April knows me too well and like waving a cape in front of a bull, she puts a link on my Facebook page knowing I would react: Anti-Islam church sign stirs up community outrage
Those behind a sign posted in front of their northwest Gainesville church, proclaiming in red letters "Islam is of the devil," say it's a way to express their religious beliefs and is a message of "a great act of love."
Some living near the Dove World Outreach Center, however, are outraged and disappointed with the sign's message, which has sparked protests and acts of vandalism at the church since it was posted over the weekend.
"It's an act of saying there is only one way, and that is actually what Christianity is about. It is about pointing the people in the right direction, and that right direction is Jesus and only Jesus," said the church's senior pastor, Terry Jones. "We feel the sign is an act of giving the people a chance."
So here are a couple of thoughts…
First, is Islam of the devil? In the sense that any false religion is of the devil, then yes it is. Any religious system that doesn’t lead to Christ is by definition a false religion. God’s Word has declared Christ to be the eternal Son of God and that faith in Him is the only way for a person to be justified. Any religion that denies Christ for who He is revealed to be is listening to the serpent saying again: Did God really say? So yes, Islam is of the devil.
Second, that same statement based on those same standards means that there are a lot of religions that fall into that category. Judaism apart from Christ is also a false religion because it denies the divinity and exclusivity of Christ. I wonder if they would put up a sign in Gainesville, Florida that says “Judaism is of the devil”? Most Protestant confessions from the reformation era identify the pope as the anti-Christ. Will they put up a sign that says “Catholicism is of the devil”? Perhaps it is an easier and more politically palatable target to say “Islam is of the devil” instead of “Judaism is of the devil”?
Third, is that the sort of witnessing you see in the Bible? I think there is a difference between proclaiming Christ and Him crucified and a sign in front of your building proclaiming “Islam is of the devil”. It kind of reminds me of Fred Phelps and his church with their “God hates fags” signs. It seems that people like this enjoy causing a stir and then seeing the visceral reaction they caused, enjoy their feelings of righteous “persecution”.
Maybe it is just me, but perhaps this isn't exactly what we are supposed to do to carry out the Great Commission.
1 comment:
I agree with you, Arthur.
Islam is of the devil. My pastor likes to say that he believes that Islam was satan'r counterpunch to the gospel.
But, that probably isn't the way to gain converts and it may harden the hearts of people to hearing the Word.
If that sign were at a church in my neighborhood, the church would more than likely be burned to the ground in a matter of days. But that is another topic.
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