Interfaith & Political Islam: A Danger to the Preaching of the Gospel

By Christian J. Pinto

“Let favor be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly …” (Isaiah 26:10)

A case running through the courts in England right now ought to provide a sober warning that the political advancement of Islam in the Western world is not only dangerous for the national security of any country, but also for sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.  According to Jihad Watch:

“A Christian therapist in England who was suspended after being accused of evangelizing to a Muslim colleague has suffered another loss in court.”

A Christian woman named Victoria Wasteney is being punished by the increasingly socialist system in the U.K. for the offense of witnessing to a Muslim co-worker, and reportedly “trying to convert her to Christianity.”  While Wasteney was under the impression that she and her Muslim colleague were friends, she was shocked to learn that her friend was one who filed the complaint against her. 

If one knows the history of England, it is truly disheartening to think that the land of William Tyndale, Myles Coverdale, John Bunyan, Oliver Cromwell (whose motto was “Christ, not man is King”), and Charles H. Spurgeon (known as the “Prince of Preachers”) should be now given over to leaders who have institutionalized such hostility to the Christian faith. 

In the 19^th century, historian J.A. Wylie wrote that:

 “God raised up Britain and gave her greatness beyond the measure of all former empires.  For what end?  That she might subserve the interests of the Gospel …. This is our first duty as a nation.  The neglect of it is our first sin, no matter what other duties we make ourselves busy about.”  (Wylie, “The Jesuits: their Moral Maxims and Plots”)

But how has the situation in England deteriorated to such a point that a woman witnessing for Jesus Christ is now seen as a violator of English law?  The answer can be partly traced to a major movement that began after the Second World War and continues to this day.  In fact, it’s an issue that has stirred up a lot of controversy in the Christian community of late. 

THE INTERFAITH INVASION

The interfaith dialogues that were launched in the 1950’s have undoubtedly provided the bridge by which Islam has been able to invade the West – something it has been unable to do for 1400 years.  But now, with the help of home-grown socialists, many of whom are professing “Christians” (liberals of virtually every denomination) who act as a coalition of Judas Iscariots, the countries once dedicated to Christ are being betrayed.     

The website “Oxford Islamic Studies Online” (whose Editor in Chief is the Jesuit’s Georgetown University professor, John L. Esposito) documents the following about the so-called “dialogue movement,” that can be traced to Rome and the World Council of Churches:

“The dialogue movement began during the 1950s when the WCC and the Vatican organized a number of meetings between Christian leaders and representatives of other religious traditions. These initial efforts resulted in the formation of new institutions. In 1964, toward the end of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (Vatican II), Pope Paul VI established a Secretariat for Non-Christian Religions to study religious traditions, provide resources, and promote interreligious dialogue through education and by facilitating local efforts by Catholics. Several major documents adopted at Vatican II (1962–1965) focused on interfaith relations.”

Furthermore, Vatican II went out of its way to promote Islam in its Constitutions, Decrees and Declarations, in a chapter titled “The People of God”:

“But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, first among whom are the Moslems: they profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God …”

In 1985, Pope John Paul II declared the following to over 80,000 Muslims in Casablanca:

“We believe in the same God, the one God, the Living God who created the world …”

Only by presenting the false argument that Christians and Muslims worship the same God could the Islamic religion have been systematically entered into so many historically Christian countries.  We are told that because we essentially believe the same things, there is no reason not to give Islam an equal place in Western society.  It is important for believers today to understand that none of our Christian forefathers (prior to the 20^th century) would ever have agreed to such a worldview.

FORGIVE AND FORGET THE PAST?

The doctrines of Vatican II are undoubtedly the reason why much of Rome’s leadership shamelessly promotes Islam, and even suppresses their fellow Catholics who speak against it.  Islamic leaders have never acknowledged it to be a crime that they have incessantly raped and murdered Christians throughout history; yet, in the 1960’s the Vatican actually declared:

“Over the centuries many quarrels and dissensions have arisen between Christians and Muslims.  The sacred council now pleads with all to forget the past, and urges that a sincere effort be made to achieve mutual understanding …”

While it sounds charitable, the reality is that such a statement is based on a counterfeit view of mercy, and an unbiblical view of forgiveness.  It might be compared to the thinking of King Ahab in the Old Testament, who quickly extended charity towards Ben-ha-dad after defeating him in battle.  Ben-ha-dad’s servants specifically sought to take advantage of the fact that “the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings” (1 Kings 20:31).  Once they approached Ahab and asked mercy for Ben-ha-dad, he replied: “Is he yet alive?  He is my brother.” (v. 32)

Just prior to their battle, Ben-ha-dad had arrogantly declared that Ahab’s silver, gold, wives and children all belonged to him, insisting that he hand them over.  His declaration was not unlike that of historic Muslims who claim that they have a right to all that the infidels (non-Muslims) possess, including wives, children and property.  God proclaimed that He would give victory to Ahab, but afterwards, when he extended mercy to this unrepentant thug, the Lord sent a prophet who told him:

“Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.”  (1 Kings 20:42) 

Extending counterfeit compassion towards an enemy ultimately cost Ahab his life and his kingdom, as he would be killed in a later battle with Ben-ha-dad three years later.  Could this be a picture of what’s happening in the Western world?  By affirming the Vatican’s unbiblical offer of forgiveness to an unrepentant enemy, are we setting ourselves up for eventual defeat?

“Let favor be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.”  (Isaiah 26:10)

It is important to note that according to Christ, believers are not commanded to forgive those who refuse to repent of provably wicked behavior (Matthew 18:17).  The undisputed teachings of Islam as found in the Koran, openly permit Muslims to commit criminal acts against all Christians, Jews and non-Muslims. 

 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: who whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”  (Proverbs 28:13)

ECUMENISM & IMMIGRATION

The dramatic shift seems to have begun with the Parliament of World Religions in 1893, and progressed to Vatican Council II in the 1960’s.  By 1968, British politician Enoch Powell gave his famous “Rivers of Blood” speech, in which he warned about the massive wave of foreign immigrants that were pouring into the Western world. 

Since its beginning, the followers of Muhammed have made war against the Christian world and sought to forcibly convert them by the edge of the sword.  Those who refused have been enslaved, raped and murdered – throughout history.  Meanwhile, in any country where Islam gains control of the government, the preaching of the Gospel is outlawed, since it is illegal for Muslims to convert to any other religion. 

While the chief dangers of ecumenism are undoubtedly theological, it now appears that the immediate harm of interfaith is the loss of Christian liberty.  In addition to our politicians, the people who need to be confronted most seem to be professing Christians, who somehow think they must help the cause of Islam in America as a way of “loving your enemies” and “getting the Gospel to the Muslims,” etc.  Along this line of thinking, we find believers helping Muslims to build mosques, and going out of their way to be sure the Islamic faith is counted equal to, or even more important than, Christianity. 

Those who continue to defend the advance of Islam in the West are only contributing to the wreck and ruin of the free world.  If this continues, they will ultimately have aided the enemy in its ambition to extinguish the free preaching of Christ.  No friend of the true Gospel will defend the cause of political Islam.  Just as we must “pray with the spirit,” we are admonished to “pray with the understanding also” (1 Cor. 14:15). 

In other words, we must exercise discernment.

It is an undeniable fact of history that Muslims have taken over Christian countries, one after another, only then to outlaw evangelism and abolish conversion to the Christian faith.  Because of this, it is the responsibility of Christian people to resist (as much as possible) the advance of political Islam in the United States.

“Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD?” (2 Chronicles 19:2)

Loving our enemies is something we are commanded to do at a personal level.  However, we are not commanded to love those who hate God by helping to further their ungodly schemes.  We certainly agree with preaching the Gospel to the Muslim world, and encouraging their salvation in Jesus Christ.  But at the same time, we are admonished to beware of those who might persecute believers (Matthew 10:17), and to be careful that we are not deceived by our enemies (Matthew 24:4).

The story of Victoria Wasteney in the United Kingdom currently stands as a clear example of what happens when an historically Christian country fails to exercise Biblical discernment, and to uphold the first and most important commandment we have from God: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)