The conflicts we see more and more frequently across the world resulting in violent ends are not new to society. In fact it is one of the longest-lasting conflicts in history. In his speech at the February 5 National Prayer Breakfast February 5, the President of the United States stated: "this is not unique to one group or one religion." That may have been one of the only accurate statements regarding this topic he has made. He compared these heinous acts performed by members of radical Islamic groups to actions taken by Christians during the Crusades and the Inquisitions. "And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ." What originated in the Sinai Peninsula about 1800 years ago still takes place today. It is a holy war and the U.S. military, the Israeli forces, and all our allies cannot defeat this enemy of evil. It will take the army of God and the return of Christ to end it for good.
First of all, the Crusades were a retaliatory action against oppression by the Jihad in Europe and northern Africa. The conflict had been going on for 400 hundred years -- since the fall of the Roman Empire between the years 500-600 A.D. when the Ottoman Empire (Muslims) swept across the two continents suppressing Christianity. The Ottomans originated in the Sinai Peninsula and were descendants of Abraham's first son, Ishmael. "These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.)" Genesis 25:17-18.
When we see the advancement of the Jihad throughout these two continents we see the cultural significance which is told to us in scripture. We also can know several things about these people. They, like Isaac, also are descendants of Abraham with a promise of God's blessing on them. "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation." Genesis 17:20. We also are told that there will be no peace with the Ishmaelites-Ottomans-Muslims-Islamists. "He [Ishmael] will be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” Genesis 16:12. When the Ottoman Empire controlled and suppressed the majority of the Christians and Jews, they swept across the region originating from the Sinai Peninsula. You can see their advancement here. At the end of the clip the cross shaped icons indicate where Christians fought back to regain control in areas around the Holy Land. These would be the battles to which the President is referring and commonly are called the Crusades. It is clear that Ottomans/Muslims were the aggressors. The Christians and Jews were fighting to exist.
Now to the comparison of Islam to Christians during the Inquisitions. This was a far more aggressive movement by followers of Christ being on the offensive. Christians were seeking out those within their cities who were practicing other faiths or heretics of their own faith and sharing false doctrine. The unbelievers would be arrested and many times tortured then killed. The religious leaders thought they were being true to their faith as well as the word of God. Many times God instructed His people to eliminate those who worshipped false God's from their midst. "If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell in, saying, ‘Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods”’—which you have not known— then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock—with the edge of the sword." Deuteronomy 13:12-15. This is one of many examples: Deuteronomy 13:5, 17:7. Never, not even in scripture has torture been condoned by the one true living God.
The President also made this statement about truth and to whom God speaks. ". . .not being so full of yourself and so confident
that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak to others,
that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow we
alone are in possession of the truth. Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth." This is a misconception and a humanistic philosophy to believe that we are the bearers of truth, that it is in our "possession." Christ Himself is the incarnation of truth. The very embodiment of truth, truth with skin on it. It is His possession, not ours, as well as His being and is only bestowed upon us by His divine revelation. "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. This is not exclusive to anyone people group but is most definitely exclusive of any other deity. Of this fact we can and must be confident. It is our faith in Christ that secures our souls. "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31.
President Obama also made this claim: "No God condones terror." This insinuates that there is more than one God. This would indicate an acceptance a polytheistic belief. How are people going to come to know the only Savior and the only God able to redeem our lost souls if this type of nonsense is tolerated? Our President is obviously lacking the knowledge as well as the belief in the one true God. He is not aware of the reality of Hell or he would know that entertaining this false doctrine is far too high a price to pay to keep from offending. As children of God, we must not be afraid to stand in opposition to this heresy. The army of God must be the one to rise up against the slandering of our Savior. President Obama was right about this one point, "this is not unique to one group or one religion." This holy war has been raging between Islam and Christians and Jews for several millennia. By definition there can be only one truth, and that is the saving truth of Jesus Christ. That truth will prevail and we must be the ones to share it as well as protect it with our lives.
Acknowledgements
Infidels: A History of the Conflict Between Christendon and Islam by Andrew Wheatcroft
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