When all this went down, my wife decided it was time to read the Koran, and so she has. Begun, that is. After some time with it, she asked me if I thought Allah and God are the same thing, as so many claim.
I said "no". She asked why?
I replied, because the story of Allah from the Koran is a false narrative that contorts and changes the true self-revelation of the God of the Bible. The "god" of the Koran, or Allah, is not the God of Israel.
So please don't think that I am making comparisons between the Bible and the Koran as if they are on the same spiritual level.
Rather, in regards to content, whatever argument we might try to make against the Koran in terms of its incitement of violence toward unbelievers, the same can be said of vast portions of our Old Testament.
It doesn't make the Koran a legit holy book, or that it's an inspired by God text.
Imagine for a moment this isn't 2015 AD. This is circa 1,400 BC, and you're on your way to march against Jericho. God has, through Joshua, told you and your whole nation to lay siege to the city and kill everything that moves, including children.
If you were there, in that moment, not a Christian, but an Old Testament Jew, would you obey the Word of the Lord and lift your sword against every man, woman, and child in your line of sight?
Would you spare any? Would you break down and weep at the savagery of it all? Would the cries of pain and anguish affect you in any way?
Or would you be zealous to do God's bidding, and put all of that aside to fulfill His will?
Be honest with yourself. Yes, I know it's an unrealistic hypothetical that's never going to happen. But let it challenge the nature of your heart.
If you answer "no" you would not obey God and would not march on Jericho with your nation, to kill men, women, and children, then your devotion to Him is lacking, and you've found fault with the God you claim to love, worship, and obey.
On the other hand, if you answer "yes", you would do whatever God commanded, even to kill men, women, and children, then understand how it is that you can't go around judging the Radical Muslim who THINKS he or she is doing the will of God by obeying what they BELIEVE is God's holy word and revelation of truth.
Have you made peace with all that it's the Old Testament or not?
Yes, we are Christians, and by the grace of God, are in the New Covenant of the Lord Jesus. I'm so glad I don't have to be put into such a situation as the Conquest of Canaan. But it's the same God, friends.
And guess what? I know in my heart, that if I was at Jericho, and I was sold out to the idea that God had spoken, I know that I would obey Him, and not look back.
And that is why I don't judge a single Muslim, even the most insane, radically violent Muslim. How can I? I don't judge Israel for all that she did back when. King David is a hero to me, flaws and all. Moses stands tall in my book. But Moses also executed men on the spot and even one time had them beheaded and crucified (@ Baal Peor).
Samuel ruthlessly hacked a man to pieces to make a point to King Saul about obedience to God. Elijah personally sliced and diced hundreds of false prophets.
So let's be real. These men are the champions of the Old Testament. And our Lord and Savior descends from them, if not literally, at least in a metaphorical way. These men are not judged by Christ. God even foretold that John would come in the power and spirit of Elijah, because Elijah was His holy prophet, and stood in typology.
What's my point?
This: When our God tells His people to lay someone waste, we read it and accept it, knowing full well that our God is perfect and just and true, that there is no darkness in Him at all.
But when someone else's "god", in this case, Allah, wills the same thing, we cry foul. Rightly so, but realize: had you been born in Saudi Arabia or Iran or Turkey, you'd be a Muslim now, possibly chanting Allahu Akbar at a soccer match when a moment of silence was held because of what happened in France.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/so...icle-1.2438142
Until you can see the evil in your own heart, and face it, and know that God loved and loves you still, and realize Jesus died for you while you were yet a sinner, and what that REALLY MEANS (i.e. you deserved eternal death in the Lake of Fire), and that but for the grace of God, you're no better a man or woman than the next sinner (even the Radical Muslim bent on murder and mayhem) it will be impossible for you to have compassion for the most unlovable, evil sinners of the world, like radicalized, terrorist Muslims.
Instead, all you'll have is revulsion and judgment.
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