Islam VS Peace!

Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11

      Jesus promised there would be "wars and rumors of wars" (Mat. 24:6; Mk. 13:7; Lk. 21:9). There are some 60 wars in progress even as I speak to you now. There are people and places that have never known peace in their lifetime. Our own nation is at war and our president has warned us that it will not soon be over. Two American servicemen are already dead. We marvel that the number is so few and thank God that more have not been killed in this war. It will not likely be over soon. Terrorists have struck and they are determined to strike again.

      There has been war and strife in the Middle East for the last 1400 years. That strife and war has now reached our mainland. The origin of Islam began when a itinerant street-preacher from Mecca (Saudi Arabia today) began his work. Mohammed was born about 570 AD, orphaned soon afterward and reared by his uncle and grandfather. He grew up to be a modest, respected businessman who rejected the polytheism of Mecca. Somewhere along the way he was exposed to Monotheism of Judaism and Christianity.

      At about age 40 he retreated to a cave in the mountains near Mecca to meditate. It was there that he claimed he was visited by the archangel, Gabriel, who, according to Mohammed, began reciting God's word to him. This continued for some 23 yearsÄ until he died. Some time after he died his followers began writing these sayings down and these writing came to be known as "The Koran".

      Mohammed was driven from the city of Mecca to Yathrid (Medina) where he continued to preach. Soon he had a great following and launched a battle against Mecca and won that battle. Within a few years he became ruler of Arabia and his empire extended throughout North Africa all the way to Spain, Portugal, crossed the Mediterranean to France and then eastward to China. All this was done by military force' called Jihad (holy war). Mohammed died in 632 AD but his Caliphs continued their military conquests. Their message was/ has been, and will be "Surrender or die". Their message is the same today.

THE ENORMITY OF THE PROBLEM.

      A. The Problem World-wide.

1. Christianity numbers 2 billion world-wide.

2. Islam numbers 1.3 billion

3. Hinduism numbers 900 million

4. Buddhism numbers 360 million

      B. Muslims - found in 40 nations of the world.(significant numbers.)

1. Indonesia 181 million

2. Pakistan- 141 million

3. India - 124 million

4. Bangladesh - 111 million

5. Turkey- 66 million

6. Egypt - 66 million

7. Iran - 65 million

8. Nigeria - 63 million

9. China - 38 million

10. USA- 6 million and growing rapidly.

II. THE VOLATILE MIX OF FAITH AND POLITICS.

      A.  Islam is a dangerous mix of false prophecy, false claims, politics, along with small amounts of Christianity and Judaism.

      B.  Islam knows no separation of church and state. (compare Matt. 22: 17) In the world of Islam for 1400 years the mandate has been "convert to Islam or die" Millions have died rather than converting. There is little or no religious freedom there.)

      Notice a brief trace of their militant advance. (Taliban is just the latest of 1400 years of militant advancement

            1.    Mohammed began with his first war against the army of Mecca in 630 AD. He won that war. He defeated Medina and had 600 captives beheaded. After he conquered Medina, the march continued.

The latest is in Afghanistan which has had 23 years of war. The land is in ruins beyond description . Cities have been bombed into rubble by the Russians for ten years (and now by the bombs of the North Alliance). Villagers have been slaughtered, irrigation systems destroyed, wheat fields planted with land mines, etc. 1.5 million Afghans were killed in the war with the Soviet union (1979-1989)

Millions have been killed in their many civil wars. 3.5 million have fled to Pakistan and Iraq. Famine is everywhere. 25% of today's Afghan's children will die before they reach age 5yrs. The life expectancy for all men and women is 46 yrs. There is little or no electricity, very little water, health sources are extremely rare and non- existent for women. Only 50% of Afghan men are literate and only 15% of the women. The Taliban revolution removed all women from workplaces and school.

            2.   The Anglo-Afghan conflict. 1838 the British invaded Afghanistan to counter the Russians. The British were massacred by 1842.

1878 Britain again invaded to counter the Russians. Britain and Afghanistan signed a peace treaty.

1893-95 Civil war divided the land and half of what is now Pakistan was once Afghanistan.

1919 Afghanistan troupes attacked the British and gained their independence.

1921 Afghanistan signed a peace treaty with Russia.

1923-29 Civil wars with attempt to reform the nation.

Afghanistan has been in some 24 wars since 1838.

      D.  The Taliban Takeover. The Taliban militia took over Afghanistan in 1996. This ended years of fighting among ethnic factions. The Taliban movement promised:

1. to restore order

2. to disarm the population

3. to enforce Islamic law

4. to turn the Muslim world back to the 7th century which would mean:

i. executing criminals on the soccer field

ii. banning women from the workplace/schools, etc.

iii. forcing all men to wear beards.

III. ISLAMIC RECRUITING: People wonder what the attraction is for those who join Islam. Minister Louis Farakan in our own nation has a tremendous following and is now demanding that our nation deed land to him and followers that they may have their own nation called "The Nation of Islam" within these United States.

      A. Members are recruited mainly from:

            1. the young

            2. the poor

            3. the uprooted

      B. Islamic Movements have never gained government control through election. Control is always through militant overthrow, war, etc.

      C. Peaceful, just, humane is the claim of many Muslims. Such has never happened. Such can never happen under Islamic Law.

IV. THE REAL DANGER TO WORLD PEACE!

      A.  What happened in New York and Washington, DC was very real and cannot be denied. We are still recovering bodies from ground zero in New York.

      B.  We have not heard even one word from the Islamic world condemning this despicable, cowardly invasion. Minister Louis Farakan is silent as a tomb.

      C.  The terrible build up of the Militant Muslim world must be reckoned with.

      D.  Note the Training of young people to hate and kill. Pakistan has 141 million Muslims. Note what they are doing with their young men.

            1.   Pakistan has 10,000 madrassas (schools) for the training of militant Muslims. Example: Haqqania (one of 10,000 madrasssas) where 2800 students, ranging in age from 8 yrs. to 35 yrs. are trained daily. College age students are enrolled for an 8 yr course. They study the Koran, and the Hadith (sayings of Mohammed). There are no courses in English, Math, world history, music, computers, science, etc. They are all trained in Jihad (holy war). Osama bin Laden is their hero. When the war began to go bad with Osama bin Laden this entire madrassa (school) was closed and the students were sent to the front line of battle in Afghanistan.

The madrassas (school) program includes hours of memorizing the Koran, and hours of lecture from the teacher. The students were asked by a visitor recently, "Who wants to see Osama bin Laden use nuclear weapons?" Every hand went up. There is no TV, radio, newspaper, etc. in the school. Students are awakened before dawn to pray. Dormitories are thread bare and filthy. There is no cafeteria and students are fed at the kitchen. The menu includes a serving of rice, curry, and bread. There are no females at this school. There are no "family days". Students are allowed to play cricket and volleyball in the afternoon. They youngest boys are kept under lock and key in a guarded dormitories. They youngest boys sit cross-legged from 4 - 8 hours memorizing he Koran.

Pakistan has 10,000 such hate schools. One student declared, "All things come from Allah." The atomic bomb comes form Allah, so it should be used." (See Readers Digest, Jan. 2002)

V. WESTERN PROPAGANDA:

      A.  Were the 9/11 terrorists "fanatics?" Or, examples of the Muslim world?

      B.  Don't believe the TV self-made authorities on Islam. Don't believe wandering Islam clerics who are so vocal today. Do your own homework. Talk to those who have lived in the Muslim-controlled world. Remember Japan's ambassadors were on a "peace mission" with Franklin D. Roosevelt when their planes were actually bombing Pearl Harbor. History repeated itself on Sept. 11, 2001.

      C.  Have you heard even one Muslim condemn Osama bin Laden's cowardly attack? Has there been any condemnation from Minister Louis Farakan of the Nation of Islam?

      D. There has been no "fatwa" (religious decree) issued condemning this cowardly, criminal behavior? Not one Muslim had declared that Osama bin Laden has violated Islamic law.

VI. WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE?

      A.  "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. " (Pr. 14:34). "Jihad" war is not holy war! IT IS SIN!

      B.  When will God bless America? (Jer. 18:7-9)

            1. to pluck up, pull down, to destroy...

            2 "If that nation repent... "

            3. to build, to plant,...

            4. "if it do evil...I will repent... "

      C. Study Israel's history

      D. Compare our own history

      E. Who holds your future?

            1. Have you surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

            2. Have you confessed His Holy Name?

            3. Are you In Christ?

            4. Are you living like a follower of Christ should live?

            5. Are you praying daily for our President? Other rulers?

            6. Are you praying for Osama bin Laden?

            7. Are you praying for our servicemen who are at risk that we might be free?

-- John M. Davis