In our primer on ideologies opposed to western Christian teachings we come to Islam. Since Islam is now the fastest growing religion in America (overtaking Mormonism in the winter of 2001) we must ready ourselves to defend the faith before them, communicate the gospel to them, and guide them into a personal relationship with Jesus. We must learn to address them with courage, righteousness and love if we are to successfully turn them from the darkness of their ideology and toward forgiveness in Christ. Addressing Islam will be the greatest challenge the western church will face for the foreseeable future.

There are two aspects of Muslim life, religious and civic. In regard to religious life, Muslim’s are guided by the Quran which they believe to be the very words of Allah, penned by him in Arabic. It is Allah’s final testament to mankind and usurps the authority of all other religious texts. In this book is the teaching of jihad, or war against unbelievers. Just as Allah is characterized as being able to do anything to achieve his ends, including lying, so too is humanity enabled to do evil if the end result is to accomplish Allah’s will. Allah is therefore very different from Elohim and the Quran very different from the Jewish and Christian Scriptures.

Jihad is an important concept in Islam, and permission is granted in the Quran for Muslims to make slaves of Christians and Jews who will not convert to Islam, or to simply kill them. Lying in wait on a roadside to find and kill a Christian or Jew is acceptable and encouraged. All ruthlessness is encouraged in any dealings with infidel. Dying while warring with unbelievers is the only guaranteed method of salvation.

In regard to civic life, many crimes may be met with extreme penalty, but Muslim men have the advantage in the criminal justice system. Women are considered property, must always respect Muslim men and server their husband. Muslim men may have many wives, and keep infidel slaves for sexual exploitation. Muslim women may only have one husband. Non-Muslims have even fewer rights in Islamic-controlled regions and are supposed to pay an exorbitant tax to the governing authorities in a fashion that humiliates the unbeliever. When the infidel stops being useful to the Islamic state they may be killed without prejudice.

Just as individuals are permitted wide latitude in dealing with unbelievers, so their government is given the right to deal treacherously with foreign, non-Islamic powers. They may lie, cheat, steal and break treaties at will so long as doing so is to their own advantage. All victories, even small ones, are used to encourage the faithful that Allah is on their side. Islamic states therefore cannot be befriended by or even allies with infidel nations.

One must ask, is there any rule of law if honesty, morality and conscience are not foundation stones of the society. All Muslims, even benevolent ones who abstain from practicing jihad, are victims of this system and are to receive our loving and salvation.

For a more detailed look at Islam and how to draw Muslims toward Christianity, check out the book “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi. This compelling read shows how a devout Muslim learned to trust in Jesus and the journey he took from Allah to find Elohim. One of the great lessons of the book is just how one can be Muslim and not practice jihad, and the tension to accept it even if one does not personally practice it.

For part three in this series click the following link: http://think-biblically.com/8-blog/363-mormonism