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Former Terrorist: Moderate Islam More Dangerous Than Islamic Fanaticism?

Grace and Truth to You has posted an inside look at Islam as told by a former leader in the world's largest terrorist organization who now claims to be a Christian.  All of the posts are worth a read.

In the first post, entitled Escape from Hamas: A Christ Honoring Story, the story of the conversion of Mossab Hassan Yousef is referenced as told through a Fox News Investigative Report.  "Yousef is the son of the only surviving founding council member of Hamas, the largest terrorist organization in the world." 

This documentary focused on the extraordinary conversion to Christianity of Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son Sheikh Hassan Yousef, the founder of Hamas. It seems that Yousef (he prefers to be called "Joseph") was led to examine Christianity by a Christian tourist in Jerusalem who took the time to witness to him. Joseph's account on FOX of how he came to faith in Christ, his bold and direct denunciation of Islam and the violence associated with the Koran, and his desire to see his Muslim brothers come to faith in Christ made for extraordinary must see T.V.  A short video about Joseph can be seen here.

In the second installment, Mossab Hassan Yousef, The Son of Hamas, Who Himself Has Become a Follower of Jesus Christ, the author reflects on the content of a message given by Yousef at his church.  Writes the author, Wade Burleson:

One of the more startling things about this refreshingly honest and humble evangelical follower of Jesus Christ is his denunciation of Islamic idealogy. He loves Muslims, but he despises Islamic teaching. He says anyone who can read the Koran, and chooses to believe it, is sick and needs help. The Koran teaches the ideaology of hate and violence. Any logical, rational person who simply compares the teachings of the Koran and the teaching of Jesus Christ would see the radical ideological differences. But therein lies the problem.

Mossab Hassan points out that there are 1.5 billion Muslims. Only 300 million of them speak Arabic, but it is street Arabic and not the "high" Arabic of the Koran. Muslims don't even know what the Koran teaches, so they have to read hundreds of books or listen to dozens of Islamic teachers who will tell them, often incorrectly, what the Koran teaches. Mossab Hassan wants the Koran translated into the common languages of mankind so that people can read it and understand it. He says Muslims are deceived. They are trapped in an ideology of hate, and the only way to provide them solutions for their problems is to show them another way to live--and that is through the ideology of "love"--which provides a solution for every problem, even those caused by your enemies.

In light of the recent murders at Fort Hood by an islamic military major, the third installment, Nidal Hasan: Are Moderate Muslims Are the Most Dangerous Muslims of All? takes an indepth look at the transcript of the message Yousef delivered.

Mossab Hassan says he understands the Islamic ideology that drove Hasan to do what he did...He said something during his talk that got people to thinking. Mossab Hassan said, (quote) "Moderate Muslims are most dangerous Muslims of all." This former Islamic radical fundamentalist, who himself is now urging all Muslims world-wide to love (not kill) their enemies, explained his rationale as follows (direct from the transcript).

• Islamic fanatics are not the most dangerous Muslims.
• Professors, teachers at U.S. universities are dangerous because they support terrorism undercover (raise money here to send to terrorists)
• Most suicide bombers are not fanatics, but moderate, traditional Muslims
• Islam is a religion of steps, like climbing a ladder, with jihad the highest rung on the ladder.
• You cannot measure the speed of a person climbing this ladder. A “moderate Muslim” could reach the top rung in a few months, or in ten years. There is no way to predict it.
• There is no difference between a moderate Muslim and a fundamental Muslim. They believe in the same god.
• Islam's god teaches followers to kill the infidels who will not convert. This act of jihad is the highest rung of the ladder in one's effort to please Allah.

Again, you may not agree with Mossab Hassan, but I find it interesting that people in the culture of the United States are urging caution in bringing judgment upon moderate Islam over the shootings at Ft. Hood--implying that moderate Islam is different than fundamental Islamic radicals. Yet,a former radical Muslim leader in the terrorist organization Hamas, a man trained for years to kill his enemies, is unequivocally telling us that moderate Muslims are the most dangerous kind of Muslims because nobody knows how fast they will jump to the top rung of jihad.

Interesting. Maybe US army officer Nidal Hasan was truly a moderate Muslim. I guess it depends on whose perspective one chooses to believe.

On a closing note, listen to these messages from our friend Thabiti Anyabwile, a former Muslim who now preaches Jesus Christ.  Along with John MacArthur, John Piper, and R.C. Sproul, Anyabile recently contributed a book called Proclaiming a Cross-centered Theology.

Listen as Thabiti Anyabwile recounts the story of his conversion from Islam to Christianity, and as he describes the beliefs and history of Islam, his own experience as a Muslim, the contradictions in the Koran, as well as the way for churches to approach evangelism with Muslims, which he calls an amazing, God-given opportunity the church has today.

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Luther Puts a Nail in the Heart of Bad Religion— And 3 Other Holidays

by Justin Holcomb, Academic Dean of Re:Train

Why did Martin Luther nail his famous 95 Theses to the Wittenberg church door on October 31, 1517?

He was confronting two religious observances that promoted false saintliness and exploited people’s fear of judgment and purgatory. There’s a curious connection between Halloween and Reformation Day, and it’s more than just proximity on the calendar.

Halloween

Halloween (October 31) is celebrated by millions each year with costumes and candy. Halloween's deepest roots are decidedly pagan, despite its Christianized name. Its origin is Celtic and has to do with summer sacrifices to appease Samhain, the lord of death, and evil spirits. Those doing the pagan rituals believed that Samhain sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves.

Christians tried to confront these pagan rites by offering a Christian alternative (All Hallows’ Day) that celebrated the lives of faithful Christian saints on November 1. In medieval England the festival was known as All Hallows, hence the name Halloween (All Hallows' eve) for the preceding evening.

All Saints' Day

All Hallows' Day or All Saints' Day (November 1) was first celebrated on May 13, 609, when Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the Virgin Mary. The date was later changed to November 1 by Pope Gregory III, who dedicated a chapel in honor of all saints in the Vatican Basilica. In 837, Pope Gregory IV (827-844) ordered its church-wide observance. Its origin lies earlier in the common commemorations of Christian martyrs. Over time these celebrations came to include not only the martyrs, but all saints. During the Reformation the Protestant churches came to understand “saints” in its New Testament usage as including all believers and reinterpreted the feast of All Saints as a celebration of the unity of the entire Church.

All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day or the Day of the Dead is normally celebrated, primarily by Roman Catholics, on November 2. This is a day dedicated to prayer and almsgiving in memory of ancestors who have died. People pray for the souls of the dead, in an effort to hasten their transition from purgatory to heaven by being purged and cleansed from their sins.

Reformation Day

Reformation Day (October 31) commemorates Luther's posting of his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. This act triggered the Reformation, as they were immediately translated and distributed across Germany in a matter of weeks. The Protestant Reformation was the rediscovery of the doctrine of justification—salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—and the protest against the corruption within the Roman Catholic Church.

The century before the Reformation was marked by widespread dismay with the venality of the leaders in the Roman Catholic Church and with its false doctrines, biblical illiteracy, superstition, and corruption. Monks, priests, bishops, and popes in Rome taught unbiblical doctrines like the selling of indulgences, the treasury of merit, purgatory, and salvation through good works.

Treasury of Merit

Spiritually earnest people were told to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions. They were encouraged to acquire this “merit,” which was at the disposal of the church, by purchasing certificates of indulgence. This left them wondering if they had done or paid enough to appease God's righteous anger and escape his judgment.

This was the context that prompted Luther’s desire to refocus the church on salvation by grace through faith on account of Christ by imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us. To those spiritually oppressed by indulgences and not given assurance of God’s grace, Luther proclaimed free grace to God’s true saints:

God receives none but those who are forsaken, restores health to none but those who are sick, gives sight to none but the blind, and life to none but the dead. He does not give saintliness to any but sinners, nor wisdom to any but fools. In short: He has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace. Therefore no arrogant saint, or just or wise man can be material for God, neither can he do the work of God, but he remains confined within his own work and makes of himself a fictitious, ostensible, false, and deceitful saint, that is, a hypocrite (Luther W.A. 1.183ff).

Instead of the treasury of merit that was for sale, Luther protested, “The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God” (Thesis 62).

In celebration of Reformation Day, you should seriously read all 95 Theses—they're really good.

(C) 2009 TheResurgence.  Posted with permission.

Halloween Questions From Don't Waste Your Life

Are you a flesh loving zombie, mindlessly wandering a bleak world craving fleshly things? Eph 2:1-3, 4:18-19/Titus 3:3

Are you the lustful simpleton following the hot girl into the house overlooking the fact that it is haunted? Prov 7:24-27

Halloween Worries, Doctrine Apathy

From Melinda at Stand To Reason:

I'm surprised each year by the amount of concern and attention given to whether Christians should participate in Halloween, especially when the same amount of concern and attention isn't given to issues at least of equal weight and what I think have more weight.  Many Christians delve into the details of the history of Halloween in a sincere effort to try to make a good decision about what's pleasing to God; I just don't see the same time and attention given to studying the details of central Christian beliefs like the Trinity or justification, or the Apostles and Nicene Creed.  I dare say that many of the Christians who decide they cannot participate in Halloween, have never taken note of the fact that October 31 is also Reformation Day - and none of us Protestants would be here enjoying the grace of God as we do if it weren't for that day.  Even churches that decide to opt out of Halloween or opt in for Harvest Festivals take little notice of Reformation Day, which restored the Gospel message that we treasure...

...........

...I'm not talking about the decision Christians make about what to do about Halloween.  That's a matter of conscience each has to make.  I'm talking about the inordinate energy, attention, thought, and focus spent on what to do about Halloween and the polar opposite apathy about theology, doctrine, church history.

It's fair to be concerned and think carefully about how we participate in the culture and Halloween.  It's important to evaluate how cultural practices influence us.  It's essential to use wisdom and discernment how we participate in Halloween, if we do.  It's, obviously, a duty to avoid any occultic involvement.  What I'm talking about is the level of energy and attention given to it and the contrasting lack of it given to arguable more central issues of Christianity.  Christians can be shocked that another Christian will go trick or treating, but not blink an eye of awareness or concern when another Christian distorts the doctrine of the Trinity.

I'm not sure what this inordinate worry over Halloween and apathy about doctrine says about contemporary Christians, but I think it says something - and it's not good.  One friend's theory is the inordinate emphasis in modern Christianity on application and therapeutic teaching to the near exclusion of theology and Bible study (not just Bible reading).  That sounds like a pretty good theory to me.

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Integrity Music Signs Worship Artist and Blogger Carlos Whittaker

 From CCM Spin:

Carlos Whittaker has described himself in many ways: worshipper, pastor, thinker, experience architect, Web 2.0 junkie.  Now, he adds recording artist to his life story after being signed to the Integrity Music Label. 

Integrity Music plans to introduce Whittaker, who has been a worship leader for more than a decade, through a digital EP scheduled for release in early 2010 with a full album slated to release later in the year.

Whittaker’s day job since 2007 has been as worship leader for Buckhead Church, a satellite campus of Atlanta’s North Point Church, one of the biggest and fastest growing churches in America led by Rev. Andy Stanley.  He sits on the creative sermon planning team for Andy Stanley and is one of the key planners and teachers for the Catalyst Conference for more than 12,000 worship leaders and team members held in Atlanta this month.  He has also advised on programming for the Saddleback Conference and other churches and events in the U.S.

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Whittaker and his wife Heather Whittaker make up a blogging power couple in www.Ragamuffinsoul.com and Whittakerwoman.typepad.com. They have 3 children - - Seanna and Sohalia and son Losiah, adopted from Seoul, Korea in 2006.

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Unfashionable

"Is it possible that the contemporary church has been so caught up in the quest for relevance that it has ceased to be noticeably different from the world? That's the thesis of Unfashionable, a new book by Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham, and pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Michael Horton talks with Tullian about his important new book."-- White Horse Inn

Her House Is The Way To Sheol: What Is Adultery

Voddie Baucham takes a biblical look at the recent adulterous affairs of two prominent men who professed faith in Christ: Steve McNair and Mark Sanford.  Some excerpts:

During a time when the very fabric of our republic is unraveling beneath our feet, I am appalled at the level of attention our news media have chosen to devote to ‘celebrity‘ in recent days.  Nevertheless, I must admit news of Steve McNair’s death hit home with me for a number of reasons.  First, I had the privilege of meeting Steve when he was the quarterback of the Houston Oilers (who later became the Tennessee Titans).  I taught a team Bible study from time to time, and led pre-game chapel services on occasion.  I did not know Steve well, but I knew he was well-respected by his teammates, and carried himself well.  He seemed like a thoughtful, humble, down-to-earth guy. 

This news also hit home because I too am the father of four sons.  In a country with a birthrate below 2.0, it is unusual to meet people with four or five children.  What are the chances that two high-profile adultery stories within a period of weeks would both involve men with four children, let alone four sons?  I found the news quite ironic from that perspective....

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...Both Sanford and McNair professed faith in Christ.  As I have written in my previous post on this subject, this should not be viewed as an excuse to throw stones, but a cause for alarm.  We must all be on guard.  We cannot assume that our redemption makes us immune to the wiles of an adulteress, or more specifically, to our own desires.  We must hear and heed the Word of God.  Sanford's email correspondence shows that he even used the Word in an attempt to govern his actions.  Unfortunately, his sin blinded him to the fact that he was applying the text to the wrong woman.

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...First, governor Sanford’s sin should remind us all of how important it is for men to guard their hearts while away from home.  Governor Sanford met the woman with whom he had this affair while on a business trip in Argentina (see USA Today).  During this trip, he reportedly counseled her about her relationship with her estranged husband.  As it turns out, this was the beginning of the end.  Those of us who have occasion to leave home for work need to take heed.  Watch yourself. 

Affairs do not begin in the bedroom.  They begin when we start to share intimate details with women other than our wives.  This doesn’t mean that it is never appropriate to have a conversation with a woman.  However, this type of conversation usually takes place in isolation.  In other words, it is highly unlikely that the governor and this other woman were sitting at a crowded table having a conversation about her troubled marriage and what she should do.  At some point these two shared a stolen moment.

Second, governor Sanford’s sin should be a warning to us about the danger of extra-marital intimacy of all kinds.  After the initial meeting Sanford began to communicate with this woman via email.  It was then that things went to another level.  Imagine that; a man initiates private, intimate communication with a woman who is not his wife via email and things escalate!  Men, we must be guarded in our communication with women.  Don’t think governor Sanford is unique.  Unfortunately, this story is anything but surprising.

Finally, Governor Sanford’s sin should be a warning to us about our continuing need for the gospel.  Many people are asking the a very familiar question in light of this tragedy:  “Why would someone with so much to lose do something so stupid and self-destructive?”  The answer is simple; sin is more powerful than self-preservation.  I don’t care what you are relying on to keep you from sinning; unless it is the gospel, it is insufficient.  Paul alludes to this fact in Galatians 6:

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:1-3 ESV)

There is not one among us who is beyond the continual need for the gospel.  We are saved by the gospel and we are sustained by the gospel.  Jesus is “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 ESV).  Christianity is not a course we take, it is a life we live.  Jesus is more than a spiritual helper who gets us going in order that we may do the rest ourselves.  On the contrary, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV) 

One of the most dangerous things we can do in a time like this is vilify Mark Sanford and look upon him as some hypocritical monster whose sin is somehow unique.  This is a story as old as time itself.  The wisest man in the Bible, the strongest man in the Bible, and the most godly man in the Bible all succumbed to sexual sin.  I don’t know about you, but I am not wiser than Solomon; I am not stronger than Samson; I am not more godly than David; and apart from the God of the gospel, I am not a better man than Mike Sanford.  Nevertheless, I still believe the biblical model of marriage as a monogamous, life-long covenant between one man and one woman.  It is believing that truth that allows me to say that what Mike Sanford did was sin.  And it is believing that truth (whether they admit it or not) that allows the opponents of ‘traditional’ marriage to attack governor Sanford.  If they honestly believed that marriage had no parameters, they could not go on the attack.  And if this was just about him “breaking his vows,” (i.e., he’s just a hypocrite because he broke his vows, not because we believe marriage has to follow traditional rules), then there would be no logical reason to address the homosexual marriage issue in light of this tragedy.  Of course, that would assume the existence of honesty, logic, reason and truth in American politics.

Baucham reminds us of the wisdom and warnings found in Proverbs 5,6, and 7 to flee adultery. 

 

You Are What You Tweet

From Stephen Altrogge: 

I can feel as though the things I say and post on Facebook and Twitter don’t really matter. As if, somehow, the things I say and do online are separate from the real me. Come on, it’s just Facebook, right?

Wrong. In Matthew 15:19 Jesus said:

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

So what does this mean? It means that our status updates, photo uploads, wall posts, and online chats are a visible display of what is taking place in our hearts.

Posting flirtatious comments on someone’s picture isn’t “just what happens on Facebook”. Uploading an inappropriate photo isn’t just for fun. Relentlessly mocking someone isn’t what happens online. It’s the overflow of the heart. And it’s sin. What we do online is the real us. It doesn’t matter that we’re safely behind a computer screen.

And the sobering thing is, every action that takes place online has effects that last into eternity.

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A Message From Chris Tomlin