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Some people think that radical Islam is merely an extreme version of Islam, based on a cultural-social ideology. Such a notion is only partly correct. When a Muslim wants to truly follow the Qur’an and Muhammad’s example, he or she becomes what today the Western media calls a radical or militant Muslim. Radical Islam’s primary objective is to dominate all those within its reach and suppress all other ideologies, movements, and beliefs in its path. Islam as a faith sees non-Muslims and other faiths as a threat. Christians and Jews, as well as people of other beliefs, have been persecuted around the world whenever a Muslim group decides to go back to practicing fundamental Islam. In many Middle Eastern and South Asian countries, Christians are forced to keep their faith undercover in order to avoid personal attacks.

Islam does not embrace freedom of any other ideology except its own. The Qur’an in three places mentions that Allah has revealed the religion of Islam to take over all others (Sura 9:33; 48:28; 61:9). To establish this goal, a Muslim has many avenues open to him or her: evangelism, population explosion, political influence and using force to the extent of even “killing for Allah” to “suppress and submit the opposition.” In the Qur’an, a Muslim is told, “Allah loves those who kill for His cause” (Sura 61:4). Islam includes the political and jurisprudential project of Shari’a (Islamic law).  Muslims who truly follow the Qur’an and the hadith recognize that Shari’a cannot be separated from Islam.

Many believe that the day of secular humanism has dawned in America and that post modernism has triumphed. Somehow those who hold Biblical values so dear could not change the outcome of the election. Others say that 20% of Americans, who do not follow Jesus, voted 88% for the present result. What a huge shift in determining the ungodly direction America is going. The result of the behavior of the previous three generations that drifted from a love for Jesus and His teachings to new interpretations of Christianity and or the rejection of His values is now here.

At the ministry, Jesus to Muslims, it did not surprise us that more than 85 percent of Muslim voters voted for the present administration according to a poll by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).  What is surprising is how a major portion of those who call themselves Christians also voted in favor of the present policies, many of them which are anti-Biblical values held by the winning team of the present administration. The writing is on the wall. The present day situation reminds us of what Paul said:

There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power … (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

So, should we lament and pack up and wait to see the demise of it all. No, our call is still the same: To help Muslims to know Christ and equip Christians to value the Gospel and share it with others, including Muslims.

 Once again, using their ‘freedom’ and ‘rights’, a group of people made a film about the life of Muhammad and it has enraged a lot of Muslims around the world. Some blame the film for their outrage and killing of foreign nationals and destroying foreign missions and others are driven to find any excuse to bring the dream of the world surrendering to Islam into reality.

Dear Friend in Jesus! The gurus of post-modernism have taken over the social media along with making room for every idea you can think of in the name of ‘co-exist’. As usual colleges and universities are a breeding ground for such propagation to the extent that popular logos and names are used with such signs. See for example the University of Florida sign for the ‘Gators’ on one of its pages for Student affairs. The ironical side of it is that Muslims too use the ‘co-exist trend’ as to dilute and divert the critical attention of those who look at Islamic teaching with suspicion.

Dear Friend in Jesus! Since January I have been busy teaching at our home church in several areas of study. Last month we finished ‘A survey of the Old Testament’ and have now embarked on a series: The Truth about worldviews. So far we worked through the topic of secular humanism and post modernism trends in the societies today. We looked into our situation as Christians and how we may voice the Biblical alternative. Next we will step into a survey of some of the eastern ideologies and philosophies considering how, as Christians, we may find bridge-points to help the adherents to know about the Truth the Bible presents

As an occurring controversy in the Gospels, we find that the Pharisees and Sadducees did not like Jesus claiming to be the Son of God. Yet Jesus stood his ground. No wonder that Peter proclaimed, ‘You are the Son of the Living God’ and Jesus not only accepted it but also told him that it was the Father who revealed it. With such a backdrop, how would you feel if a certain missionary came along and told you that in their outreach and in their translation of the Bible for Muslims, they have discarded words like ‘Father in heaven’, the Son of God or his Son?

I fled to the West 3 decades ago to escape the capital punishment of apostasy in Islam. I desired an environment in which to continue my spiritual journey with Jesus and not Muhammad and where freedom of faith, practice and propagation was available to me. Very soon I realized that I was free to practice my faith as long as I was not offending others. I realized that my celebrations of Christmas and Easter were not only offensive to some but that if I talked about Jesus at a party, social or political; I could be accused of being a ‘party pooper.’

In our ministry, we meet families who share their concerns for their daughters who are married to Muslims. Often we receive e-mails from Christians married to Muslim men, now seeking advice. Some young Christians are dating Muslims and ask for our advice. Let us be reminded what the Bible says about these situations and circumstances.

There is a subtle, dangerous and perilous movement roaming about, raising voices for a false unity between Islam and Christianity. It is called Chrislam, claiming to share the same God, the prophets and the Truth. The idea behind it is to relativize all differences for the common good to create a utopian society. Interestingly, here are some Muslims also ropagating it and yet after a glance, one finds that they are only involved so to take advantage of preaching and propagating their faith. Pick up any program organized by interfaith or by Muslims in the USA, in the name of interfaith, and you will find them teaching Islamics at the expense of others. The agenda is to bring Jesus to the level of Muhammad and then convince participants, that like Jesus, Muhammad should be accepted by Christians as the prophet of God.

One of the fruits of post modernism is to establish a global government so to bring such equality that none will be compelled to fight the other and thus peace will reign. It is a dream that reminds us of the Biblical narrative of ‘building the tower of Babel’.

For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast,... (1 Cor 5:7-8). Pesach, meaning “passing over” or “protection” in Hebrew, is derived from the instructions given to Moses by God. Passover is the eight day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. Moses warned the Pharaoh that God would send severe punishments to the people of Egypt if the Israelites were not freed. The Pharaoh ignored Moses’ plea and warning. In response, God unleashed a series of ten terrible plagues in the land of Egypt: Flood; Frogs; Lice; Wild beasts (flies); Blight (cattle disease); Boils; Hail; Locusts; Darkness and slaying of the First Born.

There is unrest in Egypt, Jordon, Syria, Iran and Turkey. Have you wondered how the Middle East and the whole world is lining up for some greater epic? Have you pondered how every nation somehow is connected in some way and is affected by the ripples of what happens in Israel and the nations around it? Have you wondered what the Scriptures states: ‘And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come’ (Matthew 24:14). Are you aligned with Him, the only Savior and waiting in Unison with the Scripture: ‘Amen. Come, Lord Jesus’ (Revelation 22:20).