Quote from Forum Archives on October 19, 2001, 1:18 am

Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder Together As We
Fight the Good Fight of Faith

A personal letter of encouragement to you, written solely to "lift up hands that hang down".

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SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #198B ---- Special Edition ---- 10/17/01

TITLE: "Is Islam Islam, or Is Islam Not Islam?"

My Dear Friend:

Here's another "special edition" letter I want to share with you in light of current events. Over the past few days I've received a number of articles and references on the true nature of Islam. I'm sure you recognize that the media is revealing only one perspective of Islam based primarily on research they've done with Muslims living in America. On June 26 I sent out "Shoulder To Shoulder" #195B with initial information about Islam as explicitly revealed in the Koran. I referenced Dr. Ron Carlson's website, www.jude3.org, as a good source for you. Now I pass the following on as well. I trust it will bless and encourage you.

ODDS AND ENDS:

1. The Halloween Warning: As I mentioned Monday, I wasn't sure about the so called warning to avoid shopping malls. Now I know ---- a friend send me the following confirmation that it is indeed a hoax.

"Bob ---- I saw a news story on one of the Kansas City Channels the other night that labeled the Halloween Mall Threat (young lady with Afghan boyfriend) a hoax. It included an interview with an FBI representative. In addition, the Urban Legends page tags it as a hoax. The url is www.snopes2.com/rumors/mallrisk.htm."

2. Hoaxes and Urban Legends: It seems appropriate at a time like this to again post some of the websites to which you can go to check out possible hoaxes and other urban legends. Here are some recent additions:
www.truthorfiction.com
www.snopes2.com/rumors/mallrisk.htm

3. Website Correction: I inadvertently gave you an incorrect website on one of my "Odds and Ends" items. It should be www.aclj.org instead of aclj.com .

4. Presidential Prayer Team Update: I contacted the PPT contact Tuesday for an update; As of Tuesday there were almost 410,000 believers signed up to pray for President Bush and our nation's leadership. If you haven't signed up yet, let me urge you to do so.

5. Madison Wisconsin Reversal: You might remember my note about the school board of Madison Wisconsin's action in outlawing the pledge of allegiance. Well . . . . what a back lash! A good friend from Wisconsin sent me this information:

"One good thing I have heard recently: the Madison School Board reversed its decision to ban the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance by the children in the schools; they had mandated that the children could not recite the Pledge and that the Star Spangled Banner could only be played on musical instruments over the loud speaker, the words could not be sung even though our State had just passed a law that both or one or the other MUST be offered every day!! After calls and e-mails from the city, people in the state and from around the nation, they reversed that ruling and are allowing the Pledge to be recited by the children if they choose, the ruling coming on Monday night.

"Also I read in the paper that the School Board of Edgerton Schools had demanded that a 'God Bless America' sign be removed from in front of the school that had been placed there by one of the classes after Sept. 11; many people turned out there to demand that the board reverse the decision and replace the sign, which was done the next day. The board president had threatened to resign if the sign was removed, but he was out voted for awhile. He says he is still resigning.

"Well, all this just makes me know how urgent it is that we pray, that we as Christians keep our hearts and lives pure, as it appears this COULD be the beginning of the end, or the beginning of sorrows as Jesus said."

6 A Letter From the Middle East:

As I'm sure you understand, because of the current situation, the following letter from a friend is written is shadowed terms for safety purpose. However, some of the comments remind me of just how far two countries that many people feel are God's special prizes have gone in their depravity, ours being one. Read on:

"We've had a relatively quiet week. In this neck of the woods that is a good thing! We continue to try and stay up with the news without obsessing about it. The developments across the River today with the loss of one of their cabinet members was unwelcome for us. Continue to ask that those folks return to the Father and that their neighbors here are visited by Him as they have been so many times in the past. (Did you realize that Elijah lived over here, as John the B. most likely did, and the Son's travels brought Him here in several recorded passages?)

"Our apartment building gets Arab Sat TV. A truly ironic mix of information. We get several Arab stations, the only news we understand is a 10 p.m. English broadcast by a Jordanian station. We also receive at least one station from the Land Across the River. The level of decadence that their TV displays is unparalleled...of course we've never gotten MTV, but there are times we have run the channels and can't believe our eyes. In other words, the People of the Book ARE NOT living by it. Finally, we get CNN World, which is similar to what you get at home, but international."

"Circumstances at home are always in our hearts and minds. We encourage you all to be hopeful. We look at the Father's timeline...and wonder...where are we on it these days? The other night we were talking about that, and I was being 'realistic' and said, 'You know, there have always been times like this...and the faithful ALWAYS think, NOW is the time of His return.' And then I realized that He ENCOURAGED us to ALWAYS be looking for His return. Never does it tell us to take the long view of history and "reason away" our thoughts that THIS might be the time. Instead, He said, 'Watch and pray!!' We have such a hopeful Father who always encourages us to look ahead and to trust in Him and anticipate when His glory will be revealed. The Son prayed for His kingdom to come and His will to be done...on earth as it is in Heaven!

"What a great prayer for times like these!"

MORE INFORMATION ON ISLAM:

Some of the most genuine, courteous, and passive people Jo Ann and I have met in recent years have been the Muslims we have come to know in the Blakans. Every Christian I have spoken to in that region have attested to the same. Some of our team members who have spent severan months or even years in that region frequently talked about the interesting and genuine discussions they had with Muslims.

However, notwithstanding, I have felt for at least ten years that the religion of Islam is a far greater threat to the Church and to democracy than Communism ever was. I believe it more today than ever before. In an effort to continue expanding our understanding if Islam, I share the following pieces of information with you. I trust they will be helpful.

1. Tuesday I received the following from a friend who lives in Jordan. For his safety, I cannot tell you more. But please take note. You need to blank out an hour or so to learn some amazing things about Islam. www.belmont.org/ram/09192001_56k.ram . This is an audio teaching tape that is quite well done.

Copy this link, open Realplayer ( if you do not have this program go to www.real.com - free download of the realplayer basic) and go to file, then "open location," paste in this link in the blank space and I think it will start on its own. If it does not, then hit the play button. The file may open if you just double click on it in this email...I don't know for sure.

If that does not work, go to the church website at www.belmont.org and look down near the bottom of the opening page and find the link to listen to teaching on Islam. It is good stuff and well worth it!

2. Below are three consecutive commentaries by Chuck Colson in which he gives excellent information regarding Islam. I addition I received the following resource references from Breakpoint. I believe you'll find them extremely helpful.

"To support the series this week, the BreakPoint Store at Parable.com has gathered many additional resources on Islam to help get you up to speed on Islam and other world religions. Come see the selection at www.parable.com/breakpoint/default.asp?group=686&rid=159

"Plus, don't miss some timely new books on the problem of evil and the role of faith in the American Experiment, featured on the BreakPoint Store home page: www.parable.com/breakpoint

"To subscribe to this list go to: www.breakpoint.org/transcripts.taf

BreakPoint Commentary - October 15, 2001
A View from the Afghan Border: Islam Series 1
By Charles W. Colson

"After the September 11 terrorist attacks, I dismissed those responsible as simply anarchists. Serious Muslims, I argued, don't frequent strip joints and bars.

I" was wrong. My eyes were opened in a conversation at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary board meeting with fellow board member Christie Wilson, III. Christie grew up in Afghanistan where his parents were missionaries and he continues to be active in ministry to Muslims.

"On September 11, Christie was on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. He heard about the attacks in the home of a Muslim friend who was watching the television coverage. Christie saw and heard the reactions of Afghans and Pakistanis firsthand. Some were deeply sympathetic. Others danced for joy in the streets.

"We are seeing, said Christie, a major power struggle within Islam with serious implications for the entire world. There are, he said, two main sects within Islam -- the Sunnis (the 90 percent majority), and the Shi'ites. After the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632, four rulers, or caliphs, divided the leadership of Muhammad's religious state. Sunnis believe that
all four were legitimate. Shi'ites believe that only one, Ali, was the legitimate successor. The result is a deep schism within the Muslim world over Islamic law and spiritual authority.

"Radical Sunnis -- including bin Laden, the Taliban, and the terrorist network -- are now stirring up unrest in the Arab world and beyond. Bin Laden is not engaged in terror for terror's sake, but is cultivating his role as the leader of the radical Sunnis.

"Bin Laden's plan is to arouse anti-Western passions and bring radical elements to leadership throughout the Muslim world. In an October 7 broadcast, bin Laden said, 'I tell them that these events have divided the world into two camps, the camp of the faithful and the camp of infidels. . . . Every Muslim must rise to defend his religion.'

"The moderate Sunnis in places like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait could be deposed by an uprising of radical groups who buy into bin Laden's utopian vision of a single, unified Islamic state. If bin Laden can stir up firebrands in those countries, he can topple them. He will then consolidate power among radical Sunnis which will be the next step to
an all-out Muslim jihad against the West.

"The Islamic worldview denies the sinfulness of man, which gives rise to utopian visions: If man is corrupted by society, then those who come to power can create the perfect society by strictly enforcing Islamic law. I hasten to add this is not a view most Muslims hold, but make no mistake, bin Laden is seeking to change that. If bin Laden succeeds, the
consequences for the world would be catastrophic.

"This is, as President Bush said, a war with very high stakes. And this is why the president has built a coalition of support for the U.S., including moderate Muslims. The stage is being set by bin Laden, however, for a major confrontation between the West and Islam. He must not be allowed to succeed.

"Christians need to understand these issues, which is why I'll be talking about them over the next several days. And we need to pray that our sovereign God will protect the cause of liberty and freedom, that we will triumph over these new tyrants just as freedom and liberty triumphed over Hitler, Stalin, and the other tyrants of the twentieth century."

For further reading: www.nytimes.com/2001/10/07/international/07LAD
Copyright (c) 2001 Prison Fellowship Ministries

"BreakPoint, October 17, 2001
By Charles Colson

"Understanding Islam's Ideology and Worldview Islam Series 2

"Americans are confused about how Islam -- a religion that we've been told is known for peace and morality -- can spawn the vicious murder of innocents in the name of God. The key to understanding those who committed the atrocities in New York and Washington, and those who supported them, has to do with the Islamic worldview.

"For most Muslims in America, Islam is simply a religion. Muslims believe in the six articles of Islam and practice the required 'Acts of Worship' which include prayer five times a day, fasting through the month of Ramadan, and, if possible, a pilgrimage to Mecca, where Muhammad founded the religion in A.D. 622.

"There is, however, another aspect of Islam that many seem reluctant to acknowledge. Islam is more than a religion: It is an ideology with a clear sociopolitical agenda.

"As Dr. Samuel Schlorff, an expert on Islam with Arab World Ministries puts it, "The truth is that there is another side to Islam, a side that embraces violence 'in the way of Allah.' . . . It holds that all men are created to live in submission to Allah, as prescribed by Islamic law. Muslims believe that Islam's destiny is to extend its control until the whole Dar al-Harb [which means "House of War" -- that is, the whole non-Muslim world] is subject to Islamic law in an Islamic state, and this includes the use of force."

"Islam, we've been told, is related to the Arabic word meaning 'peace.' This is correct, except that the word means a particular kind of peace. A better translation is 'surrender' or 'submission.' It describes the peace when a vanquished soldier lays down his arms in submission. And so the very name, Islam, has militaristic connotations, and in this lies
the root of radical Islam. That root then grows in the soil of the Islamic worldview.

"Muslims view God, Allah, as absolutely transcendent. While Christians understand that the Lord God reveals himself through the Scriptures and preeminently in the Incarnation, Muslims insist that Allah never reveals himself in that way. He primarily reveals his will.

"Muslims also believe in the inherent goodness of people as over against the Christian doctrine of original sin. Christians understand that we are incapable of following God's law and are thus in need of salvation, a fundamental difference. Muslims believe that we don't need salvation. What we need is guidance and that guidance is the Islamic law, an all
encompassing system that controls every aspect of everyday life. (It is administered, by the way, by religious leaders.)

"As Dr. Schlorff puts it, 'The model requires a Muslim government to provide the legal and social framework necessary to facilitate submission to the law. There is no separation between the sacred and the secular, between church and state. This community is one, universal, and cohesive, representing for Muslims the kingdom of God on earth.' And all
people of earth are called to submit, for based on this worldview, any who do not submit are living sub-human lives and are impeding Islam's utopian vision for the world.

"Christians certainly talk about submitting to God, but we do not mean what Muslims mean. Now all Christians should respect law-abiding Muslims in this country. But we also should understand our differences. It is all in the worldview, and our differences are very great."

"For further reading:

"Dr Samuel Schlorff, "Can you explain for me the Mindset of the Islamic
Terrorist?" Arab World Ministries, 2001.

"Dr Samuel Schlorff, "Muslim Ideology and Christian Apologetics,"
Missiology, Vol. 21, No. 2 (April 1993).

BreakPoint Commentary - October 17, 2001
Understanding Islam's Religion and Doctrine: Islam Series 3
By Charles W. Colson

"Our BreakPoint editor, Jim Tonkowich, met with a Muslim friend just after Ramadan, the month in which Muslims are obliged to fast daily from sunrise to sunset. Jim asked, 'Do you feel closer to God after the fast?' His friend laughed. 'That's not a Muslim question,' he replied, 'That's a question Christians ask. God is to be obeyed because he is God.'

"This interchange highlights critical differences between what Christians believe and what Muslims believe.

"The first difference has to do with God. Christians understand their relationship with God as between a loving Father and His children. The Church is called the bride of Christ who Christ loves and for whom He died. The picture expressed in the Bible and in Christian hymnody and spiritual writings is one of intimacy, warmth -- even passion -- between a loving
God and His redeemed people. And our God reveals Himself as one God in three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is love and intimacy within the Godhead before He created anything.

"Allah, the Arabic word meaning 'the God,' is never understood in this way. Allah is removed, aloof, and distant. He is a god of justice, not a god of love. His revelation is primarily a revelation of his will.

"While Islam lists the Old and New Testaments among the scriptures, from its point of view, Christians believe in three gods because we believe that God is Trinity.

"Muslims believe that Allah's will has been revealed through prophets. Their list of prophets includes Moses and Jesus, but they believe that the greatest prophet was Muhammad.

"Muhammad had visions in which he claimed the angel Gabriel appeared to him and revealed Allah's will. The record of these visions is the Qur'an that can be seen as the constitution of Islam. The Shari'a or Islamic law, applies the Qur'an to every aspect of life and gives Islam its sociopolitical and geopolitical agenda.

"All of Islam is upheld by the 'Five Pillars of Islam' to which every Muslim is to submit. These are: the belief that there is no god except the one god, Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet; prayer five times each day; giving to the poor; the yearly fast of Ramadan; and, if possible, a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Arabian city were Muhammad first established Islam in
A.D. 622.

"Four of the pillars revolve around the Islamic doctrine of man. Muslims believe that children are born sinless and Muslim and are subsequently led astray. Guidance in the form of the Islamic law is necessary to live a life pleasing to Allah who, after death, will judge each person by weighing the good done against sins. Salvation is not necessary since
all people have in themselves the ability to obey. Entry into heaven is a matter of submission and personal effort -- no assurance, by the way. This is easiest, of course, in an Islamic state that enforces Islamic law.

"To judge by some of what I've heard in the past few weeks, you'd think Islam was little more than a variation of Christianity and Judaism. Not so. Islam's ideas about God, humanity, and salvation are vastly different from the biblical doctrines. And ideas -- I'll never get tired of saying -- have consequences."

For further reading:
You can get a copy of the brochure mentioned in today's on-air closer that commemorates September 11 at www.DCHope.com/.

Copyright (c) 2001 Prison Fellowship Ministries

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IN CONCLUSION:

A "friend of a friend", apparently having received a copy of Monday's "Shoulder To Shoulder" letter and also Series #2 of Colson's letters above made the following remarks:

"Two quotes from the attached article particularly struck me (1) 'For most Muslims in America, Islam is simply a religion', and (2) 'Dar al-Harb' [which means 'House of War' -- that is, the whole non-Muslim world].

"We should know: (1) For Most Christians in America, Christianity is also simply a religion, and (2) Our churches are supposed to be "Houses of Prayer" - but aren't! Will we ---- American Christians ---- properly face the challenge before us? Will we humble ourselves, pray, and repent? Will we pass the test? Only God knows.
Then he quotes the venerable R. A. Torrey ---- "It was a master-stroke of the devil to get the church and the ministry to lay aside the mighty weapon of prayer. He does not mind at all if the church expands her organizations and her deftly contrived machinery for the conquest of the world for Christ, if she will only give up praying. He laughs softly, as he looks at the church of today, and says under his breath: "you can have your Sunday schools, your social organizations, your grand choirs, and even your revival efforts, as long as you do not bring the power of Almighty God into them by earnest, persistent, and believing prayer." (R. A. Torrey, "How to Obtain Fullness of Power")

That's the bottom line ---- prevailing prayer that mobilizes the Christian against the powers of darkness on the one hand and into the harvest fields with the truth of the Gospel on the other.

In Christ's Bond,

Bob Tolliver -- Rom 1:11-12
Copyright October, 2001

Life Unlimited Ministries
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