The Danger of Islamophobia
http://www.yesumulungi.com/index.php/commentaries/360-the-danger-of-islamophobia.html
Arthur Owiti | August 4, 2009
Christians should avoid in word and deed 'Islamophobic Christianity', which is an off shoot of Political Christianity. This theology is based on fear of men instead of the fear of God. Our real enemy is the devil and his kingdom, not Arab Moslems or Buddhists or secularists who have been blinded by him.
This is not to say that we will not face confrontation and persecution from such .The scriptures say we will suffer persecution from within and without. However it does not justify fear mongering or hatred on the side of Christians, but steadfastness in faith without offence, and walking in forgiveness in the face of opposition.
As our Lord set the example when he prayed for his murderers that God would forgive them, we have to follow his footsteps in this world where hatred is abounding and forgive and pray for our enemies.
Right now the Evangelical church in Kenya is busy fighting the inclusion of Moslem Kadhi courts in the upcoming constitution .Although the 'Kadhi clause ' is present in the current constitution, the church wants it excluded from the new constitution on the basis of separation of State and Religion. This is just another futile attempt of enforcing Political Christianity in Kenya. It is also ignorance of Bible prophecy concerning the Last Days and the antichrist rule stated in the prophetic scriptures.
EFFECTS
Such a scenario when fanned for long creates animosity and war between the two groups for nothing but gain for the religious elite of both divides. It is a calculated method of divide and rule where the Christian elite remind Christians that Moslems are the reason why they are suffering economically and socially, while the Moslem elite remind the Moslems that Christianity( which they erroneously conjunct with Westernization) is the cause of their woes in the world. What we should not forget is that words can start wars like sparks start forest fires.
Secondly, it makes Christians focus on physical enemies instead of wrestling spiritual enemies. Christians ignore the doctrine of demons, the spirits of error and antichrist in the church; because they are busy fighting Sharia Law. They are working hard to be rich so as to own property owned by Moslems in the cities.
This Islamophobia and Political Christianity is a big blindfold to the real issues bedeviling the church. Yet we are warned in the book of 2 Corinthians, THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE IGNORANT OF THE DEVICES OF THE ENEMY. The deception and the work of the enemy is within the church today to try and prevail against the saints of God. To tempt Christians to love the world thus become enemies of God.
We are not fighting flesh and blood but spiritual entities in the heavenly realms. And in this spiritual war we cannot employ worldly weapons such as, Christian Constitutions or Christian Presidents. The armor of God not the armor of men is what every Christian needs to overcome.
The current brewing animosity in Kenya makes the poor of both divides either fight or justifies an attack on either side. Nigeria's recent attack on Islamists and the current chaos in Pakistan affecting both Christians and Moslems, serve as examples. The common denominator between the two divergent sides is that most of the dead and suffering are the poor.
What many Christians do not know is that a large part of Christendom is religiously cooperative with Islam and other religions covertly, but overtly, they show division and opposition to confuse and rule the masses. There are many Christian universities that are proudly calling themselves Ecumenical. They teach inter -religious relations so as to create harmony amongst religions and other denominations. This is just a branch of Ecumenism which has the goal of one world religion, which is worship of the coming Antichrist, hence rejecting the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Moreover, guys like Rick Warren and TD Jakes are the new kids on the Evangelical block who are luring Evangelicals to live in religious unity and harmony with others, instead of preaching the truth of the gospel in love. The religious wars and conflicts will be used as an excuse to create tolerance in religion and economic order and those who refuse to follow suit, insisting on truth, will be seen as divisive terrorists and extremists.
ISLAM AND THE WESTERN CULTURE DIFFERENT BUT THE SAME
Islam is seen as a problem because it is a threat to Western culture which has dominated the whole world and controls its systems. It is despised because of its cultural differences rather than spiritual. One thing is clear about the cultures: they are in spiritual darkness because they are based on the customs of men.
Even with this battle of cultures, there seems to be synchronization between the two as the world is running on a Westernized system, now being called Global.
In short it is more of a culture war than a spiritual war. Culture wars have to do with gaining the world and riches and even though religion can accompany it. Religion is used as a cloak to rally support from the masses. The real spiritual war will surface when the Antichrist is revealed and worshiped and prevails against the saints, because of spiritual worship and not cultural differences.
Thus today religion like racism is another cloak for war in the world. However the real war is spiritual, between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. This is where Christians wrestle and not in worldly wars.
WHY ISLAMOPHOBIA?
Ignorance…
Ignorance of what the word of God says about those who do not believe in Christ, of spiritual warfare, the wiles of the enemy and the end times. This is the same ignorance that forms the basis of Racism. Fear thrives easily in the darkness than in the light. Thus we tend to fear what we do not know or find different. Most theorists form their theories out of ignorance. Darwin based his theories on man's judgment and wisdom which is basically far from the truth. But in the end, he shaped a worldview for the Western world.
So Dominionists/Political Christians borrow man's judgment for discernment. e.g. 'You are lost because you are not Westernized’, ‘You are cursed because you are living in poverty’…’I am blessed because I am rich and have many goods’. All this is outward judgment which Darwin also employed to show superiority and inferiority.
Thus the war in Iraq was seen to crush antichrist, anti western system...evil, because they do not practice Western culture. Is one disobedient or lost because he is an Arab or because of the blinding of the enemy, the god of this world? When we answer this question rightly we will be at least steady in our judgment and our spiritual warfare in knowing who the real enemy is.
Jesus tells us to judge righteous judgment .This is possible when we use the word of God and not our own judgment and knowledge. This why Isaiah 11 foretold of Jesus Christ who will judge with righteous judgment and not by what He just sees or hears.
We should not hate flesh and blood when we realize that they are our enemies but we should love and speak the truth in deed and word that they may see the light of the gospel which can penetrate their darkened minds and turn to Jesus Christ.
What we hate is the evil and iniquity in the doctrine and belief.
The recent Mid East wars we have seen have nothing to do with changing the spiritual lives of the enemies but everything to do with the physical gains, like all worldly wars. They use religion as a cover up for wealth aggrandizement, pitting Religion with the Rich Men and Kings of the earth. However Political Christians are blinded to believe that such wars are for a spiritual cause...utter deception.
It is not Christian legislation or Christian police or guns that will crush evil.
It is not Christian armies or Christian Presidents or constitutions that will transform Moslems and Buddhists to follow Christ.
It is preaching the gospel in word and deed that can transform whoever chooses to believe. It is Jesus Christ that will prevail against the ungodly Antichrist world on that day. The love of the world embodied in Political Christianity will make us enemies of Christ if we do not repent and turn to him in obedience.
Overcome the spiritual evil forces by the word of our testimony and the blood of the Lamb. We testify about Jesus in word and deed by doing what he says and walking as he walked in a world that has been blinded by the enemy and will be in delusion when they hate the truth by following the man of sin. Let us continue loving the truth.
In Christ
Arthur Owiti
