In Wallbuilders’ recent email update, Mr. David Barton expresses his concern over the Islamic ‘Jummah Prayer Gathering ; A Day of Islamic Unity’, scheduled on Capital Hill, Friday September 25th, 2009, where an estimated 50,000 “Worshipers” will attend. Mr. Barton’s call to Christians is to pray. He says this:
“This call for Christians to pray this Friday is not a prayer “competition” between Christianity and Islam, nor is it a spiritual Christian “jihad” or “holy war” (what an oxymoronic term – a holy war!). After all, in I Kings 18, Elijah encouraged the prophets of the god Baal to take more time in their praying; he didn’t object to their prayers, he just wanted to make sure that he was able to make his own prayers to the True God. This Friday offers a similar opportunity for those who fear God and believe His Scriptures to offer up their own prayers to Him.”
Consider the situation being presented to what seems to be a “Post-Christian America” and a “Post Christian Church”.
Barton writes:
“As nations such as Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands (and many others in Europe) have become more secular, they have demonstrated a willingness to embrace virtually anything – anything except their traditional Christian foundations. In fact, they now regularly repudiate those foundations, promoting abortion, legalizing homosexual marriage, and changing their traditional legal codes. And accepting the falsehood that all beliefs are equal and that truth is relative, they have even been willing to incorporate Islamic Sharia law into their legal codes in order to protect the special practices of some Muslims living among them. This has energized many Muslims in those countries and they are displaying a new boldness that is vocal, visible, and demonstrably assertive.
Each year, nearly 5,000 Muslim “honor killings” occur across the world (a practice whereby parents kill children who allegedly bring “dishonor” on Islam by dating non-Muslims, wearing western garb, converting to another religion, etc.). Dozens of those murders are committed in Europe, but in many of these formerly Christian nations, those who commit the “honor killings” (i.e., the murder of their own children) often go unpunished since the death of their child was “required” by Islamic law (now included in the legal law of the land). Additionally, many public personalities across Europe who criticized Islam have been murdered, causing Parliaments in the Netherlands and other European countries to forbid criticism of Islam in an effort to prevent further murders. These nations, having given up precious ground, are now having difficulty retaking it.
Historically, on this continent Christian America adopted an open free-market approach to all religions from the beginning. American Christians then (and now) were not fearful of other religions. They were confident that Christianity would prevail on its own merits and they therefore followed the Biblical precedent set forth in both the Old and New Testaments of simply presenting God’s word in a straightforward manner, expecting that the Holy Spirit will confirm His word in the hearts of hearers. Christians believe that on a level playing field, Christianity will always prevail through the voluntary choice of the people.
As a result, Christian America welcomed all religions, with Muslims arriving here by 1619, Jews establishing their first synagogue in 1654, and Buddhists, Hindus, and others also being present from the early days. Significantly, only America extended (and continues to extend) a free-market religious tolerance to others while still preserving the core societal values of our Christian heritage. But the culture has begun to shift. The level playing field is being eroded. As in Europe, Christianity is being knocked down and Islam elevated.
For example, a federal court of appeals ruled that public schools in nine western states can require a three week indoctrination to the Islamic faith in which all junior high students must pretend they are Muslims and offer prayers to Allah (students are further encouraged to take Islamic names, call each other by those names, wear Islamic garb, participate in Jihad games, and read the Koran during those three weeks). Yet that very court also ruled that it was unconstitutional for those same students to voluntarily mention “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Likewise, a federal court on the east coast ruled that public schools may display Islamic holiday symbols but not Christian ones. And the University of Michigan recently spent $25,000 of taxpayer money to install foot-washing facilities to accommodate the religious practices of Muslim students but made no similar expenditure on behalf of students from any other religion.
As a result of such actions, many Muslims are exercising a new boldness in America. In fact, Muslim “honor killings” have now arrived in the United States (most recently in Texas); and just a few weeks ago, direct action was taken to prevent the honor-killing of a 17-year old Muslim girl in Ohio who converted to Christianity and, in fear of her life, fled from her parents to Florida.
American Muslims have also enjoyed the direct support of President Obama. In April, he traveled to Egypt where he told the Muslim world that America no longer considers itself a Christian nation. He later traveled to Turkey and announced that America was one of the largest Muslim nations in the world (despite the fact that 78% of Americans claim to be Christians but only 1% claim to be Muslims). Then in May, President Obama refused to invite Christian and Jewish leaders to the White House to participate in the National Day of Prayer (as former presidents have done), but in September, he did invite Muslim leaders to the White House for a special Muslim Ramadan celebration to commemorate Allah delivering the Koran to his prophet Mohammed.
Heartened by this new encouragement, Muslim leaders have called 50,000 observant Muslims to come to the Capitol this Friday, September 25, for a day of Jummah (Friday congregational prayer). The sponsors promise that from 4AM to 7PM, “the Athan [the call given five times each day for Muslims to participate in mandatory prayer] will be chanted on Capitol Hill, echoing off of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and other great edifices that surround Capitol Hill.” The goal of this event is that “the peace, beauty and solidarity of Islam will shine through America’s capitol.” In fact, their website for this unprecedented event proudly and unabashedly declares, “Our Time Has Come!” ”
While prayer is important to the Genesis Mandate of advancing the Crown Rights of King Jesus, diligent and consistent action is the essential component of the Great Commission. This Islamic gathering never would have been allowed if American Christians had not been hiding in the four-walled “Ghetto Church for the past 50 or so years.” The explosive Islamic ‘take-over’ of these united States could never had happened if the American churches had been watchful, and faithful to the Dominion Mandate of Scripture. In fact, even now, many Christians are wondering what is happening, being ignorant of the fact that our nation is under the Judgment of God.
Consider what the LORD has declared:
De 28:15&25 ¶ But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
I believe it is not too late. It is, however, now or never, for the saints to step up and galvanize together under God, and in ethical conformity to His LAW-WORD, applying that WORD to every area of life, especially to the civil realm. That is the only hope for this nation. If the Christian community fails to heed this call with Biblically based action, she will go into a 21st Century Babylonian Captivity for many generations to come.
Until Christendom realizes that God’s Moral Law, as it is revealed in the Christian Scriptures, is the only standard for every aspect of the societal order, and therefore must regulate every sphere of life, Islam will continue to trod down underfoot the saints of the Most High.
We have witnessed the modernization, and the post-modernization of Christianity, in both the mainline churches, as well as the Reformed churches. Carnality, and worldliness is pandemic in many of these congregations to the degree that they care little for advancing the Kingdom of God in the real world. The result: Islamic Dominion.
The Christian community needs Godly leaders who are absolutely committed to the Crown and Covenant of the Christ. Leaders may be born with God given tendencies toward leadership, yet these qualities must be groomed, and matured. Training is therefore essential. In commenting on the Parable of Judges 9:8-15, Rev. Joe Morecraft states:
“When men with godly leadership abilities refuse to take upon themselves the yoke of political authority for the benefit of their friends, family and fellow patriots, then un-godly, misdirected, reckless, unproductive, and oppressive leaders will rush to the fountains of power.”
As God’s people we must be proactive. If Islam can declare, “Our Time Has Come”, how much more can the saints of the One True God declare, “For He, (Christ, not Mohammad), must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” 1 Corinthians 15:25
Pro Christo Et Regni Progressu
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