Workshop – with manual
and audiotapes to help you be more effective in reaching
Muslims for Christ. We also recommend Evangelism Explosion
and SIM’s Life Challenge training programmes.
"The
desert tribes will bow down to Him and His enemies will
lick the dust ... all kings will bow down to Him and all
nations will serve Him." Psalm 72: 9-11
In
addition, we must rediscover the imprecatory Psalms, the
prayers for justice in the Bible. Many of the Psalms deal
with the grief and trauma caused by treachery and violence.
They channel our anguish and frustration in a positive way
by appealing to God in prayer. Seeking justice from God
is not only constructive and therapeutic, but of immense
spiritual power. (See: War Psalms of the Prince of Peace
by James Adams or Praying for Justice from FF).
"God
will crush the heads of His enemies ... of those who go
on in their sins." Psalm 68:21
In
the month after the terror attacks, my family and our staff
prayed through the Psalms at meal times. The Psalms are
the prayer book of the Bible – I recommend that you
pray through at least one Psalm each day. Make the Psalms
the daily prayer of your heart. It will revive your prayer
life.
Terrorist
attacks like those on 11 September 2001 should remind us
that even the best security systems can fail to prevent
such disasters. We need to rediscover God as our ultimate
protection. Governments should recognise their need for
supernatural aid in defending its people and defeating terrorism.
The elected representatives should incorporate respect and
obedience to Almighty God into the constitution and public
policy of the nation.
"Blessed
is the nation whose God is the Lord." Psalm 33:12
A
good place to begin would be to gather everyone for reading
a chapter of Proverbs and praying a Psalm each day (either
at the beginning of the day or at lunch time)in schools,
army bases, businesses and government departments.
Preparing
For Eternity
We
do not know when, or under what circumstances, our lives
will come to an end. We do, however, know that when we die
we will stand before Almighty God – our Creator and
Eternal Judge – and we will have to give an account
of our lives to Him. If you had died in those terror attacks
of 11 September – where would you be now? And what
would you be regretting?
"...
it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the
Judgement ." Hebrews
9: 27
We
need to work out our priorities in the light of eternity.
We need to invest our time, talents and treasure into those
things which are going to last for eternity: the people
of God, the Word of God and the Kingdom of God. These are
what are ultimately important. You must be ready at all
times for that which may happen at any time. Are you ready?
"Only
one life, it will soon be past. Only what’s done for
Christ will last."
Dr.
Peter Hammond
Related Resources:-
Terrorism
and Persecution - Understanding Islamic Jihad (video)
3 films on 1 DVD
Slavery, Terrorism and Islam - The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat
See Also;
The End of Islam
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